Scott Halleran/Getty Images
It’s safe to say that Singapore is a character unto itself in the highly anticipated rom-com crazy rich asians, is scheduled to bow on Wednesday. Although a little more than half of the production time was spent on filming in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, it was the island city-state that became a star for the screen spectacle written by author Kevin Kwan and directed by Jon Chu.
“We wanted to create a travelogue through setting, decor, and food,” says Nelson Coates, production designer on the film, which is full of visual delight.
“The combination of a modern, rich and glamorous lifestyle with street food and all that quirky stuff makes it the perfect backdrop,” actress Amy Cheng, who plays Jacqueline Ling, says of Singapore, which has the highest percentage of millionaires in the world nation.
Following in the footsteps of actors Constance Wu, Henry Golding and Michelle Yeoh is easy, not least because of Singapore’s easy transport links. The walkable city has super clean streets, sidewalks and plenty of English-speaking taxis. But iconic spots from the film are best experienced on foot, including Esplanade Park, the lotus-shaped ArtScience Museum, the water-spouting Merlion statue (half lion, half fish), and one of the plot’s key locations, Gardens by the Bay, where character Colin Khoo (Chris Pang) and Araminta Lee (Sonoya Mizuno)’s annual wedding was held here.
Conceived in 2005, the 250-acre, manicured nature park has helped cement the Singapore government’s vision of the island as a garden city. “No visit to Singapore is complete without a visit to Gardens by the Bay, where you can see up close and personal one of the world’s carefully curated flora and fauna gardens,” says Koh Chieng Mun, who plays Neena Goh. (Best to see it during the Singapore Garden Festival every July.)
Garden lovers should also check out the treetop walk and horticultural park, though they didn’t make the film, according to Tan Kheng Hua, who plays Chu Jiali. “Singapore’s man-made greenery is unlike any other country I know – so pristine, well thought out and carefully planned for its people.”
Supertree Grove, a tree-like vertical garden with a skywalk called the OCBC Skyway, is spectacular at night (Chu and hundreds of extras were filmed there several times). Every night there is a light and music show for tourists. In the beautifully restored early 19th century Gothic Praise Square (former convent) – the inside already resembles a tiered fondant wedding cake – the production designers made the statement with mouth-watering plants and flowers” I do.”
While it’s an excellent stand-in for the fictional First Methodist Church in the books, Praise Square is now actually a nightlife spot with plenty of bars and restaurants, and its stained-glass chapel is used as an event venue.
Taking a spin on the Singapore Flyer, the massive observation wheel at Marina Bay (Asia’s largest at over 500 feet in height), is another great way to get a bird’s-eye view of the city’s skyline and layout. It took Chu nine months to get government approval to film the iconic infinity pool at Marina Bay Sands SkyPark — a must-see for every tourist, despite its entrance fee and ridiculously high cocktail prices. The night synchronized swimmers featured in the film aren’t actually on the menu here; however, there are plenty of enviable views and photos as well. Fun fact: Marina Bay Sands is the most Instagrammed hotel in the world.
In the scene where Rachel (Constance Wu) and Wu Peilian (Awkwafina) are chatting at the open-air bar of The Reading Room, Bukit Paseo Road is dotted with trendy restaurants, boutique hotels and shops. Shortly after Nick (Golding) and Rachel arrive in Singapore, the city’s famous hawker stalls – essentially street food havens – feature prominently in a scene with their friends Feast at the famed Newton Hawker Center on Clemenceau Avenue, where layer after layer of cheap, tasty dishes represent Singapore’s melting pot of Chinese, Indian and other cultural influences.
One of the two most gourmet scenes in the film sees the cast enjoying oyster omelette, satay, grilled sambal stingray and grilled tiger prawns, fried crayfish and wonton soup. “It’s booming, with delicious treats like fried carrot cake (a delicious scrambled egg with fried radish), chilli crab and fishball noodles,” Fiona Xie, who plays Kitty Pong, says of the place. “Get ready for long lines, a bouncy vinegar smell and a pretty happy tummy.”
The Raffles Singapore, which reopened in the first half of 2019 after an extensive renovation, features prominently in several scenes of the film, where some characters have also stayed. Known as the birthplace of the Singapore Sling, its historic charm is being lovingly restored. Meanwhile, the OG Singapore Sling experience is available at the Long Bar pop-up next to the Raffles Gift Shop, which will be open throughout the restoration. “It has a guest list of celebrities, writers and dignitaries such as Charlie Chaplin, Grace Kelly and Michael Jackson,” Cheng said, adding that legend has it that a wild tiger once visited its bar and pool room for tea !
Capella Singapore Though it didn’t appear in the film, another industry favorite in the city is this luxurious resort on the manicured island of Sentosa, comprised of two restored 1880s Consists of Tanah Merah Colonial Bungalows with rooms and manor designed by Norman Foster. This year saw the opening of ultra-luxury Six Senses Duxton, centered in Chinatown, the brand’s first urban hotel (a cosy, stylish 49-room hotel), followed by the 120-room Maxwell Six Senses, which will open in October.
Of course, there’s already a fully customizable fan tour led by a local crazy rich asians Expert (since 2014), which includes stops at various homes featured in the film, as well as Marina Bay Sands, Holland Village and other attractions, as well as extensive commentary on Singapore’s affluent social context and history.
Although not featured prominently in the film, singing karaoke is a must in Singapore, and actors indulge in karaoke when they don’t eat street food and dim sum during their breaks on Orchard Road. Xie also suggested a stop at one of her favorite places, the historic National Gallery Singapore, which houses the world’s largest collection of modern Southeast Asian art. It’s “beautifully restored, linking classic colonial buildings, the former Supreme Court and City Hall. It’s a feast for the senses, with amazing restaurants like Violet Oon’s National Kitchen. It’s an insight into our exciting Peranakan , Chinese, Indian and Malay-inspired dishes in the best way, served deliciously in a homely way,” she said.
Moreover, in crazy rich asians form, shopping is recommended. Xie loves Haji Lane, “a quirky little street in the Kamong Glam district lined with shophouses and colorful graffiti walls, where you can spend the day browsing local designer shops and stopping at cafes for Teh Tarek and watch pedestrians”
