17 Things To Do In May 2021 For Dates With Bae & Outings With Your Friend Squad

By Rachel Yohannan on 01 May 2021

Senior Digital Editor

Crazy cat lady who loves afternoon tea, kawaii Japanese fashion, and all things Sanrio.

We already know May’s gonna be awesome - starting off the first day of any month with a public holiday should be made a norm! What’s that, you say? Another TWO PHs down the road within the same month? Heck, yeah. With Labour Day, Hari Raya Puasa, and Vesak Day all happening on alternate weeks this May, we’ll all be getting well-paced breathers - and these 17 things to do in May 2021 can serve as activities for those rest days.

This month’s list includes new cinema experiences, a hidden art gallery in town, and an indoor adventure park with over 20 high-octane activities!

Read on for things to do in May 2021 in Singapore!

#1: Get nostalgic with old-school video games and art at the Vintage Pop exhibition

Photo from @whitespaceartasia via Instagram

Experience a blast from the past with old-school artwork and neon installations at Vintage Pop, an exhibition at White Space Art Asia that celebrates the pop art movement and how it’s still relevant in today’s modern art landscape.

Photo from @whitespaceartasia via Instagram

Spot familiar motifs from your childhood like the the Pac-Man ghosts, as well as Bubblun, the adorable dinosaur fronting the classic Puzzle Bobble arcade game!

Photo from @whitespaceartasia via Instagram

Date: Until 15 May 2021
Time: 10am - 7pm daily
Location: White Space Art Asia (Yong Siak Street)
Price: FREE
Website

#2: Bring your furkid on a dog cruise with 3-course dinner for both

Photo from Dog Cruise Singapore

Take to the seas with your best furry pal in tow, with Singapore’s very first dog cruise aboard the luxurious Royal Albatross tall ship! Various packages for small, medium, and large dogs are available, so no furkid has to be left behind.

Photo from Royal Albatross

While paw-rents tuck into a 3-course Western dinner with free mocktail and soft drinks during the scenic 2.5-hour experience, doggies also get a proper seat at the table with their own 3-course premium pet menu.

Photo from Klook

This experience is eligible for SingapoRediscovers Vouchers redemption. Read our full article on this dog cruise and find out how to make your booking here.

#3: Stay at Ji Hotel, Dhoby Ghaut’s answer to Japan’s famous MUJI hotel

Photo from Citadines

Tokyo, Japan may have the famous MUJI Hotel, but Dhoby Ghaut, Singapore has...Ji Hotel. While of course not quite the same and non-affiliated, our own hidden “dupe” of the minimalist hotel is still worthy of a visit for its clean, Japanese-style interiors which ooze zen! It’s a much more wallet-friendly alternative too, with rates starting from just $70/night.

Photo from Citadines

Every room comes with a huge wall-mounted TV and Japanese tea set, and there’s a small gym where you can get a quick workout done. Best part? Staying here costs $0 with SingapoRediscovers Vouchers!

Read our article on Ji Hotel here.

#4: Rent a bicycle or beach tent from St John Island’s pop-up kiosk

Photo from Klook

We can’t visit neighbouring islands like Bali or Batam for now, but island adventures can still continue within our own borders. Aside from Sentosa, you can also explore the quieter St John’s Island - and while the only way to explore it was previously on your own two feet, you can now cover more ground thanks to a pop-up bike rental service by GoGreen.

Photo from @yuki_sg2021 via Instagram

If you’d rather spend a chill afternoon having a picnic instead of putting in the legwork, rent a beach tent and make your way to the pristine white beaches of the neighbouring Lazarus Island, which is connected to St John’s via a convenient footpath. This is eligible for SingapoRediscovers Voucher redemption!

Date: Friday to Sunday, until 6 June 2021
Time: 11am - 4pm
Location: St John’s Island
Price: Bicycle rental: $30 | Beach tent rental: $25 | Bicycle rental + beach tent package: $80 for 2 pax ($40 per person). Make your booking here.
Website

#5: Treat yourself to a premium cinema experience at the new Filmgarde Primo

Photo from Filmgarde Cineplexes

Golden Village and Shaw have done it, and finally, Filmgarde Cineplexes has hopped onto the bandwagon to launch Filmgarde Primo, their first premium hall, at Kallang Leisure Park. Recline in a spacious and cushy leatherette seat - with side table and drink holder - and feel like a real VIP as you watch blockbusters on the huge screen.

Photo from Filmgarde Cineplexes

Couples can cosy up in intimate “Privacy Cocoons”, which are double seats with clear separation from others. Those who are #foreveralone or simply hate disturbances during movies can go solo with Premium Single Seating - the first of its kind in Singapore!

Photo from Filmgarde Cineplexes

Address: 5 Stadium Walk, Kallang Leisure Park Level 3, Singapore 397693
Telephone: 6344 5997
Website

#6: Design your own Harajuku-style phone case at Singapore’s only decoden studio

Photo from CraftBeast Handmade

Remember your teen days, where you used to painstakingly bling up your mobile phone or glue dessert-themed embellishments onto them? Take a throwback at CraftBeast Handmade, Singapore’s first and only decoden (phone deco) studio where you can create your very own Harajuku-esque smartphone case - complete with cream glue that looks like piped icing!

