Food, shopping, wellness, nightlife & luxury experiences in the Lion City
From $3 hawker meals to Michelin-starred feasts — Singapore is Asia's food capital
Maxwell Food Centre's most famous stall. Anthony Bourdain's favourite. Silky poached chicken with fragrant rice.
Michelin Bib Gourmand bak chor mee. Springy noodles tossed in vinegar-chili sauce with minced pork.
Singapore-style ramen meets wonton mee. Bib Gourmand winner at Amoy Street Food Centre.
The world's cheapest Michelin-starred meal. Soya sauce chicken with char siu on rice.
Singapore's iconic chili crab. Sweet-spicy tomato-chili sauce with deep-fried mantou buns.
World's first Michelin-starred Peranakan restaurant. Buah keluak fried rice is a revelation.
Victorian-era hawker centre in the CBD. Satay street fires up every evening at 7pm.
3-Michelin-star French-Japanese at National Gallery. Chef Julien Royer's 8-course masterpiece.
1-Michelin-star modern BBQ. Everything cooked over custom 4-tonne dual-cavity ovens.
2-Michelin-star French fine dining. 30-year institution with 2,000+ label wine cellar.
Rich coconut curry noodle soup with prawns. Try 328 Katong Laksa on East Coast Road.
Smoky stir-fried flat noodles with cockles, Chinese sausage and dark soy. Find it at any hawker.
National breakfast: toasted bread with coconut jam + soft-boiled eggs. Ya Kun since 1944.
Charcoal-grilled skewers with peanut sauce. Best at Lau Pa Sat satay street after dark.
Sweet-savoury fruit and vegetable salad with prawn paste. A uniquely Singaporean creation.
Fried radish cake with eggs — no actual carrots! Get the "black" version with sweet dark soy.
Peppery pork rib soup. Song Fa (since 1969) near Clarke Quay is the go-to.
Shaved ice mountain with red beans, corn, jelly, and syrup. Perfect for Singapore heat.
100+ stalls in Chinatown. Home to Tian Tian and multiple Bib Gourmand winners. Tourist-friendly with English menus.
Local favourite with 150+ stalls. Less touristy, better prices. Famous for fried Hokkien mee and oyster omelette.
Best Indian food in Singapore. Fresh roti prata, biryani, fish head curry. Wet market on ground floor.
Evening-only outdoor hawker. Famous for BBQ chicken wings and Hokkien mee under the stars.
Singapore's largest hawker centre (260+ stalls). Home to the S$3.50 Michelin chicken rice.
Hipster neighbourhood meets heritage hawker. Chwee kueh (steamed rice cake) here is legendary.
Learn to make laksa, chicken rice, and kaya toast in a 3-hour hands-on class. English instruction, small groups. Includes market visit.
Peranakan and Malay cooking in a heritage shophouse. Hands-on nonya laksa, kueh pie tee, and ondeh ondeh.
From Orchard Road luxury to Bugis Street bargains
Singapore's 2.2km shopping boulevard. ION Orchard, Paragon, and Takashimaya anchor 22+ malls. Tax-free luxury at DFS Galleria.
Luxury canal-side mall with 170+ stores. Louis Vuitton island store floats on the bay. Indoor canal with gondola rides.
Instagram-worthy narrow lane with indie boutiques, vintage shops, and street art. Best for unique finds and local designers.
3 floors, 800+ shops. Cheap clothes, accessories, souvenirs. Great for bargain hunting. Air-conditioned.
Pagoda & Trengganu Streets. Souvenirs, traditional Chinese goods, Singapore magnets. Prices negotiable.
24-hour department store. 75,000+ items from electronics to gold. Best for late-night shopping and Indian goods.
Weekend artisan market along the river. Handmade jewellery, art prints, vintage finds. Great riverside atmosphere.
Authentic keepsakes beyond the Merlion fridge magnet
Singapore's luxury tea brand. 800+ blends, beautiful tins. "1837 Black Tea" is the signature. Available at ION Orchard and Changi Airport.
Hand-painted Nonya ceramics at Kim Choo Kueh Chang in Katong. Pastel floral patterns unique to Straits Chinese culture.
