It is no secret that Singapore is a shining metropolis, culinary haven, and melting pot of multiple cultures all at once. From the iconic Marina Bay skyline to the towering Supertrees at the Gardens by the Bay, the island city lives up to its nickname as “the city of the future”.
Singapore is, also, a popular transit spot amongst travellers, especially those with just a backpack in tow. While Singapore has garnered a rep for being an expensive holiday destination, there are some available options that can make a 3-day or 2-day stay worth your while.
This list explores some unique and wallet-friendly options that do not in any way compromise on quality when you eat, stay, and play your way through the Lion City in a short amount of time — whether you’re transiting or here for a weekend. Explore them below!
Photo: Instagram @mynameis_nuinui and MICHELIN Guide
EAT
Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle
One MICHELIN StarMICHELIN Guide Singapore 2023
Ask any local for their favourite bowl of bak chor mee (minced pork noodles) and they will undoubtedly point you to different directions. But the version dished out at Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle is one of the most talked about.
The stall has been recognised with a MICHELIN Star for several years running, and for good reason. Their noodles are consistently cooked al dente and topped with delicious crispy dried plaice, fried pork crackling, and tender pork liver slices. Don’t forget to give the noodles a good toss in the black vinegar and chilli sauce sitting at the bottom of the bowl before digging in. You can expect a queue throughout its operating hours, but a single bowl will only set you back SG$6, making it the cheapest MICHELIN-Starred meal you can have in Singapore.
Must-order Dish: Bak Chor Mee with your choice of noodle and add-ons
Price: SG$6 onwards
Photo: MICHELIN Guide
Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice
Bib GourmandMICHELIN Guide Singapore 2023
Tucked in the popular Maxwell Food Centre that’s just a stone’s throw away from Chinatown, Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice is popular among locals and tourists alike. Lunchtime queues can take anytime from 30 minutes to an hour, but the reward is a tasty plate of rice that has been cooked in copious amounts of chicken fat and stock, among other secret ingredients. The rice is then accompanied by a generous portion of silky, tender chicken drizzled with a delicious, flavourful sauce. Don’t miss out on their chilli that packs a tremendous punch, too.
Must-order Dish: Chicken Rice
Price: SG$5 onwards
Photo: The Blue Ginger
The Blue Ginger (Tanjong Pager)
Bib GourmandMICHELIN Guide Singapore 2023
Housed in a charming shophouse along Tanjong Pagar Road, those familiar with Malay and Indonesian cuisines will find some familiar dishes on the menu, as Peranakan cuisine is essentially the amalgamation of Chinese, Malay, and Indonesian food traditions. Dining here is best experienced in a group, which will enable you to order a variety of dishes to sample.
Must-order Dishes: Ngo Heong, Ayam Panggang, Udang Nonya, and Chendol
Price: SG$40-50 per person
Photo: Hjh Maimunah
Hjh Maimunah (Jalan Pisang)
Bib GourmandMICHELIN Guide Singapore 2023
Despite having branched out to several locations, the unassuming outlet along Jalan Pisang, just across the road from the Masjid Sultan Mosque, is where it all began. Hjh Maimunah (pronounced ‘hajah’) is a Bib Gourmand casual eatery that serves up a smorgasbord of over 40 dishes daily for its nasi padang (fluffy steamed rice accompanied by a variety of Malay and Indonesian dishes) lineup. Many of the recipes here have been passed down from the owner’s own family, and the dishes are often prepared hours or days before.
Must-order Dishes: Sundanese Grilled Chicken, Sambal Goreng, Lemak Siput, Ayam Bakar, and Bergedil
Price: SG$10 to 20 per person
Photo: Hotel G Singapore
STAY
Hotel G Singapore
Located along Middle Road, just a 5-minute walk away from the Bencoolen MRT station, Hotel G Singapore is a hotel with personality. Their 308 rooms come with six categories and are furnished in a quirky, eclectic style that doesn’t shy away from colour. The front desk operates around the clock here, and the hotel is also home to a well-equipped gym, as well as several restaurants on-site for the convenience of guests.
