Top 10 Places To Eat Out In Singapore

A trip to Singapore isn’t complete without a well-rounded list of the best places to eat out and you’d be remiss to overlook any of the below during your stay.

It is no exaggeration to say that eating is a national pastime in Singapore; while finishing up breakfast (including the local favourite of kaya toast, a thick, sticky and sweet coconut and egg jam slathered in white toast and topped with butter) Singaporeans are usually discussing what they are going to have for lunch, and at lunch they are inevitably planning dinner. As a result, Singapore is one of the most exciting places to eat out in, and while there’s a wealth of celebrity chefs and Michelin starred-restaurants scattered across the island city state, there are as many cheap eateries that are big on taste and atmosphere (some with Michelin stars, too).

It’s an almost impossible task to distil so much choice into one list, so we have picked out a few must visit spots that are the perfect jumping off point for a culinary exploration of Singapore. Bon appetit!

1. Maxwell Food Centre

Hawker centres are wonderfully unique to Singapore, and present the perfect opportunity to eat like a local at a penny pinching price. This popular centre, located in the Chinatown neighbourhood, boasts some of the best shops on the island including the renowned (and Michelin recommended) Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice, which serves up this quintessential Singaporean delicacy of silky soft poached chicken and aromatic broth to much aplomb (the late Anthony Bourdain was a fan); you’ll know you’ve found it when you see the queue of dinners waiting patiently for their turn to order. But there are plenty of other winning dishes to be had here: try Ah Tai Hainanese Chicken Rice and Popiah. Rojak & Cockles.

A helpful hint before heading to a hawkers centre: stock up on small packs of tissues or hand wipes, which are used to indicate that a table is taken while you wait for your order to be cooked, and to clean up with at the end of the meal as napkins are not widely available.

Address: 1 Kadayanallur St, Singapore

2. Tekka Centre

Located in the heart of the Little India neighbourhood, this buzzing hawker centre serves up some of the best curries and Indian treats in the city, from crispy wafer thin roti prata to spicy biryani and fluffy, hot naan bread served with spicy curry sauces to dip them in. It can get hot in here thanks to the tropical heat and gas cookers, but that just presents the perfect opportunity to cool down with a sweet mango lassi or tangy lime juice. Expect to pay just a few dollars for your entire meal; the entertaining colour and commotion comes free.

Address: Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore

Local shopping and eating at the Tekka Centre Market

3. Odette

Serving up mod French cuisine within the extremely chic surroundings of the National Gallery of Singapore, Odette, the passion project of chef/owner Julien Royer, has earned a huge reputation since arriving on the culinary scene in 2015, as well as three Michelin stars in the 2019 guide, the number one spot on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants lists and the number 18 position on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list.

Obviously with so many awards to its credit it is redundant to state that the artful menu is a triumph, but special mention also needs to go to the décor; the subtle and sophisticated fit out is rendered in shades of nude, blush pink and white (which don’t detract from the food), with artworks by Dawn Ng and a glass box of a kitchen that puts it at the heart of the space.

Address: 1 St Andrew’s Rd, #01-04 National Gallery, Singapore

Odette Singapore — Odette serves up mod French cuisine

4. Yellow Pot

Situated in the luxe Six Senses Duxton Hotel, in the Tanjong Pagar neighbourhood, this destination diner draws in locals and guests alike, as much for its menu of flavoursome mod Asian dishes as its chic interiors by celebrity interior designer Anouska Hempel.

With a commitment to local, seasonal and responsible sourcing of produce, the menu features a selection of dairy-free, gluten-free and vegan dishes; some that have become firm favourites include the braised duck spring rolls, fried lion’s mane mushrooms and the crispy Sichuan chicken, which can be ordered with just a little Sichuan pepper or with the full dose, which brings a tear to the eye with its unrelenting heat. Arrive early and stop for a drink at the lovely Yellow Pot Bar next door.

Address: 83 Duxton Road, Singapore

5. Hajah Maimunah

Another firm favourite with locals, the offering here features Malay and Indonesia dishes (up to 50 in all) displayed behind glass so that you can pile your plate high with a pick and mix feast (accompanied by rice) known as nasi padang.

While there are sure to be some dishes that you don’t recognise, absolutely everything is delicious (it is included in Michelin’s Bib Gourmand guide, which recognises ‘good quality, good value restaurants’) so don’t be afraid to sample some new taste sensations – try sambal goreng, a stir fry of tempeh, tofu, shrimps and long beans with aromatic spices, or tahu telor, a tofu and egg omelette topped with crispy shredded vegetables and peanut sauce – along with favourites like the unctuous beef rending.

If you still have room, pick out a few bite-sized kuehs, sweet or savoury treats that can include everything from curry puffs to dumplings to cakes to cookies, to take away with you for later.

