36 Hours in Singapore with Richard Parker

From a rejuvenating facial experience to outstanding molecular gastronomy, RATIONALE Founder, Richard Parker, guides you through 36 hours in the Lion City.

From a rejuvenating facial experience to outstanding molecular gastronomy, RATIONALE Founder, Richard Parker, guides you through 36 hours in the Lion City.

The age of the A380 ushers in a “let’s just get on with it” mentality about travelling from Australia to Europe. However, on a recent trip, an essential stopover in Singapore to visit our brilliant Team and gorgeous Flagship Clinics revealed the bliss of a short but sweet tropical stay.

7:00am: The Arrival

Landing at Changi Airport early in the morning, I checked into the divine Capella Hotel on Sentosa Island. Only 15 minutes from the CBD, this glamorous escape feels like a true tropical retreat—allowing you to experience that unique languid sense of relaxation that only an equatorial climate can bestow.

10:00am: The Flagship Visit

After breakfast at the Capella, I visited our Flagship Clinics at Raffles City and Tangs. Our Singapore Teams are truly remarkable, marrying their mastery of RATIONALE Education and Rituals with local knowledge of Singapore’s twin skin challenges—high humidity and urban pollution. 

11:00am: The #RATIONALEGlow

I had the joy of experiencing The EpiNova Brilliance Facial at our Raffles City Flagship. Pure bliss! Rejuvenated with a renewed radiance, I simply cannot express the uplift—both physically and mentally—that a RATIONALE Facial Treatment imparts!

1:00pm: The Meal of Choice

Lunch is my meal of choice in Singapore, as I always prefer dinner to be an extremely lightweight affair. We dined at the incomparable Odette, housed in the magnificent National Gallery. Chef Julien Royer, while clearly possessing enormous technical skill—and molecular chemistry—delivers dishes that are indeed, in his words, “honest and welcoming”. Culinary science in the service of luxury and true

6:00pm: The End of a Big Day 

An afternoon of business and education meetings ended with a simple bowl of organic chicken lemongrass broth back at the Capella—that tropical holiday feeling rushing back again!—and an early night. 

8:00am: The Hustle

Skipped breakfast to attend another round of meetings. 

12:00pm: The Celebration of Food and Art

A light Cantonese lunch at the legendary National Kitchen by Violet Oon, once again at The National Gallery. What is it with food and art in Singapore? 

3:30pm: The Final Farewell

Late afternoon and one last catchup with the Team over tea at the Tian Fu Tea Room.

6:00pm: The Last Bowl of Broth

Back to the hotel to pack and have one last bowl of that delicious broth. Then, off to Changi Airport for the midnight flight to Paris.