Cost of Stay: Prices start at SG$189 per night for its lead-in Good Room Single category
Photo: The Serangoon House
The Serangoon House
So named for its location on Little India’s Serangoon Road, The Serangoon House is a 90-room boutique hotel that prides itself in being intentionally opulent in its furnishing and fixtures. Impressive custom-made chandeliers and green and white marble greet you in the lobby, while De Gournay wallpaper and gilded four poster beds welcome you into the room. The hotel is located in one of Singapore’s most vibrant ethnic districts, Little India, and is a mere 2-minute walk to the Farrer Park MRT station.
Cost of Stay: Prices start at SG$207 a night for its lead-in Royal Classic Twin Room category
Photo: Lloyd's Inn
Lloyd’s Inn
Nestled in an upscale residential neighbourhood just five minutes off the ever-bustling Orchard Road shopping strip, Lloyd’s Inn offers a relaxed, quiet atmosphere and lodging. Expect lots of white, clean lines and minimalist interior design in this quaint 34-room boutique hotel. For breakfast, the hotel arranges for guests to claim a local meal of crispy kaya (coconut jam) toast and a cup of kopi (freshly brewed coffee) at Killiney Kopitiam, which is a quick 4-minute stroll from the accommodation.
Cost of Stay: Prices start at SG$266 a night for its lead-in Standard Double or Twin Room category
Photo: The Vagabond Club
The Vagabond Club
Conceptualised by the award-winning French designer Jacques Garcia, The Vagabond Club offers sumptuous Parisian-inspired accommodation in the eclectic Jalan Besar neighbourhood. The rooms in this 41-room boutique hotel are dark, romantic — think red velvet banquettes, dark wood panels, and bathrooms fitted with Italian marble — and are truly designed to impress. The hotel’s whiskey bar is home to over 1,000 carefully curated whiskies from around the world, making it a wonderful watering hole to find yourself in after a long day of exploring. If you are heading out, the Jalan Besar MRT station is only an 8-minute walk away and will easily connect you to most of the city’s sights.
Cost of Stay: Prices start at SG$312 a night for its lead-in Classic Room category
L-R: Thian Hock Keng Temple and The Singapore Botanic Gardens (Photo: Shutterstock)
PLAY
Nightlife
Singapore is home to slew of world-class cocktail bars and clubs, but for something a little off the beaten track, there’s Offtrack, a music-centric bar that dishes up plates of Pan-Asian fare and classic cocktails, all while a DJ spins groovy tunes live. For live singing, there’s Cool Cats at the swanky NCO Club, where blues and jazz music take centre stage on most nights, and The Black Bird at the quiet, charming Gillman Barracks, with bands belting out hits from The Queen to Creedence Clearwater Revival.
Art & Culture
It is said that the best way to explore a city is to simply get out and go for a walk, and we most definitely have to agree. The Singapore Tourism Board has collated a series of complimentary walking trails that travellers can easily refer to based on the neighbourhood, art, and culture they wish to explore. Simply select a trail that catches your fancy and follow the interest points marked out on the map, reading about their little stories on the website as you go. But if you’d much prefer a guided version, Monster Day Tours has your back with a variety of activities that will take you through Chinatown, Kampong Glam, or even Little India. These tours are conducted daily and follow a pay-as-you-wish concept, which is a nice touch.
Nature
Despite being known as a city state, Singapore is home to a surprising number of nature enclaves that one can easily access for a quick respite from the city’s perpetual bustle. Located just 5-minutes away from Orchard Road is a tropical garden that nature lovers will not want to miss — Singapore Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spanning 82 hectares, covering ground can be a daunting task, but thankfully, the gardens has a series of guided tours planned throughout the month for visitors to register for. The best thing? Entrance to the gardens and most guided tours are free.
Another nature spot worth checking out is the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, which is Singapore’s first ASEAN Heritage Park. Also free to explore, the wetland reserve is rich in biodiversity and serves as an important site for many migratory birds. If you’re lucky, you may see some of the reserve’s resident crocodiles sunbathing, and a well-loved smooth-coated otter or two having a quick snack among the mangroves.
