1-day Bugis and CBD itinerary
Bugis and the CBD are only a short train ride apart, but they can feel like two different worlds. Bugis, the trendier one, is packed with aesthetic cafes and thrift shops, while the CBD is chock full of affordable hawker stalls catering to office workers.
The good news is that Singapore is small enough to walk between the two, weather permitting. I’ve also included a few things to do along the way so you can walk off the calories in between meals. If you’d like to carry on to Orchard afterwards, hop on the train from City Hall or Raffles Place MRT Station on the North-South Line and go straight there—our 12-hour Orchard food itinerary will help you make the most of your time.
Breakfast: Bao Er Cafe
Image credit: Sean Goh via Google Maps
I have a bad habit of skipping breakfast, but if anyone recommends Bao Er Cafe, you know I’ll be there bright and early. Located at Fortune Centre, an older mall full of affordable eats, Bao Er Cafe is an eight-minute walk from Bugis MRT Station.
The cafe is known for its Singaporean breakfast dishes, and this is its third outlet, after Balestier and Holland Village. If you’ve never had kaya toast, it’s a local breakfast staple of crisp toast with kaya—a coconut and egg jam—and butter, usually eaten with soft-boiled eggs and a cup of local coffee.
The Kaya Butter Toast Set is the one to get, and it comes with your choice of hot kopi or teh and two soft-boiled eggs. If you’ve had kaya toast at Ya Kun, Singapore’s best-known chain, you’ll know the formula: thin, crisp brown toast, cold butter and fragrant kaya. Bao Er follows the same recipe, with kaya made from fresh coconut milk. At $6.20, it’s also slightly cheaper than Ya Kun’s $6.30 set.
For something more filling, get the Signature Fried Hokkien Mee ($8.80), which has earned plenty of rave reviews for its rich seafood broth, chunky tiger prawns, and smoky aroma. The outlet-exclusive Jeremy’s Beef Hor Fun ($10.80) is another popular pick, comprising flat rice noodles stir-fried with beef.
Read our Bao Er Cafe Fortune Centre feature.
Address: 190 Middle Road, #02-06, Fortune Centre, Singapore 188979
Opening hours: Daily 8am to 8pm
Website
Bao Er Cafe is not halal-certified.
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Lunch: Smashed
For lunch, head to Smashed, a halal burger shop that went viral after IShowSpeed tried their food during his visit to Singapore. You’ll even spot an “IShowSpeed approved” poster in the shop.
I used to queue for their burgers when they were still a stall at the Kampong Gelam Ramadan Bazaar, where the lines could stretch for an hour. It has since turned into a proper store on Baghdad Street.
Smashed is inspired by the smash burgers that have been trending in London since 2023. The menu is small, with just three burgers, each with two thin patties smashed on the grill and topped with melted American cheese, caramelised onions, and pickles.
The House Smashed ($10) is a solid place to start. It comes drenched in a tangy, savoury house sauce that’s similar to mayonnaise. The patties are smashed but still have a meaty bite, with charred edges that add a nice crisp.
My go-to is the Spicy Smashed ($12), which features a house-made sambal balado sauce that reminds me of a spicy Thousand Island dressing. I highly recommend getting a side of Dirty Fries ($6) too. These sinful fries come topped with hot melted cheese and bacon that’s fried to a crisp.
Read our Smashed review.
Address: 21 Baghdad Street, Singapore 199066
Opening hours: Sun-Thurs 12pm to 9:30pm, Sun-Mon 12pm to 10pm
Tel: 9181 1665
Website
Smashed is halal-certified.
Smashed Review: London-Inspired Halal Smash Burgers Near Haji Lane
Sightseeing: Kampong Gelam
Image credit: @catwongnailq
After lunch at Smashed, you’re only a short walk from Kampong Glam‘s Haji Lane, one of the most popular hangouts for young Singaporeans. Named after the Arab pilgrim brokers who once arranged the haj for Muslims here, its shophouses were once used as pilgrim lodges. Today, they’re filled with indie boutiques, cafes, bars, and thrift stores.
Image credit: @takara.house
Self-photo studios are big here. Solace Studios changes its themes with the seasons, and the current one is picnic-themed, complete with props. Along the same stretch, One Click Studio is a good pick for bigger groups, since its rooms fit up to 10 people. For thrifting, the one to go for is Takara House, a vintage shop with a cafe tucked in the back. The owners source their finds from Japan and Vietnam, so you’ll come across out-of-production Japanese fashion, plushies, vintage teaware and nostalgic toys.
Before you leave Kampong Glam, take a short walk to Sultan Mosque, one of Singapore’s most important landmarks that’s been around since 1928. Visitors are welcome, but dress modestly and check the visiting hours first.
Image credit: The Smart Local
If you have more time, walk over to Bugis Street for some thrifting and budget shopping. The covered market has over 600 stalls, with clothes from around $5 to $15, plus souvenirs and street snacks. You can haggle politely some of these stalls if you’re buying several items, and it’s best to go on a weekday afternoon to avoid the crowds.
