Food in Singapore

Raymond Lin

Raymond Lin

Raymond Lin

Caporegime
Joined
20 Oct 2002
Posts
75,332
Location
Wish i was in a Ramen Shop Counter
Flight booked, hoping things don't change for the next 4 weeks...I will be there for 6 days, so recommendation of where to go?

Rather than, this Hawker Centre or that Hawker Centre, if you know the specific store that would be fantastic. Because a Hawker Centre can have anything from 20 to 100+ stores so it doesn't really narrow it down much lol.

Already on the itinerary are

Singapore hainanese chicken rice from China town. The one with Michelin Star.
Ritz Carlton Dinner Buffet (£45...cheap considering where it is and what's on offer).
Satay by the Bay
Lau Pa Sat Hawker Centre's 'Best Satay" stall out front.
Jollibee (yes, I know and it's a must!)

I am also considering the Dim Sum Buffet at the Marriot, but this one is a little more pricey at £60, although Lobster is on the menu and everything is cooked to order, not a true buffet set up style. You just get a menu and everything is included for £60, within a time limit.
 
Time was the High Tea at the Goodwood Park was worth the visit, looks a bit naff now.
Surely a Singapore Sling at the Raffles needs to be included.
A stop by Little India for some street food?

Been a long time since I've been to Singapore, strange and interesting place, nice for a short visit.
 
PlacidCasual said:
Time was the High Tea at the Goodwood Park was worth the visit, looks a bit naff now.
Surely a Singapore Sling at the Raffles needs to be included.
A stop by Little India for some street food?

Been a long time since I've been to Singapore, strange and interesting place, nice for a short visit.
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Singapore Sling at the Raffles...may be, I guess I should just do it and tick it off the bucket list even though I am not into alcohol.

I planned to drop by Little India, not into Indian cuisine as much as Chinese but I will give it a go. Got any particular favourites?
 
Raymond Lin said:
Singapore Sling at the Raffles...may be, I guess I should just do it and tick it off the bucket list even though I am not into alcohol.

I planned to drop by Little India, not into Indian cuisine as much as Chinese but I will give it a go. Got any particular favourites?
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I feel like it's one of those things you just have to do in Singapore.
 
They are very nice but as someone who doesn't drink a lot you will definitely know about it after you've drunk it ;)
Well recommended though, a nice way to unwind between an afternoon out and dinner.
 
I can never remember restaurant names. We stayed in an apartment in Fraser Place on Robertson Quay between its location, Clarke Quay and Chinatown, these will keep anyone happy from a food perspective. I have to admit I enjoyed Chinatown most as it was such a bustling open place with decent quality food and a couple of beers which were relatively less expensive than most other areas we went to. I think one of the places was next door to the Olde Cuban, it was a good few years ago now though so I'm sure it's changed a fair bit.
 
Raymond Lin said:
Flight booked, hoping things don't change for the next 4 weeks...I will be there for 6 days, so recommendation of where to go?

Rather than, this Hawker Centre or that Hawker Centre, if you know the specific store that would be fantastic. Because a Hawker Centre can have anything from 20 to 100+ stores so it doesn't really narrow it down much lol.

Already on the itinerary are

Singapore hainanese chicken rice from China town. The one with Michelin Star.
Ritz Carlton Dinner Buffet (£45...cheap considering where it is and what's on offer).
Satay by the Bay
Lau Pa Sat Hawker Centre's 'Best Satay" stall out front.
Jollibee (yes, I know and it's a must!)

I am also considering the Dim Sum Buffet at the Marriot, but this one is a little more pricey at £60, although Lobster is on the menu and everything is cooked to order, not a true buffet set up style. You just get a menu and everything is included for £60, within a time limit.
Click to expand...

I think you have already enough of an itinerary, in Singapore its nice to be spontaneous. must have the food I ate was great.
 
I was going to chime in with "don't bother with restaurants, just eat in the hawker centres" but considering you're there for 6 days I'm sure you've done your research on the restaurants! We stayed in Singapore for 3/4 nights as a stopover and loved it. We thought we'd stroll around Clarke Quay one night and just took a punt on a restaurants with was hands down the worse meal we had there, and cost 10x as much :p So we stuck to the Hawker centres and everything was great! Couldn't tell you what stalls we went to (besides below), but I'm sure the old adage works of following the queues...

