Singapore offers a wealth of experiences to explore. From indulgent luxury encounters to fascinating exhibitions, here’s how to make the most of your May in the Lion City.
POP-UPS
Garden Vibes
On 24 May, Little Farms and myVillage bring back Garden Vibes, a one-day community festival that makes clean eating and conscious living feel less like a chore and more like a lifestyle flex. Highlights include a 20-producer outdoor market, rooftop wellness sessions with ClassPass, and Rethink Your Pantry, a panel discussion on simple food swaps. Children can look forward to Disney dance-offs and mini farming workshops, while adults can enjoy lunchbox-making sessions, sound baths, and a cocktail to round off the day.
Garden Vibes will take place at myVillage, 1 Maju Avenue. For more information, click here.
Elixir's 24 Hours Skin Rejuvenation Pop-up
Japan’s anti-ageing giant, ELIXIR, arrives at Paragon from 23 to 29 May with a pop-up dedicated to round-the-clock collagen care. Discover their cult favourites—the Day Care Revolution and Youth Accelerator Serum—both backed by decades of collagen science. Enjoy discounts of up to 50%, guaranteed gachapon plays, and prizes ranging from exclusive pouches to jewellery sets worth $1,300. Because your skincare routine should come with perks, too.
The pop-up runs till 29 May and is located at Paragon Orchard (L1 Atrium), 290 Orchard Road.
In Good Company x Romi Beauty
IN GOOD COMPANY teams up with homegrown beauty brand ROMI for a fashion-meets-skincare moment at ION Orchard, running now until 25 May 2025. Discover ROMI’s cult Dream Skin Tint, berry-bright Lip Treat Oil in Mauve Moon, and the cushiony Cloud Puff applicator. Then slip into IN GOOD COMPANY’s Modern Fluidity capsule and new workwear essentials—think crisp polos, slouchy cardigans, and quietly perfect hobo bags. Spend enough, and you’ll walk away with a square shopper, or at the very least, a good excuse to return.
The pop-up runs till 25 May 2025 and is located at IN GOOD COMPANY's ION Orchard store, #B1-06, 2 Orchard Turn.
Maison Margiela Fragrances's House of Memories
From now until 25 May 2025, Maison Margiela Fragrances invites visitors into a dreamscape at House of Memories, an immersive pop-up inspired by the brand’s REPLICA collection. Iconic scents like Lazy Sunday Morning and By the Fireplace are reimagined through tactile installations, while the Fantasies series, Soul of the Forest and Dancing on the Mood turn scent into atmosphere. Check out the Afternoon Delight Café, where madeleines and lattes conjure the newest REPLICA launch through actual sugar, warmth, and sunlit nostalgia. Come for the fragrance. Stay for the vibes.
Maison Margiela's House of Memories is located at 265 Beach Road and is open from 11am to 8pm on weekdays and 11am to 10pm on weekends and public holidays. For more information, click here.
EXHIBITIONS
Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) 2025
This year’s Singapore International Festival of Arts celebrates SG60 with More Than Ever, a spotlight on homegrown talent, new commissions and global voices. Start at the SIFA Pavilion in Bedok Town Square, open from 16 May, and catch performances like Animal Farm by The Finger Players, a dark, puppet-driven adaptation of Orwell’s classic, Told By My Mother by Lebanese choreographer Ali Chahrour, an arresting blend of song, movement and modern Arabic storytelling, and more as the programmes unfold.
For more information, click here.
JUNGSAEMMOOL x Ripple Root’s "The Sweetness of Tangerines"
To mark its first anniversary in Singapore, K-beauty powerhouse JUNGSAEMMOOL is celebrating the only way it knows how: With great skin, great colour, and a little local flair. Till 1 June 2025, the flagship store teams up with art duo Ripple Root on The Sweetness of Tangerines, a month-long installation that blends vivid brushstrokes with beauty-world minimalism. The real collectible? A Singapore-exclusive Essential Skin Nuder Cushion in limited-edition packaging that combines good coverage and culture.
The Sweetness of Tangerines is now on till 1 June 2025 at the JUNGSAEMMOOL flagship store located at 27 Scotts Road. For more information, visit their website.
Brain, Body, and Biosphere
ArtScience Museum’s Curious Worlds micro-festival opens minds and redefines the way we think about design and biology. At Brain, Body, and Biosphere, get close up with the textures of elephant skin to adaptive fashion innovations, this multisensory journey ties together nature, science, and inclusivity. Exhibitors include Brain Bank Singapore, bioSEA and more, each one challenging the boundaries of the biosphere.
Brain, Body, and Biosphere is now on till 25 May 2025 at the ArtScience Museum. For more information, visit their website.
