In 2017, the Michelin Guide bestowed the Bib Gourmand Award to some 38 food establishments in Singapore. The Bib Gourmand is awarded to food establishments that offer high quality food at reasonable prices – a meal can’t cost more than $45 – so you won’t be paying an arm and a leg here.

Receiving a nod from the Bib Gourmand list is New Ubin Seafood. An established food haunt with humble beginnings, it started in a home kitchen offering mouthwatering kampong-style seafood on the rustic island of Pulau Ubin off the eastern waters of Singapore. Now located in an industrial building at Hillview Avenue, this zi char ("cooked food" in Hokkien, a Chinese dialect) restaurant continues to whip up wok-fried delicacies like Sri Lankan chili crab, salted egg yolk squid, and delectable western staples such as the Black Angus rib eye steak.

A trip to Singapore wouldn’t be complete without a taste of its national dish – the humble yet unmistakable chicken rice. At Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle, you’ll be able to savour a Cantonese twist to the dish, while checking off “Eat the world's cheapest Michelin-star meal” from your bucket list. It’s one of only two hawker stalls in Singapore to be bestowed with a Michelin star; the other is the equally queue-worthy Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodles.

For more upscale dining options, try Braci, a new entrant to the Michelin Guide Singapore 2017. Braci is an unpretentious Italian restaurant occupying the top floor of a restored shophouse along the Singapore River. With only space for 20 people, the Braci experience is akin to being a guest in someone’s kitchen, where you can interact with the chefs while viewing how your meal is being cooked and put together.

Game for something hot and spicy? Offering an experience that is akin to a Michelin-starred restaurant, Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant at PARKROYAL on Beach Road is well known for its authentic and out-of-this-world spicy Sichuan cuisine. For chilli-lovers, don’t miss out on the Chong Qing Diced Chicken with Dried Chilli; it promises to raise your capsaicin tolerance levels to new astronomic heights. Other notable dishes here are its Ma Po Tofu (spicy fried tofu with minced meat concoction) and Sichuan Dan Dan Noodle.

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Get directions to Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodle

Get directions to Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodles

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Tiong Bahru Market is one of Singapore’s first modern markets to be established within a housing area. Its name “Tiong Bahru” has become synonymous with good food. If you’re able to visit only one major hawker centre in Singapore, make it a trip to Tiong Bahru.

Once you’re here, zoom in on the following stalls: Jian Bo Shui Kueh (#02-05), serving shui kueh that is also known as chwee kueh, a steamed rice cake with savoury preserved radish toppings; Min Nan Prawn Noodle (#02-31), Tiong Bahru Char Kway Teow (#02-11), a fragrant stir-fried flat rice noodles, and Kim Fa Fish Ball Minced Meat Noodles (#02-64). These stalls are easy to spot as they attract a constant line of fans like nectar to bees.

While Tiong Bahru estate attracts visitors with its decidedly hipster vibe, filled with art cafes, indie bookstores, and designer boutiques, the hawker centre continues to cater to folks who live in the neighbourhood. Hence, it’s not surprising to find locals and tourists here at all times of the day, travelling from far-flung corners of the island (or globe) to indulge in their favourite local delights.

Nestled by Singapore’s city centre and a stone’s throw from the scenic Kampong Glam enclave, the fully refurbished all-day dining restaurant Ginger at PARKROYAL on Beach Road reopens with a brand new look that celebrates the abundance of Singapore's natural beauty and the spirit of 'A City in a Garden'. Helmed by the hotel’s resident culinary master Executive Chef Vincent Aw, Ginger is where one satiates all cravings for local delights – featuring the Signature Crabs (Chilli, Pepper and Kam Heong), Slow-braised Beef Rendang, Crispy Lamb Ribs with Thai Mint Sauce – evident in its á la carte buffet that is undoubtedly the highlight!

The menu is heavily influenced by the rich diversity of Singapore’s culinary heritage, along with a sprinkling of South East Asian flavours, marrying the best of traditional tastes and cooking techniques, with a modern and sometimes, unexpected twist.

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Originally from Kyoto, Japan, % Arabica was founded by coffee farm owner and coffee machine distributor Kenneth Shojiand latte art world champion Junichi Yamaguchi. Located opposite PARKROYAL on Beach Road, the sleek and minimalist designed café is best known for its excellent coffee, brewed with beans that are roasted in-house (each outlet has its own roastery!).

For light and fluffy artisan cakes, head to Ciel Patisserie. Tucked away in the Hougang heartlands, this charming artisanal bakery is probably one of Singapore’s best-kept secrets. The hot favourites here are the Lemon Meringue Tart and Strawberry Shortcake; the Bombe, a dark chocolate mousse concoction with blueberries, is also to die for.

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Feeling peckish at midnight? Head to Swee Choon Tim Sum Restaurant, one of Singapore’s most popular supper haunts. The words “dim sum” mean “touch your heart,” and a leisurely dim sum meal, where you sample small portions of Cantonese food, is one of Singaporeans’ favourite national pastimes. According to popular food blogger Daniel’s Food Diary, the must-tries here are the Steamed Salted Egg Custard Bun, the humble siew mai (steamed dumplings), and the Portuguese Egg Tart.

Another supper option you can’t go wrong with is Mr Prata, located near the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Serving popular local Indian dishes such as roti prata and murtabak (a flat bread filled with savoury ingredients such as mutton or chicken), it’s easy to get to, and you can always walk off the calories after.  

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Get directions to Swee Choon Tim Sum