Eating & Drinking in Singapore

Singaporeans love going out and they are passionate about food whether it's hawkers' stall food or gourmet. They also love to hang out at funky clubs and chic bars.

Singapore is well known for its range of ethnic foods, from Chinese,Indian,Thai and Malay, to French, Russian, Middle East and Pacific Fusion. It may be a small country, but the choice of food available can confuse the first time visitor to Singapore. Probably the most distinctive eating places in Singapore are the hawker centres which house dozens of food and drink stalls under one roof. Walk around the whole place and check out what you would like before ordering. Prices are cheap and comparable to those in coffeeshops.. When ordering, tell the hawker your table number and you should get your food within 10-15 minutes. Usually open 10am to about midnight.

Choosing a restaurant or a food to try is not easy, and the following is only a guide to some of the best ethnic foodie experiences in Singpaore. For the ultimate Singaporean experience, the visitor should always try the hawker stalls and sample Nonya cooking.

Hawker Stall - Lau Pa Sat (Old Market)
Lau Pa Sat (Old Market) was built in 1894 and is now a national monument built around the largest Victorian filigree castiron structure in S.E. Asia. Its hawker stalls are legendary and serve food until the early hours of the morning. It is located in the heart of the business district. Take the MRT to Raffles Place then head up Robinson Road to Boon Tat Street.

Nonya/Peranakan Food in Singapore
Most Singaporeans have a favourite Nonya restaurant and will be pleased to recommend it. One of the best is Blue Ginger at 97, Tanjong Pagan Road where the speciality is Ayan Pangang. Tel: 62223938.

Seafood Restaurants at East Coast Park Seafood Centre Singapore
East Coast Park Seafood Centre has numerous seafood restaurants. You can eat beside the beach to enjoy the sea breeze, or in air-conditioned comfort. Seafood is a speciality in the entire city state of Singapore and it is always extremely fresh and tasty, but for the favourite dish of Chilli Crab, one of the best is Ponggol Live Seafood Restaurant at 109, Killiney Road (Tel: 67324700) where the Sri Lanka Chilli Crab is the best there is.

Szechuan/Yunnan food in Singapore
For what many consider the best Szechuan/Yunnan food in Singapore, try the Chong Qing No. 1 Spicy Steamboat at this famed Szechuan cuisine restaurant at 54, Smith Street (Tel: 63232696)

Clarke Quay on the Waterfront, Singapore
Clarke Quay is one of the best places in which to find a selection of places in which to dine, shop and be entertained. Restaurants serving European, Asia and Australian food abound, but the highest recommendations come for The Pump House, Peony Jade Restaurant, The Tapas Tree, Coriander Leaf, Madame Butterfly and The Quayside.

Chijmes, Singapore
This national heritage site, formerly a cloistered convent, is nowadays a popular spot for dining and entertainment. The Gothic architecture is great and there's a very special air about the varied restaurants which are open until late each night.

Club Street and Far East Square, Singapore
This is an award-winning spot, a heaven for foodies, where you can dine from menus from all over the world and savour the best of the local foods as well. Recommended: Indochine, Linzhi, Pizza and Da Paola.

Dempsey Road, Singapore
Hard to believe that this was once a British Army barracks. Now a series of warehouses and galleries intermingled with a sprinkling of restaurants offering exotic dishes from around the world, it is set amidst lush gardens.

Rochester Park, Singapore
This is the new kid on the block, a unique heritage area where 11 colonial houses, formerly home to British officers, have been renovated and feature trendy restaurants and bars. Choose indoor or al fresco, surround by luscious greenery. No. One Rochester has an amazing wine collection and stylish interior décor, North Border Bar and Grill, very popular with the young set, Da Paolo for Italian food, and Min Jiang of Goodwood Park Hotel fame. Graze is an aussie restaurant offeing “a grazing menu” for anyone who likes to work their way through a variety of small dishes.