Address: 11 Jalan Pisang 15, Singapore

6. 328 Katong Laksa

While its reputation has spawned a number of outlets, the original 328 restaurant, located in the suburb of Katong, with its gloriously tiled traditional Peranakan houses and delightful local vibe, is still the best place on the island to sample a sweet and spicy laksa soup. The restaurant is unassuming – think plastic stools and no frills fittings – but the laksa is flavoursome and rich; it proved a huge hit with Gordon Ramsey when he visited, as evidenced by the newspapers clippings proudly displayed at the entrance by owner Lucy Lim.

Address: 51 E Coast Rd, Singapore

328 katong laksa is flavoursome and rich

7. National Kitchen by Violet Oon at the National Gallery Singapore

Singapore celebrity chef and food ambassador Violet Oon has eateries scattered across the island, but her outlet at the imposing National Gallery Singapore is a real must visit. With a luxe fitout in dramatic black and green, Oon has elevated local Peranakan cuisine to fine dining here.

Lunch and dinner are served seven days a week, but for something different opt to partake in the Singapore High Tea (starting from $59 for two people), with a menu of sweet and savoury morsels including spicy dried shrimp floss finger sandwiches, pandan infused crepes and pulled beef sambal on steamed buns.

Address: 1 St Andrew’s Rd, #02–01 National Gallery, Singapore

Violet Oon at National Gallery Singapore is a real must visit

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8. Open Farm Community

Situated in the Dempsey Hill area, Open Farm Community has a lofty vision: to create an edible urban garden overseen by an enthusiastic collective of farmers and chefs where produce can be grown and included in the menus served up in the light and bright restaurant.

The farm-to-fork dishes produced with the home-grown ingredients and stringently sourced produce from local growers are hearty and honest, packed with flavour and vibrant with colour and goodness. The bright green-hued dining space is popular with ex-pat ladies who lunch during the week, and packed on the weekend when locals come to make the most of the 278 square metres of gardens, lawns and children’s playground.

Address: 130E Minden Rd, Singapore

Farm-to-fork dishes are on show at Open Farm Community

9. Burnt Ends

Meat, meat and more meat is the focus at Burnt Edges, which has a place on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list (at number 10 to be exact) and serious buzz that pulls in a constant crowd. Its counter seating overlooking the open kitchen – and constantly burning customised ovens and grills – sets the tone for the experience ahead; bearded Aussie chef/owner Dave Pynt’s modern barbecue menu changes regularly based on what’s seasonal and best, but the tastes are always robust.

Address: 20 Teck Lim Rd, Singapore

10. Corner House

Named for Eldred John Henry Corner, the British botanist (his specialty was mycology or the study of fungi) who was the Assistant Director of the Botanic Gardens from 1929 to 1945 and lived in the historic house that now houses Corner House restaurant, this fine diner is surrounded by stunning tropical plants and flowers. Take up position on the Verandah and order from chef Jason Tan’s five course lunch or dinner degustation menus that balance proteins and botanical elements; his signature Gastro-Botanica style elevates greens, fruits, herbs, vines and fungi above a token inclusion.

Address: Located in Singapore Botanic Gardens, 1 Cluny Rd, E J H Corner House Singapore Botanic Gardens, Singapore

Corner House restaurant is surrounded by tropical plants and flowers

After youth-led protests in 2025, this year Nepal elected a 35-year-old former rapper as Prime Minister. In a country where tourism is its biggest industry, what’s next for travellers?

In 1986, Nepal changed its clock. It had used India Standard Time since 1920 so, to differentiate, it wound its clock 15 minutes ahead of, not behind, its big-brother neighbour. Boss move. “Nepal is strongly opposed to the idea that our identity is connected to India,” says Community Homestay Network (CHN) guide Bikal Khanal.

Tharu dance is traditionally set to hand drums. (Credit: Kate Lewis)

Today, Nepal is the only independent country with a 45-minute deviation to universal time; an oddity that’s become a symbol of national pride. The quirk is nearly as endearing as Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan airport where carved varnished wood and shiny red bricks rule. One sign points to a ‘Travelator’ and another to a ‘Grievance Handling Desk’ while visas are noisily stamped at customs for US dollars, cash only. When am I?

Spot the endemic Nepal gray langur. (Credit: Simon Urwin)

The 15 or 45 minute anomaly sees me tap out completely on timezone calculations. Why bend my brain calculating if it’s quarter to or quarter past elsewhere when I’m in the honking here and now of Kathmandu where the air is high-altitude crisp, the prayer flags flutter and the street dogs howl?

