Pocket List: 5 ways to experience Singapore by Tatler Best co-jury head Dudi Aureus
Singapore may be a small island, but its culinary and cultural energy runs deep. Hawker classics sit beside design-led cafés; new restaurants interpret heritage flavours with modern clarity; and every neighbourhood seems to hold a discovery worth sharing.
This instalment of Pocket List comes from Dudi Aureus, Tatler Best co-jury head for Singapore and senior dining editor at Tatler Dining. Having chronicled the city’s evolving scene for more than 15 years, she distils five essential experiences that define how Singapore eats, drinks and connects.
In case you missed it: 5 ways to experience Taiwan by Tatler Best co-jury head Yinru Tu
Tatler Best co-jury head Dudi Aureus, senior dining editor and long-time chronicler of Singapore’s evolving culinary scene
Enjoy breakfast at Baker’s Bench Bakery
Sticky buns and sourdough loaves baked daily at Baker’s Bench Bakery
Tucked along Bukit Pasoh, just a few doors from Tatler House in Singapore, Baker’s Bench Bakery has become a morning fixture for those who value craft and comfort. Everything is made in small batches, from the house sourdough to the signature sticky bun layered with toffee and walnuts. For something savoury, the chicken meatball flatbread—warm, crisp and perfectly seasoned—shows the same attention to detail.
Baker’s Bench BakeryAddress, 6 Bukit Pasoh Road, Singapore 089820
Indulge in Singaporean dishes at Keng Eng Kee Seafood
The signature moonlight hor fun, a wok-kissed favourite at Keng Eng Kee Seafood
A stalwart of Singapore’szi char tradition, Keng Eng Kee Seafood is where late-night crowds, chefs and locals converge. Managed by Paul and Wayne Liew, it serves deeply satisfying classics anchored by wok hei and hospitality. The must-order: moonlight hor fun, or wok-fried noodles tossed with sausage, squid and lard, finished with a raw egg yolk. Equally essential are the coffee pork ribs glazed in sweet coffee syrup and sprinkled with sesame seeds.
Keng Eng Kee SeafoodAddress: 124 Bukit Merah Lane 1, 01-136, Singapore 150124
Taste the diverse flavours of Filipino cuisine at Hayop
The sinigang at Hayop, Singapore’s first outpost of Manila’s Manam group
Hayop marks the Singapore debut of Manila’s beloved Manam restaurant group, bringing Filipino comfort food to a new audience. The dishes remain rooted in authenticity while embracing refinement. The adobo with Wagyu short ribs slow-cooked in soy, vinegar and garlic is rich and soulful, while the sinigang combines tamarind and watermelon for a bright, modern balance. The halo-halo dessert, with crushed ice, candied beans and leche flan, offers a sweet taste of nostalgia.
HayopAddress: 104 Amoy Street, Singapore 069924
Get your dose of arts and culture at the National Gallery Singapore
Installation view of Singapore Stories: Pathways and Detours of Art at the National Gallery Singapore
Set within the beautifully restored City Hall and Supreme Court buildings, the National Gallery Singapore stands as one of the region’s leading visual arts institutions. Its vast collection of modern and contemporary works from Singapore and Southeast Asia traces the evolution of regional art from the 19th century to the present. The upcoming exhibition Into The Modern (Nov 14, 2025 to Mar 1, 2026), in collaboration with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, will showcase masterpieces by Monet, Manet, Cézanne and Degas, the largest French Impressionist exhibition ever staged in Southeast Asia.
National Gallery SingaporeAddress: 1 St Andrew’s Road, Singapore 178957
Enjoy a nightcap at Madame Claude
The dimly lit glamour of Madame Claude at Ann Siang Hill
Perched above Les Ducs on Ann Siang Hill, Madame Claude blends Parisian allure with Singaporean sophistication. Named after the famed French madam of the 1960s, the bar channels an atmosphere of subtle decadence. The drinks list features both timeless classics and refined house signatures, from the crisp Kir Royal to the Lucienne, a balanced mix of Haku Vodka, apple, vanilla and yuzu. Chef-owner Louis Pacquelin’s bar bites complete the experience, pairing perfectly with the moody, amber-lit setting.
Madame ClaudeAddress: 2/F, 8 Ann Siang Hill, Singapore 069788
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