Singapore - The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget - page 685

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Checkers Inn 46 Campbell Lane T 8533 4793, W checkers
inn-backpackers.com; map p.683. This sought-after hostel
right in the heart of Little India has an open-plan kitchen
and a welcoming chill-out area with quirky ceiling decor.
The bright, s paciou s dorm s are spotless and staff are
friendly. Dorm S$22 , double S$98
Footprints 25A Perak Rd T 6295 5134, W footprintshostel
.com; map p.683. This welcoming hostel has a lounge area
with DVDs and a massage chair to soothe aching muscles.
Dorms have lockers, individual plugs and reading lamps,
and some have private bath. It's worth paying a bit extra
for the freshly painted privat e room s on th e ground floor.
Wi-fi throughout. Dorm S$24 , double S$120
The Little Red Dot 125 Lavender St T 6294 7098,
W atthelittlereddot.com; map p.683. The friendly staff at
this dorm only hostel will make you feel right at home. There
are dorms with bunks, as well as larger mixed and female
dorms with “capsule beds” - each pod has a privacy curtain,
locker and reading lamp. There's also a laidback lounge area
with beanbags and sofas, a book exchange, Xbox, a nd free
walking tours, pub crawls and gourmet safaris. S$22
Perak Hotel 12 Perak Rd T 6299 7733, W peraklodge
.net; map p.683. This pleasant lodge in the heart of Little
India offers private rooms with tea and coffee makers, TV,
a/c and private bath. The hallways are decorated with
paintin gs depic ting the hustle and bustle of old Singapore.
Double S$150

panini (S$20). Mon-Fri 11am-10.30pm, Sat 9am-
10.30pm, Sun 9am-9pm.
Foong Kee Coffee Shop 6 Keong Saik Rd; map pp.680-
681. No-frills hawker restaurant serving award-winning
roast pork, chicken noodles and roasted duck noodles - all
for less than S$5. Mon-Sat 9am-6pm.
Glutton's Corner Next to Esplanade Mall (MRT); map
pp.680-681. A great open-air hawker centre in an
enviable waterside location serving chilli crab, satay, BBQ
chicken wings, oyster omelettes and more (mains S$10).
Mon-Thurs 5pm-2am, Fri 5am-3pm, Sun 4pm-1am.
Maxwell Road Food Centre Maxwell Rd, at Neil Rd;
map pp.680-681. Open-sided food hall with over 100
stalls serving a variety of local and regional dishes
including tian tian chicken rice, char kway teow and congee
with pork and century egg. Daily 8am-10pm.
Mei Heong Yuen Dessert 65-67 Temple St; map
pp.680-681. Cool down with a refreshing traditional
dessert at this local café as you explore Chinatown. The
large snow ice desserts (S$5) are creatively presented, and
are big enough to share. Daily 10.30am-10pm.
Moosehead 110 Telok Ayer St; map pp.680-681. A
friendly, cosy restaurant serving Mediterranean food to
share, as well as lunchtime salads and sandwiches. Service
is a bit lethargic but it's well worth the wait - the grilled
sea bass (S$28) is outstanding. Mon-Fri noon-midnight,
Sat 5pm-midnight.
★

Sarnies 136 Telok Ayer St; map pp.680-681. This
welcoming little café, with the menu casually scribbled
on the walls in colourful chalk, serves hearty sandwiches
with sourdough or rye bread (S$13.50). The freshly roasted
coffee (S$5) is great too, and there's all-day brunch at the
weekend. Mon & Tues 7.30am-7pm, Wed-Fri 7.30am-
10pm, Sat & Sun 9am-4pm.
Sinar Pagi Nasi Padang 13 Circular Rd; map pp.680-
681. Join the queue of hungry business workers from
the nearby o ces in Boat Quay who head here for the
flavourful authentic Padang food. A meal will set you back
no more than S$10. Mon-Fri 11am-9pm.

EATING
CENTRAL SINGAPORE
40 Hands 78 Yong Siak St (Tong Bahru MRT) W 40hands
coffee.com; map pp.676-677. It's well worth travelling to
this superb café hidden in a quiet residential area for coffees
(S$4) made by award-winning baristas and imaginative
cakes and pastries (S$2.50-7). There's a brunch menu Fri-
Sun and gourmet hotdogs (S$12) and beers (S$10) in the
evenings. Tues-Sun 8am-7pm, Fri & Sat until 10pm.
Newton Road Food Centre ; map pp.676-677. Widely
known as Newton Circus, this hawker centre by Newton
MRT is a good spot for people watching as you tuck into
some chilli crab and barbequed seafood. Mains from S$5.
Daily noon-2am.

BRAS BASAH ROAD TO ROCHOR ROAD
Ah Loy Thai 100 Beach Rd; map p.678. Located within the
Shaw Tower, the service here may be leisurely but the
inexpensive Thai food is well worth the wait - the dishes
here are among the city's very best. Mains from S$8. Mon-
Fri noon-8.15pm, Sat 1-7.15pm.
★

CHINATOWN & THE FINANCIAL DISTRICT
Amoy Food Court Telok Ayer St, at Amoy St; map pp.680-
681. A huge range of noodle, rice and porridge dishes, all
cheap and delicious. Mains from S$3. Mon-Fri 7am-4pm.
Annalakshmi 20 Havelock Rd; map pp.680-681. The profits
at this terrific Indian veggie place go to an Indian cultural
association. There's no set menu with prices - customers
donate what they can. Daily 11am-3pm & 6.15-9.30pm.
Club Street Social 5 Gemmill Lane; map pp.680-681.
This New York-style café and bar with bare brick walls
serves all-day breakfasts (S$12), salads (S$15) and tasty

Artichoke 161 Middle Rd; map p.678. Tucked away in
a little courtyard just off Middle Rd, this gem of a place
attracts expats and locals alike for its creative Middle
Eastern food, prepared using local ingredients. The award-
winning chef rustles up succulent lamb dishes, and there
are sharing plates and home-made mezze too. Evenings
only during the week. Mains S$20. Tues-Fri 6.30-9.45pm,
Sat & Sun 11.30am-2.45pm & 6.30-9.45pm.