With every other trip to the Lion City, I got less and less anxious about tackling the everlasting question — Where to eat in Singapore? After the fourth visit, my Google maps shine bright with all colors of labels, marking the coffeeshops I liked, hawker stalks with must-try street food, and spots for eating out.
I will neither bombard you with 100+ best places to eat in Singapore nor recommend the extravagant establishments with exorbitant prices. Consider it a simple list of cafes and coffeeshops from a fellow traveler who enjoys food but isn’t ready to shell out for that.
For your convenience, I’ve sorted the spots by neighborhoods — so you can check them out if they pop up on your way.
Where to eat in Singapore: Marina Bay area
Everything related to Marina Bay area has a chic vibe: From the well-known Marina Bay Sands Hotel to the pricey rooftop bars. Hands down, I always struggle to find cheap and good restaurants in this area of Singapore. Sometimes I feel like this mini-kingdom of sleek skyscrapers forces you to challenge your bank balance (that’s why I prefer to be outside of Marina Bay area when I’m hungry).
Toast Box
Toast Box is a chain of establishments most prominent in the Singaporean landscape. You cannot go wrong with an order of traditional Nanyang coffee (2,2 SGD/$1,6 per cup) and Kaya toast (2 SGD/$1,5), no matter the Singapore neighborhood you’re in. It’s one of the most budget-friendly eateries in Marina Bay area, so if you see Toast Box on the radar, come in for a little pick-me-up: You won’t regret it!
Over Easy
A quintessential American diner experience in the heart of Singapore: Trust us, they make one of the best BBQ ribs (36 SGD/$26) and fried chicken burgers (25 SGD/$18) on this side of the world (on this side of the Mississippi would be too big a stretch, distance-wise). End your night with either bourbon peach tea (18 SGD/$13) or apple cobbler (15 SGD/$11), depending on what kind of mood you’re in.
db Bistro & Oyster Bar
Another Singapore establishment that has its roots on another continent: This time, it’s an eatery that most resembles a classic Parisian bistro — db Bistro & Oyster Bar. Coq au vin, steak tartare, onion soup, escargot, foie gras, — Miam! But don’t stop here: After all, the place is famous for all things seafood, so gorge yourself on oysters (40 SGD ($29) for half dozen) or lobster (36 SGD ($26) for a lobster bisque). After such a feast, all dad seafood jokes are guaranteed to go down easier (“Why don’t oysters share their pearls? Because they’re shellfish!” is a prime example of one).
Level33
World’s highest microbrewery, it would be a shame not to crack open a cold one with the boys after a full day of sightseeing. Whether you’re an ale or a stout guy (or a lager connoisseur), you will find a beverage to your liking here. Paired with the stunning views of Singapore skyline, a freshly brewed craft beer (11,9 SGD ($8,7) for 0,3l before 8 p.m.; 16,9 SGD ($12,4) after 8 p.m.) is a cherry on top of a well-rounded trip experience. With this cost of admission, I guess I can call it an affordable restaurant with a view in Singapore!
 |
 |
PS.Cafe Marina Bay Sands
PS.Cafe is your best bet when it comes to fighting off hunger while in Marina Bay Sands area. Whether you want a light brunch or a hearty midday meal, PS. Cafe has got you covered. PS. Big Breakfast (29 SGD/$21,3) is served till 4 p.m. every day, and the seafood-leaning main dishes (PS. crab & prawn laksa (28 SGD/$20,5)) will keep you full for the rest of the evening.
Where to eat in Singapore in Chinatown
Chinatown boasts many places that are easy on the pocket. For example, hawker centers that will give you the best answer to the question of what to eat in Singapore as they serve top-notch street food at reasonable prices. I intentionally left hawker centers out in the foodie list for Chinatown as I elaborate more on them in this article.
Homeground Coffee Roasters
The place I come back to again and again: Whether it’s time for coffee and breakfast (which means a hearty serving of Homies Breakfast (28 SGD/$20,5), or lunch (spicy Tom Yam pasta (24 SGD/$17,6) and fried potatoes and pork belly (26 SGD/$19) for the win). The food is amazing, but coffee is where the Homeground Coffee Roasters specialists really shine. Roasted and brewed to perfection (8 SGD/$6 for a cup of filter coffee), an energizing beverage of their making is bound to lift up your spirits, no matter the circumstances.