Traditional Peranakan pastries — ondeh ondeh, kueh lapis. Beautifully boxed for gifting. 40+ outlets island-wide.
Born in Singapore in the 1920s. Haw Par Villa (the factory mansion) sells limited editions unavailable elsewhere.
Local design studio creating Singapore-themed Arita porcelain. Merlion plates, shophouse bowls. Gallery at Kampong Glam.
Coconut egg jam — Singapore's national spread. Shelf-stable jars make perfect edible souvenirs.
From fast fashion to haute couture — Singapore's style hotspots
ION Orchard, Paragon, and Hilton Shopping Gallery for Chanel, Gucci, Prada. Tax-free shopping for tourists at DFS T Galleria.
Independent Singaporean designers — Ong Shunmugam (modern cheongsam), GINLEE Studio, Depression. Unique pieces you won't find elsewhere.
Singapore's largest outlet mall with 90+ brand outlets. Nike, Adidas, Coach at 30-70% off. Worth the trip to Jurong East.
From traditional Chinese tuina to luxury resort spas
Authentic Japanese onsen experience in Singapore. 6 different thermal baths, Hinoki wood bath, outdoor rotenburo. No swimwear — Japanese-style.
Singapore's most luxurious hotel spa. Aqua-thermal suite with vitality pool, steam, and ice fountain. 90-min signature treatment.
Budget traditional Chinese massage. S$20-30 for 60 minutes. Multiple parlours on levels 2-3. No-frills but effective tuina and foot reflexology.
Award-winning Thai-inspired spa on the 55th floor of Marina Bay Sands. Rainforest-themed treatments with panoramic city views.
Rooftop bars, speakeasies, and cultural performances after dark
57th floor of Marina Bay Sands. Iconic skyline views. Craft cocktails S$28+. Skip the SkyPark fee — CÉ LA VI has the same view with drinks.
Art Deco gin palace with 1,300+ gins. 15-metre gold lobby. Named one of World's 50 Best Bars. Dress code enforced.
Hidden speakeasy — no sign outside, just a plain door. Outstanding whiskey and bourbon selection. Intimate 60-seat venue.
Singapore's premier arts venue. Free outdoor performances nightly at the Concourse. Ticketed shows from S$20.
Riverside entertainment district. Live bands, dance clubs, comedy shows. Zouk (Asia's top club) is here.
Splurge-worthy experiences that make Singapore unforgettable
The world's most famous rooftop infinity pool. 150m long, 57 floors up. Book one night at Marina Bay Sands (from S$500) for pool access — worth every dollar for the sunset session.
Charter a yacht from ONE°15 Marina. Sail past the skyline at golden hour with champagne. Groups of 6-10 make it surprisingly affordable per person.
Singapore's crown jewel — 3 Michelin stars at the National Gallery. Chef Julien Royer's French-Japanese tasting menu is a once-in-a-lifetime meal.
Sip the original Singapore Sling (S$37) at the Long Bar where it was invented in 1915. Throw peanut shells on the floor — it's tradition.
Private after-hours tour of the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome. Includes OCBC Skyway walk and exclusive Supertree dining.
Third-wave coffee, Instagram-worthy interiors, and signature brews
French-inspired bakery in Singapore's hippest neighbourhood. Flaky croissants and specialty coffee. The Tiong Bahru flagship has a shaded terrace.
Tiny specialty roastery in Everton Park. Single-origin pour-overs. No wifi, no fuss — just exceptional coffee from passionate baristas.
Minimalist cafe in a converted shophouse. Famous for buttermilk waffles and cold brew. Great for laptop work.
Award-winning roastery in a heritage shophouse. Nanyang kopi meets third-wave techniques. The salted egg yolk croissant is a must.
Stunning glasshouse cafe at Chijmes. Tropical plants, natural light, and excellent brunch. Instagram heaven.
Traditional kopi experience. Order "kopi-c siew dai" (coffee with evaporated milk, less sugar) like a local. Chin Mee Chin Confectionery for old-school vibes.
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