Planning a trip to Singapore? Here’s where we ate on our four-day holiday
Since Changi Airport opened in the early 1980s, Singapore has worked hard to shift travellers’ perception of the city from a stopover to a destination in its own right. Four decades later, that mission is all but complete.
From Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay to Sentosa Island, world-class speakeasies and a vibrant street art scene, it’s easy to fill four days in Singapore.
Amid all these attractions, one thing really ties the city together: the food.
Honestly, I could visit Singapore and do nothing but eat, and that’s pretty much what my family did when we visited at the end of 2025. Shaped by Chinese, Malay, and Indian influences, Singapore offers a formidable list of must-eat dishes, and our four-day holiday gave us the perfect excuse to eat our way across the city.
Here’s where we went, and what we ate, in no particular order.
Chinatown
This is where heritage shophouses, hawker stalls, and contemporary bars all coexist in delicious harmony. Singapore’s Chinatown is known as one of the city’s key food neighbourhoods as well as being one of its most historic districts, and with our accommodation just up the road we made several visits.
What we ate: Singapore Chilli Crab - rich, sweet, savoury and gloriously messy, put your bib on, and get stuck in at Chinatown Seafood Restaurant “The Yellow Chair Restaurant”.
Tiong Bahru
One of my favourite neighbourhoods is Tiong Bahru, where 1930s Art Deco architecture meets trendy cafes. Think lazy brunch mornings with pastries and coffee, along with a nice sprinkling of quirky shops, art galleries, and green spaces that make for the perfect place to pause, particularly when the humidity kicks in.
What we ate: Turkish eggs and a Chai Latte on almond milk at Plain Vanilla.
Hawker centres, always
Any conversation about eating in Singapore has to include hawker centres. They’re not an optional extra. Famous for its hawker culture, these food centres are one of the best ways to eat well, eat affordably, and taste a huge cross-section of the city in one sitting.
There are more than 100 hawker markets across the city, and part of the fun is that you’ll keep stumbling across them. One worth calling out is Seah Im Food Centre, especially if you’re near HarbourFront, perfect if you’re coming back from a day at Sentosa Island.
What we ate: Shi Cheng prawn noodles at Seah Im Food Centre
Family-run restaurants
Some of our favourite dining moments came from wandering the streets. Picking a restaurant at random, selection based purely on how busy the restaurant was – often small, family-run restaurants serving authentic Singaporean, Malaysian, or Indian food.
What we ate: Nice and spicy Butter Chicken, and Signature Coconut Pancake at Bu Bu Gao Sheng, Bugis
Kampong Glam - Haji Lane
Haji Lane, tucked in amongst the Kampong Glam neighbourhood is a bustle of people and colour. The traditional shophouses have been transformed into an eclectic mix of indie boutiques, trendy cafes, and bars. Once the sun sets, the neon lights flicker on and the party atmosphere takes over.
What we ate & drank: Beers at the Black Sheep, and Guacamole with Tortilla Chips, prepared at our table at Piedra Negra, paired with several Margaritas.
Kopitiam Food Hall in Vivo City
This is what food malls look like after a massive dose of steroids. At VivoCity’s Food Mall, you’ll find just about every cuisine and flavour imaginable – Japanese, Korean, Singaporean favourites, desserts, beautifully presented fruit, and loads more. We opted to eat at Kopitiam Food Court, which is cheap and cheerful.
What we ate: Wanton mee at Wen Xiang Yu, Kopitiam Food Hall
For the five-star crowd
For those who aren’t concerned about budgets, Singapore does fine dining exceptionally well. Our dining indulgence was a visit to FYSH, at The Singapore EDITION. It was an absolute treat to have that one polished, special-occasion meal slipped into an otherwise very casual eating itinerary.
What we ate: The seafood-focused steakhouse menu had us dining on 350g 28-Day Dry Aged Little Joe Beef Sirloin, Yellowfin Tuna Tartare, Charcoal Grilled Tiger Prawns, and a 74% Single-Origin Chocolate Gelato.
Clarke Quay
It’s Singapore’s answer to Darling Harbour, only bigger and glossier. Buzzing every night of the week, Clarke Quay is known for its open-air dining, nightlife and riverfront views. There’s a big mix of Western and local cuisines on offer, though you’ll need deeper pockets.
What we ate: Nothing this time, instead, we chose to wander and soak up the atmosphere rather than settle in for a meal.
Little India
Regrettably, our four-day visit didn’t allow time for a visit to Little India, but if yours does, you’ll find restaurants on almost every corner. Whether you’re keen for some chaat (Indian street snacks), home-style Punjabi food, or dishes from southern India, Little India is one of Singapore’s best spots to eat.
The best advice when dining out in Singapore? Come hungry, don’t overplan, and be adventurous. Some of our most memorable meals came from hawker centres, food courts and small family-run restaurants, ones that didn’t blow the budget and we found by chance.
How to get from Newcastle to Singapore?
From 24 March, Jetstar will fly Newcastle to Singapore via Bali, departing 4 days a week on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. The flight offers seamless connection to Singapore, with just a quick 90-minute stop in Bali – no need to change planes or recheck your luggage.
Disclosure: All travel was independent and paid for by the writer. No destinations featured paid for, hosted, or influenced this coverage.