Whole Earth
A proud owner of Michelin Bib Gourmand for seven years straight, this Peranakan-Thai vegetarian restaurant is a mecca for all plant-based connoisseurs. Tofu, vegetables, mushrooms (a dish ranges from 20 SGD/$15 to 28 SGD/$21) — trust me, you won’t even notice that there’s no meat involved in the making of these dishes.
Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice
 |
 |
A hawker stall at Maxwell Food Centre that has a long list of accolades. There is always a line of eager foodies craving a must-try Singapore dish, which is a simple serving of chicken and rice (a small serving costs 5 SGD/$3,7 — which is a bargain in Singapore).
Apiary
A small-batch creamery with ice-cream galore: Their flavor profile swings from cult classics (vanilla, cookies’n’cream) to flavors for adventurous palates (blue milk, cold brew coffee, black sesame, and others). A single scoop is 5 SGD ($3,7), but who are we kidding: It’s hard to stop at a single scoop. Go for a double (9 SGD/$6,6) or a triple (12 SGD/$8,8), if you have a particularly strong sweet tooth.
Best places to eat in Little India
 |
 |
Where to eat in Singapore for dinner in Little India?.. Well, I think I’ve done my best trying to explore the food scene in Little India beyond the “curry only” boundaries (I’m the biggest fan of curry!)
Komala Vilas Restaurant
My go-to place when in the neighborhood, the restaurant serves excellent authentic Indian vegetarian dishes. Vegetable Briyani (10,5 SGD/$7,7), Plain Dosai (2,9 SGD/$2,1), Poori (4,7 SGD/$3,4), — the names are enticing enough, even if you’re an Indian cuisine noob. The restaurant is always wall-to-wall with guests, which is a brilliant showcase of how good the food here really is.
Muthu’s Curry
Serving delectable Indian dishes (most of them quite spicy, so beware) since 1969, this establishment’s signature fish head curry (35 SGD/$25,6) is the talk of the town! If you don’t handle spice well, don’t fret: There are plenty of mild dishes that will be up your palate’s alley.
Main Street Commissary
A great spot for when you don’t feel like exploring Indian cuisine anymore and want something safe and familiar. In this case, it’s brunch! Think avocado toast, French toast, fluffy eggs, and light and airy pastries, all topped up with top-notch cold brews (black cold brew is 6,5 SGD/$4,8), white cold brew is 7 SGD/$5).
Where to eat in Kampong Glam in Singapore
 |
 |
Kampong Glam, or Arab quarter, is the place to find all things kebab and shawarma as well as some good coffee and Insta-worthy locations (like the ones on Haji Lane).
Hjh Maimunah
Best nasi padang (rice with tons of different side dishes) in Singapore. If strapped for cash, look out for their set deluxe sets: A whole beef/chicken/fish set will cost you 10,5 SGD ($7,7) but fill you up for a whole day.
% Arabica
A small (but mighty) coffee shop just around the corner from Haji Lane. Lots of customers say that the coffee is overpriced (after all, a Kyoto latte for 9 SGD ($6,6) seems to be kind of a stretch), but the line here is always long, which says a lot about the quality of coffee. There’s not many seating options inside, so grab your drink of choice and a sweet treat (we recommend an almond croissant for 6 SGD/$4,4) to go and enjoy your pick-me-up while wandering around vibrant streets of Kampong Glam.
Atlas Bar
 |
 |
Located a little way off Kampong Glam, this gilded age style bar sits in what the locals usually refer to as the “Batman Tower”. As the bar’s website states, “You’re always cordially invited”, so be ready for the next-level concept of high tea or an evening with cocktails. A four-story liquor cabinet is rumored to have been used by bartenders on wires (they literally flew up to get your gin), so you understand the outlandish grandeur that follows this establishment. The prices here are on par with the amount of copper used to embellish the bar: While the classic Atlas gin & tonic will set you back a mere 22 SGD ($16), if you want to try the “good stuff” — their vintage gins that start as early as 1910s — you will have to pay good money for it (a martini with 1910s gin costs 275 SGD ($200), and then the price goes down by 25 SGD ($18) with each passing decade. If only inflation worked that way!)
Where to eat in Clarke Quay
Clarke Quay goes together with Robertson Quay and Boat Quay making up the posh and trendy neighborhood along the Singapore River. Here, it’s hard to find anything for less than $20 for a meal just like in Marina Bay area.
