Swanky Food Courts in Singapore: Food Opera at ION and Rasapura at Marina Bay Sands

Our parents would have never imagined that one day Singapore would have a swanky version of a hawker centre. Even with the several hawker centres, they are often nostalgic for the little food carts on bicycles that used to go door to door selling things like ice balls (sugar syrup drizzled over a ball of crushed ice which had red beans and other goodies in it) and even dry noodles. Unfortunately I never got to see it for myself and now it’s part of history.

I have to admit that I am impressed by the sophistication of the food courts, with their chandeliers and art installations. And of course the food is not as great as what you can find at a hot, sticky, grimy hawker centre, but it’s a trade-off if you desire ambience and air-conditioning. I think it’s natural to hanker for variety. But one day (I hope it doesn’t come), when hawker centers are few and far between, we will probably wax lyrical about them like our parents do about their mobile food vendors of the 60’s. For our unique Singapore food culture to thrive, we should continue to patronize hawker stalls. The food there is a fraction the price, but double the tastiness (if you know where to go).

Two of the swankiest right now are Food Opera at ION and Rasapura which just opened around a skating rink at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands. You can see beautifully dressed people (mostly tourists from Indonesia) having their local favourites. A recent survey showed that Indonesians are the top spenders among tourists in Singapore.

photo by bookjunkie


photo by bookjunkie


photo by bookjunkie


photo by bookjunkie


photo by bookjunkie


photo by bookjunkie


photo by bookjunkie


photo by bookjunkie


photo by bookjunkie

And Rasapura where I haven’t tried the food yet, so actually it’s not fair of me to judge the quality. I am quite glad that these exist and I have always excited by the new. After all variety is the spice of life. And a food court around a skating rink is just feaking awesome.

photo by bookjunkie


photo by bookjunkie


photo by bookjunkie


photo by bookjunkie

About bookjunkie

Blogging about life in Singapore & recently cancer too.
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6 Responses to Swanky Food Courts in Singapore: Food Opera at ION and Rasapura at Marina Bay Sands

  1. Jessica S says:

    That skating rink is stunning. Thank you so much for sharing your pictures. I have never had the luxury of travel, and so I absolutely adore your well stated descriptions and explanations. 🙂

    • bookjunkie says:

      Awww…that’s so nice of you! I sometimes wonder if something that’s interesting to me might be boring to everyone else. Thanks for liking the photos 🙂 The blog is also sort of a memory photo log for me 🙂

  2. thinkpinktoo says:

    The last time I was at the Food Opera in Singapore I saw one of the serving attendents at the drink stall, scooping out the foam from a glass of beer she had poured with a spoon so that she could fill up the glass…. I wonder how many complaints they have had from people getting flat beer 😛

  3. Kirsten says:

    I’m meeting my Indonesian friend tonight and was just wondering where I could take her! Maybe I’ll take her to Rasapura (I haven’t been there myself) and then I can tell you how the food is. Hehe!

  4. Pingback: Swanky Food Courts in Singapore: Food Opera at ION and Rasapura at … | Collection of Asian Food Recipes

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