Top posts of 2021: a year in review

Above Image: Colony Buffet at Ritz-Carlton

Thoughts from happyhighlife.com

This entry isn’t just about the Top Posts of 2021, but also about the process.

It’s been a little over two years since happyhighlife.com was born. It’s been a journey with constant writing on Dining, Hotel Stays, the various American Express promotions and discounts (especially on the Amex Platinum Charge Card and Amex Love Dining Programme), and luxury bags. Since its inception, this blog has grown – to date, a total of 122 posts have been published, and the blog’s audience has exponentially skyrocketed. December 2021 alone recorded over 12,000 visitors a month to the blog!

I am so thankful, and so honoured, that my readers choose to constantly return and show their love and support. This wouldn’t have been possible without you folks.

This is really a #throwback post here. Let’s see what’s the most-read, top posts of 2021.

Disclaimer: by “top” post I simply mean blog entries with the MOST NUMBER of visitors. The post itself might not have been written in 2021.

Top posts of 2021

Written in reverse chronological order (from 10th to 1st), here’s happyhighlife.com’s top posts of 2021.

10) Food review: Basilico at Regent Singapore

Notes: Italian Cuisine, Love Dining benefits

Basilico at Regent Singapore joined the Love Dining programme early in 2021. At the time of writing this review – Basilico’s set lunch menus had Love Dining benefits. This means that two adults could both order the set meals and pay 50% of the total food bill. However, currently, Basilico has discountinued love dining benefits for the set meals. However, Love Dining benefits still exist for the a la carte menu (read my reviews here). It’s still worth it in my humble opinion – the a la carte menu is lovely and the Italian fare is one of the best I’ve found in Singapore.

9) Food review: Shin Minori Japanese Buffet

Notes: Japanese Buffet, Entertainer App by HSBC

The Entertainer App by HSBC is another great dining discount programme. With the app (can be purchased, or complimentary with a qualifying HSBC credit card). The Japanese buffet here has great variety – the options for sashimi, nigiri sushi, aburi sushi, noodles, mains, mini shabu shabu pots, deep fried stuff, and desserts – is enough to make any Japanese food lover swoon over.

8) Food review: Oscar’s buffet at Conrad Centennial Singapore

Notes: International Buffet, Love Dining

International buffet. Need I say more? In the post covid-19 world, it looks like a la carte buffets would be the way to go. At the time of our visit, qualifying American Express card holders had Love Dining benefits in place. However, the dining establishments at Conrad Centennial have a history of going in and out of the Love Dining programme. Tip from me: If dining in with the intention to use these benefits – do check with the hotel beforehand to see what’s valid.

7) Hotel review: Shangri-la staycation

Notes: American Express FHR (Fine Hotels and Resorts) Rate, Amex Platinum Charge Card benefits.

If anyone were to ask me to recommend a child-friendly hotel, the Shangri-La Singapore would be it. With huge outdoor and indoor play areas, kids (and their parents) would enjoy this place very much. Service is excellent and the hotel is overall well-managed, despite covid-19 restrictions such as in-room dining for breakfast. 

6) Hotel review: Capella Singapore

Notes: American Express Platinum Charge Card Welcome gift

This is hands-down, the BEST hotel stay that my family and I ever had in our lives. Celebrated my birthday in 2021 there, and it was so beautifully memorable. Everything was top notch – facilities at Auriga spa, a la carte buffet breakfast, and the very luxurious and comfortable room, all at the heart of Sentosa island. The best part? It was a complimentary welcome gift (at that time) with the American Express Platinum Charge card.

5) Food review: High Tea Buffet at Rose Veranda by Shangri-La 

Notes: High Tea Buffet

It’s no surprise that the Shangri-La Singapore makes this list twice – the previous entry for the hotel staycation, and this one for the High Tea Buffet. A favourite among many, this is one of those places that you’ve got to try at LEAST once in your life. 

4) Food review: Brasserie Les Saveurs, St. Regis Singapore

Notes: Love Dining benefits

I am featuring TWO posts here, tied at #4 – and that’s because BOTH posts are from Brasserie Les Saveurs, at St Regis Singapore. 

Brasserie Les Saveurs is one of American Express’s Love Dining partners, and it’s my favourite French fine-dining place in Singapore. Endlessly romantic and whimsical, it’s the perfect place to impress a date or celebrate a special occasion. The husband and I have been here tons of times. 

At the time of writing, the Sunday Brunch only had the in-house St. Regis hotel programme – Supper Club benefits (25% off). However, recently, St. Regis Singapore has included the Sunday Brunch for Love Dining benefits too (up to 50% off, depending on number of adults). 

As always, checking in with the hotel to see what promotions are going on – is always a good idea. 

3) Guides: American Express Love Dining guide for Restaurants

Notes: Compilation of Love Dining Benefits and list of Participating Restaurants

I am a fan of the American Express Love dining benefits. I have talked about it ad nauseum on this blog. The guide here is not just one of my top blogposts of all time – ranked #3 on this blog, but it’s also ranked in the top 10 of google’s search engines. (I’m serious – type ‘Love Dining Benefits’ or something in google’s search bar, and this blog always pops up within the first 10 searched options).

I love it so much because it allows the husband and I to dine in at hotels and high-end restaurants at 50% off. It’s been a total game changer for our dates and our dining experience, and I highly recommend this programme to anyone.

