First time in Singapore — what locals actually recommend
If it's your first weekend in Singapore, this is the locals' shortlist — the sights worth the queue, the food you can't skip, and the neighbourhood walks that show you the place.
Top spots in Singapore
Tiong Bahru
Food & DrinkTiong Bahru
Art Deco walk-ups, independent bookstores and the country's most photographed bakery.
Gardens by the Bay
OutdoorsMarina Bay
Supertree Grove light show every night at 7:45 and 8:45.
Hawker Chan / Maxwell Food Centre
Food & DrinkChinatown
Michelin-starred chicken rice for under $5 — the original Hawker Chan.
Marina Bay Sands SkyPark
OutdoorsMarina Bay
Rooftop observation deck (or pool, if you're a guest) — sunset is the move.
Where to eat
Atlas Bar
$$$Cocktail bar · Bugis
Art Deco lobby bar inside Parkview Square — over 1,000 gins on display.
Lau Pa Sat
$Hawker market · CBD
Victorian iron market converted to a 24-hour hawker centre — satay street at night.
Odette
$$$$Modern French · City Hall
Three Michelin stars at the National Gallery — book a month out.
328 Katong Laksa
$Laksa · Katong
Spoon-only Peranakan laksa — Anthony Bourdain's pick.
Burnt Ends
$$$$Modern barbecue · Dempsey Hill
Open-fire counter — beef marmalade brioche is the order.
Frequently asked
- Standouts right now: Gardens by the Bay, Marina Bay Sands SkyPark, Hawker Chan / Maxwell Food Centre. The shortlist is curated by people who live in Singapore and refreshed regularly so it reflects what's actually open and worth your time.