Raymond Lin said:
Lau Pa Sat Hawker Centre's 'Best Satay" stall out front.
Click to expand...
We did this one. Funnily enough we went for a drink at the top of the Marina Bay Sands first*, so we were all dressed up. I remember my girlfriend being very annoyed we went from there down to the most smoky, smelly street food bit when she was wearing some plush white cotton dress :p

*Would recommend booking for a drink at the bar rather than paying for the viewing platform. Two drinks will cost you the same as the ticket to the viewing platform. And, well, you get a drink out of it. The view isn't quite as good because you're overlooking everyone who has paid for the viewing platform, but I thought it was fine. It's very windy up there which was disturbing!

Non-food related, we enjoyed the botanic gardens for something different.
 
Scam said:
I was going to chime in with "don't bother with restaurants, just eat in the hawker centres" but considering you're there for 6 days I'm sure you've done your research on the restaurants! We stayed in Singapore for 3/4 nights as a stopover and loved it. We thought we'd stroll around Clarke Quay one night and just took a punt on a restaurants with was hands down the worse meal we had there, and cost 10x as much :p So we stuck to the Hawker centres and everything was great! Couldn't tell you what stalls we went to (besides below), but I'm sure the old adage works of following the queues...

We did this one. Funnily enough we went for a drink at the top of the Marina Bay Sands first*, so we were all dressed up. I remember my girlfriend being very annoyed we went from there down to the most smoky, smelly street food bit when she was wearing some plush white cotton dress :p

*Would recommend booking for a drink at the bar rather than paying for the viewing platform. Two drinks will cost you the same as the ticket to the viewing platform. And, well, you get a drink out of it. The view isn't quite as good because you're overlooking everyone who has paid for the viewing platform, but I thought it was fine. It's very windy up there which was disturbing!

Non-food related, we enjoyed the botanic gardens for something different.
Click to expand...

I’ve thought about Burnt Ends (Aussie BBQ joint with Michelin stars) but it’s a bit too extravagant plus the fact that Singapore is full of Michelins star hawker stalls. I rather load up on Chilli Crabs for £5 a pop this time. There are just so many more options.

I am going to do the buffet at the Ritz, but it’s more a table menu service now due to Covid, still, it’s £50 or so for 2 hours of unlimited food off their menu cooked to order. Where else in the world is going to give me that kind of value? I’m hell doing it. I was going to go to the Marriott at St Regis for their Dim Sun buffet but I found out there are many others at 1/4 if the price (£20-25), so I’ll probably do that. I miss proper good dim sum.

Other than that, I’m just following the locals I think when I go to a Hawker Center. Although no doubt I will eat at food courts a couple of times to escape the heat, plus I’ve booked a hotel on Orchard Road and that’s where all the malls are. I have a few dishes off my head that’s a must eat. I’m hoping some of it (the Chinese dishes) will be very familiar to me, some of it won’t (Malay and Indian) so it’ll be a great food adventure.

Re Marina Bay Sands, can’t you just turn up and go to the bar? Do you have to make reservations? I think it’s the middle tower’s lifts isn’t it for the bar? Do you recall?

Ps I tried to download the EZ Link app for the MRT, do you have that or did you buy the card when you land at the airport?
 
Raymond Lin said:
Re Marina Bay Sands, can’t you just turn up and go to the bar? Do you have to make reservations? I think it’s the middle tower’s lifts isn’t it for the bar? Do you recall?
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We definitely had to book for the bar at Ce La Vie. (Thanks to the guy above who reminded me of the awful name :p ). There is a dress code too. I mean it's ok, worth trying to time it for sunset perhaps for an aperitif which is what we did. You won't get great photos of the view if you're at the bar, due to the viewing platform jutting out underneath you.

As for the MRT I honestly can't remember. It was never hard getting around though! Pretty sure we used a card, not an app.

My one regret is not buying 2-3 dishes at the markets. It's something silly like $4-5 a dish, feel like I could have tried 2-3 times more food at every meal rather than being conservative and worrying about waste :p
 
Raymond Lin said:
I’ve thought about Burnt Ends (Aussie BBQ joint with Michelin stars) but it’s a bit too extravagant plus the fact that Singapore is full of Michelins star hawker stalls. I rather load up on Chilli Crabs for £5 a pop this time. There are just so many more options.

I am going to do the buffet at the Ritz, but it’s more a table menu service now due to Covid, still, it’s £50 or so for 2 hours of unlimited food off their menu cooked to order. Where else in the world is going to give me that kind of value? I’m hell doing it. I was going to go to the Marriott at St Regis for their Dim Sun buffet but I found out there are many others at 1/4 if the price (£20-25), so I’ll probably do that. I miss proper good dim sum.

