March 22, 2026

Sailing into Singapore is an iconic experience. The Coral Princess wove its way at dawn through a maze of anchored ships, heading toward what appears to be another ship flying through the sky. It’s the Marina Bay Sands hotel, with a platform shaped like a ship’s hull floating above three 50-story towers.

This morning we were fortunate to arrive at the nearby Marina Pier just as the sun was rising in the opposite sky, reflecting off the hotel. Nearby is Gardens by the Bay, a 250-acre park with more than 1.5 million plants representing 5,000 species. Highlights include the Supertree Grove, with 18 structures stretching into the sky, and two giant conservatories, or greenhouses.

On two previous visits, I had tried unsuccessfully to make reservations at Spago the world-famous restaurant by celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck, located on the 57th floor of Marina Bay Sands. Reservations are recommended to be made at least two months in advance and still there is no guarantee that a table will be available. This is evidenced by the fact that I tried in January of this year, far before our arrival and could not get a reservation. On a whim, I contacted the restaurant last week and unbelievably there had just been a cancellation. Chongae and I were off on our adventure. Sometimes you just have to splurge!

What looks like a very nondescript entrance reveals some amazing views that surely enhance your dining experience. Including the iconic infinity pool highlighted in the movie Crazy Rich Asians. (Bigger photo above) And we did see some crazy rich Asians! (lol)

Now for the food. There were too many great items, but I will share with you two of our favorites:

Tuna Tartare Cones. This is Spago’s signature dish and one of the most famous created by celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck served at events like the Oscars. The only way I can describe it is like a bite-sized ice cream cone, but savory. The cone is a crispy sesame miso cone sweet, salty and crunchy all at the same time. It is filled with delicious diced raw tuna. It is topped with chili aioli, soy, wasabi, and bonito flakes. It seemed to hit every flavor and texture.; crispy, creamy, spicy, sweet, sour, and salty all at once! People say you go to Spago for this experience.

Miso Broiled Salmon. This was a balanced choice with an elegant presentation. The salmon was light and flavorful, and the miso added a sweet, savory umami. Each taste was absolutely delightful, and I love a dish that leaves you wanted more.

We departed with a great view of The Marina Bay Sands and its nightly fireworks display. If you really do want to travel with us have some fun and stream Crazy Rich Asians. It is a romantic comedy based on the bestselling novel by Kevin Kwan. It became a global hit because of its grossly stereotypical but hilarious look into ultra-wealthy lifestyles in Singapore. It was filmed on location in Singapore at many of the places we visited today. The female Asian comedian Awkwafina will absolutely crack you up!

Thanks for traveling with us.