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A Guide to Albert Center in Singapore That’ll Show You Where the Locals Really Go
The plan with my friends was just to hang out around Bugis, take photos, and explore a bit—but as always, food found its way into the agenda.
After a couple of hours of wandering around and posing like we were in a travel vlog, someone finally said, “Let’s eat lah.”
We didn’t have a specific place in mind, so we just followed the crowd—and that’s how we ended up at Albert Center. We saw people streaming in and out of this unassuming food place and decided to take a peek.
The moment we entered, it was chaotic in the best way possible. There were so many stalls, smells, and uncles shouting out orders.
Everyone picked something different, and we swapped bites like a mini buffet. By the end of it, we were so full we could barely move.
So obviously… we had to write about it.
Where is Albert Center?
Albert Center is in Singapore’s Rochor district. It is bounded by Queen Street to the west, Waterloo Street to the east, Rochor Road to the north, and the Bugis Street Market to the south.
How to Get to Albert Center
By Bus: The nearest bus stops are along Rochor Road and Victoria Street. Buses 2, 12, 33, 130, and 133 all pass through, with stops just a short walk from the center.
By MRT: Take the Downtown Line or East-West Line to Bugis MRT (DT14/EW12). Use Exit A or C and walk about 5 minutes toward Queen Street.
By Taxi: Most drivers are familiar with Albert Center. Just tell them to drop you off near Queen Street or the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple. Ride-hailing apps like Grab also work just fine.
By Private Car: Set your GPS to “270 Queen Street.” Public parking is available at the Fu Lu Shou Complex or nearby buildings
What to Do Around Albert Center
Browse old-school snacks and staples on Albert Center’s upper floors
Media Credit: @kakoveryvernis
Address: 270 Queen Street, #01-53
Pricing: $
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday, except Thursday – 11 AM to 7:30 PM
- Thursday – Closed
Most people head straight to the food stalls on the ground floor, but if you’ve got a bit of time (and curiosity), take the escalator up.
The upper levels have lots of old-school provision shops, neatly packed aisles, and handwritten signs that look like they haven’t changed in years.
You’ll find all sorts of things here: dried mushrooms, ikan bilis, Chinese sausages, frozen dumplings, tubs of sambal, and those massive bags of prawn crackers you only ever see at family gatherings.
There’s even a stall selling old-fashioned sweets and preserved plums in huge glass jars—we helped ourselves to some since we grew up snacking on haw flakes and iced gem biscuits.
Trace Hindu heritage at the historic Sri Krishnan Temple
Media Credit: @srikrishnantemple
Address: 152 Waterloo Street
Phone: +65 6337 7957
Operating Hours: Daily – 8 AM to 12 PM; 6 PM to 8:45 PM
Website: https://m.facebook.com/SriKrishnanTemple/
We were heading toward Waterloo when we couldn’t help but stare at the intricate statues lining the walls of Sri Krishnan Temple.
Each one got more and more detailed—painted in vibrant blues, reds, and golds, all facing out toward the street.
Built in the 1870s, this temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna and remains one of the oldest Hindu temples in the area. It’s still an active place of worship, especially popular among devotees offering prayers for health or new beginnings.
Once inside the place, you’ll notice the scent of incense while the sound of bells and synchronized prayers are being chanted in the background.
What’s even better is that there’s no entry fee, but we saw someone who got stopped for wearing shorts, so make sure to dress modestly if you plan to enter the prayer areas.
Make a wish at the Fountain of Wealth
Media Credit: @cosine_zytt
Address: 3 Temasek Boulevard
Operating Hours: Daily – 10 AM to 12 PM; 2 PM to 4 PM; 6 PM to 7:30 PM
Website: http://sunteccity.com.sg/attractions/
While searching for iced coffee, we kind of just appeared in the middle of Suntec City. There, my friends and I stumbled upon the Fountain of Wealth.
It didn’t look like much at first—just a big ring in the middle of a roundabout. But it gets more interesting once you head downstairs.
Turns out, the fountain was built in the 1990s and holds a Guinness World Record as the largest in the world. Its design is based on feng shui, with the inward flow symbolizing wealth being drawn in rather than pushed away.