How tourism is changing in Nepal

Bardiya National Park is rich with wildlife. (Credit: Simon Urwin)

India is not the only association many Nepalis would like to shake. With eight of the world’s 10 tallest mountains, including Mount Everest and Annapurna, Nepal has long attracted mountaineers and trekkers, and expedition numbers are continuing to rise.

Tourism is one of the country’s biggest sources of foreign currency, so this growth is not negative, per se. But according to Ang Tshering Lama, who co-founded Phaplu Mountain Bike Club, being reduced to a mere trekking destination is limiting.

“Trekking is just one layer of our identity,” says Ang. “When it becomes the dominant narrative, it limits how we’re seen and how we see ourselves.” Nepal’s recent success, however, in diverting trekkers to less-trafficked areas such as Manaslu mofuntain, where visitor numbers rose by 117 per cent last year, offers hope that tourism can diversify even more radically.

Local men in Bhada village. (Credit: Simon Urwin)

The founder of CHN, Shiva Dhakal, wants that change. “The whole idea of the Community Homestay Network is to promote experiences outside of trekking,” he says. “Community tourism changes lives and helps kids stay home instead of coming to the city or migrating to the Middle East.”

Ang grew up seeing people leave, “not because they wanted to but because there weren’t enough opportunities to stay”, he states. Yet from remote villages to living traditions; food, art, music and emerging subcultures, “there’s so much that’s not being seen.”

CHN is opening some of those doors. It doesn’t own, or fund, any homes. Rather, it promotes homestays to travellers on a single, slick platform, while fostering entrepreneurship in places where women, marginalised castes, Indigenous people and the youth stand to benefit the most.

A new generation demanding more

Dalla Town Hall, where volunteers discuss anti-poaching tactics. (Credit: Bheem Thapa)

The future prospects of next-gen Nepalis can no longer be ignored. On a Kathmandu tour with 33-year-old guide Monica K.C, we pass buildings torched in the September 2025 ‘Gen Z protests’, including the Supreme Court and Parliament House. Seventy-two people died. “They were anti-corruption protests,” says Monica. “Politicians’ children are living a lavish life but the airports are crowded with youngsters leaving to find work.”

We stop in ‘little Tibet’ at the wondrous sixth-century Boudha Stupa. “The wheel of life is Buddhism in a nutshell,” says Monica. “Things such as hate, ignorance and anger keep you rotating around the wheel, so you must follow the principles of Buddhism to detach. If you can’t, there’s no nirvana for you.”

Boudha Stupa's prayer wheels — Boudha Stupa’s prayer wheels are used to recite Buddhist prayers. (Credit: Kate Lewis)

In a sun-drenched twist to the usual temple visit, we ascend the stupa’s sloping plinth and roam its whitewashed dome. Tendrils of diaphanous prayer flags stream from a steeple-like structure where the Buddha’s unblinking eyes stare out. No nirvana for you…

bouda stupa prayer flags — Tibetan-style prayer flags embellish the whitewashed dome of Bouda Stupa, a Buddhist temple. (Credit: Kate Hennessy)

The dome is delightfully free of guard rails or chiding from security. There is, however, a stern ‘No TikTok’ sign, perhaps in response to the youth’s newly flexed power. The booted-out Prime Minister, K.P. Sharma Oli, was replaced in a resounding election victory in March by 35-year-old Balendra Shah of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) – a former rapper and mayor of Kathmandu. The RSP’s manifesto indicates tourism is a priority, and that Nepal’s cultural identity in areas such as gastronomy will be strengthened.

Boudha Stupa vendors — Vibrant souvenir shops and cafes around Boudha Stupa. (Credit: Kate Hennessy)

A more confronting stop awaits at Pashupatinath Temple. Today is Bala Chaturdashi, a Hindu festival where thousands of devotees gather to honour their dead ancestors. Vendors hauling foam mattresses do a lucrative trade as people set up for a night of vigil. This includes burning the bodies of recently deceased relatives on bamboo pyres in the Bagmati River, which flows into the sacred Ganges.

A woman at annual Hindu festival Bala Chaturdashi, in Kathmandu. (Credit: Kate Hennessy)

Wrapped in a shroud, the bodies are positioned with their heads facing north to the Himalayas where Lord Shiva resides. They’re covered with flowers and straw and set alight by male family members.

Hours later, the ashes are swept into the river where devotees will take a holy dip the next day. As much as Monica assures us it’s not voyeuristic to watch, I struggle to do so. “Here you see the reality of life because everyone ends up there,” she says, gesturing to the river.

Life unfiltered in the Terai region

tharu woman — Tharu woman and master weaver Parbati Chaudhary in Bhada Village. (Credit: Bheem Thapa)

The reality of life needs processing time, which the western Terai region delivers in spades. The Terai is largely separated from India by the Karnali River and Bardiya National Park, where elephants, rhinos and the elusive Bengal tiger roam.

