Why bring home a book by a Singaporean author?

For one, you would be showing some love to the local literary movement, known as #BuySingLit, which invites bibliophiles to discover and embrace Singaporean literature. But the bigger (and perhaps better) reason is that there are quality reads from Singapore that would be valuable additions to any bookshelf.

In fact, this tiny city-state’s stories are no longer confined to a local audience—some have been snapped up by international publishers, others have won or been nominated for prestigious awards, and a few have even caught the attention of Hollywood filmmakers.

Ready to discover the best made-in-Singapore stories? The most promising hunting grounds would be the indie bookstores Book Bar and Littered With Books. But if you prefer mega-bookstores, or are wondering where to go in Singapore when bored, you can spend an entire afternoon at Kinokuniya or Popular instead.

As for the books you should bring home, The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye is highly recommended. Author Sonny Liew became the first Singaporean to win an Eisner award in 2017, bagging three awards in the equivalent of the Oscars for the comic industry. Liew’s graphic novel offers an interesting albeit contentious take on Singapore’s history—love him or hate him, his book is still on its winning streak this year. 

Another Singapore artist to have tasted Eisner recognition is Andrew Tan. Better known as Drewscape, he received his nomination for one of the short stories featured in his comic anthology Monsters, Miracles & Mayonnaise.

Science fiction fans can look out for the works of JY Yang and Vina Jie-Min Prasad; both Singaporean writers have been shortlisted for this year’s Hugo Awards, one of the most prestigious awards in science fiction writing.

If you are a fan of horror stories, check out the chilling stories by Christina Sng, a poet and writer, who was also a three-time Bram Stoker Award winning author for her works, A Collection of Nightmares (2017), A Collection of Dreamscapes (2020) and Tortured Willows (2021). 

This list is not complete without mentioning Crazy Rich Asians, the hit rom com novel turned movie, penned by Kevin Kwan, who spent his childhood in Singapore. It was not merely the prospect of fame and fortune that motivated Kwan to write his book. "It's always been my focus to bridge the gap between East and West," he says. "To create stories, films, and TV that the reader or viewer can really lose themselves in, that transcend race and skin colour—that to me would be the ultimate triumph."

For those who prefer a much more substantial read, books by Singapore’s founding father Lee Kuan Yew are a must-have. The Singapore Story. A History of Modern Singapore by Mary Turnbull and Singapore: A Biography by Mark Ravinder Frost and Yu-Mei Balasingamchow have also been recommended by history buffs.

Get directions to The Book Bar

Get directions to Littered With Books

Get directions to Kinokuniya

Get directions to Popular (Pop @ Central)

Whether you are looking for a tasteful, whimsical, or practical Singapore-related memento, The Independent Market has it all. Beyond its retail facade, this specialty store also collaborates with local creatives to design, produce, distribute and sell a vast variety of products that celebrate local art and design.  They include designer products by local brands such as Epigram Books, Supermama and wheniwasfour, making it a  one-stop shop for Singapore-inspired souvenirs. 

Other smaller independent retailers that provide a platform for Singapore designers are Supermama at Stamford Road, inside the Singapore National Museum, and Cat Socrates at Tiong Bahru. 

Get directions to The Independent Market

Get directions to Supermama

Get directions to Cat Socrates

To bring home Singaporeans’ everyday comfort food, head to the islandwide traditional cafe chain Ya Kun Kaya Toast for a jar of kaya—a jam made from eggs, sugar, coconut milk, and pandan leaves. This Singapore invention is a handy spread for breakfast and tea, and you can use it in desserts as well.

If you need to purchase a classy, elegantly packaged gift that will be universally appreciated, you can’t go wrong with tea. The luxury tea brand TWG was founded in Singapore in 2008, and it has been going places since then. Today, you can find TWG stores all over the world. 

And if you are looking for unique things to do in Singapore, and are open to venturing away from the city centre, head to Biscuit King in the Upper Thomson neighbourhood, which stocks traditional biscuits, sweets, and toys. You may also find some of these biscuits—and healthier selections—at UnPackt, Singapore’s first zero-waste grocery store. Over at UnPackt, you’ll have to bring your own jars and bags, or use a donated recycled container from the store. Apart from food items, UnPackt also stocks products such as metal straws and “unpaper” (cloth) towels to help you lead a more eco-friendly existence.

Get directions to Ya Kun (Beach Road)
Get directions to TWG
Get directions to Biscuit King
Get directions to UnPackt

Interested to see more of Singapore? Head over to our Destination Insights, packed with recommendations on what to see, where to go and more. If you need any assistance, drop an enquiry to the team at PARKROYAL on Beach Road, and they will be more than happy to help.