Singapore Travel Guide

Eating Out

In Chinatown, you can enjoy truly authentic dim sum, or you can scoop up a mutton biryani with your hands in Little India. Even at the popular food courts in the suburbs, you can enjoy rotis, sumptuous laksa curries or traditional malay cooking at reasonable prices.

The city offers an astonishing choice of eateries, ranging from five-star establishments steeped in tradition, such as the famous Raffles Hotel, to cheap noodle shops. Traditionally, Asians have eaten in the street, supporting an industry of affordable diners, with people choosing to eat outside rather than cooking at home.

Even the posh areas of Orchard road and the colonial district have these popular centres located strategically.

For proper dining, you might like to start with an al fresco meal at one of the many restaurants or bar/bistros along the waterfront. You can take your pick from trendy venues fronting Marina Bay, or relaxed after-work cafes along Boat Quay/Circular road, or even the rowdier Clarke Quay, which is also good for sundowners.

Little India is a cornucopia of smells and sights, with many humble establishments that disguise the quality of the food. Some of the establishments are upmarket, but the majority cater to the large Tamil population that pour into the neighbourhood on Sundays. The food is generally very good, though you might find the hygiene questionable in parts.

Indonesian, Thai and Malay food is also popular with the locals, and these cuisines are abundantly found around the city. There are also plenty of international restaurants with a very good standard of cuisine, ranging from French to Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mexican and Middle Eastern, found in the city centre and on Orchard road.