Other than that, I’m just following the locals I think when I go to a Hawker Center. Although no doubt I will eat at food courts a couple of times to escape the heat, plus I’ve booked a hotel on Orchard Road and that’s where all the malls are. I have a few dishes off my head that’s a must eat. I’m hoping some of it (the Chinese dishes) will be very familiar to me, some of it won’t (Malay and Indian) so it’ll be a great food adventure.

Re Marina Bay Sands, can’t you just turn up and go to the bar? Do you have to make reservations? I think it’s the middle tower’s lifts isn’t it for the bar? Do you recall?

Ps I tried to download the EZ Link app for the MRT, do you have that or did you buy the card when you land at the airport?
Click to expand...

Ce La Vi does have a limited walk in policy but it's first come first serve so probably best to make a reservation. I'm sure there used to be a 'deal' on the website where you could get a 'spot' and drinks for $SGDxxx but I can't find it now.

For the MRT / buses just buy a 3 day Singapore Tourist Pass


Scam said:
We definitely had to book for the bar at Ce La Vie. (Thanks to the guy above who reminded me of the awful name :p ). There is a dress code too. I mean it's ok, worth trying to time it for sunset perhaps for an aperitif which is what we did. You won't get great photos of the view if you're at the bar, due to the viewing platform jutting out underneath you.

As for the MRT I honestly can't remember. It was never hard getting around though! Pretty sure we used a card, not an app.

My one regret is not buying 2-3 dishes at the markets. It's something silly like $4-5 a dish, feel like I could have tried 2-3 times more food at every meal rather than being conservative and worrying about waste :p
Click to expand...


An alternative to Ce La Vi if you want views is booking Singapore Flyer, we booked the Singapore Sling Experience and there were only 2 other couples in the pod whereas the standard pods where absolutely packed. Obviously they might have greater limitations now due to Covid.
 
Raymond Lin said:
Singapore Sling at the Raffles...may be, I guess I should just do it and tick it off the bucket list even though I am not into alcohol.
Click to expand...

I would skip it personally...it's a bit...Disneyland. Overpriced pre-mixed cocktails in cliche tourist trap bar.

If I wanted a cocktail I'd go to Marina Bay Sands and sit in the infinity pool taking in the view.

Martynt74 said:
I feel like it's one of those things you just have to do in Singapore.
Click to expand...

How about a night at the four floors? :D
 
Scam said:
We definitely had to book for the bar at Ce La Vie. (Thanks to the guy above who reminded me of the awful name :p ). There is a dress code too. I mean it's ok, worth trying to time it for sunset perhaps for an aperitif which is what we did. You won't get great photos of the view if you're at the bar, due to the viewing platform jutting out underneath you.

As for the MRT I honestly can't remember. It was never hard getting around though! Pretty sure we used a card, not an app.

My one regret is not buying 2-3 dishes at the markets. It's something silly like $4-5 a dish, feel like I could have tried 2-3 times more food at every meal rather than being conservative and worrying about waste :p
Click to expand...

I do want a good view, I guess I will check out the bar first, if that doesn't satisfy my photos then I'll go pay to go up again the next evening or something for the viewing platform. I can't really afford to pay to stay the night just for the infinity pool, that alone will pay for like 4-5 nights of hotels...just have to let that one go.

Azza said:
Ce La Vi does have a limited walk in policy but it's first come first serve so probably best to make a reservation. I'm sure there used to be a 'deal' on the website where you could get a 'spot' and drinks for $SGDxxx but I can't find it now.

For the MRT / buses just buy a 3 day Singapore Tourist Pass





An alternative to Ce La Vi if you want views is booking Singapore Flyer, we booked the Singapore Sling Experience and there were only 2 other couples in the pod whereas the standard pods where absolutely packed. Obviously they might have greater limitations now due to Covid.
Click to expand...

Ah, the Singapore Flyer, good up for the "experience", will look into that.

Not sure how busy it will be, when i get to go there will only be about 10 countries on their green list so hopefully it's not too bad.
 
mid_gen said:
I would skip it personally...it's a bit...Disneyland. Overpriced pre-mixed cocktails in cliche tourist trap bar.
Click to expand...
This was our suspicion and we didn't bother. Kept walking past the Fullerton which looked lovely though. Was much more tempted to go there for a drink. I'd also heard Singapore Slings are not that nice anyway :p

Little India and the hawker centre there was great, btw.
 
Scam said:
This was our suspicion and we didn't bother. Kept walking past the Fullerton which looked lovely though. Was much more tempted to go there for a drink. I'd also heard Singapore Slings are not that nice anyway :p

Little India and the hawker centre there was great, btw.
Click to expand...
The sling is from a premix unless you ask for it hand made, found that out after experiencing the first one :D
 
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