Joanna James
The classic open-air hawker centres are a decidedly quintessential element of Singapore’s city-state experience that’s not to be missed. While it’s the traditional dishes, local delicacies and street foods galore that take the spotlight, foodies also have a myriad of beverage options to relish.
As iconic as Marina Bay Sands or Gardens by the Bay is to Singapore, Singapore Sling is an unmissable experience to be had on your getaway to the Lion City. The gin-based, fruity cocktail dates all the way back to 1915, when the veteran Chinese bartender Ngiam Tong Boon came up with the fabled cocktail recipe. Fast forward to modern-day Singapore, it is still savoured throughout the city-state, and moreover, has made a quintessential experience for all tourists to Singapore. For the curious and captivated by the sling, it is a combination of gin, cherry liqueur, Benedictine, lime juice, pineapple juice, sweet syrup, and club soda.
Bandung might be immediately reminiscent of the capital of West Java, Indonesia, for some, but it is the Bandung that is prominent in Singapore’s food and drinks scene that is talked about here. Tall, creamy, and featuring an appealing pink gradient, Bandung is a visual delight as much as it is a treat for the taste buds. Moreover, the combination of condensed milk/evaporated milk flavoured with rose syrup is said to have numerous health and nutritional benefits, treating you to the best of both worlds.
The chances of any Singaporean that you may bump into on the street, making the case that Kopi is anything but regular coffee, and if anything, is much better, are, more often than not, high. While that is up for debate, one thing is absolutely certain — Singapore sure does have a whole lot of Kopi varieties. Take your pick from Kopi-O, Kopi-C, Kopi-C kosong, Kopi-siew-dai and just regular Kopi, or just give them all a try to find out what is most to your liking.
Unlike it is the case with Kopi, “Teh” is, without a doubt, the Lion City’s equivalent to regular tea relished throughout the world. However, the Singaporeans’ preferences for tea are so much similar to those of the British, as evidenced by the city-state’s most popular, “Teh Tarik”. Teh Tarik is when tea is mixed with milk, just as the British so stereotypically like it.
A cup of iced milo topped with sprinklings of undissolved Milo powder, Milo Dinosaur is a local favourite relished by the young as well as the young at heart. The beverage, served in a rather tall glass, can be found at almost any hawker centre in the vicinity of a fine Balestier hotel in Singapore, including the likes of Value Hotel Balestier, and other parts of the city-state as well.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
