Description

Essentials about Telok Ayer Market in brief

If you want to enjoy a delicious meal in downtown Singapore against a beautiful historical backdrop, you have to visit the Telok Ayer Market (also called “Lau Pa Sat”). Built in the 19th century, the market hall with its high arches and delicate Victorian columns is one of the most beautiful architectural legacies of the British colonial era.

The history and architecture of Telok Ayer Market

The beautiful octagonal hall of Telok Ayer Market is the work of British architect George Coleman. Coleman, by the way, designed many of Singapore’s colonial buildings that have survived to this day. Built between 1836 and 1838, the market hall had to be moved at the end of the 19th century and was rebuilt on newly reclaimed land in 1894 by Singapore’s Scottish town planner, James MacRitchie. MacRitchie retained Coleman’s original form, but added a graceful clock tower and a new cast-iron supporting structure.

Although the Telok Ayer Market has been restored many times over the decades, the present market building still closely resembles MacRitchie’s original design. After the streets surrounding Telok Ayer Market became the commercial and financial center of Singapore in the 1970s, the market was converted into what is known as the Hawker Centre (a food court with various stalls). Today, the market hall is one of Singapore’s most popular food courts, where one can experience the multifaceted cuisine of the mutiethnic city-state with all its influences from China, India and Southeast Asia.

Telok Ayer Market at night

Telok Ayer Market is especially popular in the evening. After 7 pm, the so-called Satay Street opens behind the market. For this purpose, the street is closed to traffic and the merchants set up their barbecue stalls, where you can taste the famous satay skewers. Sitting with a cold beer and a satay skewer in hand between the illuminated hall of Telok Ayer Market and the illuminated skyscrapers of downtown Singapore is a special experience. And on top of that, the culinary experience is usually accompanied by live music in the evening.

Website

laupasat.biz

Opening hours

24 hours a day.

Admission fees

None.

Address

Getting there

By public transport:

MRT line Downtown: Stops Telok Ayer and Downtown

Bus lines 10, 10e, 57, 70, 75, 100, 107, 128, 130, 131, 131A, 162, 167, 186, 196, 196e, 656, 663, 700, 850E, 951E, 970 and 971E: Stop One Raffles Quay

Bus lines 10, 10e, 97, 97e, 106, 133, 196, 196e, 513, 531, 653, 655, 656, 657, 663, 665, 850E, 868E, 951E and 982E: Stop Opp So Sofitel S’pore

By car:

There are a number of parking lots in the immediate vicinity of Telok Ayer Market.