Non c'è Rosa Senza Spine - A solo exhibition by Giovanni Leonardo Bassan
Giovanni Leonardo Bassan’s first solo exhibition in Singapore isn’t here to play it safe. Non c'è Rosa Senza Spine (“Ain’t No Roses Without Thorns”) peels back the layers of beauty and brutality through raw, figurative works that feel as classical as they do confrontational. The Paris-based Italian artist, who’s worked with Michele Lamy and currently heads Rick Owens’ furniture division, knows a thing or two about duality, and it shows. Think sacred versus savage, softness versus severity, oil paint versus emotional gut punch.
Non c'è Rosa Senza Spine - A solo exhibition by Giovanni Leonardo Bassan will be running till 30 May 2025 at the LOY Contemporary Art Gallery, Tudor Court. For more information, visit their website.
Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses
The world of renowned fashion designer Iris van Herpen is here with "Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses". Her first solo exhibition in Asia, visitors will get to see over 140 of Iris' works up close and personal including pieces worn by the likes of Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, and Björk.
Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses is now on till 10 August 2025 at the ArtScience Museum. For more information, visit their website.
Mirror Mirror
ArtScience Museum presents "Mirror Mirror: Journey Into the Mind". Created by Moment Factory, the exhibition puts art and science in focus with a series of interactive, experiential environments that stimulate the senses and explore the different facets of the human mind.
ArtScience Museum's "Mirror Mirror: Journey Into the Mind" is on till 6 July 2025.
DINE OUT
SKAI Bar x Bar Notes
Seoul’s cult bar NOTES takes over SKAI Bar for one night only, bringing its story-first cocktails to the top of the skyline. Presented by Perrier, this one-off by NOTE's bartenders Ricky (Sang Yeop) and Hugo (Hyung Cheol) features espresso martinis with grated parm, cucumber riffs on a Rickey, and a cacao fizz you’ll want before sunset. Come for the storytelling, stay for the bitters.
The collaboration is happening on 26 May 2025 at SKAI Bar, Swissôtel The Stamford, 2 Stamford Road, Level 70, #70-02. For more information, click here.
Saint Pierre's One-Night-Only Burgundy Wine Dinner
For one night only on 27 May, Saint Pierre kicks off its Silver Jubilee with a seven-course dinner that pairs modern French-Asian finesse with some of Burgundy’s most storied labels. Chef-owner Emmanuel Stroobant reunites with acclaimed winemaker Nicolas Potel for a rare tasting that spans Saint-Aubin to Clos de Vougeot. Expect foie gras with cherry blossom trout, Pyrenees lamb with ras el hanout, and Omi beef with sand carrot and Szechuan pepper, each matched with vintages from Domaine de Bellene and Maison Roche de Bellene. A meal made for collectors, romantics, and anyone who knows a Grand Cru when they see one.
Saint Pierre is located at One Fullerton, #02-02B, 1 Fullerton Road. For more information, click here.
LUCE Champagne Sunday Brunch
LUCE at InterContinental Singapore has a new chapter and a new chef. Hailing from Italy’s culinary heartland, Andrea Rossi brings Emilia-Romagna to the plate with Roman-style pinsas (a type of flatbread), seafood, and Italian mains done right. Buffet spreads now anchor the experience, with a champagne brunch on Sundays featuring DJ sets, theatrical live stations, and more Bauget-Jouette than you can reasonably justify. But you will.
LUCE is located at InterContinental Singapore, 80 Middle Road. For more information, click here.
Sulwhasoo Café
Wellness meets fine dining at Sulwhasoo Café, a returning collaboration between the K-beauty giant and Sofitel Singapore City Centre's 1864 bar and lounge. On the menu from 17 May to 13 July: Ginseng, collagen, jujube and mugwort—not in your serums, but in your mains, starters and desserts. Choose between two- or three-course options, or go à la carte. Qualifying diners will receive a Sulwhasoo beauty kit to take home, because inner glow is great, but samples are much better.
Sulwhasoo Café runs from 17 May to 13 July 2025, 11am to 6pm daily. Sofitel Singapore City Centre is located at 9 Wallich Street. For more information, click here.
Writers Bar's Kentucky Derby Tipples
All through May, Writers Bar at Raffles Hotel Singapore honours the pageantry of the Kentucky Derby with a four-part cocktail tribute to American racing’s most storied tradition. Expect variations on the classic Mint Julep, crafted with Michter’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon, alongside the grapefruit-honey Brown Derby, a zesty Whiskey Buck, and the Jockey Club, a deep, aromatic blend built for lingering. It’s tradition with a twist, served on a silver tray.
Raffles Hotel Singapore is located at 1 Beach Road. For more information, click here.
