Guide to supermarkets, wet markets and online grocers in Singapore
Once you’ve settled into your new home and explored your hood, the next big question is going to be “what are the best grocers and supermarkets in Singapore to stock the refrigerator?” You will find there’s no one-stop-shop if you like your butcher’s cuts and gourmet condiments, but there are a growing number of excellent options worth your learning. We’re talking supermarkets, wet markets, online shopping options and more.
Supermarkets
NTUC FairPrice runs over 100 supermarkets across the island and has everything you need, whether they’re dried, canned, chilled, or frozen. Its slightly more upmarket sister, FairPrice Finest, stocks more international brands, offers great organic and fresh produce and doesn’t have even a hint of durian hanging in the air. Cold Storage, the second-largest supermarket chain in Singapore, offers a vast selection of quality meats, bakes, and fresh produce. You can find a carefully curated selection of high-end food brands at Market Place, a supermarket chain with stores in the heart of Orchard Road, like Ion Orchard and Paragon. If you’re after big savings and great value, head to a Giant Hypermart or a Sheng Siong store (a local fave). The best thing about living in a city that never sleeps is that you can stock up your kitchen anytime you want, 24-hour supermarkets can be found all around the island, like the NTUC FairPrice at Tanjong Pagar Plaza and both Cold Storage and NTUC FairPrice outlets at Holland Village.
Wet markets
Wet markets in Singapore can be a fun grocery shopping experience. The name is derived from their perennially wet floors due to vegetable-washing, fish-cleaning and the like. Here, you’ll be able to get your hands on anything from vegetables and preserved goods to live crabs and frogs. We like Tiong Bahru wet market (30 Seng Poh Road) for its wide selection of tropical fruit and cheeses, and the florists here are a godsend. The bustling, vibrant Chinatown wet market (Chinatown Complex, 335 Smith Street) is the place to score delectable crustaceans and spices. Tekka wet market (665 Buffalo Road) is the island’s largest indoor wet market, and its butchers are second to none. See our complete guide to amazing wet markets in Singapore here.
Photo credit: Choo Yut Shing via Flickr
Online grocery stores
For folks who are too busy to make a visit to the nearest supermarket, let your fingers do the walking and check out honestbee. As one of Singapore’s largest online grocery sites, it offers a mind-boggling range of 12,000 products from Cold Storage, FairPrice, GNC, Four Seasons Organics Market, and loads more. Whether you’re looking to buy fresh produce, gourmet and organic food, herbs, vitamins or supplements, Honestbee has you covered on every front. Even better: shopping online on Honestbee is absolute breeze with a fuss-free ordering process and super-speedy delivery (they’ll deliver right to your doorstep within the next hour of your order confirmation). Talk about the ultimate time and money-saver! Other online grocery stores to take note of? RedMart offers staples like rice, pasta, cereals, and more, while GoFresh is where you can buy restaurant-grade meats and seafood to whip up a delicious meal at home. The Fishwives import only the freshest meat and fish from Australia and New Zealand and offer next day delivery. Or opt for seasonal boxes containing organic produce that will be delivered right to your doorstep weekly.
Specialty stores
If you have specific dietary requirements (or are an advocate for healthy eating), specialty stores like SuperNature (#B1-05/09 Forum the Shopping Mall, 583 Orchard Road) and Brown Rice Paradise (#02-35 Tanglin Mall, 163 Tanglin Road) are places to get gluten-free foodstuff and more. View our handy list of health food stores to find out where to go to replenish your stock of superfoods and natural, additive-free products.
Wine
Once you’ve seen the price of wine in Singapore, you’ll need a glass of Sauvy Blanc to recover! Aussie-run Merchants Wine Cellar stocks boutique wines from Australia and NZ – direct from small winemakers. So, the good news is that no middlemen means excellent prices! With 2 stores in uber-cool Duxton and Pasarbella and an online shop, Merchants also has regular free wine tasting events and dinners hosted by the winemakers themselves!
Recipes
Stuck on lunch/dinner ideas? Browse our recipes page for the lowdown on local Singaporean delights and festive treats. Don’t forget to check out our review of the plusixfive cookbook, a quirkily designed tome of authentic hawker food recipes done with a twist.