To make it more interactive, the main jets are switched off so visitors can step into the center and walk around the smaller fountain.
We each made a wish while circling it (you’re supposed to do it three times clockwise), and while I can’t say it changed my life, I did have a fun moment with friends.
Where to Eat and Drink in Albert Center
Pondok Makan Indonesia
Media Credit: @everydayoff1985
Pricing: $
Operating Hours: Daily – 8 AM to 8 PM
Pondok Makan Indonesia is actually not very flashy, just a row of stainless steel trays behind glass. We almost walked past them until we got pulled back by the scent of turmeric and coconut milk.
There weren’t exactly obvious labels for the meal choices, so you might just have to point and hope for the best. For our group, we ended up with Tahu Goreng, Lontong, Nasi Soto, and Mee Rebus.
The gravies were rich and slightly sweet, and soaked deeply into the rice and noodles. Everything came generously coated in sauce, with flavors that might remind you of a home-cooked meal.
Hock Lee Fishball Noodles
Media Credit: @misstamchiak
Pricing: $
Operating Hours:
- Monday and Tuesday – Closed
- Wednesday to Sunday – 6:30 AM to 12 PM
Hock Lee is known for their handmade fishballs, followed by a light broth and your choice of noodles.
Most bowls go for under $4, and you’ll usually see the same uncle manning the stall. He doesn’t talk much, but the way he works—quick hands, no wasted movements—tells you this isn’t his first rodeo.
One look at the bowls flying out and we got it. Smooth, springy noodles tossed in chili and vinegar, with a light, almost sweet broth on the side.
The fishballs are fresh, with that signature spring and slight sweetness that tells you they didn’t come from a freezer bag.
Lin Ji Pig Leg Rice
Media Credit: @tellmewhere.sg
Pricing: $
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday, except Saturday – 9 AM to 9 PM
- Saturday – 10:30 AM to 9 PM
Website: https://www.facebook.com/linjisg/
Lin Ji may be one of the newer stalls at Albert Center, but it didn’t look like it, judging by the queue.
The storefront is styled like an old-school kitchen scene—painted with scenes of people prepping pork and flames flickering beneath giant pots, which I just adored.
The signature Pig Trotter Rice comes with jasmine rice, a generous ladle of glossy braising sauce, salted vegetables, and slices of trotters that are rich, sticky, and fall-off-the-bone tender.
Each piece has that perfect ratio of skin, fat, and meat without any of the tough bits, but lots of melt-in-your-mouth collagen goodness.
We added their handmade meat cake to the mix, which was wonderfully flavorful with a crisp edge.
Bia Nian Niang Dou Fu
Media Credit: @samoosg
Phone: +65 6802 5491
Pricing: $
Operating Hours: Daily – 7:30 AM to 9 PM
As one of the busiest stalls at this food center, it only makes sense that Bai Nian Niang Dou Fu had dishes piling up on nearby tables with clear soup and that unmistakable prawn paste smell floating around through the air.
They served us the juicy meatballs, and we absolutely loved the soft bite that never seemed to crumble!
Of course, we couldn’t leave out the rich and savory prawn paste, and even the bitter gourd adds a nice touch once it’s soaked in the broth.
Much to our surprise, this spot doesn’t do the pick-your-own format. Instead, every bowl comes with the same curated mix: handmade meatballs, bitter gourd slices, Prawn paste, tofu, and a light soy-based broth.
Thong Kay Delights
Media Credit: @ortega_sg
Pricing: $
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Saturday – 7 AM to 1 PM
- Sunday – Closed
Website: https://www.misstamchiak.com/thong-kay-delights/
We were just looking for something simple to end our food trip when we spotted the line at Thong Kay Delights.
The glutinous rice looked too good to pass up, topped with crispy shallots, spring onions, and a dollop of bright red chili sauce on the side. It was soft, sticky, and just savory enough.
Lots of other customers also seemed to order the yam and pumpkin cakes, both of which had visible chunks of real ingredients, not the usual mushy, floury stuff.
We definitely recommend this spot since the prices are super reasonable, too (around $2), and don’t worry, the queue moves quickly.
