Lau Pa Sat is one of the most famous hawker centres in Singapore and one of the most interesting places to sample local street food.

In fact, unlike most other hawker centres, it is located in a historic late 19th century cast iron building in the middle of the modern financial district near the Marina Bay area.

During the day, it's mainly the employees of the surrounding offices who come here for a quick lunch.

But in the evening, the atmosphere changes completely - the road in front of the building closes, creating the famous Satay Street, where dozens of skewers are grilled and the whole place resembles a big outdoor street-food festival.

If you're planning an evening stroll around Merlion Park or along the Marina Bay waterfront, Lau Pa Sat is the perfect dinner stop.

Find the best hotels in Singapore

Is Lau Pa Sat worth a visit?

✅ Yes, if:

• you want to sample a typical Singaporean hawker centre
• you are near Marina Bay or the financial district
• you want to experience the famous Satay Street in the evening
• you want to see one of Singapore's historic buildings

❌ Not likely if:

• you are looking for a very local hawker centre without tourists
• you want the cheapest street food in Singapore
• you don't like busy and very busy places

💡 Alternative:
For a more authentic atmosphere, check out Maxwell Food Centre or Chinatown Complex Food Centre in the Chinatown area.

The historic building and the Clock Tower

Lau Pa Sat is not just an ordinary hawker centre. The building was built as early as 1894 as Telok Ayer Market and is still one of the most beautiful historical buildings in downtown Singapore.

The structure is made of cast iron and is reminiscent of Victorian market houses from Europe. Standing inside, surrounded by the modern skyscrapers of the financial district, the contrast between the old architecture and the modern city is really striking.

One interesting feature is the set of bells in the clock tower that dominates the building. The chimes play a short melody every 15 minutes.

It is this architecture that makes Lau Pa Sat one of the most photogenic hawker centres in Singapore.

What to try here

Inside Lau Pa Sat, you'll find dozens of stalls selling typical Singaporean street food. The menu is very varied and you'll usually find a mix of Chinese, Malay and Indian cuisine.

Some of the most common dishes include:

• Hainanese chicken rice - one of the national dishes of Singapore
• laksa - a spicy coconut noodle soup
• char kway teow - fried rice noodles
• various types of seafood
• satay - grilled meat skewers with peanut sauce
• Indian cuisine - there are many Indian food stalls in Lau Pa Sat

Prices are usually between 5 and 10 sgd for a main meal.

Satay Street: evening highlight

The biggest attraction of Lau Pa Sat is the evening Satay Street.

Every evening, Boon Tat Street closes right in front of the building and dozens of stalls start grilling satay skewers. Plastic tables are set up on the street and the whole place turns into a huge outdoor restaurant in no time.

The atmosphere is completely different from inside the market - the smell of grilled meat, the smoke from the grills and the bustling nightlife create one of the most iconic street-food experiences in Singapore.

Stalls on Satay Street open between 7:30pm and 8pm.

Prices and payment

Prices in Lau Pa Sat are slightly higher than in less touristy hawker centres, but still very affordable.

As a rough guide:

• 5-10 sgd
• Satay sets: 10-20 sgd
• Drinks: 2-4 sgd

Many stalls now accept credit cards or mobile payments, but it's still worth carrying cash.

Get a Revolut card with a bonus

How to get there

Lau Pa Sat is located in the heart of Singapore among the skyscrapers of the financial district.

Nearest MRT station:

• Telok Ayer - about 5 minutes walk
• Downtown - about 6 minutes
• Raffles Place - about 8 minutes
• Shenton Way - about 5 minutes

Due to its downtown location, a visit to Lau Pa Sat combines well with a walk around Marina Bay or a visit to Gardens by the Bay.

We describe our experiences travelling around the city in the Singapore Metro chapter.

Stay online - get an eSIM for Singapore

How to include a visit in your itinerary

Lau Pa Sat is the perfect stop during an evening out in downtown Singapore. Many travellers head here after attending an evening show at Gardens by the Bay, for example, or after a stroll around Marina Bay.

Its downtown location also makes it a good place to have dinner after visiting the sights at Marina Bay Sands Hotel.

View hotels in Marina Bay

Most common mistakes

1️⃣ Visiting only during the day
During the day, Lau Pa Sat is more of a regular canteen for office workers. The real atmosphere comes in the evening when Satay Street opens.

2️⃣ Ignoring the outside
Many tourists stay inside the building and don't even know that there is a satay barbecue outside on Boon Tat Street in the evening.

3️⃣ Searching for the one "best" stall
Unlike some other hawker centres, there isn't one legendary stall - most visitors simply choose their food based on what they like at the time.

If you're planning to try more hawker centres in Singapore, Maxwell Food Centre or Chinatown Complex Food Centre are also worth a visit, as they have a much more local feel than the tourist-favourite Lau Pa Sat.

What to see around

Discover all the places to see in Singapore.