Teeming with life, laughter, and a lot of local eats, Geylang has evolved into a food destination for late-night bites and delicious durian. The next time you're in the area, stop by these MICHELIN restaurants and street food stalls for a taste of local Singapore.
Bib Gourmand • Inspectors’ favourites for good value
Apart from their signature frog porridge, this location also serves zi char dishes like kung pao frog, sweet and sour pork, and fried crab with pepper.
Bib Gourmand • Inspectors’ favourites for good value
The second-generation owner-chef of this restaurant makes every dish according to traditional recipes for an authentic taste. The menu features only 13 items, but he also cooks other seasonal dishes not on the menu. His recommendation, sweet and sour pork, takes 90 minutes to make. As he cooks every dish himself, expect to wait for up to an hour for your food. Reservations are only accepted for groups of 10 people or more. The authentic home-style zi char is worth the wait.
Bib Gourmand • Inspectors’ favourites for good value
Rice noodles with crab and fishcakes are the signature dishes here.
Apart from the Beef Kway Teow being this location's very popular signature dish, they also offer stir-fried dishes and seafood.
Bib Gourmand • Inspectors’ favourites for good value
A famous noodle stall with over 70 years of history; the pork rib prawn mee is the most popular dish here.
A bit off the Geylang route, a stroll around Joo Chiat is made all the more enjoyable by making a pitstop here, as it’s a great place to share a host of authentic Peranakan dishes. The Nonya specialities include popiah, kueh pai tee, creamy and delicious curry chicken, and chap chye. Many of the dishes come in three sizes, but prices are so good that over-ordering is easy and excusable. The batik fabric covering the tables adds some colour to this simple restaurant.
Where to Stay:
When it comes to accommodations, the closest MICHELIN hotel in the Geylang area is the The Vagabond Club.
The Vagabond Club is an art deco building in Singapore’s up-and-coming Kampong Glam neighbourhood, designed by an illustrious French architect and interior designer. Indeed, there’s plenty of buzz around The Vagabond Club, Jacques Garcia’s first project in Asia. That’s partly because the sumptuous 41-room boutique looks like a lot more than a cool place to sleep. The hotel’s Whiskey Library is home to a carefully curated selection of over 1,000 whiskies, and also features an Artist In Residence program, which brings writers, musicians, and visual artists from all over the globe to live, work, and socialise with guests in a Parisian salon-inspired space.
It feels like a special occasion when you step into the hotel. The interiors are dark and romantic, channeling the old-world glamour of Garcia’s native Paris — red velvet banquettes, Dalí-esque paintings, bouquets of roses — as much as the Far-East flair of the neighbourhood itself.
It’s the kind of place where you could hole up all weekend. But then you’d miss the chance to mingle with the Vagabond’s in-house painters and poets when they emerge from their ateliers to sip cocktails in the hotel’s one-of-a-kind salon. Plan your time wisely — there’s also a vast number of attractions within easy walking distance of the hotel’s front door — or just extend another day or two.
What to Do:
Apart from the scrumptious eats, Geylang is also home to colourful Peranakan Houses along Joo Chiat road, which make for lovely photo backgrounds to remember your trip by. Joo Chiat Road itself is also an area to be explored, with its line-up of up-and-coming cafés, charming artisanal stores, and local eats. For a bit of a more cultural experience, head over to the Geylang Serai Market for some unique delicacies, Middle Eastern products, and Halal-friendly items. The Sri Sivan Temple, built in the name of its presiding deity, Lord Shiva, gives visitors a glimpse of Indian culture, architecture, and religious beliefs as well.
