Eat your way through Singapore in a day

If there’s one thing Singapore does well, it’s food. Actually, there are a lot of things Singapore does well… but the food is something that really can’t be missed. I’ve been there twice now, and each time I go with an empty stomach, and come back fuller than a prize-winning pig. From epic Singaporean street food to boujie bars and restaurants, Singapore has it all. So, come with me while I eat and drink my way through Singapore in a day… 

Breakfast  

When I arrived in Singapore for the first time, I met up with my friend at the airport and immediately uttered the obvious: “love you, missed you, I’m hungry.” So, they suggested we get a traditional Singaporean breakfast, kaya toast. Kaya toast is like a Singaporean take on the classic English egg and soldiers. It combines sweet kaya jam (made from coconut milk, eggs, sugar and sometimes pandan leaves) and butter on toast, with a super runny egg, flavoured to your taste with soy sauce. It might sound strange but trust me, it’s a must-try for anyone visiting Singapore – a classic. Naturally, as an iconic dish, it’s available in most parts of the city and there are a lot of chains that sell it. Not to mention, it’s super affordable! I went to a spot at the bottom of the Marina Bay Sands and paid $7.40 SGD for a kaya toast set with a coffee, which translates to roughly £4.30. I love the stuff so much I even bought a jar of kaya jam to remake it at home.  

While you’re at it, if (like me) you can’t survive without your caffeine hit in the morning, you have to try Singaporean kopi – distinctive in its sweet flavour, the beans are roasted in sugar and margarine before being ground. A perfect energy booster to start your day of sightseeing around this epic urban jungle.  

Morning sweet treat  

If you’re looking for a little snack to keep you going, there are plenty of places around the city. Why not stop by a cute little bakery on Haji Lane? You’ll find loads of little aesthetic cafés around here. I was still full from breakfast, but my friend and I loved browsing all the windows on this street. If you have room in your tummy, you’ll definitely want to try the French American Bakery’s sweet treats and viral marshmallow hot chocolate. Once you’ve done that, this place is full of cute photo spots and photo booths, so make sure you grab some pics. Mmy friend and I went to an airplane themed photo booth – sounds odd, but we had a lot of fun.  

Lunch  

My first pick was bak kut teh. Having been introduced to this dish by my incredibly strange ex-flatmate (long story), I simply needed to try the real deal in Singapore. Bak kut teh means ‘meat bone tea’ in Hokien, and that’s pretty much what it is – a pork rib soup. This traditional Malaysian/Singaporean dish is beautifully rich and tasty. And don’t worry, even if the weather is humid, you will still want to drink this hot broth. We also grabbed a mie goreng, AKA stir-fried noodles served with prawns. And washed it all down with freshly blended watermelon juice. We got all of this from different stalls within the centre, so it’s perfect for ordering from different places and sharing. Just be warned, you’ll need to pay cash at most of these places as they don’t accept cards, but the food itself is all super affordable and comes out in minutes. Trust me, once you visit one stand, you’ll want to try them all.  

Top tip – if you leave an item like an umbrella on your table, that will tell people that someone is sitting there, and you can reserve a place. Obviously, don’t leave anything valuable, but in general if you leave something small but noticeable, no one else will sit there and you’ll be free to roam about the stalls. 

Afternoon refresh  

It’s hot, you’ve spent all day walking around the gardens by the bay or shopping your heart out…  So, I’m thinking, nice cold iced matcha? Singapore has many places to stop for a nice cold drink. They even have orange juice vending machines, which freshly squeeze the juice for you. Not to mention endless bubble tea stores, all of which are much tastier than the stuff you can get back home. My friend often stops by a spot inside a clothes shop. Yes – accessories and bubble tea in one place – an odd mix, but you can get a massive cup there that would last you the whole day. In fact, I couldn’t even finish mine, I was so full. The second day I was there, we just grabbed an iced matcha at Luckin Coffee, which at the time was just $0.99 if you downloaded the app! For that price, it was a pretty decent matcha if I do say so myself, too. Of course, there are much more specialised matcha shops in the city, but don’t be scared to try out the cheaper stuff, as it’s still pretty good. 

Dinner  

We’re going with a Singaporean classic for dinner, Hainanese chicken. When you look at it, it just looks like grilled chicken breast. But it’s so much more than that. It’s super juicy and tender, plus the seasoning is so good. My friend took me to a place in Bugis, which was recommended to them by their mum. And although not busy when we first arrived, it quickly filled up as we ate. This spot was clearly a favourite with the locals. Super central and super yummy. It was just what I needed after a long day of walking around. You can find this stuff in many hawker centres too, though, and it’s a perfectly filling but not too heavy meal for the end of the day.  

Dessert 

Dinner is never the last food stop when you’ve got a sweet tooth like me. So, on the way back to my hotel, my friend and I grabbed a matcha soft serve at a local chain for, you guessed it, $1 SGD. Too cheap and too delicious not to get! It’s also the perfect way to cool down after a long hot day, and it looks super cute for the Insta. If you’re not a matcha lover – too bad. Joking… There are loads of places all around the city to get affordable ice-cream and Boba in plenty of flavours. Get yourself a cone and then wander around Bugis street market – the perfect spot to grab cheap, cheesy souvenirs (if that’s your cup of tea, like it is for me.) 

So, we’ve made it to the end of my eating journey, and this was only just a taster. With thousands of restaurants across this tightly packed city, there is no limit to the amount of incredible food you can get. You haven’t even tried Singaporean chilli crab, nasi lemak or Shabu Shabu (my personal fave) yet – *adds to itinerary instantly… Trust me when I say, if you’re a foodie, you’re in for a treat with Singapore, whether that be a savoury or a sweet one.  

If you’re now hungry – sorry not sorry – browse our best deals to start your foodie adventure.  

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Author: Roisin Bennetts (she/her)
Last updated: 13/08/2025