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Welcome to Singapore, one of the world’s great food destinations, where eating—and eating well—is a time-honored national pastime.
Here you can splurge on haute cuisine from Michelin-starred chefs in some of the best fine-dining restaurants in Asia, or dig into fragrant bowls oflaksa (a spicy noodle soup) and heaping plates of char kway teow (stir-fried rice noodle strips) at one of the island’s famous hawker centers. The wide range of food and restaurants is what brings many travelers to Singapore in the first place, and few leave disappointed. In most cities the plan of attack is to map out must-see sights to pack in as much as possible; in Singapore it's often more about maximizing your meals and eating until it hurts—and then trying to fit in some more.
You hardly ever have to go far to find one of Singapore’s casual eating houses and hawker centers, which are fun, budget-friendly places to taste as many local specialties as your stomach can handle. The city-state’s indomitable megamalls are loaded with mid-range restaurants, sprawling food courts, and snack stands. Many of the island’s more upscale restaurants are tucked away in posh hotels, and many of the newer and trendier places are inside restored Chinese shophouses and once-abandoned colonial buildings. Note that upscale restaurants often close in the afternoon between lunch and dinner—from 2:30 to 6:30, for instance.
Of the Tekka Market's many tantalizing eateries, this spot, in business since the 1950s, comes highly recommended—as evidenced by lines that are particularly long at lunchtime. It's worth the wait, though, to enjoy a comfort meal of aromatic biryani rice combined with fork-tender chicken or mutton chunks, and all the orders come with a side of vegetable dhal and pickled vegetables.
The historic Moroccan coffee brand has a beautiful café/dining room on ION Orchard’s first floor. No visit is a quick one though: you may come for a coffee and pastry, but you’ll soon find yourself whiling away the time exploring the vast array of 100% arabica coffee beans housed in large sunset orange tins.
A stretch of Smith Street that is closed to traffic, this outdoor eating area packed with stalls is the only place you'll find real "street food" in Singapore. Though it isn’t totally open-air (there is a high-ceiling glass canopy in case of rain), it makes a welcome change from the often hot and sweaty hawker centers. You would imagine a spot like this would be a big tourist trap, but it manages to deliver good food in a novel setting, albeit at slightly higher prices. Stroll up and down before making a choice of where to eat—Tiong Bahru Meng Kee Roast Duck is a good bet, as are the Sultan of Satay skewers. You can sit where you like, regardless of which stall you purchase from. Occasionally, there will be beer table service; they don’t take a commission so feel free to order your beer through them.
Head to level 2 of the Amoy Street food center for a cup of traditionally-brewed local kopi with a twist; the menu includes a dizzying array of latte flavors, including black sesame, hazelnut, and butter pecan. For a quick bite, pair it with their equally-eclectic toast flavors, like earl grey creme or matcha coconut.
Grab a quick coffee at this hole-in-the-wall joint, one of the few independent coffee shops in the CBD. The space is definitely small—so you’ll want to take your perfectly-roasted flat white to go—but don’t forget to check out the pastry and waffle options.
Be warned: The line for this one-Michelin-star eatery rarely lets up, but the wait is worth it. After just one spoonful of the juicy minced meat and springy egg noodles dressed in a secret recipe of chilli and black vinegar, you’ll understand why locals have kept this no-frills eatery a well-guarded secret for years. Best of all, it's probably the cheapest Michelin-starred meal in town. Opt for the larger bowl; you won't be sorry.
The trademark shortbread-like crust, which has a light almond flavor, puts this bakery's pastries in a class above those made elsewhere; it's also why the take-out shop's buttery, golf ball–sized pineapple tarts and silky smooth bean curd tarts are often sold out. Luckily, Le Café sells a bunch of other goodies, including traditional moon-pie pastries filled with lotus-seed paste, prawn-roll snacks, and mao shan wang–filled durian puffs that are downright addictive. Pretty gift boxes are available if you're planning on bringing home food gifts. Order ahead from the website to avoid being disappointed as things can get busy, especially during the Chinese New Year period.
A second generation business that started out as a wooden stall, this authentic nasi padang (Padang steamed rice served with various pre-cooked dishes) serves a fork-tender beef rendang (Indonesian dry beef curry) slow cooked over charcoal. Other dishes include the ayam belado hijau (chicken in a secret green chilli marinade) and the crispy tahu telur (fried tofu mixed with blanched bean sprouts, peanuts, and a dark sweet soy sauce). Be sure to order a serving of the house-made sambal balado merah (hot and spicy chilli)—it packs a punch, so go easy.
Sandwiches, freshly baked breads, quiches, and a variety of sweet and savory pastries make up the menu at this popular café, the perfect spot to grab a quick bite and caffeinate while shopping the area's boutiques. The lighting mounted in wooden boards suspended from the ceiling by rope, the exposed brick and white-washed walls, and the soft, down-tempo beats all make for a relaxing interior. There are also a few shaded tables outside. As the name would suggest, Tiong Bahru Bakery started in this area, but there are now multiple branches across Singapore.
In business for more than a century, this hole-in-the-wall eatery serves what's arguably Singapore's best murtabak. Stuffed with mutton, chicken, or beef, it's a bit like a folded dough omelette with egg mixed in, roti prata (a fried flat bread), onions, and spices, all of it grilled together and served with a side of curry sauce. It's cheap, it's filling, and the sidewalk tables are great for people-watching. Curries, rice dishes, and other regional specialties are also available, but the murtabak is what keeps locals coming back.
