Whether you eat to live or live to eat, food courts in Singapore are a godsend with their cheap, yummy and convenient food options – all under one roof. You’ll be snapping pics of your food – and the decor with these picturesque food courts that have taken the simple hawker dining experience to the next level.
From the HDB void deck vibes to a hawker bistro by the beach, here are some of the most unique food courts in Singapore that’ll make you feel like a tourist in your own city.
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A brisk 10-minute walk from Tanah Merah MRT will take you to The Bedok Marketplace. Take the stairs after passing Giant supermarket and you’ll find the hawker centre on the 2nd floor.
Each stall is designed to resemble a Chinatown shophouse and has different styles of colours and trims.
Vintage vehicle lovers will appreciate the highlights of this retro themed-food court – the striking blue Vespa that greets you at the entrance, and a shiny red Beetle on the right of the hawker centre.
Strike your best pose next to these classic automobiles for your next IG post.
Address: 348 Bedok Road, Level 2, Singapore 469560
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 10am-10.30pm (Closed on Mondays)
Contact: 8228 4145 | The Bedok Marketplace Facebook
While we’re not allowed to eat or drink in stations and on board the MRT, Food Junction at Great World gladly welcomes you to dine in. This food court has been transformed to look like the train stations we’re so familiar with, complete with food stalls within the “cabins”.
Walk on a “train track” underneath a 22m-long LED panel showcasing SG’s landmarks.
Right in the middle of the food court is a stunning LED panel with a seasonal mini montage on playback. The whistle of a steam engine and local landmarks on the screen will make you feel like you’re dining on a train.
Image credit: Food Junction via Facebook
If you’re coming by in the evening, make sure to chope a seat at the outdoor bar area. With beer and snacks in hand, chuck your work troubles aside and soak in some glitzy city vibes.
Address: 1 Kim Seng Promenade, #03-116 Great World, Singapore 237994
Opening hours: 10am-10pm, Daily
Contact: 6736 2030 | Food Junction website
If you’re craving home-cooked food, you’ll enjoy your meal and feel right at home at the Food Junction at Rivervale Mall with its HDB void deck design. The entrance to the food court is adorned with a familiar heartland icon – the dragon playground, remade into a central pillar with a corkscrew climber snaking around it.
The seating area opposite the card kiosks mimics a void deck to perfection – from the tiled floors to the bright pink mosaic tables and chairs. Each stall front resembles those of pushcarts and even has a block number and street name.
Classic HDB sights like the signboard of rules and songbird cages are reproduced around the food court.
The next time you’re in Sengkang, grab a seat here to lepak in the aircon instead of sweltering at an actual void deck.
Address: 11 Rivervale Crescent, #01-01/02/03 Rivervale Mall, Singapore 545082
Opening hours: 6.30am-10pm, Daily
Contact: Food Junction website
The Eastside @ Expo outlet takes after its one-north predecessor with its pop-art palette.
Image credit: Eatbook
Contain your excitement at the industrial-themed Timbre+ food courts at one-north and Eastside @ Expo. Food stalls are housed in containers doused in pops of colour for a lively dining experience.
Vertical Sprout PlayTower at Timbre+ Eastside @ Expo.
Image credit: Playpoint
“East side, best side” zealots earn even more bragging rights with the Vertical Sprout PlayTower that’s exclusive to Timbre+ Eastside @ Expo. Parents can tuck into their meals while keeping an eye on their kids playing in the double-deckered “treehouse”.
Enjoy the live music performances while sipping on a cocktail from the robot bartender.
Image adapted from: @thecommonpeoplesg, @singaporeexpo via Instagram
Patrons with a penchant for indie tunes can come by for live music performances while enjoying drinks from the Bottle Shop. If you’re visiting the Eastside outlet, look out for their robot bartender too.
Do note that the Eastside outlet is slated to close on 26th November 2023. In the meantime, they’ll be hosting a last hurrah with live music daily in the evenings. Bottle Shop will even have drink promos like beer buckets from $23 on Mondays, draught beers from $11, and twin G&T/highballs at $16.
one-north outlet
Address: 73A Ayer Rajah Crescent, JTC LaunchPad @ one-north, Singapore 139957
Opening hours: Mon-Thu 7am-12am | Fri-Sat 7am-1am | Sun 11am-11pm
Eastside @ Expo outlet
Address: 1 Expo Drive, Singapore 486150 (Outside Hall 5)
Opening hours: Sun-Wed 9.30am-12am | Thu 9.30am-5pm | Fri-Sat 9.30am-1am
You might remember this place as the Interim Market, but this atas-looking diner has since rebranded into Market Hall.
Image adapted from: @huatcakenmore via Instagram
After a long week of hustling, start the weekend right with pizza and beer against the backdrop of Sentosa’s sunset skies. If you’re lucky, there are select weekends where there are movie screenings under the stars. You’ll need to bring your own foldable chairs or picnic mats, but entry is free.
Day or night, the outdoor dining domes make for pretty photo spots.
