Fodor's Expert Review Singapore Cricket Club

Founded in 1852 and housed in a charming 1884 building with 1907 and 1921 modifications, this club was for a long time the center of social and sporting life for the British community (they played cricket on the Padang at least from the 1830s). It now has a multiracial active membership and offers facilities for various sports, in addition to bars and restaurants. If you're going to be in Singapore for more than a couple of weeks, you can apply, with the support of a member, for a visiting membership. The club isn't open to the general public, but from the Padang you can sneak a quick look at the deep, shaded verandas, from which members still watch cricket, rugby, and tennis matches.