Common Man Coffee Roasters
A destination in Robertson Quay that is perfect for any time of the day: Start your mornings here with breakfast — eggs Benedict (28 SGD/$20,5) and a cold brew (8,5 SGD/$6,2) — and end your night here with drinks and finger food (a whisky sour (18 SGD/$13) and a charcuterie board (14 SGD/$10,3). If they had beds, we would simply camp out here!
The Chupitos Bar
As their website states, the bar is perfect for “days you won’t forget and nights you won’t remember” and we feel like this is the most spot-on description of Chupitos. What started as Singapore’s first shooters bar, now has become a household name of the area (but the shots are as legendary as ever: Get “The Octopus” (88 SGD/$64,5), which is 8 shooters of vodka, sambuca, and liqueur). After a few rounds, even the most atrocious hostel will seem like a palace (note that we are not endorsing excessive alcohol consumption, just pointing out the obvious!)
Zouk
A little twist on the topic of what to eat and drink in Singapore, this is a prime example of an old warehouse turned into a renowned entertainment venue. The transition was not recent: The club has had many lives since its opening in 1991, and you get to witness its latest rendition firsthand! Their house DJs are world-famous, the drinks are abundant, and the dance floor is never empty.
Jumbo Seafood
People traverse continents just to try their award-winning Chili Crab (10,8 SGD ($7,9) for 100g), and with good reason: You would wish you had unlimited travel budget, because you simply cannot get enough of this yummy dish. Jumbo Seafood means ordering jumbo portions, so wear stretchy pants!
Where to eat in Orchard Road
 |
 |
Orchard Road is lined with the biggest shopping malls of Singapore — ION Orchard, Orchard Central, The Centrepoint, to name a few. It brings an intense flow of visitors who are offered lots of food court options as well as something more complex.
Alchemist
Just outlandishly good coffee and nothing else that can interrupt you from enjoying your mandatory morning cup of Joe. Choose from their hot section — (espresso is 4 SGD/$3) and cold (their delectable iced mocha (7,5 SGD/$5,5) should have books written about it) — and let the taste of coffee set you up for a fantastic day!
Chatterbox
For over fifty years, this establishment has served their special Mandarin Chicken Rice — a deluxe chicken rice dish, might we add. For 25 SGD ($18,3), you will get an individual serving of this legendary dish; or you can get a set meal (heritage for 46 SGD/$33,7 or premium for 55 SGD/$40,3) and explore even more of the authentic Singapore flavors.
Cédric Grolet Singapore
 |
 |
If you’ve never gotten to introduce your taste buds to Cédric Grolet’s pastries in Paris because of the huge lines at the entrance… maybe try to pull it off in the Lion City? A new opening in Singapore, a world-renowned pastry shop is located smack in the middle of Orchard Road. The prices at Cédric Grolet Singapore are a little out there (26 SGD/$19 for my favorite vanilla bean and 11 SGD/8 for a plain croissant), but the best quality ingredients are worth every cent! For a smoother experience, make sure you reserve your treat in advance on their website.
Where to eat in Sentosa Island
Sentosa Island means fun and fun always bring the need to sate one’s appetite after the day spent at the amusement parks. However, the prices won’t amuse you at all…
1-Altitude Coast
A worthy follower in the iconic Singapore’s 1-Altitude bar footsteps, it’s coastal twins takes Sentosa by storm. With stunning views sprawling over the island, ample seating areas (and sun loungers nestled by the pool), and an impressive wine list (you can’t go wrong with a glass of prosecco (15 SGD/$11), this destination has everything you need to luxuriate in the romance of a sunny day on the island.
Trapizza
An authentic Italian restaurant in Singapore, Trapizza revels in the lifestyle of “dolce far niente”. And no, the state of mind doesn’t refer to the chefs and the waiters: It’s you who will be spending loose and languid hours over a plate of scrumptious spaghetti alla carbonara (24 SGD/$17,6) and a glass pinot noir (16 SGD/$11,7), enjoying life and everything it entails.
PUTIEN Resorts World Sentosa
Six-time winner of a Michelin star, this Fujian cuisine restaurant is a talk of the island! The chef uses only the freshest ingredients (just look at their ‘100-Second’ stewed yellow croaker, which is literally cooked for only 100 seconds) to create authentic dishes (their signature dishes you absolutely must try are crispy oysters and sweet & sour pork with lychee).
Where to eat in Singapore: in conclusion
Hope you enjoyed my take on the best places to eat in Singapore and found something useful for your trip. Don’t miss my other articles about Singapore: