Must Try Spots

I’m a foodie through and through. Every time I go somewhere new, I explore the place by hopping from one food spot to the next. So Singapore is my absolute dream come true! My preparation for the trip basically consisted of scouring through the internet to find the top hawker center stalls, restaurants, cafes, and bars. Even though you could probably spend weeks, if not months, in the city and spend it only eating. So, here are my top 10 places to eat and drink in Singapore!

Food

Singapore is packed with amazing food, from hawker centre classics to cozy neighborhood bakeries. Every bite feels like a highlight, and there’s always something new to try just around the corner.

Hainanese Chicken Rice

This first dish is maybe the most famous in all of Singapore. Hainanese Chicken Rice is made with juicy poached or roasted chicken served over flavourful rice that’s been cooked in chicken stock and fat. You’ll usually get it with a side of light soup, some cucumber slices, and a set of sauces like chilli, ginger, and soy. I watched some YouTube videos on where to find the best one and came up with Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice at Maxwell Food Center. However, my boyfriend was skeptical at first because it does look rather plain. Still, it convinced him the moment he had his first bite!

It’s not open on Mondays, but every other day of the week from 10am – 8pm. Avoid lunch and dinner times, as it can be too crowded! For a medium portion, you’ll have to pay SGD $6.

Kaya Toast

Breakfast is my favourite meal of the day, especially in a city like Singapore! Kaya toast is a classic Singaporean breakfast consisting of toasted bread, butter and kaya, a sweet coconut and egg jam. It’s usually served with soft-boiled eggs and a cup of strong local coffee or tea. You eat it by mixing light or dark soy sauce into your eggs and then dipping the toast into the mixture. It’s honestly the best combination of sweet and salty and I couldn’t get enough of it.

You can find Kaya Toast throughout the whole city, but I got it at a chain called Ya Kun Kaya Toast. A set with toast, eggs, and a coffee will set you back SDG $6.30. Depending on the location, it’s open daily from 7:30am – 10pm.

Roti Prata

Staying with breakfast foods, the next one on the list is Roti Prata. It’s a crispy, flaky flatbread that’s a favourite at Indian and Malay food stalls across Singapore. Cooked fresh on a hot griddle, it usually comes with a side of curry for dipping. You might get dhal, chicken curry, or a mutton version, depending on the stall. While some people go for the plain option, others choose versions filled with egg, and cheese.

I’m more used to sweeter breakfast foods, so I’d probably rather go have it at lunch. However, I can see how great it is as a first meal! It’s hot, filling, and super delicious.

I got my roti prata at Prata Wala, a quick-serve Indian restaurant with a few locations throughout the city. There, you can get roti from around SDG $3. Prata Wala is open daily from 9am – 9pm.

Satay Street

I hadn’t heard of Satay Street at all before coming to Singapore, which is quite surprising. Thankfully my boyfriend has a friend living in the city who showed it to us, though. Satay Street at Lau Pa Sat is the place to go if you’re craving grilled meat skewers. The whole street fills up at night with smoke and the sound of satay sizzling on the grill. You’ll find chicken, beef, and mutton skewers served hot with peanut sauce, plus some cucumber and rice cakes on the side.

It’s a fun, chill spot to hang out and enjoy some classic local flavors with friends. I was a little overwhelmed by all the different stalls and skewers, so I let the others decide. We got prawns, chicken, and fish cakes wrapped in leaves.

The actual street closes down at 7pm on weekdays and 3 pm on weekends to make room for the stalls and tables. Only a short while later, it’s already full with people enjoying their satay.

Chilli Crab

Chilli crab is a total icon in Singapore, and it’s such a shame I never got to try it! My boyfriend’s Singaporean friends wanted to take us to a popular chilli crab spot, but they were fully booked that night.

One infamous restaurant is Jumbo Seafood, which serves its famous chilli crab in a sweet-and-spicy sauce that’s perfect with fried mantou buns. At the Riverwalk outlet they’re open lunch from 12 pm to 3 pm and dinner from 6 pm to midnight. Their chilli crab typically comes to around S$50 per person, and smaller portions like the “crab meat sauce with mantou” run about S$23. It’s a bit pricey, but locals say Jumbo’s crab sauce is among the best in town. It’s definitely on my list for next time when I can actually dig in!

Tiong Bahru Bakery

On our very last morning in Singapore, we stopped by Tiong Bahru Bakery for a quick breakfast, and it turned out to be a great decision. This cozy café is known for its French-style pastries with a local twist, and it’s a favorite among both locals and tourists. I had a buttery croissant and a flat white, and we sat outside soaking in the charm of the Tiong Bahru neighborhood.

The vibe was relaxed, the bakes were top-notch, and the coffee was exactly what we needed before heading to the bus terminal. They’re open quite early from 7:30 am to 8 pm daily, so it was the perfect final stop.

Drinks

Whether it’s a fresh juice in the heat or a cocktail with a view, Singapore has plenty of great spots to sip and chill. The variety is just as exciting as the flavors.

Singapore Sling

We stayed at a hotel right next door to Raffles Hotel, so of course we crossed the street to try the infamous Singapore Sling at the iconic Long Bar. The drink was originally created in 1915 by bartender Ngiam Tong Boon, and the bar still holds onto that old-school charm with its colonial decor, rattan chairs, and peanut shells scattered across the floor. I really enjoyed the drink itself. It was sweet, fruity, and refreshing, although the price was a bit steep for my taste at around SDG $35.

The Long Bar opens daily from 11 am and stays open until midnight on weekdays and even later on weekends, which makes it a great place to unwind and soak up a bit of cocktail history.

Mr Stork Rooftop Bar

We went to Mr Stork, the rooftop bar on top of DUO Tower, after dinner one night, thanks to the same friend who showed us Satay Street. And fun fact, that’s also where he got married! The bar is on the 39th floor and opens from 5 pm until midnight on weekdays, extending to 1 am on Fridays and Saturdays.

We tried this amazing drink called the AALIYA made with Ceylon arrack, served in elephant‑shaped mugs, and the city views were absolutely breathtaking. Cocktails run around SDG $27 each and food bites like satay or sliders are priced around SDG $20–25. It made for a really magical evening with views of Singapore’s skyline.

Chicha San Chen Boba

My boyfriend’s Singaporean friends took us to Chicha San Chen, which they swore was the best boba spot in the whole city. It had been nearly 10 years since I last had bubble tea, so I didn’t know what to expect, but I ended up loving it. The tea was super fragrant, the pearls were perfectly chewy, and everything tasted really fresh. It was such a fun and nostalgic treat, and I could see why it’s their go-to place.

We were there at their store at CIMB Plaza, which is open Monday til Friday from 10:30 am. However, it really depends on the location. Most are open daily from 11am – 9:30pm. Drinks range from around SDG $5 for pure iced tea to about SDG $6–7 for popular milk tea options.

Fresh Juices

One of the best ways to cool off in Singapore is with fresh juice, which you can find almost everywhere. I had freshly pressed sugarcane juice a couple of times, and it was super refreshing. Cold, slightly sweet, and perfect for the heat. Coconut water was another go-to, served straight from the shell, always light and hydrating.

Juice stalls pop up in hawker centres and food courts, offering everything from watermelon and lime to avocado and dragonfruit, all at very reasonable prices.