Image adapted from: @hmms050, @forestomega via Instagram
If you prefer to dine al fresco, note that you’ll have to spend a minimum of $300 for complimentary use of these chio fairy-lit “igloos”. They’re quite popular, so it’s also best to make a reservation through their website to secure a spot. The domes are scattered upon an open lawn, perfect for kiddos to scamper around.
This food hall is only open during the weekends, which is great for those with busy weekday schedules.
Address: 80 Siloso Road, Singapore 098969
Opening hours: Fri 6pm-10.30pm | Sat-Sun 11.30am-10.30pm (Closed on Mondays to Thursdays)
Contact: Market Hall website
In a sea of hipster cafes in the area, you’ll find the quaint Tiong Bahru Food Centre. The hawker centre on the 2nd floor has over 80 stalls of food to choose from, including savoury prawn noodles and cheap soya bean desserts.
Check out the artsy photo spots around the food centre like the Tiong Bahru estate mural on the 1st floor and a giant peacock feather around the stairs.
Because it’s such a large space, you might be walking around in circles before finding your pals who’ve already gotten a seat. The trick is to look up – there are recessed lights in red, blue, and yellow which do double duty in marking zones and lighting up each section of this hawker centre.
If you prefer a little more natural light during meal time, chope a seat at the alfresco deck with large umbrellas that provide ample shade from the scorching SG heat.
Address: 30 Seng Poh Road, Singapore 168898
Contact: Tiong Bahru Food Centre Facebook
Image credit: @gabyinsg via Instagram
Bali doesn’t seem that far off when SG has its very own Seminyak at East Coast Lagoon Food Village, a quaint hawker centre that goes way back to 1977.
Image credit: prettykatemachine via Flickr
Unlike typical food courts that are found in malls or residential estates, this seaside hawker centre is unobstructed from the sunshine and sea breeze.
BBQ cockles and satay.
Image adapted from: @minakoi, @minamakan via Instagram
The beachside experience is made complete by BBQ grub. Check out this East Coast food guide for the best sambal stingray or a plate of sinful fried chicken wings to munch on under the shade of the sheltered seats.
Address: 1220 East Coast Parkway, Singapore 468960
Opening hours: Mon 4pm-10.30am | Tue-Thu 4pm-10.45pm | Fri 11am-10.45pm | Sat 10am-10.45pm | Sun 10am-10.30pm
Image credit: @ohayokosg via Instagram
After a long hot trek down the Rail Corridor, refuel with a wide variety of food options at Beauty World Food Centre, a 5-minute walk from Beauty World MRT station.
Take your pints out to the rooftop area, furnished with bar chairs and oil drums.
Image adapted from: @wipedout.bar via Instagram, Wiped Out Bar
You can jio your friends to Wiped Out Bar, a spacious rooftop gastropub with beers and bar snacks. Pints start from $9 and you can pair them with Fried Chicken Bao ($14 for 3) or Kimchi Tater Tots ($10).
Stunning sunset views transform this hawker centre into a romantic dinner venue.
Image credit: @wipedout.bar via Instagram
Address: 144 Upper Bukit Timah Road, #04-61, Singapore 588177
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 4pm-10.30pm | Sat-Sun 3pm-10.30pm
Contact: Wiped Out Bar Facebook
Image credit: Cantine by Kopitiam
Paya Lebar and aviation have a bit of a history. It’s where the Paya Lebar Airport used to be, before international flights moved over to Changi Airport. Paying homage to that history is Cantine by Kopitiam @ Paya Lebar Square with airport signages and even a “viewing gallery” with a mural of the old air base.
Image credit: Cantine by Kopitiam
Address: 60 Paya Lebar Road, #B1-51 Paya Lebar Square, Singapore 409051
Opening hours: 7am-10pm, Daily
Contact: 6702 1877
Once upon a time, we were kept in suspense about the next Shilin Night Market or Chatuchak Night Market pop-up – thankfully, Eatbox by Artbox is here to stay. The iconic neon displays make this eatery one delicious photo op.
Snag your next DP with some hipster poses at the murals by the entrance to the food court. These artworks are refreshed every 6 months or so, which means unique shots for the ’Gram, as long as you time your visit well.
Image credit: Eatbook
Situated at the periphery of Botanic Gardens, Cluny Food Court is aptly decorated with lush greenery and hanging vines. Even the chairs and stalls are in earthy shades of greens and browns.
This jungle of a hawker centre is abundant in the food department as well. From Italian fare at Piccante to Cantonese comfort food at Mui Kee Express, your tummy is in for a treat. The food court opens from 8am, so it’s a great spot for breakfast after a morning stroll through Botanic Gardens.
Singaporeans love our food so much that our hawker culture has even been named by UNESCO as part of Singapore’s heritage. While these food courts take on an aesthetic and IG-worthy facade, they still serve up delicious local fare at affordable prices. Plus, most of these are situated at convenient locations so that you can check them out whenever your tummy rumbles.
More hidden gems around the island:
Cover image adapted from: Cantine by Kopitiam
Photography by Alvin Wong.
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