Once a nomadic tribe, the Indigenous Tharu people are now the largest ethnic group here. “They didn’t know their daily life was interesting for international travellers but they’re starting to understand now,” says CHN founder Shiva.

Take a Jeep safari through Bardiya National Park. (Credit: Bheem Thapa)

We fly Buddha Air to Dhangadhi airport and drive five hours to stay in Tharu homes. The journey to Bhada village is a blur of roadside fruit stalls, traffic-stopping sacred cows and fields sown with wheat, rice, mustard, spinach, cauliflower and potatoes. Nepal’s agriculture feeds only Nepal.

Marigolds are an important part of Hindu rituals. (Credit: Simon Urwin)

“The only thing we export is young people,” says our guide Bikal. As the light dims and we plunge evermore rural, mysterious mounds of compacted hay – some house-sized – loom like the creatures from Where The Wild Things Are. Even our trusty driver gets flummoxed by a dirt road that abruptly ends and we find ourselves hurtling across a paddock.

On arrival, some are ferried to mud-walled cottages greened by gourd creepers, with thatched roofs and rustic-chic mosquito nets. Myself and two others are ushered to the home of corner store owner, mechanic and mushroom farmer Man Kumar Chilaruwa and his wife Rajkumari.

community homestay entrance — A warm welcome at a community homestay. (Credit: Simon Urwin)

They escort us to a bunker-esque back building with steel doors and a folding security gate, behind which is gleaming linoleum, dolphin-printed tiles and a shower cavity that must be gingerly stepped through to reach the toilet.

The ceiling lights emit a rainbow of colours (the bathroom light gets stuck in, frankly, a quite frightening red). We’re nevertheless touched that our hosts invested in all this bling when the average salary is around $275 a month.

In the coming days, we participate in Tharu traditions such as making moonshine, dancing, weaving straw handicrafts and gold-panning. We’re fed well with staples of rice, mustard greens, lentil pancakes, daal, curried chicken and tomato chutney served on antibacterial saal leaves.

food at community homestay — Dig in. (Credit: Kate Hennessy)

Sonara community homestay president Indradevi Tharu tells us river snails are often served, and the boiled and pickled flesh of rats hunted in the rice fields. “Perhaps next time?” we say and all have a laugh.

The power of community homestays

community homestay owners in Nepal — Barda community homestay owners Parbati Chaudhary and Ram Krishni Devi Chaudhary. (Credit: Simon Urwin)

Immersing Western visitors in foreign cultural practices is not new. But with the Tharu, I never get that uneasy sensation that I’m being performed for. Despite being the only tourists, there’s no ‘othering’; just warm, composed and ultra-dignified welcomes. Like we’ve always been here.

“I love to have travellers in my village so I can see the world,” says local woman Parbati Chaudhary. “Why would I travel the world when the world comes to me?”

The graceful acceptance the Tharu offer, as well as the slow pace, works miracles on my frazzled nervous system. One day I even take a nap on a vacant homestay bed.

Sonara community room — An authentic stay in the Sonara community. (Credit: Kate Hennessy)

Roosters strut and goats bray as we sit on the ground in al fresco kitchens, rolling rice flour into cylinders steamed to make dhikri (dumplings). When water is needed, we fetch it using a hand-operated pump as a family of ducks strolls by, side-eying us like curious neighbours.

Animal lovers will delight in Tharu villages. Kind and resourceful inventions are everywhere, such as snacking stations where two posts lean together, with leafy boughs dangling on rope for baby goats to forage from.

CHN’s CEO, Aayusha Prasain, nods knowingly when one in our group says she cried when she left her host, Shayam Chaudhary, in Bhada. Shayam’s 17-year-old son, Prashant, had translated, which deepened the connection.

“Community tourism turns travel into a relationship, not a transaction,” says Aayusha. “It places decision-making power in the hands of local communities, especially women and youth.” Since 2018, CHN has hosted more than 4000 travellers from 52 countries in 408 households, and estimates women’s participation has increased by 381 per cent.

In the Bardiya community, where vexing human-animal conflict has been a balancing act for decades due to elephants raiding crops, long-time homestay operator Salik Ram Chaudhary says young people keep the older ones on their toes.

“We can’t keep homestays stagnant,” he says. “We have to upgrade our service and redefine our product or young people won’t see it as an attractive business. If we can keep evolving with this travelling trend we’re confident the youths will stay and continue it.”

Back in Kathmandu, Monica explains that after the deaths of young protestors in September, a determination had spread to not let their sacrifice be in vain. “We want to keep holding the government accountable,” she says. “We don’t know what situation we’re facing, but we’re ready to face it.”

Interested in Nepal but prefer to experience it in total comfort? Read our guide to luxury travel in Nepal.

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