Eating & Exploring in Singapore

When I got the news that Anthony Bourdain had passed away, I was sitting in a hostel in Perth, surrounded by backpackers playing beer pong late in the evening. They had never heard of him, nor read his books or seen any of his TV series. The devastation I felt and must have expressed on my face was met with glances of confusion by those around me. I fought back tears as I frantically read the articles, coming in one-by-one as the other side of the world was waking up.

Celebrity deaths are weird. Sometimes, you can feel completely indifferent, as it’s just the passing of another person you never met, who didn’t have much of an impact on your life. Others are different.

While I try not to overly idolize or worship Bourdain, his books, or his various TV series, he was a deeply inspiring figure, arguably one of the most authentic travel personalities to come on TV.

When I visited Singapore, one of Bourdain’s favorite spots in the world to eat, I immediately understood why he fell in love with this bustling city-state. With the Hawker centers, packed with businessmen and women in professional attire despite the oppressive heat, the waterfront seemingly fenced in by stunning skyscrapers, and streets completely devoid of ANY trace of litter (searching for it became a way to entertain myself during my solo days of the trip).

Singapore Hotels & Accommodation

During my 2018 visit to Singapore, I stayed in a hostel that was designed for startup founders, digital nomads, basically anyone looking to start an online business but wanting to stay in Singapore in a community-driven space. It was called Tribe Theory, and was later bought by Draper House. Now it appears to no longer exist, sadly, but it was a cool experience to stay here in my backpacker days.

On my most recent visit in 2026, I stayed at Orchard Rendezvous Hotel on Orchard Street, a large, comfortable spot with a rooftop pool and easy access by public transit or Grab to get around the city. It was a comfortable stay with a good breakfast included, nice staff and large, clean rooms. If you’ve got money to spend, of course, you can check out the iconic Marina Bay Sands, but for me personally I will always opt for a more budget option when it comes to accommodation.

Eat at the Maxwell Hawker Center

This place was right outside the front door of my hostel, so it became my go-to for lunches and dinners during the 8 days I spent in Singapore. It’s amazing – with a variety of Asian (and some western) cuisines, all for crazy cheap. I tried Laksa, frequented a Thai food stall, and accompanied it with a Tiger Beer to cut through some of the stifling humidity. Maxwell Hawker Center is a touristy spot, but it’s a must visit to anyone venturing to Singapore.

The most famous stall in the center is undoubtedly the Tian Tian Chicken Rice shop. It was declared Bourdain’s favorite, and the line during the lunch rush reflects an agreement among locals and tourists alike. I waited until 3pm one day to get lunch from there after the normal crowds had dissipated.

The rice was fragrant, the chicken tender, and the overall experience, comforting. I wouldn’t say that I was blown away by Singapore chicken rice, it’s not somethings I could see myself getting a craving for at three in the morning after a night out, but it was a tasty, easy meal to enjoy, and was made special knowing I was experiencing the same flavors, smells, and sounds that Bourdain had during his trips.

Grab a Coffee at Maxi Coffee Bar

Situated in a little side street near Maxwell is Maxi Coffee Bar, a boutique coffee shop serving up delicious espresso beverages. It was perfect for some afternoon fuel to help me power through the rest of my day. If I lived in the city I could see myself frequenting this location. It’s very small on the inside but they do have a little side patio with shade that you can sit at.

Visit Arab Street

Walking to this part of town in the heat was a challenge, but it was worth it to see more of the cityscape and explore. Singapore has great public transport, but apparently I wanted to see how much I could sweat in one day while getting my steps in. I took a walk around the area with the mosque and had fun peeking into all the rug shops. Here there is a huge blend of cultures, with influences from different parts of the world that was awesome to walk through and explore for a few hours. I didn’t do any shopping, but if you like Islamic art or furnishings, this would be the place to visit.

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Check Out Little India

The colours came alive in this part of the city. There were so many incredible smells of curries blending in the air, noises of the traffic and the markets, and crowds of people finding places to enjoy lunch. I loved walking around Little India in Singapore, admiring the spice shops and restaurants, the colourful buildings, and all the sights and sounds, and all the amazing temples with their adornments and statues outside. Definitely plan a stop in this district during a visit to Singapore, you won’t regret the thrilling sensory overload.

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Wander Around Chinatown

This buzzing district is home to lots of food stalls and shops. From cheap souvenirs to high-priced jewelery, you can find anything in Chinatown. I loved trying dumplings from little shops, and it always had a buzzing atmosphere. It’s also an excellent place if you’re looking to get a buzz on without spending a lot of money at drinks at more westernised restaurants, where a beer can cost you as much as $20.

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Visit the Buddha Tooth Temple

This temple is right near the chaos of Chinatown, and is free to enter and enjoy a look around. It has a lot of really pretty decorations, the architecture is enchanting to admire while walking around the museum and courtyard.

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Enjoy a Pick-Me-Up at Nanyang Old Coffee & Kaya Toast

This famous spot right on the edge of the Chinatown sprawl is one to stop at to start your day if you’re looking to get a coffee and try the Singaporean favourite, Kaya Toast. Kaya is a spread made of sugar, coconut milk, and eggs, and spread on toast, sometimes with butter. It’s a nice snack or breakfast if you want to try something traditional.

