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The Best Night Markets in Singapore Where You Can Score Great Deals
I love going to malls to do some shopping or just window shopping. It scratches my need to see and score great deals, especially during seasonal sales. The phrase “just because it’s on sale doesn’t mean you need it” does not apply to me at all!
Recently, though, my friends and I have grown fond of night markets not only because of the affordable prices but also because of the great variety of unique merch and food items on sale. Below is a list of some of those we visited recently in Singapore.
1. Bugis Night Market
– From shanti_suhandi
Address: 261 Victoria St
Website: https://www.capitaland.com/sg/malls/bugis-street/en.html
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday, 10:00 AM to 12:00 MN
I’m always on the lookout for great deals and boy did I find them during my visit to the Bugis Night Market. I saw tons of merchandise on sale such as shirts, jeans, footwear, bags, souvenirs, home decor, and phone accessories.
The best part is that most of the items I spotted during my trip to this market were dirt cheap. In fact, I was able to score some keychains for SGD 1 each, but there’s a caveat. You have to up your bargaining skills here with the storekeepers.
My general rule of thumb is if there’s no price label, you can at least try to bargain with the shopkeeper. I also suggest that you do bargaining in reasonable increments like going down a few SGDs in ones, fives, or tens (like SGD 29 to SGD 25).
| Pro Tip: After an evening of great shopping, you can also check out the Albert Centre at the back of the market. I was able to eat a chicken rice meal here for around SGD 3! |
2. Chinatown Street Market
– From iamschoo
Address: 29 Smith Street
Website: https://chinatown.sg/
Contact Number: +6562215115
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday, 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM
This Chinatown Street Market on Smith Street technically opens in the morning but stays open until around 10:00 PM. I included this on this list of night markets, as I strongly recommend you visit this venue after dusk—the time this place comes alive!
I visited this market at around 7:00 PM, and I was enthralled by the bright lights and the red Chinese lanterns hanging, which gave the location an authentic Chinatown feel. Of course, the items up for sale are also quite extensive and affordable!
There were a couple of stalls selling modern apparel like shirts and jeans, but there were also some selling Chinese crafts. However, I spent most of my time just standing beside a stall selling second-hand Chinese cell phones. I never knew brands like those existed!
| Pro Tip: You can take the train if you want to visit this night market. I got off at the Chinatown MRT station and walked towards Exit A to reach Chinatown. |
3. Little India Arcade
– From heysky
Address: 48 Serangoon Rd, #02-07
Website: http://littleindiaarcade.com.sg/
Contact Number: +6562955998
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday, 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM
My friends and I have always been extremely interested in Indian culture, so we decided to visit Little India Arcade on Serangoon Road. Once we got to the venue, we were impressed with how authentic the area felt.
You see, most of the people working here are actually Indian nationals. The stores, on the other hand, have colourful lights and Indian signages that we think added to the appeal and authentic Indian vibe of the arcade.
The stores we saw during our visit also featured genuine Indian apparel, spices, and henna tattooing services. However, our group focused more on the Indian cuisine offered by their food stalls. The curry we had was creamy and a bit spicy!
| Pro Tip: You can also take the train if you want to check Little India Arcade. My buddies and I just took the nearest MRT from our place, and we all got off at Little India MRT station. |
4. Tekka Centre
– From venkatesh_iyer
Address: 665 Buffalo Road Zhujiao Centre, Tekka, Market
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday, 6:30 AM to 9:00 PM
I remember Tekka Centre from when I was a kid, and from what I can recall, it was called Tekka Pasar. As an adult, I decided to visit this place to check out what it has to offer, and how I wish I had done so sooner. The place is quite literally a melting pot of different cultures!
Here, I saw a ton of different apparel, accessories, and food items coming from different countries like India, China, and Malaysia. I also noted a section that sold fresh produce and seafood.
Delicious aroma was also coming from the ground floor, so I went to that area and came face to face with a large dining area. I got some Chinese dim sum (tender and with great meaty flavour!), but there were also some stalls offering Malay and Indian cuisine!
| Pro Tip: Bring extra plastic bags just in case you decide to purchase some fresh produce, seafood, or meats. In fact, I think an insulated and refrigerated bag might be the ideal container to bring during a visit to this market. |
5. Katong Square Lifestyle And Vintage Market
– From theretrofactorysg
Address: E Coast Rd, #86-88
Website: http://katongsquare.com.sg/
Contact Number: +6563876337
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday, 7:30 AM to 12:00 AM
I’m not into vintage items myself, but I think a visit (at least once) to the Katong Square Lifestyle And Vintage Market is a must. After seeing the different collections offered at this night market, I was hooked and now look forward to visiting this night market again.
I first checked out the square a few months ago, and I saw a ton of booths selling collector’s items ranging from old-school watches to vinyl records. Plus, most of these vintage collections were sold at discounted prices (almost 50% off as I remember it).
