Located within the vicinity of Marina Bay and walking distance from Chinatown and Marina Bay Sands, The Westin Singapore is an ideal place to stay when visiting Singapore for work or for play. Also a choice staycation for Singaporeans who don’t commute to the CBD area on weekdays and want to explore this bustling spot in Singapore without the crowd over a relaxing weekend. Westin Singapore provides you a soothing, contemporary escape amidst the bustling city.

Not just a comfy place to stay, The Westin Singapore has got quite a few hidden gems in their dining options which I got to sample during a weekend stay with them. For those looking for new places to dine, check out these places and my personal recommendations.

Dinner at Cook and Brew

Whipped Buffalo Milk Ricotta / 14

Start off your meal with this freshly grilled bread and creamy truffle honey, just one bite and you are transported to heaven. It’s that good! I wished they sell them by the bottles for takeaway.

Potato Salad & Cold Poached Nova Scotia Lobster 700G / 64

This serving of lobster and potato salad is worth every dollar, just look at the serving! Poached to the right texture and well paired with pickle chips, grape tomatoes and wasbi basil mayo. I can eat this all on my own anytime! Very lovely classic dish that goes well as shared starter or as a main for the ladies.

Black Cod / 36

If my 5-year-old said this is nice, IT IS nice lah! Served with roasted sweet pepper, pimento, thyme and black mussels. We wished the cod was a little bigger cos we didn’t have enough to statisfy our tastebuds.

Cook & Brew embodies the essence of a classic gastro bar with a contemporary twist. The specialty restaurant offers the perfect contemporary setting to indulge in an array of delectable local and international comfort food, paired with a carefully curated selection of craft beers, wines and cocktails.

Check their menu and promotions at http://www.cookandbrewsingapore.com.

Neptune’s Table, Sunday Brunch at Seasonal Tastes

The Westin Singapore’s signature dining venue, Seasonal Tastes offers a live interactive kitchen, cool and casual design features with sweeping floor-to-ceiling windows that show off breathtaking views of our city skyline. From Asian to international fare, Seasonal Tastes offers something to please everyone. And it was surely a pleasure to enjoy a relaxing afternoon with family and friends at their Sunday Brunch. This gem is not very packed YET and now is the best time to go!

A personal rule of thumb when having buffet is to focus on the seafood, so that’s just what I did at Seasonal Tastes. I tell you, this is one of the better seafood buffet I’ve tried, just look at the food!!!

For oyster fans, you cannot go wrong with the fresh serving of oysters, these are oh-so-creamy!

Must try this Seafood Tom Yum Soup filled with real crab claws, chunks of lobster meat, prawn and other seafood. Enjoy it immediately to retain the piping hot savoury taste of Tom Yum soup. I had two servings that day!

And THESE baked crayfish with mushroom and cheese… I almost missed this because I was attacking the poached lobsters and oysters that afternoon. Man I didn’t know we can cook crayfish like this! I must say the whole combination goes very well together. My little girls love these too.

And Oh-M-Geeee look at the pretty selections of sweet delightful desserts!! I like how the chef always ensure the display looks good and filled. They top up whenever someone removes some servings and is always so smiley and friendly. Kudos to the amazing team!

Finish off a FULfilling brunch with some gelato ice-cream topped with your choice of candies, nuts and chocolate bits.

Enjoy all the above plus Alaskan king crab legs, lobsters and half-shell scallops. Or tuck into a lavish selection of crabs, potatoes, corn on the cob and smoked housemade sausages from the steamer and lots more every Sunday from 12pm to 3pm. SGD88++ per adult | SGD44++ per child, inclusive of a glass of champagne, wine, beer, or soft drink.

Last but not least, for those staying with The Westin Singapore over the weekends, do register yourself for your complimentary makan trail happening every Sunday from October 2016.

Complimentary Makan Trail with Miss Tam Chiak

The Westin Singapore is tackling Monday blues head-on with a weekend program that gives guests more flexibility and time to make the most out of their weekend getaway. Guests are encouraged to linger in bed longer with a late Sunday check-out and extended breakfast hours on Saturday and Sunday. A specially curated complimentary 90-minute Makan Trail will be made available for all hotel guests from 9 October 2016 onwards, where it will introduce hotel guests to a plethora of flavors of Singaporean delicacies and bites at iconic food centers in the vicinity of the hotel.

Led by Maureen Ow, a well-known Singapore Food Blogger, Miss Tam Chiak. You will be get to savor local bites such as Chai Tow Kway (fried carrot cake) – a tasty dish of steamed white radish and rice flour, fried with egg and preserved radish, served white and black (with savory sweet sauce) at Lau Pa Sat.

Followed by a short stroll to Thian Hock Keng Temple where you will find Chong Wen Ge Café which serves up an assortment of bite-sized kuehs including Ondeh Ondeh – with gula melaka (melted palm sugar) encased in a glutinous rice flour ball; Kueh Dadar, a pandan-flavoured rolled crêpe filled with grated coconut and gula melaka; Ang Ku Kueh made from glutinous rice flour and mung bean; and Rainbow Kueh Lapis, a delicious blend of coconut and pandan snack showcasing nine distinctive colored layers.

These peranakan kuehs are super!!! And you’ve been warned here to pop the entire Ondeh Ondeh into your mouth! Don’t try biting into it cos the gula melaka may just shoot out from within. Prepare tissues!

Last stop for the trail is at Amoy Street Food Centre, guests will have a taste of the locals’ breakfast staple which comprises of Kaya Toast, a thin slice of bread enveloping a dollop of cold butter and a generous spread of kaya, a traditional jam made from coconut and eggs and Kopi (coffee with milk) or Teh (tea with milk), soft-boiled eggs and hawker favorite, Char Kway Teow (stir-fried rice noodles), doused with dark soy sauce, sinfully rich fried pork lard, Chinese sausage, cockles and beansprouts.

Hotel guests are encouraged to register at the Concierge Desk for the complimentary guided Makan Trail* which will take place every Sunday, from 10.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m.

*Attendance is by registration and capped at a maximum of 20 participants per session.

About The Westin Singapore

As Singapore’s first integrated hotel located within an office building, The Westin Singapore occupies levels 32 to 46 of Asia Square Tower 2 commercial development in Marina Bay, the heart of Singapore’s bustling financial district. Embracing the Westin brand’s promise For a Better You, The Westin Singapore offers 305 guestrooms and suites, 4 distinct dining venues, an outdoor infinity pool with a stunning view over Singapore’s south coast, the Heavenly Spa by WestinTM and 1,350 square meters of versatile event spaces, all designed with guests’ well-being in mind. For more information, please visit TheWestinSingapore.com.