Photo from CraftBeast Handmade

For a very reasonable price of just $28, you’ll be given a transparent phone case and unlimited charms, coloured cream glue, glitters for max kawaii-fication. Aside from phone casings, other options include mirrors, card holders, photo frames, hair clips and AirPods cases.

Photo from CraftBeast Handmade

The shophouse studio itself has a quirky and colourful outlook full of vintage toys, retro Japanese art prints, and wall stickers.

Read our full article on CraftBeast Handmade here.

#7: Bounce on trampolines, scale AR walls, & navigate obstacles at the reopened SuperPark

Photo from SuperPark

After shutting their doors in October last year, mega indoor adventure centre SuperPark has just reopened for adrenaline junkies to get their fix. Designed to be suitable for all ages, this adventure park has over 20 activities for you to choose from - perfect for unconventional dates or group outings with those who don’t want to stick to the same old dinner-and-movie routine.

Photo from SuperPark

The sprawling compound is split into 3 zones, but we recommend going straight for the Game Arena and Freestyle Hall for heightened excitement if you don’t have young kids in tow. Some of the boundless fun in store includes: AR rock climbing, dodgeball, archery, Ninja Warrior-style obstacles, a skateboard arena, and bowling!

Photo from SuperPark

Warning: You’ll be hella sweaty by the end of it. Dress comfortably, and do consider bringing a change of clothes along!

Address: 3 Temasek Boulevard, #02-477 Suntec City Tower 1 North Wing, Singapore 38983
Opening hours: Monday - Friday: 11.30am - 9pm | Saturday & Sunday: 10am - 10pm
Telephone: 6239 5360
Price: $24.90 for Adults (2 hours)
Website

#8: Binge watch all the new Korean dramas airing this May

Photo from tvN

When one drama concludes, another one begins - such is the never-ending gift that the Korean entertainment industry keeps on giving us. If you’re still wallowing in post-finale blues of The Penthouse: War In Life’s Season 2, the plethora of new K-dramas set to be released in May will soon give you something new to look forward to - from a historical drama to swoon-inducing romance flicks and touching stories that will make you cry buckets.

Read our full article on these 7 new Korean dramas in May 2021 here.

#9: Transport yourself to another world with VR gaming arcades from just $9

Photo from @headrockvr via Instagram

Just about 10 years ago, the thought of virtual reality (VR) seemed like a far-off dream that would only be possible in Sci-Fi movies. Now, VR is almost as normal as automated smart home devices, and all the better for us that we get to transport ourselves to other realms with exhilarating VR games!

Photo from New World Carnival

While owning your own VR gaming system won’t come cheap, you can always play zombie shooting, pirate adventures, and horror escape games at Singapore’s many VR gaming arcades from just $9. Special mention to New World Carnival, our country’s first integrated arcade with a whopping 12 VR games including a haunted house, as well as AR racing and old-school classics!

Read our full article on the 5 best VR gaming arcades in Singapore here.

#10: Walk through a secret ravine and misty glasshouse at Botanic Gardens’ new extension

Photo from @blackivory via Instagram

Singapore Botanic Gardens has just unveiled a sparkling new extension to the National Orchid Garden called the Tropical Montane Orchidetum, comprising not one but three display houses. Of these, one is a cool glasshouse with delightful “air-con” temperatures 16 to 23 degrees - almost like a mini version of Gardens by the Bay’s Cloud Forest but with orchids as the main highlight.

Photo from NParks

There’s also an ethereal Mist House - now newly-revamped and twice its original size - with rare hybrid orchids and award-winning varieties. Stroll through the winding pathways and pretend you’re in an exotic forest overseas!

Photo from NParks

Connecting all these display houses is a Secret Ravine with tall coniferous trees, which mimics a mountainous landscape. Further down are lookout points that allow you to admire the expansive scenery in all its full glory.

Photo from @sgrediscovered via Instagram

Address: 1 Cluny Road, National Orchid Garden, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Singapore 259569
Opening hours: 8.30am - 7pm daily (last ticket sales and entry at 6pm) | Due to safe distancing measures, the last entry may be earlier during peak periods depending on the crowd
Telephone: 1800 471 7300
Price: $5 for Singaporean Adults
Website

#11: View contemporary artwork at Carré d’artistes, a hidden gallery at Paragon

Photo from Carré d’artistes

Amidst the swanky fashion boutiques along our shopping belt lies Carré d’artistes, a new art gallery hidden in Paragon. Originating from France, this is part of the largest network of contemporary art galleries in the world, with presence in over 30 places including Amsterdam, Barcelona, and Moscow.

Photo from Carré d’artistes

Other than the fact that their pieces are displayed in open racks like in a vinyl record store - which allows you to freely browse and hold them - what makes them particularly different from other galleries out there is how their artworks are sold at fixed prices from just $190, based on size. This means that regardless of a particular piece’s medium or techniques, what you’re paying for will solely depend on its dimensions!