If anyone wants to apply for a qualifying American Express card (especially the Platinum Charge card or regular Platinum card) – do apply through my referral link and get bonus Membership Rewards or Krisflyer miles. 

Want to apply for an American Express credit card? Apply through one of my referral links and receive either bonus Membership Rewards points, vouchers and / or Krisflyer miles:

• The Platinum Charge Card: Use this referral link and receive up to S$900 statement credits and Samsonite Choca Spinner 68/25 (worth S$700) when you apply and minimum spend criteria is met.
• The American Express Platinum Card: Use this referral link and receive up to S$350 statement credits when you apply and minimum spend criteria is met.
• American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Ascend Credit Card: Use this referral link and receive up to 38, 000 Krisflyer miles and S$50 statement credits when you apply and minimum spend criteria is met. 

2) Bag: Story of a Hermes Birkin

Notes: Personal experience of acquiring a Hermes Birkin from my local store.

I love Hermes as a brand and own several bags from them – including the Picotin 22, the Garden Party 36, the Bolide 27 etc, as well as a number of small leather goods (such as an Ostrich Bearn in Mykonos). The Birkin is special: this is my first ever Holy Grail bag from Hermes – the Birkin 30 in Rose Extreme, Epsom leather, and palladium hardware.

(The second Holy Grail is my Gold on Gold Hermes Kelly 28, and the third is a Constance 18 in Rose Confetti – but those are other stories already).

Many people have wondered how to navigate the Hermes game. While I can’t say that my method is the gospel truth, it’s my personal wish that this post is helpful for anyone who wants to get their hands on a Holy Grail Hermes bag.

1) Food Review: Colony at Ritz-Carlton Millenia

Notes: Throwback post. I guess we all miss old-style buffets before COVID19 ravaged the world.

Wow – this post clinching the top spot… took me 100% by surprise. Not just because this is one popular place. The post was especially special – it was a THROWBACK to pre-covid times – of what buffets used to look like. Perhaps Singapore residents are nostalgic for old-style buffets after all.

Known informally and among the food blogging community as one of Singapore’s better places for buffet, Colony at Ritz Carlon Millenia has always been a hit with people. This post documents the glory days of what the best buffets in Singapore looked like just two years ago, and here’s hoping that we can return to something similar in future. 

And… my personal favourite post.

So, while this post didn’t make it to the top 10, it came pretty close – i suspect that posting this LATE in the year (mid Novebmer) might have caused it to loose a little in terms of visitors in raw numbers. But this is a special tribute to my favourite blogpost of 2021.

Notes: Amex SGD50 voucher, Amex SGD350 cashback… And hands down the Best Meal in my Life.

This is my favourite blogpost of 2021 for several reasons.

Firstly, my husband and I celebrated our 13th wedding anniversay here, so that in itself was pretty special. Secondly, we both were so blown away by the experience; we agreed that it was literally THE BEST MEAL the both of us ever had in our lives. Thirdly… with an SGD50 voucher from Amex, as well as SGD350 dining cashback, I ended up paying only a little over SGD100 for the Five Course Meal AND Wine-Pairing for the both of us.

The meal ticked all the right boxes; it was just so special. It’s a pity that this post couldn’t make it to the top 10, but it’s so noteworthy that it deserves its own feature anyway.

Looking to 2022 and beyond

Among the #10 top posts of 2021 – there’s quite a nice balance: a combination of food reviews, hotel reviews, one guide, and one on luxury bags. In a way it represents what this blog is all about – the high life experienced via discounts on food and hotels, while toting about the occasional luxury bag.

This blog, happyhighlife.com, is now such an integral part of my life that I’m definitely going to continue blogging in 2022.

My personal life is extremely busy; I do have a full-time, highly demanding job outside of blogging, as well as two small children. Currenly they are aged 4 and 1 respectively – so to say that I have my hands full is an understatement.

Yet, this blog, is something I’ve highly enjoyed doing over the past two years – and it is my dream that the blog can continue to grow and reach more people.

To all my readers, thank you so much for your support the past two years. Thank you for keeping me going, for your random DMs on instagram, and for saying Hi. This blog wouldn’t have existed without you folks – and for that, I am grateful from the bottom of my heart.

Above Image: Bread Basket at Jaan by Kirk Westaway

Inspired by this post and want to apply for an American Express credit card? Apply through one of my referral links and receive either bonus Membership Rewards points or statement credit:

• The Platinum Charge Card: Use this referral link and receive up to S$900 statement credits and Samsonite Choca Spinner 68/25 (worth S$700) when you apply and minimum spend criteria is met.
• The American Express Platinum Card: Use this referral link and receive up to S$350 statement credits when you apply and minimum spend criteria is met.
• American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Ascend Credit Card: Use this referral link and receive up to 38, 000 Krisflyer miles and S$50 statement credits when you apply and minimum spend criteria is met. 

Disclaimer: the views and opinions expressed on this page are that of Happy High Life and may not necessarily reflect the position of American Express. Happy High Life is not responsible for any decisions made by readers. The terms and conditions for each credit card's application and usage may be subject to change by American Express. Therefore, readers are recommended to check any matters with American Express or its partners; the list of all benefits of the Platinum Charge Card can be found here.

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