Lau Pa Sat In Singapore: Food Guide, Hours & MRT Tips

If you’re wondering whether Lau Pa Sat is worth visiting in Singapore, especially with so many hawker centers to choose from, you’re in the right place. Here’s what to know about the food, Satay Street, opening hours, MRT options, and my honest tips for making the most of your visit.

Honestly, Singapore has a hell of a lot of Hawker Centers. Some are organised, most are more on the chaotic end, but food is affordable, delicious, and some of the stalls even have Michelin stars! Though, as a tourist I’ll be honest, they can be a little daunting.

That’s why I like Lau Pa Sat, it’s open, clean, and of course plenty of delicious food options. This is actually one of the most popular Hawker Centers in Singapore, for the local business people during lunch, and for the tourists in the evening.

This is my go-to foodie spot, especially when I’m traveling with someone who has never been to Singapore before. Seriously, Lau Pa Sat becomes a core memory of their time in the city, and a place where you can try a bunch of dishes without going broke.

Now let’s get into all the details for visiting Lau Pa Sat in Singapore, including how to get there on the MRT, where it’s located, opening hours, what to eat, and my top tips for visiting!

Is Lau Pa Sat Worth Visiting In Singapore?

Okay, if you’re tossing up whether to visit or not, just do it. Seriously, this is one of my favorite spots to eat in Singapore for dinner.

It’s perfect if you’re a first-time traveler in the city and want a hawker center experience that isn’t too daunting. Plus, Satay Street is a pretty cool and equally delicious spot.

It’s great when you aren’t sure what you want, as you can just wander around and see what tickles your fancy. I love not being restricted by just one single menu and getting something from different spots for dinner, a drink, and of course dessert.

Though I will say this may not be the best choice for you if you’re looking for something budget-friendly or for a more local hawker center. Even though it’s popular with business people during the day, at night it can feel like there are quite a few tourists around.

I also make a point of walking over to visit the Spectra Light and Water show after visiting. It’s a nice 15-minute walk around the water, and then it’s easy enough to catch the MRT back to wherever you’re staying.

Though if the night is still feeling young, why not hit up the late showing of Gardens By The Bay light show and then even head up Marina Bay Sands for a drink. Even as a solo female traveler I feel so safe walking around Singapore at night.

Where Is Lau Pa Sat Located?

Lau Pa Sat is located at 18 Raffles Quay in Singapore’s Central Business District. Yup, you’ll find it right in the middle of the city’s skyscrapers and office towers, which is a pretty impressive sight in itself.

It’s super easy to add to your Singapore itinerary, especially if you’re already visiting nearby spots like Marina Bay, Merlion Park, or Chinatown.

How To Get To Lau Pa Sat By MRT

I’ve always traveled to Lau Pa Sat by using the MRT system, and chances are you’ll want to as well. It’s amazingly connected around the city and super easy to use, even as a tourist.

Sure, if you’re looking at the map, it can look daunting, though as long as you know your point A and point B, you can use Google Maps to see how to get there and any changes you may need to make.

You can simply swipe through with your regular debit or credit card, and bam that’s your fare paid. Just remember to scan at the other end to exit.

The closest MRT stations to Lau Pa Sat are Telok Ayer, Raffles Place, Downtown, and Shenton Way, all within a short walk. Those four stations cover the blue, brown, green, and red lines, so it should be easy to get to no matter where you’re staying.

Telok Ayer MRT To Lau Pa Sat

Telok Ayer MRT is one of the closest stations to Lau Pa Sat. From there, it’s only a 4-minute / 260m walk to the hawker center, great if you’re coming from anywhere on the Downtown Line.

Once you exit Telok Ayer MRT, simply follow the signs toward Cross Street / Raffles Quay. Then continue walking toward the large historic market building surrounded by office towers. Honestly, Lau Pa Sat is pretty easy to spot once you’re nearby, with its old-school style.