During my visit, I also enjoyed the live entertainment of the guest DJs and bands at Katong Square. I had a blast just strolling around the different stalls here while bobbing my head to the beat of the electronic dance music pumping throughout the night.
| Pro Tip: To get to this vintage market, you can take the MRT and get off at CC Dakota MRT Station. From here, it took me just a few minutes to reach the Katong Square Lifestyle And Vintage Market. |
6. Lau Pa Sat
Address: 18 Raffles Quay
Website: https://laupasat.sg/
Contact Number: +6562202138
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday, Open 24 hours
I love our local cuisine along with the cuisine of our neighbouring countries. Nothing beats the freshness and the colourful ingredients of these Asian foods along with the great and unique flavours we usually don’t get from Western cuisine.
As such, it was such a great experience for me when I visited Lau Pa Sat a few weeks back. My colleague and I worked late, so we decided to drop by at around 9:00 PM. The market is open 24 hours, but students and employees usually come here after dusk.
I ordered some Singaporean chilli crab, as I was craving some seafood, and its sweet and spicy flavours hit the spot. My colleague got the Malaysian chicken, satay and while I didn’t try it out myself, I think the slightly sweet peanut sauce made the dish better!
| Pro Tip: From our office, we took the train to get to this food-centric night market. We got off at Downtown MRT Station and got to Lau Pa Sat within a few minutes. |
7. 409 AMK Market and Food Centre
– From ssh_1958
Address: 409 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10
Website: https://www.nea.gov.sg/our-services/hawker-management/overview
Contact Number: +6562255632
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday, 6:30 AM to 10:00 PM
409 AMK Market and Food Centre has been a local favourite since way back, and it’s not hard to see why. There are different local cuisines to try, and it’s also a DIYers dream come true with its slew of household goods on sale.
I first checked out the section on fresh produce and seafood, and I liked that they still offer a ton of veggies and local fish at reasonable prices. Some of the veggies I saw being offered include red plump tomatoes, celery, lettuce, and carrots.
I also went to the outdoor shopping area of the market to grab a few household items. Our family is in need of a few new brooms along with some plastic containers to store our small accessories in, so I got a few of them for cheap!
| Pro Tip: Check out the nearby dining area and order from the food stall called Yong Tau Foo. They sell a bowl of laksa for just SGD 0.60. |
8. 20 Ghim Moh Road Market & Food Centre
– From jieluo_daniel
Address: 20 Ghim Moh Rd
Contact Number: +6562255632
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday, 6:00 PM to 12:00 MN
When it comes to food, I am quite the adventurous type, and trying out different regional and foreign cuisines is right up my alley. As such, last month’s visit to 20 Ghim Moh Road Market & Food Centre was a treat for someone like me!
I ordered the market’s famous char kway teow, a popular noodle dish believed to have come from China. What I liked about their char kway teow here is that it’s chock full of tender and juicy pork and shrimp toppings covered in thick savoury oyster sauce.
They also offer oyster omelettes (better known as hawker-style omelettes), so I had to try some while I was in the area. I liked that the oysters were fried well (I don’t like slightly raw ones), and the scrambled egg was just the right amount of salty.
| Pro Tip: To get to this market, I took the MRT and got off at Buona Vista MRT Station. |
9. Bangkit Market
– From varshiniricky
Address: 257 Bangkit Rd
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday, 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Bangkit Market is another local market that I can easily recommend during your trip to Singapore. It’s an often overlooked spot, which is such a shame, especially since it offers a ton of items and food that you will definitely enjoy.
Most of the stalls here have affordable clothes and household goods on sale. Things like reclining chairs, brooms, plastic pails, shirts, and jeans along with some fresh fruits and veggies are sold here for reasonable prices. Haggling is also encouraged!
However, I decided to visit this market for their popular nasi lemak—a Malay dish that I was craving during my visit. The one I ordered had generous roasted nuts, eggs, and anchovies that gave the dish a delightful fried fish taste and salty flavour.
| Pro Tip: You can save a lot on transport costs by taking a train to Bangkit Market. Just proceed to the nearest train station and get off at Bangkit LRT Station. |
10. Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar
– From photographyholic
Address: Batique Geylang
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday and Sunday, 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday, 4:00 PM to 12:00 MN
Singapore and Malaysia are neighbours and as such have a deep cultural relationship with each other. My visit to the Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar put these cultural linkages on full display with a ton of Malay, Indian, and Muslim delicacies.
Some of the Indian stalls I saw here sold Indian rojak (mixed veggie salad) and biryani chicken. I tried the latter and thoroughly enjoyed the tender meat of the chicken and the strong curry flavours of the rice along with the slices of green mango on the side.
There are also halal food items on sale here such as the ones offered by Mahmud’s Tandoor. I saw other guests trying out their Crispy Doori Burger. On my next visit, I’ll probably try these tasty-looking burgers!
| Pro Tip: This market is open during Ramadan, so it’s best to check the schedule of the said Muslim holiday or event to make sure you visit during the dates covered. |
