Listly by Joanna James
An eclectic city-state with a wildly imaginative spirit highlighted by cutting-edge innovations and mind-bending architecture, Singapore's creative diversity also translates into its vibrant food culture. Here are some out-of-this-world local delicacies you can't afford to miss!
With its otherworldly allurements of futuristic and heritage varieties, from the breathtaking realms of Gardens by the Bay and the ArtScience Museum to the colourful old-time streets of Kampong Glam and the monumental grace of the National Gallery, Singapore is a deeply rooted cultural city for visionaries with state-of-the-art preferences. If you're looking for a wholesome, delicious, and authentically traditional meal that you can eat every day and never get tired of, Singapore's lip-smackingly versatile coconut rice dish, topped with everything from classic fried anchovies, punchy sambal, and eggs to crispy chicken drumsticks, rendang, or curried meat, is the way to go!
Singapore is a city-state that prides itself on versatile originality, hosting a myriad of diverse enticements to hook every brand of traveller, from the luxe sky-high dining offered by the Singapore Flyer and the majestic, themed heritage gardens at Gardens by the Bay to the photogenic grunge of its alleyways and the retro-chic quirks of its indie shopping districts. If you're looking for the innovative Singaporean take on comfort food, this artistic melt-in-the-mouth crab dish, enriched with salty-sweet flavour notes and stir-fried to tender perfection, is a beloved invention of a local couple who was tired of only eating steamed seafood!
Coffee and toast in Singapore are deservedly hyped up because this rustic meal is made to taste like no other region on the planet! Slathered generously with creamy, coconutty, and pandan-scented kaya jam and topped off with a half-boiled egg and drizzle of soy sauce, this unparalleled brunch is made complete with Singaporean kopi liberally sweetened with condensed milk.
Whether its barbecued stingray generously slathered in sambal, deep-fried meat rolls coated in five-spice powder with a crushed chestnut stuffing, or a decadent heap of golden-brown banana fritters, Singapore's street food has gourmet pizazz that cannot be imitated! A true testament to this fact is its exceptionally delicious oyster omelette lavishly served with vinegary chilli.
From wafer-thin Popiah crepes stuffed with fresh ingredients like prawns, egg, beans, turnips, and carrots doused in sweet hoisin sauce to curried puffs almost bursting with gravied meat, potato, and egg, Singaporean appetizers are exquisitely munchable and unapologetically addictive. However, if you're looking for a piquant classic that never gets old, the condiment-packed succulent Indonesian 'kebab' accompanied by creamy peanut sauce and chill-cucumber relish is a protein-rich win. If you're looking for sophisticated short-term accommodation in Singapore proffering prime access to its gastronomic allurements, venture no further than Citadines Fusionopolis Singapore.
If you love everything about the tropics but can do without the sweltering heat, this Singaporean twist on iced cream, drenched in sweet syrup, pandan jelly, and red beans, with toppings ranging from durian flesh and diced jackfruit to chocolate condensed milk and tapioca pearls, is an excellent way to cool down from the inside out!