Raffles Place MRT To Lau Pa Sat

Raffles Place MRT is our next station for Lau Pa Sat and is handy if you’re coming from the North-South Line or East-West Line. From Raffles Place, it’s around a 5 to 8-minute walk, depending on which exit you use (the best is exit 1)

Once you leave the station, head toward Raffles Quay / Robinson Road and continue until you reach the market.

Downtown MRT To Lau Pa Sat

Downtown MRT is another option for getting to Lau Pa Sat, especially if you’re already traveling on the Downtown Line. From the station, it’s around a 6 to 8-minute walk to Lau Pa Sat, slightly further than Telok Ayer but still very easy.

Honestly, this is the station I use as it’s familiar to me and one I travel through often. I don’t mind walking a couple of extra minutes.

Take exit 7 out of the station and walk toward Marina View and Robinson Road. From there, just continue straight toward Raffles Quay, and Lau Pa Sat will be directly across the road.

Shenton Way To Lau Pa Sat

Located on the Thomson-East Coast Line, Shenton Way MRT is one of the newer stations in the CBD and provides easy access to Lau Pa Sat. The walk is relatively short, taking around 5 to 7 minutes.

Just exit the station onto Park Street, then turn right once you reach Shenton Way. This connects right onto Raffles Quay, where you’ll find the market.

Lau Pa Sat Opening Hours

Now Lau Pa Sat is actually split into two separate areas: the Lau Pa Sat food market and Satay Street, both of which have different opening hours.

This is mainly because, as the name suggests, Satay Street is located streetside. Yup, they close the street down nightly for this delicious spot, then reopen the street in the early morning in time for the business district to spring back to life.

Lau Pa Sat Food Court Opening Hours

Lau Pa Sat is technically open 24 hours daily, though that doesn’t mean you can rock up at 3 am and have plenty of choice. This is because not every stall is open all day long, so the food options do vary.

Nevertheless, it’s another 24-hour option than the standard 7/11 and is perfect for lunch, dinner, or a cheeky late-night snack.

Lau Pa Sat Satay Street Opening Hours

The famous Lau Pa Sat Satay Street runs from 7:00 PM to 3:00 AM on weekdays and from 3:00 PM to 3:00 AM on weekends.

If a delicious smoky satay is high on your Singapore bucketlist, make sure you visit in the evenings!

What To Eat At Lau Pa Sat

Now we’ve hit the good part of the article, where you really get fomo and salivate at your screen. It’s time for the food portion, the whole point of actually going to the market, and trust me, it doesn’t disappoint.

You’ll seriously find such a huge selection of food stalls, where you can try a few classic Singapore dishes without running all over the city. Though there are plenty of other cuisines as well, if you’re craving something a little different.

Yes, I’ll happily have an Indian for mains, bubble tea to drink, and a mango sticky rice for dessert.

Though I’ll be honest, it can be a bit disorientating going around looking at all the stalls. Due to the shape of the building and crowds, it honestly does start to feel a bit like a maze at times, even for someone who has visited plenty.

Satay

Now Satay is for sure a must-not-miss in Lau Pat Sat, and you can find it once Satay Street opens up each night. It’s smoky, sizzling, and attracts a crazy number of crowds every night.

Some stalls are quiet, and others literally have lines that go the whole way across the road. Though where lines are long, it’s often worth it.

Try It At: Best Satay 7 & 8

Chicken Rice

This is also known as Hainanese Chicken and is a staple in Singapore. It’s simple, tasty, and pretty affordable, especially compared to a lot of restaurants and cafes in the city.

You’ll find it usually comes with poached or roasted chicken served over rice, with chili sauce, ginger, and dark soy sauce on the side.

Try It At: Ipoh Hainanese Chicken Rice

Laksa

If you’re craving something rich, spicy, and deliciously messy, laksa is another dish to look out for at Lau Pa Sat.

This coconut-based noodle soup is served with a creamy, spicy broth, noodles, seafood or chicken, and of course, plenty of flavor.

