We are obsessed with Singapore’s food scene. As is NEL owner and Chef Patron Nelly Robinson. That’s why we teamed up with Nelly and the Singapore Tourism Board to create a totally unique culinary tour of Singapore.

In the interest of quality control, we went on this food-filled trip with Chef Nelly ourselves, travelling to the same restaurants, bars and experiences that are included in this guide.  Get inspired by the full itinerary below.

As soon as you land, check in to your home for the next three nights —the Pan Pacific Singapore.

This five-star hotel is right in the heart of Singapore, boasting views across Marina Bay, the South China Sea and surrounding city skyline. The hotel has been finishing up its latest renovation so you can expect beautiful new finishes and details.

How you spend the rest of your evening is entirely up to you, but we do have a couple of suggestions for where to eat and drink.

First off, we suggest you grab dinner from Keng Eng Kee in the light industrial area of Alexandra. This is a proper local food haunt known for its zi char — meaning “cook and fry” in Singapore’s Hokkien dialect. This dining experience offers a menu of over 100 wok-fried dishes, with each zi char eatery famous for its own signature dishes.

Our favourites at Keng Eng Kee include (but are certainly not limited to) the Marmite fried chicken, coffee glazed pork ribs and the cereal-dusted prawns. Wash it down with ice-cold beers, served by the local Tiger Beer ‘auntie’ (a local term used to respectfully address someone senior) who makes her way around the tables keeping the boisterous but laidback atmosphere alive.

A special mention must also go to the moonlight hor fun dish. A big plate of wide flat rice noodles is mixed with an egg, prawns and spring onions — all drenched in a thick, smoky sauce flavoured with soy, pork fat and a dash of sugar. This and the pork liver claypot are two of Keng Eng Kee’s signature dishes.

After feasting at this local neighbourhood spot, we suggest you grab a nightcap at Atlas Bar. This grand space has been covered in Art Deco features. And we mean covered. Each and every centimetre of this bar has been jazzed up with opulent fittings.

Order some champagne (Chef Nelly’s recommendation) or the flight of three martinis (our recommendation) and enjoy the stunning surrounds. Hitting up either or both of these spots will get you primed for the rest of the trip’s activities.

The next morning, get ready for a special food tour in Chinatown. Now, we know breakfast might be included as part of your hotel stay, but you’ll probably want to skip it this day. You’ll be eating constantly during this walking feast so you’ll want to go hungry. Trust us, we are seasoned professional eaters and even we felt challenged.

Visit a traditional coffee house and learn how to order Singapore coffee — no flat whites or cortados will be on the menu. Then, try pandan cake at a local bakery or hit up one of the small shopfronts that specialise in egg custard tarts. Arrive in the morning, so you can try them while they’re hot and fresh.

From there, it’s off to the largest hawker centre in Singapore, Chinatown Complex Market and Food Centre. There are 260 food stalls in this one hawker centre, so it’s a great spot to go exploring, trying stacks of extra cheap eats for yourself. This is a place you’ll bank in your favourite food memories.

After all that food, you can head back to the hotel for a swim in the outdoor pool overlooking the city’s skyline or keep moving to experience the city on the ground.

If you choose the latter, you could hit up the Museum of Ice Cream, a playful interactive experience that features over a dozen rooms filled with interactive ice cream-themed installations. Here, you get to feel like a kid again and get some primo Instagram fodder. But the best part is the unlimited ice cream that comes with your entry. Embrace the brain freeze.

And if the weather is good, then you can’t pass up a trip to the island of Sentosa. Hop on the cable car and enjoy the scenic trip to this resort-like part of Singapore where some of the rich and famous live. Soak up stunning views on the SkyHelix ride or craft your own perfume at Scentopia before filling up on more food at Central Beach Bazaar. Alternatively, you can book a spot at one of the beach clubs and laze your day away.

Our last recco for the day is dinner at Hai Tien Lo. Located on level three of Pan Pacific, this award-winning restaurant hits the spot with elegant traditional Cantonese cuisine from dim sum to signature dishes like tea smoked crispy chicken and wagyu beef cheeks.

Next on the agenda of your food-fuelled tour should be a short trip to Mr. Bucket Chocolaterie. Located in a former army barracks, this artisanal chocolate maker is known for sourcing quality cocoa from the region and its strong focus on sustainability. Enjoy the ‘bean to bar’ tasting experience and the option to customise your own chocolate bar while there (try to beat our sesame, pretzel and popping candy dark chocolate bar).

From here, you have the option to go for some pre-dinner cocktails at Hopscotch at Gardens by the Bay. Similar to NEL in Sydney, the Hopscotch team focuses on creating unique drinking and dining experiences with a strong concept and thought behind each. These cocktails are anything but ordinary and each drink comes with its own bit of theatre.

Then it is off to the holy grail of dining experiences – dinner at one Michelin-starred Restaurant Labyrinth. The brainchild of Chef LG Han (who is also good friends with Chef Nelly), this restaurant is an expression of local flavours and Chef Han’s food memories — while also reimagining traditional hawker food. Expect a feast for the senses during this decadent degustation. Trust us, you’ll never see Singapore cuisine the same way after this.

If you have time on the last day, leave your luggage with the concierge and take a quick trip to the Katong-Joo Chiat precinct.

This area is home to colourful shophouses, mouth-watering food and Peranakan culture. Some places on our hit list include Kim Choo Kueh Chang, Birds of Paradise Gelato Boutique, the colourful Koon Seng Road shophouses and the famous 328 Katong Laksa. Why not sneak in one more feast before heading home?

For more incredible ways to experience Singapore, head to Singapore Tourism Board’s website.

Images: Singapore Tourism Board