Singapore is an island, a city and a country. The country is so compact that there is no area dialling code. Despite its size, many travellers are surprised there is so much to see, to do and to eat. Singapore's multi-ethnic culture and heritage has served up a multitude of colourful cuisines, each with its own unique flavour and aroma. Check with Chan Brothers Travel Private Tours on how you can customise your very own tour package and make it your own experiences with lasting memories.
Widest selection
If you ask a local where to find the best flavours, he will be hard pressed for an answer. There is local food from the hawker centre for chicken rice, char kway teow, pork rib soup, roasted meat, fishball noodle, minced meat noodle, fried carrot cake and the list goes on. As a nod of our local food excellence, hawker food stalls have made it to Michelin Singapore Bib Gourmand list. For less than S$10, you can have an international award winning meal! At the other end of the spectrum, you can find celebrity restaurants such as Gordon Ramsey, Wolfgang Puck and Tetsuya Wakuda. Local chefs have also made their mark on many international cuisines like Chinese, Australian, European, Korean, Japanese and French.
Hawker centres
Hawker centres are open-air complexes that house many stalls selling a wide variety of affordably priced food. They are conveniently located from the financial centre to suburban housing estates. Hawker centres are a unique aspect of Singapore culture and lifestyle, an important place for social interaction and community bonding. Street peddling by hawkers of different races has been a common sight in Singapore since the 1800s. The growth of street hawkers in unhygienic conditions led the government to form the Hawkers Department’s Special Squad in 1974. Centres were built with proper sanitation, washing and cooking areas. Hawkers were licensed and moved to these centres. Since June 1997, food stalls in hawker centres are given a grade based on the overall hygiene, cleanliness and housekeeping standards. All hawker stalls are required to display the grades prominently and reviewed annually.
Coffee culture
The artisanal coffee culture took off in Singapore with the opening of the first Starbucks on 14 December 1996. It became trendy to hold a cup of Starbucks walking down the street. Starbucks also raised the price point for a cup of gourmet coffee. Then, a cup of no frills local coffee costs about 50 cents. Today, you can still get a cup of local black coffee at less than a dollar and many ask if there is any difference besides the price and lifestyle expectations. Local coffee stalls use the same beans as their more expensive counterparts. The difference lies with the roasting process for local coffee. Margarine and sugar are added during roasting for the additional fragrance and sweetness. Gourmet coffee is brewed with water temperature of 88-96 degrees while local coffee is brewed with tongue-scalding boiling water. This has to do practicality since people sit and chit chat over a cup of coffee. It seems that this habit is the same whether in the local coffee stalls or air-conditioned cafes.
For more tour ideas in Singpore, try:
Singapore - Sights
Singapore - Culture
Customise your tour with Chan Brothers Travel Private Tours and for a local experience that is uniquely yours. Call +65 6212 9935 or email privatetours@chanbrothers.com.sg for more information.
Highlights
Singapore Day Tours - Food
- Joo Chiat Food & Culture Trail (4 hours)
- Chinatown Food & Culture Trail (4 hours)
1. Joo Chiat Food & Culture Trail (4 hours)
The guide will meet you at the hotel lobby and one-way transport is arranged to Joo Chiat. Peranakans (‘local born’) are the descendants of Chinese and Indian immigrants who married indigenous people from the Malay Archipelago in the 15th century. This marriage has created a unique culture best seen in Joo Chiat.
Wake your taste bud with laksa at the famous 328 Katong Laksa. This stall famously competed against British celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay in 2013 and won with its signature dish. Its creamy gravy is prepared with shrimp paste, coconut milk and cockles, to produce that piquant and rich flavour that locals love. Make a stop at Sri Senpaga Vinayagar Temple to see the sculptures of the 32 forms of Vinayagar or commonly known as elephant god in granite form. This is a unique feature not seen even in temples in India. Next food stop is Nyona kueh (Perankan bite-sized snacks or desserts). These colourful bites are usually made of rice or glutinous flour, along with ingredients such as tapioca, coconut milk and gula melaka (palm sugar).
One of the new developments in the area is Indigo Hotel. Its unique Peranakan-styled interior decoration is inspired by its neighbourhood. Pass by some of Singapore’s most unusual terrace houses where the beach used to be before dropping by one of the last remaining Hainanese confectionary. It features décor typical of 1950s Singapore with retro marble top tables, floor tiles and ceiling fans. The must-tries are kaya (coconut jam) toast, egg tart and local coffee. With all the food, take a leisure walk to the iconic, colourful shop houses for your Instagram shot. The last stop is wanton noodle. It is popular dish with egg noodle, char siew or roasted meat and meat dumpling. After the tour, the guide will bid you farewell after assisting you to take a cab.
Notes
- If any of the food stops is closed, it will be replaced with similar food stops
- Tour is not suitable for those with dietary restriction such as vegetarian, halal, kosher
- Sequence of itinerary is subject to changes without prior notice
2. Chinatown Food & Culture Trail (4 hours)
The guide will meet you at the hotel and proceed to Chinatown according to the transport mode of your choice. Singapore’s ethnic enclave, Chinatown, is a bustling mix of old and new, filled with traditional shops and markets as well as cool stores and cafes. Being in multi-culture Singapore, you will find the oldest Hindu temple, Sri Mariamman temple, here. Have your morning cup of local coffee with Singaporeans' favourite kaya toast i. e. toasted bread with coconut jam and butter and learn the local way of ordering coffee. Taste the traditional “melt in the mouth” egg tart that has more than 100 years history. Pass by Buddha Tooth Relic temple to capture a shot of its Tang Dynasty inspired exterior.
Next, visit URA City Gallery to view Singapore’s island wide architectural model that showcases almost every building in the city-state. The model also gives a quick look at how we fit the city’s big needs into our small island. Before lunch, visit the fresh produce market or wet market where the locals shop for their food supply. It is time for lunch at the hawker centre. You will find Singaporeans of all ages having their favourite affordable ‘street’ food. There are over 100 stalls and food is freshly cooked when ordered. You will taste popular dishes like chicken rice, noodle, carrot cake (not a dessert) and soothe your throat with a cool sugar cane juice. The tour ends here and the guide will bid you farewell at a taxi stand or the train station.
Notes
- If any of the food stops is closed, it will be replaced with similar food stops
- Tour is not suitable for those with dietary restriction such as vegetarian, halal, kosher
- Sequence of itinerary is subject to changes without prior notice
Every itinerary can be personalised according to your needs, special interests, personal preferences and defining style. Contact Chan Brothers Travel Private Tours, the bespoke travel line that caters to the well-heeled, discerning professionals or just about anyone who wants to travel exclusively and privately. Call 6212 9935 or email privatetours@chanbrothers.com.sg.