Coffee chicken, butter-oat soft-shell crab, and beef green curry are among the halal Thai–Indo fusion dishes at this homey shophouse. Salads, particularly the Thai-style pomelo, are great sides, and portions are generally small, so this is an easy place to taste a number of different dishes. There's also a buffet with more than 20 meat and vegetable selections. There are a few locations but this outlet, with its antiques and Peranakan-style decor, is the prettiest.
Simple and unassuming, this spot close to the jetty and near the bicycle rental shops is a good place to have a cold drink after exploring the island. You can't go wrong with any of the wok-fried dishes or the chilli crab.
The Peranakan-style cuisine here is delicious and fiery, so be sure to specify exactly how tongue tingling you'd like your order to be. Signature dishes include bakwan kepiting (minced crab and pork soup), assam fish head (in spicy gravy), ayam sio (chicken with coriander), and udang masak nenas (prawns cooked with tamarind and pineapple). Save room for dessert.
The lines outside this small noodle shop on a weekday at lunchtime speak for themselves. Owned by a Malaysian restaurant group, Restoran Super Kitchen, with locations also found in Kuala Lumpur, the simply-fitted, compact restaurant is often crowded, but turnover is quick. Try the dry chilli pan mee (noodles with egg, minced pork, dried anchovies, and spring onion) and adjust the spice levels to your palate. There’s a range of add-on extras, including rice dishes, soft drinks, and tea and coffee to complete your meal.
Singapore’s vibrant third-wave coffee scene owes a lot to to Chye Seng Huat Hardware, one of the first specialty coffee spots in the area. The former hardware store turned hip coffee space is rarely empty, and regulars swear by both the brews and the robust brunch menu. Inside, the two-story complex includes a coffee school, retail space stocked with coffee gadgets and gear, and a roastery.
With nearly 50 outlets (and counting) across Singapore, chances are you'll always be within a short walk of this wildly popular Cantonese chain. For a few years, the chain has been awarded a Michelin star, though fortunately it doesn't have Michelin-star prices to match. Order by number from a small paper menu that's 150 selections strong, including deep-fried bean curd in spice salt, sticky-rice dumplings, and crab dumpling soup. Sundays are always packed with families feasting on dim sum, so be prepared to wait. The decor is simple, but the food is always fresh and cooked to order, and the staff is almost too attentive.
Celebrating Singaporean heritage dishes across 27 different vendors, this basement food court's stalls sell everything from crispy fried carrot cake to spicy prawn noodles and rich chicken satay. The food court takes its design inspiration from the British colonial decor of the early 1890s, with a light blue, ivory, and copper-gold palette, and lush green plants.
For a serious cup of coffee near Somerset, drop by this pristine-white café that is usually full of coffee aficionados sipping on in-house roasted brews. You can also pick up fresh beans and coffee-making accoutrements to take home.
This kitsch concept of combi vans and food trucks offers everything from lobster rolls to fish and chips and yakitori sticks for east grab and go eating. Located next to the Wings of Time show, spend a minimum of S$5 to enjoy the best views of Sentosa SkyJet and the Sentosa Musical Fountain performance.
In operation since 1947, this is one of Little India's best-known stops for northern and southern Indian vegetarian cuisine. Most plates come with curries, rice, dhal, condiments, Indian breads, or special sauces; for dessert there's a well-stocked counter of sweets. Busy days tend to be very busy, so plan on sharing a table in the downstairs dining room; upstairs it's slightly quieter and more spacious.
This cute Swedish cafe's halal bakes are slightly pricey, but they're favored by local café aficionados. Stick to signature items like the strawberry cream cheese Danish and traditional semla bun, available year round. Other winning menu items include flaky croissants (in flavors like red-velvet cream cheese), kouign amann, and savory quiches for a heartier bite.
This no-frills vegetarian restaurant is a long-running local favorite and one of the better south Indian restaurants in vibrant Little India. Opt for the thali if you're hungry: it's a large platter of dosai (pancakes) with three spiced vegetables, curd, dhal, rasam (hot and sour soup), papadam, and Indian-style condiments. Also recommended are the paper dosai, a thin, crispy rice flour crepe in an enormous roll served with two spicy coconut chutneys and rasam. Make sure you order a cup of their freshly brewed masala tea with hand pulled froth.
Located just off the boardwalk by the Esplanade–Theatres on the Bay, this outdoor, hawker-style cluster of food stands offers a delicious (albeit slightly expensive) variety of local and regional specialties. Here you'll find chili crab, grilled prawns, chicken rice, fried carrot cake, meat satay, and much more served into the wee hours of the morning.
This small, blue-decked café on the side of Ann Siang Hill serves some of the best coffee on the island. Grab an iced latte and perch on one of the outside tables for a quick break from the Chinatown sightseeing and shopping. The café often works with local bakers, so make sure to try their pastry and sandwich selections.
You'll be spoiled for choice when it comes to Indian food on Race Course Road, but this restaurant established in 1969), along with the similarly popular Banana Leaf Apolo a few blocks down, is widely considered the best of the lot. There's a full range of North and South Indian options here, but the fish-head curry with okra and pineapple, the milagu kozhi varuval (chicken with pepper and coriander seeds), and the masala prawns are some of the standouts. The contemporary space is decorated with mosaic tiles, polished black flooring, and tables that surround a central open kitchen. The chef uses no food coloring and practices eco-friendly dining policies.
The enormous bowls of pho at this casual quick-serve noodle bar are excellent. At lunch time, you can get a bowl of chicken or beef pho, a green papaya salad, and a tea or coffee for under S$14. Though designed more as a fast-food concept (you order at the bar and wait for your number to be called before collecting), the quick stop has decor and tableware that feel very authentic, with pretty hanging lights and long wooden benches. Food is always speedy, always fresh, and always delicious.
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