Halloween is the only time of the year when you can get away with cheesy costumes and cringe-worthy pranks. It is also the perfect time to bring out your horror movie collection and binge-watch with a couple of friends!

But throughout the recent years, Halloween is a festivity that Singaporeans are growing to love more and more.

We get to be treated to yearly scare-fests, on top of the Trick-And-Treat adventures in neighbourhoods. Be it full-on hair-raising experience or something more toned-down that the kids will love, here are 3 Spook-Tacular Events Around Singapore For Halloween 2016.

Photo Credit: Geek Culture

#1 HALLOWEEN HORROR NIGHTS 6 (HNN6)

Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights arguably started the ball rolling for the steady stream of Halloween-themed events in Singapore, and can almost be considered a must-do when the month of October approaches.

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HHN is on to its sixth consecutive year, and this time, you can look forward to six different themes all over the park – including Old Changi Hospital, Hu Li’s Inn, and this year’s special – the Salem Witch House.

When: 01, 06, 07, 08, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31 October 2016

Universal Studios Singapore
8 Sentosa Gateway
Singapore 098269
Tel: +65 6577 8888
Daily: 10am – 7pm

Photo Credit: *SCAPE

#2 THE DOLL FACTORY AT *SCAPE

*SCAPE has jumped onto the bandwagon when it comes to haunted houses and frightful events for the Halloween season. This year, get creeped out by the array of freaky, blood-curling “vintage dolls” that are sure to give you nightmares (well, you asked for it).

Step into a tour with seven different chambers, complete with shrieking actors.

When: 03 October 2016 – 06 November 2016

*SCAPE
2 Orchard Link
Singapore 237978
Tel: +65 6521 6565
Daily: 9am – 6pm

Photo Credit: Resort World Sentosa

#3 SPOOKY SEAS AT S.E.A. AQUARIUM

Get the little ones involved with the Halloween festivities at the Spooky Seas at S.E.A. Aquarium event. Several family-friendly events such as a treasure hunt, underwater show complete with ‘skeleton’ wanderers, and a story-telling session will be scheduled at different times throughout the week.

Your kids can even get crafty with Halloween-themed workshops!

When: 01 October 2016 – 31 October 2016

S.E.A. Aquarium
8 Sentosa Gateway
Singapore 098269
Tel: +65 6577 8899
Daily: 10am – 7pm

There has always been a debate over the difference between farm-bred and wild-caught fishes. The former, while much more readily available and affordable, has a higher chance of being contaminated, hence more prone to getting disease. The latter live in their natural habitats out in the open waters, and is hence a lot healthier. We can go on and on about the benefits of wild-caught fishes, but we will leave that for another day. While I am always happy to order wild-caught fishes when I dine out, restaurants in Singapore hardly place an emphasis on it and hence stick to using conventional farm-bred ones.

This is why I am so happy to introduce Quayside Fish Bar & Bistro as it is really a heaven for seafood lovers. Located at the charming Quayside Isle at the luxurious Sentosa Cove enclave, Quayside Fish Bar & Bistro has daily fresh imports of wild-caught seafood and fish from different parts of the world.

Appetising starters include Hokkaido Scallops Crudo (S$19), freshly shucked oysters, and the beautifully-plated Torched Holloumi Cheese (S$18). The pastas (S$28) are too delicious to a fault, and nobody can resist the Baked Half Boston Lobster (S$54). But the highlight of the menu – and something that you must order – is the qsfb’s Fresh Seafood Platter (S$150).

Quayside Fish Bar & Bistro has a spacious interior that looks very inviting and though nothing fanciful, it makes you want to sink in to the seat for a meal. The splendiferous waterfront view makes it a wonderful choice for all-day dining; breezy environment to say the least, and you cannot get any more relaxing than this. And the cherry on top? The al fresco area is pet-friendly.

The Torched Holloumi Cheese (S$18) – with compressed watermelon, wild rocket, raspberry wine vinaigrette and squid ink crumbs – is a work of art on its own. The very colourful dish is simply too beautiful to behold. It is intended to spark the palate and leave you anticipating what is to come.

The Horseradish Marinated Yellowfin Tuna Tartare (S$18) is also another great way to start your meal. So too are the oysters. If you like oysters, you will be spoiled by the choices at Quayside Fish Bar & Bistro. They have oysters (S$4.30 – S$9.35 per piece) from around the world – Tasmania, Scotland, Ireland, France, to name a few…

What I also like about Quayside Fish Bar & Bistro is that it has a special and very personalised Blackboard menu which changes daily with the freshest produce that the chefs source for the day. First, you choose a fish (min order of 200g for dine-in), then select your preferred cooking method – baked mole, herb crusted, roasted, cartoccio, and poached. And finally, choose the side dish to go along with the fish.

We tried a Chilean Seabass in Baked Mole style. The fish was fresh and tender, but what worked wonders for it was the sauce, which was tangy and very flavourful. It was accompanied by a generous stack of shoestring white truffle fries.

Among the three pasta dishes on the menu, we sampled qsfb’s Signature Chilli Crab Linguine and Squid Ink Lobster Spaghetti. The former was a kick-ass spicy and fiery hot rendition of the iconic Singapore dish, while the latter came in delicious squid ink XO cream with hint of brandy, topped with huge chunks of lobsters.

The standout dish on the menu is surely the qsfb’s Fresh Seafood Platter (S$150, for 2 to 3 pax) – with the choice of hot or cold – which features an entire Boston lobster, seasonal oysters, Hokkaido scallops, snow crab, crawfish, tiger prawns, scampi, and more truffle fries.

Desserts are baked freshly in-house, too. The Black Sesame Cheese Pound Cake (S$9), with a scoop of green tea gelato, is a unique creation. Chocolate Coated Strawberries (S$9) are bites of decadence. White Truffle Flavoured Lava Chocolate Cake (S$12) will make you go weak in the knees. But the must-try dessert is their Homemade Tiramisu (S$14), which is rich and doused in a copious amount of alcohol. This might just be one dessert to leave you with withdrawal syndrome – if that is even possible.

Citibank card holders get to enjoy a complimentary glass of sauvignon blanc or Pinot Noir with every S$60 spent at Quayside Fish Bar & Bistro (valid from Tue – Fri). Ultima Cardholders get 10% off total bill with minimum spend of S$100.

The weekly promotion here is also equally enticing. From a glass of Bloody Mary oyster shooter at a jaw-dropping S$5 (on every Sun), to a 1-for-1 deal on Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Prosecco (on every Tue), and 1-for-1 cocktails (on every Wed) – there is always something to anticipate at Quayside Fish Bar & Bistro.

If you are the adventurous type, and thinking of a place to celebrate Halloween with your pals, the “Peer by the Pier” Scary Halloween Party at Quayside Fish Bar & Bistro is definitely your kind of party. There are many scary activities lined up for the evening – expect free flow of brain booze for your indulgence if you dare. Find out more information on their facebook event page.

The marriage of super fresh seafood with an array of speciality cocktails, wines and craft beers served up in a comfortable and cosy gastrobar setting makes this fish bar at Quayside Isle a spot to head to if you haven’t been. For those of you who are already regulars there, the ongoing promotions are reason enough to make you return soon.

Quayside Fish Bar & Bistro
31 Ocean Way #01-11
Quayside Isle, Sentosa Cove
Tel: +65 6268 8633
Tue: 9am – 12 midnight
Wed & Thu: 12pm – 12 midnight
Fri: 12pm – 1am
Sat: 9am – 1am
Sun: 9am – 12 midnight
Website: http://www.qsfishbar.com

This post is sponsored by Quayside Fish Bar & Bistro.