Guide to Wet Markets in Singapore

Get the freshest fruits, vegetables, meat and fish possible with our guide to wet markets in Singapore

In Singapore we really are spoilt for choice when it comes to fresh produce! The best part is they’re often at wholesale prices when you shop at the wet market. There are over 100 wet markets in Singapore, some of them being more notable than others. Find it daunting? The first step is finding a wet market near you, then checking it out for yourself!

Top tips for visiting wet markets in Singapore:

• Most wet markets are closed on Mondays
• Early bird gets the best produce! Go between 7am and 10am to snag the best stuff. Produce typically starts to run out from 11am.
• Some stalls now accept cashless payments like PayNow and PayLah!, but it’s still best to have cash on hand to be safe.
• Buy veggies and dry goods first because they’re easier to carry around while shopping
• Prep everything immediately once reaching home. This makes things easier once it comes time to cook (or just tell the shopkeeper what you need, eg. fish to be cut in fillets, meats to be chopped up into suitable sizes depending on the dish).
• Once every two months is enough for most families – everything can be kept in the freezer and lasts longer. You’ll find that you don’t spend as much as you would online!
• Go the low-waste route and bring your own containers and carriers! Label your containers beforehand so you can easily plan which meats to put in, and bring along a few of your own reusable grocery bags for fruits and veggies.

Guide to Wet Markets in Singapore

Chinatown Wet Market

Located in the basement of the iconic Chinatown Complex along Smith Street, this wet market shares the space with the Chinatown Complex Food Centre – one of the tastiest hawker centres in Singapore. Here you’ll find tons of fresh produce, including live seafood, fresh vegetables, seasonal and exotic fruit, fresh meat, tofu, noodles, spices and dried goods and eggs. The focus here is mainly on Asian vegetables, with the odd eel, frog and even turtle available.

Chinatown Complex, 335 Smith Street, Singapore 050335

Tekka Wet Market

Part wet market, part food centre and part shopping mall, The Tekka Centre has it all (and is conveniently located just a few streets from Mustafa Centre, where you are sure to find whatever you couldn’t get your hands on at Tekka!). Located in the vibrant Little India district, it’s the largest indoor wet market in Singapore. There’s a massive selection of fresh produce, including live seafood, fresh vegetables, seasonal and exotic fruit, fresh meat, tofu, noodles, spices and dried goods and eggs. This is where you’ll find one of the largest selections of fresh spices, especially those used in Indian cooking. You can also get freshly grated coconut, coconut milk and coconut water at amazing prices.

Tekka Wet Market, 665 Buffalo Road, L1 Tekka Centre, Singapore 210665

Tiong Bahru Wet Market

Located in this hipster ‘hood this popular wet market is a little less intense than the bigger markets listed above. Produce is packaged similar to a supermarket and they market more to the international crowd, with a huge array of western fresh produce available, including some really fantastic cheeses! At Tiong Bahru Wet Market you’ll find fresh produce, including live seafood, fresh vegetables, seasonal and exotic fruit, fresh meat, tofu, noodles, spices and dried goods and eggs. And cheese! It’s in very close proximity to some of the island’s best coffee making spots — perfect for a Saturday morning post-market caffeine stop.

30 Seng Poh Road, Singapore 168898

Geylang Serai Wet Market

Based in the heart of Geylang, right next to the Malay Cultural Village, this market also shares the space with a food centre that serves some of the best Malay food on the island.

What’s on offer?

• Fresh produce, including live seafood, fresh vegetables, seasonal and exotic fruit, fresh meat, tofu, noodles, spices and dried goods and eggs.
• Malay halal food.
• A fantastic array of fabrics and decorative materials.
• Recipes! If you engage some of the spice stall owners they will tell you their secrets, especially which spices to use to make an incredible curry.

1 Geylang Serai, Singapore 402001

Senoko Fishery Post

The Senoko Fishery Port is one of two fishery ports in Singapore operated by the AVA and is where you can find all manner of plump, fresh seafood at wholesale prices. Just don’t forget the gumboots and be prepared to get their super duper early!

What’s on offer?

• Seafood.
• Wholesale prices that are almost 20% cheaper than the other wet markets.
• The general public can attend, just remember to take your ID with you.

Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority, 31 Attap Valley Road, #02-29, Singapore 759908

The best of the rest!

I do my weekly food shop at the vibrant Tekka Market, where I am overwhelmed with choice! However, if I run out of something during the week I usually pop down to my local market at Marine Parade. While it’s smaller than Tekka, I can still pick up “fillers” to get me through to my next big shop. The fruit is fantastic and the orchids are some of the prettiest I have found in Singapore.

So even if you aren’t keen to tackle the chaos of the larger markets, seek out your local and have a poke around. I’m sure you will be delighted with what you find!

Empress Road Market
7 Empress Rd, Singapore 260007 (next to Farrer Road MRT and a popular choice for Holland mamas!)

Clementi Market and Food Centre
448 Clementi Ave 3, Singapore 120448

Telok Blangah Crescent Market
11 Telok Blangah Crescent, Singapore 090011

Kebun Baru Market
226D Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1, Singapore 564226

Ghim Moh Market
20 Ghim Moh Rd, Singapore 270020

Admiralty Wet Market
678 Woodlands Ave 6, Singapore 730678

Holland Drive Market
44 Holland Drive, Singapore 270044

Siang Heng Fish Merchant
17 Kalidasa Ave, Singapore 789396 (wholesale seafood)

Bukit Merah View Market and Food Centre
115 Bukit Merah View, Singapore 151115

Golden Mile Food Centre
505 Beach Road, Singapore 199583 (great for Thai ingredients)

Marine Parade Market
Blk 84 Marine Parade Central, Singapore 440084 (fabulous orchids)

Toa Payoh Central Market
127 Lorong 1 Toa Payoh, Singapore 310127

Whampoa Wet Market
92 Whampoa Drive, Singapore 320092 (stop post-shop for their famous fish head steamboat!)

Kuriya Japanese Fresh Fish Market – Jurong Point
1 Jurong West Central 2, Jurong Point Shopping Centre, Singapore 648886 (import Japanese fish)