Coffee: Hellu Coffee
Now it’s time to head over to the CBD for a coffee break at Hellu Coffee. It’s located at Far East Square, a one-minute walk from Telok Ayer MRT Station. Hellu is one of my favourite cafes for matcha lattes, but it gets crowded at lunchtime, so I’d typically drop by after 3pm.
The cafe is small with only 16 seats, and has a clean, minimalist look with warm lighting and wooden elements. There’s also pet-friendly outdoor seating.
Hellu Coffee’s signature drinks are the Creamus, which are inspired by the Einspanner, a Viennese coffee topped with whipped cream. At Hellu, you get coffee, matcha, or chocolate topped with house-made whipped cream. I always get the Iced Matcha Creamu ($8.90++)—thick and lightly sweetened, with a strong matcha flavour that comes through the cream. The staff recommends not stirring, so you get the cream first and then the grassy matcha underneath, which keeps each sip interesting.
Pair it with one of their stuffed croffles, priced at $7.90 apiece. Flavours include the sweet Sesame Cream and three savouries: Maple Bacon, Spicy Tuna, and Ham and Cheese. For something lighter, the Egg Mayo Roundwich ($5) is a chonky egg sandwich in a sweet burger bun.
Read our Hellu Coffee feature.
Address: 135 Amoy Street, #01-05, Far East Square, Singapore 049965
Opening Hours: Mon-Thurs 8am to 5pm, Fri 8am to 4pm, Sat 10am to 4pm
Website
Hellu Coffee is not halal-certified.
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Dinner: Quan Ji
For dinner, you won’t have to go far, because Quan Ji is just an eight-minute walk away. It’s one of the few hawker stalls in the CBD that stay open for dinner, and it’s helmed by a third-generation hawker. For those new to it, zi char is a Singaporean style of cooking where you order a few dishes to share, usually with rice or noodles.
The star here is the Wong Po Lou Meen ($20), which used to be off the menu when I first started patronising the stall, but became so popular that it’s now a permanent item. The name means “yellow cloth noodles”, and features blanched egg noodles tossed in lard and oyster sauce, topped with a silky omelette and plump, juicy prawns. I love how the noodles have just the right bite and pair well with the soft, creamy egg. It comes in one size, which is good for three to four people.
Pair it with the Sweet & Sour Pork Ribs (from $15), which are crisp outside and tender inside, drenched in a tangy sauce that cuts through the fatty layers of the pork. If you’re dining alone, consider ordering the Beef Hor Fun (from $7), which stars wok-fried kway teow in a thick, peppery gravy.
Address: 7 Maxwell Road, #01-56/57, Singapore 069111
Opening Hours: Mon 11am to 1:30pm, Tue-Fri 11am to 9:30pm, Sat 3pm-9:30pm
Quan Ji is not halal-certified.
Dessert: Sweet Dots
End the night at Sweet Dots, a dessert cafe on the third floor of 100 AM in Tanjong Pagar. It specialises in traditional Chinese desserts, made with family recipes that go back four generations. All prices are nett, which isn’t a common sight in the CBD. Do note that the cafe only accepts cash, so bring some with you.
If you’d like something cold and refreshing, the Mango Pomelo Sago Beancurd ($5.90) is a classic. It combines mini taro balls, fresh mango cubes, chewy tapioca pearls, and shredded pomelo on a sweet mango base and custardy beancurd.
If you’d like to try something trendier, I recommend the Signature Pistachio Paste ($6.90), which is sold in limited portions daily. It arrives hot in a vibrant green bowl, topped with a generous sprinkle of coarsely crushed pistachios. The paste is smooth, with just the right thickness to coat your spoon, and the chunky nuts add a pleasant gritty crunch. The flavour is more earthy and mellow than strongly nutty, so it’s a good pick if you want something that isn’t too sweet.
For durian fans, the Mao Shan Wang Durian Mousse ($7.90) is a signature here. It’s served cold, with a soft, creamy texture and a fresh, naturally bittersweet flavour that tastes close to the real fruit. It’s easy to enjoy even if you’re new to durian, though you won’t get the chewy, fibrous bite of the real thing, so serious durian lovers may prefer to get it fresh.
Read our Sweet Dots review.
Address: 100 Tras Street, #03-16, 100 AM, Singapore 079027
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 9:30pm
Website
Sweet Dots is not halal-certified.
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12-hour Bugis and CBD food trail
12 hours isn’t enough to cover everything in Bugis and the CBD, but if that’s all the time you have, this itinerary hits a good mix of trendy spots and affordable local eats. If you’re also visiting Malaysia, our 2-day JB food itinerary will help you make the most of a quick getaway across the Causeway. For a longer weekend trip, our Melaka food itinerary covers heritage cafes, a 100-year-old bar and more.
2-Day JB Itinerary: Affordable Desserts, Famous Zi Char, Thrifting And More
Feature image adapted from The Smart Local.
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