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Check Out the Marina Bay Sands Hotel

This iconic hotel is a must visit, and even if you can’t afford to drop a few hundred to spend a night here, you can still enjoy the incredible views and the glamour from the rooftop bar, which is open to the public. Of course, the cocktails cost a pretty penny at about $25 Singapore dollars apiece (about $20 USD as of 2018) but to sip a crafted beverage, surrounded by lights in a concrete jungle, I’d say it’s worth it to experience for at least one round.

Eat Curry Chicken Noodle at Da Po in the Golden Mile Food Center

I think this might be my favorite thing I’ve eaten in Singapore. The spicy noodles, tender chicken, and delicious curry broth was the ultimate lunch, and for $6 for the small bowl, it was incredibly filling and a budget-friendly lunch. Da Po is an iconic, popular spot for this dish, but you can find it at other hawker centers. Be aware this hawker center is more just for lunch, so come here midday for these noodles.

Visit the Gardens by the Bay

This weird but super cool music and light show that starts after dark every evening is a must-see while in Singapore. Walking around the base of these metal “tree” structures is free, but if you want to walk the suspension-bridge pathway, you’ll have to pay a fee of $28 for a skywalk at Gardens by the Bay.

It offers amazing views of the Marina Bay Sands hotel and the sprawling cityscape of the beating heart of Singapore.

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Visit the Flower Dome & Cloud Forest

A combo ticket to the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome in Singapore will set you back about $40 USD, but I’d definitely say it’s worth it to spend a few hours wandering these amazing gardens. Admire the indoor waterfalls, gorgeous floral displays, and learn about different biomes and ecological environment from all over the world, there are sections of almost every single corner of the globe in these massive greenhouse-like spaces.

There was an orchid feature going on while I visited, which was particularly impressive and gorgeous. It was just amazing to be immersed in these beautiful plants, wandering around these natural wonders that have been curated and sculpted in such artistic ways. Even though it was busy with tourists (on a weekday, no less) it still felt very peaceful and not overly crowded at any point.

See the Spectra Light & Water Show and the Merlion Statue 

Every night at 8pm on the waterfront once the sun has set and the lights of skyscrapers illuminate the city, the Spectra Light & Water Show takes over the harbour for an entertaining show of synchronised sounds & colours. It’s a free thing to do, the perfect stop before going out for the night or after dinner if you’re walking around the downtown waterfront region of Singapore.

Eat at Lau Pa Sat Hawker Hall

Famous for the Satay Street that opens at 7pm here, this Hawker Hall is bustling during the lunch and dinner hours, and is full of incredible food options. It’s located right in the business district of the city, so you’ll see a lot of people here on their lunch breaks from work grabbing quick bites, and you can find almost every type of cuisine. This hawker center is famous for its Satay Street, which is a collection of 9 vendors selling grilled meat satays on the street outside the hall, is only open from 7pm onwards. I visited too early to grab a satay, but the Indian food I had was delicious. Don’t be surprised if you end up sharing a table with strangers — it’s just a really busy place and this is a normal thing at a hawker center, especially if you’re solo traveling.

Visit the Singapore City Gallery

This is a free museum that is 100% worth a visit, either before or after you eat at the Maxwell Hawker Center, since it’s right across the street. It’s three floors of interactive exhibits that showcase all the incredible urban planning and development that has gone into creating Singapore into the city-state it is today. It’s really cool to see behind-the-scenes of what it takes to serve a dense population, from water collection and conservation to skyscraper construction, public transit, and other services. Cool down in the air conditioning at Singapore City Gallery and learn about all the ways the city planners have developed Singapore into the well-designed metropolis it is today.

Enjoy Sky-High City Views at the top of CapitaSpring Building

While you can access this for free if you make a reservation two weeks in advance, if you’re not planning ahead like I wasn’t, you can buy a same-day access ticket for about $7 USD, and that includes a non-alcoholic drink from the bar at the top. Pop into the elevator, ride up to the top floor, grab your beverage and have a wander around the top of the CapitaSpring building, where you can enjoy incredible 360 views of the city.

Hike at MacRitchie Reservoir

Looking to escape into nature to get a break from the city sidewalks? You’re in luck, because you can access a huge nature reserve and immerse yourself in the jungle by jumping on a bus or on the subway. The MacRitchie Reservoir is the oldest reservoir in Singapore and was the first water supply system for the city. It’s a huge expanse of water that is available for kayaking and other recreation, and it’s surrounded by a thick, jungly-forest walk that is excellent for hiking. Find yourself on the Tree Top Trail suspension bridge, walking above the canopy for some amazing views. It’s also free to enter and easily accessible, I took the bus but you can also get close to entrances to the area by subway, just look up whichever route is easiest for you on public transit.

Keep your eyes out for wildlife! I saw a snake, tons of wild monkeys, beautiful butterflies, birds, and more. It’s an epic adventure right on the edge of the city, truly an amazing way to enjoy the outdoors while in Singapore. Be careful to keep your distance from the monkeys — none of them were interested in me, but this is why you’re not allowed to bring plastic bags on a hike as they will know you have snacks!

Singapore is an amazing city (and country?) that you can revisit again and again. It’s a place to wander, to eat, to sweat, and to enjoy. I look forward to returning, it’s definitely a place to plan a long layover whenever you venture to Asia, and with new flights being added directly from the United States, I hope it will only become easier and easier to access this amazing place.