HighHouse's The High Table
HighHouse launches The High Table, a culinary collaboration series spotlighting renowned chefs. For its debut available for lunch and dinner, Michelin-starred Chef Daniele Sperindio of Art di Daniele Sperindio presents eight exclusive dishes infused with playful, Italian-meets-Singaporean flair. Highlights include chilled somen in watermelon rind broth, scallop-studded black lime pasta, and an ice kachang-inspired dessert with burrata cream and banana nectar ice.
HighHouse is located at 1 Raffles Place, Level 61-62. For more information, visit their website.
Ma Cuisine's Spring Menu
Ma Cuisine ushers in the season with a refresh of its spring menu. Think French classics with just the right amount of creative rebellion. Expect confit Jeju abalone to replace lamb in a reimagined Navarin d’Ormeau Printanier, and milk-fed sweetbreads paired with morels in a silky veal sauce. The cellar-first bistro’s 1,000-label wine list is the real flex: rare vintages, cult producers, and bottles you’ll only find if you know someone who knows someone. Luckily, the sommelier knows just what to pour.
Ma Cuisine is located at 38 Craig Road. For more information, visit their website.
Bar Somma's 'Nothing In Moderation'
Moderation? Never heard of her. Bar Somma’s new happy hour offering, cheekily titled Nothing in Moderation, is unapologetically indulgent. Order any martini and enjoy unlimited Lampredotto Panini—think slow-cooked veal tripe with green salsa, red sauce, and homemade focaccina. Equal parts hearty and hedonistic, it’s the kind of pairing that makes restraint feel overrated.
Bar Somma's "Nothing In Moderation" is available from Tuesday to Sunday, 6pm to 7.30pm. For more information, visit their website.
Manhattan’s Sunday Cocktail Brunch
The city’s most decadent brunch is back. Manhattan’s famed adults-only Sunday Cocktail Brunch returns this April, this time with even more flair. Start with a Bloody Mary, boozy milkshake or spritz at one of the interactive stations, before diving into a New York-inspired spread featuring showstoppers like OP rib smoked in a Solera-Aged Negroni barrel—and yes, a whiskey chocolate fountain. Come hungry, leave a little tipsy.
Manhattan's Sunday Cocktail Brunch happens every Sunday, 12pm to 3pm at Manhattan, Conrad Singapore Orchard. For more information, visit their website.
MOVIES, SHOWS & MUSIC
Hendrick's Sunset Cinema
From 8 to 25 May 2025, the Hendrick’s Sunset Cinema returns with a fresh slate of crowd-pleasers, including FREE SOLO, WICKED, and E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial. Billed as Asia’s most breathtaking open-air cinema on Tanjong Beach, Sentosa, it’s where film buffs sip gin cocktails on the beach while watching Oscar winners and Broadway adaptations under the stars. Proof that blockbusters hit different when you’re watching them by the water, drink in hand.
For more information on Hendrick's Sunset Cinema or to book tickets, click here.
The European Film Festival
Get ready for a cultural passport through 26 acclaimed films from across the continent at the European Film Festival this year, plus a special “Six at Sixty” segment celebrating Singapore’s independence through the lens of young local filmmakers. Screenings are followed by dialogue sessions, and if you’re wondering whether Europe still does cinema better, this month-long festival is here to answer that with subtitles and soul.
The European Film Festival runs till 24 May 2025, and screenings are held at The Projector at Cineleisure. For more information, click here.
Hyper Knife
Medical dramas are one thing, but Hyper Knife takes it to another level by injecting a dose of thriller, revenge, and high-stakes neurosurgery into its pulse-racing plot. Starring Park Eun-bin (Extraordinary Attorney Woo, The King’s Affection) as Jeong Seok, a neurosurgeon shunned from the medical world after uncovering a dark secret, and Sul Kyung-gu (Memoir of a Murderer, Oasis) as her former mentor, the series is a tension-filled masterpiece of skill, power, and retribution.
Hyper Knife is streaming on Disney+ now. Read the ELLE exclusive here.
KATSEYE releases "Gnarly"
KATSEYE is back, and this time they’re not here to whisper sweet nothings. After debuting at number one on Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart with their EP SIS (Soft Is Strong), the group returns with Gnarly, a maximalist club anthem that feels like an online meltdown and a mosh pit kiss rolled into one.
Stream the single today on Spotify.
LIVE CONCERTS & PERFORMANCES
The Graces
Two powerhouse sopranos are here to rewrite the rules of classical performance, starting with a little jazz, a lot of Disney, and a live band that doesn’t sit still. Making their debut as The Graces, this new vocal duo brings a one-night-only concert to Capitol Theatre on 29 May, backed by Singapore’s Summertimes Big Band and a cinematic LED backdrop. Expect classics like "Fly Me to the Moon", "Quizás, Quizás, Quizás", and a reminder that opera gloves pair surprisingly well with a swing beat.
Capitol Theatre is located at Capitol Singapore, 17 Stamford Road. For more information, click here.