Although hawker centres are kept scrupulously clean, they are often housed in functional buildings which tend to get extremely hot, so an increasing number of smaller, air-conditioned food courts are popping up, where eating is a slightly more civilized, if less atmospheric affair. Hawker centres and food courts are open from lunchtime through to dinner time and sometimes beyond. Avoid the peak lunching (12.30-1.30pm) and dining (6-7pm) periods, and you should have no problems in finding a seat.
Chinatown Complex , Smith St, at the end of New Bridge Road, Chinatown. A huge range of dishes with a predictably Chinese bias.
Food Junction , B1, Seiyu Department Store, Bugis Junction, 200 Victoria St, Colonial District. Happening food court where Thai, Japanese, nasi padang and claypot cusines are all represented.
Hastings Road Food Court , Little India Arcade, Serangoon Rd, Little India. Diminutive food court whose handful of stalls are labelled by region - Keralan, Mughlai, Sri Lankan and so on.
Lau Pa Sat Festival Market , 18 Raffles Quay, Financial District. The smartest hawker stalls in Singapore, and now open round the clock.
Orchard Emerald Food Court , Basement, Orchard Emerald, 218 Orchard Rd. Smart food court, bang in the centre of Orchard Road, where the Indonesian buffet is great value.
Picnic Food Court , Scotts Shopping Centre, 6 Scotts Rd, Orchard Road District. Slap bang in the middle of Orchard Road, squeaky clean, and with lots of choice.
Satay Club , Clarke Quay, Singapore River. A Singapore institution not to be missed, serving inexpensive chicken and mutton satay. Open evenings only, from around 7pm.