Photo from Carré d’artistes

Meant to make art accessible to all instead of being an interest reserved for the elite, this is an all-inclusive space that you don’t have to feel intimidated in. Pop by the next time you’re in town and check out the diverse styles they carry, from pop surrealism to modern impressionism!

Address: 290 Orchard Road, #04-08 Paragon Shopping Centre, 238859
Opening hours: 11am - 9pm daily
Telephone: 6962 3550
Website

#12: Admire giant floral glass sculptures with Dale Chihuly: Glass In Bloom at GBTB

Photo from Gardens by the Bay

After the run of another Sakura Matsuri, Gardens by the Bay is now blooming with something new - and they’re not quite the flowers you’d expect. In a first, the Flower Dome, Cloud Forest, and various outdoor portions of the Gardens are now adorned with giant glass sculptures as part of the new Dale Chihuly: Glass In Bloom exhibition, where art and nature blend beautifully.

Photo from @mumuee via Instagram

Other than giant glass flowers suspended high in the air and red glass bamboo amidst a real bamboo grove, you’ll also catch the whimsical sight of colourful balls floating on a sampan and in the waters of the Dragonfly Lake.

Photo from @lhpoh via Instagram

Photo from @mumuee via Instagram

Tickets to Gardens by the Bay are eligible for SingapoRediscovers Voucher redemption. Pre-book yours here.

Date: Until 1 August 2021
Time: 9am - 9pm or 10pm. Check out the opening hours for the various sections here.
Location: Gardens by the Bay
Price: Free for selected outdoor portions. Book your tickets to the Conservatories here.
Website

#13: Enjoy a staycation with rooftop glamping picnic and free breakfast

Photo from Park Hotel Group

Enjoy the great outdoors, but also value comfort? Grand Park City Hall’s new Glampcation package strikes both, where you’ll get to have dinner in a glamping tent or under a gazebo, and rest your head at the end of the night in a luxurious suite - some of which come with private outdoor jacuzzi tubs, depending on the room you pick. Come morning, you’ll be waking up to complimentary breakfast - it doesn’t get any more shiok than this.

Photo from Park Hotel Group

If you still prefer heading home for your forty winks, you can also enjoy the 7-course Glamping Picnic on its own. All the comforts like cushions, blankets, and botanical decor will be provided.

Photo from Park Hotel Group

Read our full article on this Glampcation and Glamping Picnic experience and find out how to make your booking here.

#14: Watch a movie in a neon-lit abandoned nightclub in town

Photo from The Projector

Movie nights just got a whole lot edgier with Projector X - a new series of semi-permanent cinemas by The Projector, happening across unexpected locations across Singapore. The rest of the locations are still a secret, but right now, the first pop-up has taken up residency in an abandoned Chinese nightclub in Clarke Quay for the next 18 months, with neon lights, coffee tables, and even long siam diu-style booth seats.

Photo from The Projector

Those whose pet peeves include people talking during shows will be glad to know that this is a wireless headphone experience - much like a silent disco. It’ll just be you, the big screen, and no other distractions.

Photo from The Projector

After your show, drop by the bar for grilled cheese sandwiches, sharing platters, cocktails, and craft beer as you soak in the riverside views. Have a go at the pool table while you’re there!

Date & time: Check out the film schedule here.
Location: Riverside Point
Price: From $16.50 for members | From $18.50 for public
Website

#15: Upcycle a luxury paper bag into a handbag and interact cute cats

Photo from @3r_sg via Instagram

Remember our previous articles on art jamming with cats, and upcycled luxury paper bags? The ladies behind these respective ventures have since teamed up to organise an upcycled paper bag workshop - with cat interaction! This event is meant to be a Mother’s Day special, so sign up with your dear birthgiver and learn how to make your very own functional, sustainable “Louis Vuitton” handbags!

Photo from @consider.the.wild.flowers via Instagram

All materials, including a leatherette handle and embellishments will be provided. You’ll also get a free drink of your choice, such as TWG tea, organic dark chocolate, and Bacha drip coffee.

Date: 9 May 2021
Time: 9.30am - 12pm
Location: Wildflower Studio (Khatib)
Price: $160. Book your tickets here.
Website

#16: Go “underwater” and play with AR filters at the colourful ocean-themed Sea Show

Photo from EYEYAH!

It’s a vibrant galore of corals and marine life at The Sea Show by EYEYAH! where installations by 30 artists and illustrators are combined to celebrate travelling by ship and bring awareness to threats to the ocean.

At this free-entry, maze-like exhibition, you’ll get to play a Where’s Wally-inspired game, experiment with AR face filters, and watch sea-themed animations dancing across four screens in an “aquatic cinema”.

Photo from EYEYAH!

Read our full article on The Sea Show here.

#17: Customise your shoes and clothes at Singapore’s first Adidas MakerLab

Photo from @adidassg via Instagram

The new Adidas flagship at VivoCity ain’t your regular sports store. It’s home to Singapore’s first Adidas MakerLab, where you can get creative and express yourself by customising your clothes and shoes with iron-on patches, pins, and prints! To sweeten the deal, those who purchase apparel or sneakers from this particular outlet get to enjoy a 30% discount on the customisation fees.