Food & Drink

Singapore is a gourmet’s paradise that ranges from common street stalls to 5-star elegant restaurants. More than 30 different cooking styles are available as well as various regional styles of Chinese food, American, English, French, Indian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Russian and Swiss.

Malay food is a favourite, famed for its use of spices and coconut milk. Satay (skewers of marinated meat cooked over charcoal) served with peanut sauce, cucumber, onion and rice is popular. Hot, spicy or sweet Indonesian cuisine includes beef rendang (coconut milk beef curry), chicken sambal and gado gado (a fruit and vegetable salad in peanut sauce).

One of the ideal ways to eat in Singapore is in the open-air, at one of the street foodstalls that are available everywhere. Some are casual and in a peaceful atmosphere while others are in bustling areas with many activities. They all have a variety of cheap, mouthwatering food. La Pau Sat and Newton Circus are food centres where travellers can find all types of cheap Asian food. Though there are many self-service establishments, waiter service is more common in restaurants.

Bars/cocktail lounges often have table and counter service. There are no licensing hours. ‘Happy hours’ are usually from 5.00 pm to 7.00 pm.

Nightlife

There are a wide range of lively and thrilling nightlife activities to enjoy in Singapore. Entertainment places include bars, clubs, discos, karaoke pubs, street opera, night markets, river cruises and multiplex cinemas as well as theatre productions and international stage shows.

The favourite riverfront landmarks are Boat Quay and Clarke Quay where there are exclusive restaurants, alfresco dining and vibrant bars. Moored Chinese junks have been converted into floating bars and restaurants. Known as Holland V, Bugis Street, Changi Village and Holland Village are ideal for food, drinks and entertainment activities. One of the most current entertainment hubs in the city is Muhammad Sultan Road as well as Club Street where many pubs, nightclubs and wine bars are located.

Shopping

The wide selection of available goods with their competitive prices have led to Singapore throughly being known as a shopper’s paradise.

Some special buys are Chinese, Indian, Malay, Balinese and Filipino antiques; batiks; cameras; Chinese, Persian and Indian carpets; imported or tailored clothing; jewellery and specialised items made of reptile and snake skins, as well as shoes, briefcases, handbags and wallets. Silks, perfumes, silverware and wigs are other favourite purchases.

The herding of shop owners from ‘Chinatown’ into multi-storey complexes lost some of the thrilling shopping atmosphere, even though these large centres do have an air-conditioned environment. Orchard Road is the major shopping area, though a variety of the principal hotels, for example Marina Square, have shopping centres attached.

Though most shops have Western-style fixed pricing, some places are generally open to negotiation but normally only after good research and shrewd bargaining. All kinds of electrical appliances are available at Sungei Road, but buyers shoud be cautious since many counterfeit goods are around.

For additional details about shopping in Singapore, the Singapore Tourism Board provides the Singapore Shopping brochure.

Shopping hours: Monday to Friday 10.00 am to 9.00 pm, Saturday 10.00 am to 10.00 pm.

Note: A 3% Goods and Services Tax (GST) is imposed on most goods and services bought from taxable dealers. Tourists whose buys total S$300 or more from a single trader participating in the Tourist Refund Scheme are qualified for a refund of the GST paid on products not consumed in Singapore. Tourists may receive refunds at the airport, prior to departure flights.

Special Events

The cosmopolitan character of Singapore means that a great number of festivals and special events are regularly celebrated; visitors staying for more than a few days would be unlucky not to catch at least one.

For more information and for exact dates, see the Singapore Calendar of Festivals leaflet published by the Singapore Tourism Board.