Try It At: Lao Fu Zi Fried Kway Teow

Char Kway Teow

Next up, we have Char Kway Teow, which is a dish of flat rice noodles stir-fried, usually with egg, bean sprouts, Chinese sausage, cockles, and a dark soy sauce for a rich, smoky flavor.

You can try this at Lao Fu Zi, which is known for their black fried kway teow. This is a slightly sweeter, darker version of the popular dish and is a must-try.

Try It At: Lao Fu Zi Fried Kway Teow

Desserts And Drinks

Now we can’t have all these main dishes without a sweet treat!

You’ll find 2 main drink stands right in the middle of the building, offering all the hawker favs like fresh juices, iced tea, sugarcane juice, kopi and teh. There are also a few other posts around if you’re keen on bubble tea or fruity smoothies.

For something classic, look out for local desserts like ice kachang, chendol, or soybean pudding. Otherwise, there are Western favorites as well, like pancakes, muffins, and cakes. I even had a fancy burnt basque cheesecake on my recent visit!

Lau Pa Sat Satay Street

Lau Pa Sat Satay Street is easily the most famous part of visiting the market, and it’s the reason I’d recommend going in the evening rather than during the day.

Once the road beside the hawker center closes to traffic, the satay stalls set up their grills, plastic tables come out, and the whole area turns into a busy open-air dining street.

You’ll find stalls selling skewers of chicken, beef, mutton, and prawns, usually served with peanut sauce, cucumber, onions, and rice cakes. The smell of the grills is pretty hard to miss, and even though it’s definitely popular with tourists, it’s still a fun Singapore food experience to do at least once.

I’d recommend arriving early in the evening if you want to avoid the busiest crowds, especially on weekends. Also, like I said earlier, stalls 7 & 8 have the best satay and are well worth checking out, even with the lines.

Is Lau Pa Sat Vegetarian Friendly?

Now, being a vegetarian myself, eating out can be a hit or miss. This is especially so with some hawker centers where you end up awkwardly wandering around “just looking.” Luckily, this isn’t the case at Lau Pa Sat.

There are a few dedicated vegetarian stalls inside, including Su Xiang Chinese Vegetarian Cuisine, Maya Veggie Delight, and Shree Bhaavan. This is amazing as you don’t have to go around guessing what’s safe.

For Chinese vegetarian food, Su Xiang Chinese Vegetarian Cuisine is a good spot. They serve up vegetarian fried noodles, fried rice, mock meat, and zi char-style meals, so super filling.

Though Indian food is a great option if you are wanting a curry. Maya Veggie Delight and Shree Bhaavan are both vegetarian-friendly and pretty popular spots for tourists. The $10.00 naan basket is a crazy good buy if there’s a group of you, then just grab a few curries for a cheap meal.

Things To Do Near Lau Pa Sat

One of the best things about Lau Pa Sat is it’s in a great location if you’re keen to visit a few other spots in the evening as well.

• Visit Merlion Park: One of Singapore’s most famous photo spots, Merlion Park is just a 12-minute walk away.
• Wander Around Marina Bay: After dinner, you can continue toward Marina Bay for epic skyline views. This is one of my favorite things to do in the city at night, I just find it so magical. The Spectra Light show is a must!
• Gardens By The Bay: You can’t miss the impressive Cloud Forest, Flower Dome, or Supertree Grove. Also, in the evenings, make sure to check out the light show!
• Check Out Marina Bay Sands: Even if you’re not staying there, you can visit the pretty impressive mall or head up to one of the viewpoints or bars.

FAQS About Lau Pa Sat

Wrap Up: Full Guide To Visiting Lau Pa Sat In Singapore

Overall, Lau Pa Sat is definitely worth checking out for an easy, central, and actually fun place to eat in Singapore. Is it the cheapest hawker center in the city? No. Is Satay Street a little touristy? Absolutely.

But honestly, sometimes touristy things are popular for a reason, and this is one of them.

If you’re short on time, just visit in the evening when the grills are going, the tables spill out onto the street, and the whole place comes right to life. Grab some satay, order a cold drink, and do a lap inside the food hall for extra goodies.