Lau Pa Sat

About

A Victorian cast-iron market building in the heart of the CBD. Famous for its Boon Tat Street satay stalls that fire up at night.

📖 The Story

Lau Pa Sat — literally 'old market' in Hokkien — is one of Singapore's most architecturally significant buildings. Designed by George Coleman and cast in Glasgow in 1894, the Victorian wrought-iron structure was shipped to Singapore piece by piece. It survived Japanese occupation, served as a market for over a century, and was gazetted as a national monument in 1973. Today it houses hawker stalls by day and transforms into Singapore's most atmospheric supper spot by night when Boon Tat Street closes to traffic and satay smoke fills the colonial arches.

✨ Vibe: A colonial monument that smells like satay smoke and tastes like Singapore history

Local Quote

Heritage Timeline

Legendary Stalls

• Boon Tat Street Satay

  Charcoal Satay

  Every evening at 7pm, the road closes and over 20 satay stalls set up under the stars. The charcoal smoke, the peanut sauce, the cold beer — it's the most cinematic meal in Singapore.

• Lau Pa Sat Rojak

  Rojak

  One of the few remaining stalls serving traditional rojak with hand-cut fruit. The shrimp paste dressing is made fresh daily from a recipe that hasn't changed in decades.

• Carrot Cake Station

  Carrot Cake

  Both black and white versions done properly — the white version is rarer and harder to find elsewhere. The hawker fries each portion individually to order.

Must Try Dishes

• Satay (Boon Tat Street)
• Rojak
• Carrot Cake
• Popiah

This Place Is Perfect For

• Tourists
• After-work drinks
• Late night supper
• Corporate crowd