Our vibrant garden city will soon be celebrating its 55^th birthday on 9^th August. While we may not be able to watch the National Day Parade from the seats of Singapore’s iconic floating platform this year, here are some other ways we can celebrate this beautiful country from the comforts of home if you’re looking to avoid the crowds over the National Day weekend (we’re still in DORSCON orange after all).

Eat

The history of Singapore’s Peranakan culture harks back to the 15^th century; what better way to celebrate the country’s rich melting pot of cultures and heritage than by tucking into authentic Michelin-starred Peranakan takeaway from Candlenut at COMO Dempsey for a heartwarming dinner. Our favourites are the Chef’s Mum’s Chicken Curry and Aunt Caroline’s Babi Buah Keluak. 

If you don’t mind getting your hands dirty, the Chili crab from Jumbo Seafood is a must. You can add on the National Day SG55 set menu bundle which comes with other local favourites such as Deshelled Prawns fried with cereal and Mee Goreng.

Dimsum lovers can yum cha at home with Yàn’s Taste of Home August special that draws inspiration from some of Singapore’s most well-loved dishes including Char Kway Teow and Soy Chicken. 

Drink

Toasting with a glass of English Sparkling wine on Singapore’s National Day…sounds weird, right? Yet, Nyetimber’s Cuvee Cherie entices with a fine balance of zest and sweetness, perfectly matched with fragrant, lightly spiced savoury dishes and flavours found in Asian cuisines. Balance is the basic consideration when pairing the wine; the classic palate of many Asian cuisines is hot, sour, sweet, salty with a hint of bitterness, so slightly sweet wines such as Cuvee Chérie are a good contrast to the salty flavours, while matching some of the sweeter elements of these dishes. 

Nyetimber’s ambassador Murray Lang loves pairing the wine with Laksa for a fresh take on the Singaporean favourite. In honour of National Day, Analogue Wine Merchant is offering a special Nyetimber Bundle, priced at a discounted S$283 until 9^th August.

Tipple up local style with GudSht’s bottled cocktails. In celebration of National Day, they’ve concocted a liquid breakfast duo – the Neslo Gao Peng, which features rice vodka infused with white cacao, Milo, and fresh-brewed coffee, and the white rum-based Kaya, I Beg Your Pandan, which brings together local kaya, coffee liqueur, and a fresh milk-and-oat infusion in one creamy brew.

Watch

In addition to the live broadcast of NDP2020 on the telly, indulge in Singaporean-made movies that are coming to Netflix ahead of National Day in a dedicated ‘Singapore, Now Streaming’ row. Highlights include Ilo Ilo (a domestic drama chronicling the day-to-day of the Lim family during the 1997 Asian financial crisis), 881 (a musical-comedy-drama film following two sisters who form a getai band) and Singapore Dreaming (following the Loh family’s aspirations for a better life and the harsh realities that prevent them from fulfilling those aspirations).

Explore 

Explore the best of Singapore’s art scene through the National Gallery’s virtual experiences and enjoy these special programmes for Singaporeans to celebrate compassion and kindness amidst adversity. Let art soothe, inspire and unite us.

History buffs can partake in a virtual tour of the Istana, where they’ll be treated to little nuggets of history on one of Singapore’s oldest heritage sites. The National Museum will also be hosting virtual conferences titled Zoom Into History this week, leading up to National Day, where visitors can interact with museum artefacts from its permanent collection like the cheese plate, voiced by local actors and comedians.

Check out the rest of our website here.