6 best wet markets in S’pore to visit before they’re gone forever

Last Updated on 2016-09-25 , 11:55 am

I love wet markets. Ever since I was a little girl, my mum would take me to the one near our residence to buy her week’s worth of meat, vegetables and other ingredients that would go into her delicious dinner dishes.

As much as I dislike the smell of raw meat, the sights and sounds of a bustling market in the mornings are fascinating. All the buzz and bickering and bargaining made the whole market come alive. And the things bought from a wet market are always super fresh.

If you have never been to one before or are tourists wanting to experience the more local side of Singapore, these are the top 6 wet markets you can check out before they are all gone for good.

Tiong Bahru wet market

This place is iconic because of how long it has been around. Every morning, you will see butchers, vegetable sellers and florists hawking their goods for all to see, hear, and smell. Tiong Bahru wet market is where a lot of the older folks gather to gossip and talk about the old days when that area was a playground for them that has been transformed into the eclectic environment it is today.

West Coast wet market

As part of my growing up years, I frequented this wet market a lot. So much so that my mum even got to know some of the stall owners and get really awesome discounts from them. As a child, I thought this place was huge but as I grew older, I realised it isn’t that big after all. A medium sized market catered more for the residents living around the area, it still holds many old school memories and the sights and sounds you would expect from any wet market scene.

Tekka wet market

Located in Little India, this place is a bustling square selling goods from spices to wet food and even clothes. If you come here just before Deepavali, you will be treated to stores selling traditional sweets you can try, You can probably get a nice saree top for that Deepavali house visit as well!

Chinatown wet market

Another long-lived wet market that has a huge array of fresh fruits, vegetables and other items like dried goods. Most of the produce here comes from Malaysia or from the farms in Singapore so you know how fresh it is. This place is well-known for its exotic products such as eels, frogs and turtles, so don’t be too startled if you see a few wriggling on the trays in front of you.

Geylang Serai wet market

A wet market selling predominantly halal products, this is one huge place and, almost like Tekka wet market, this market also sells items from wet produce to spices and clothing. The items here are mostly Malay inspired due to the district it is located within.

Jurong Fishery Port

This may not be your typical wet market but I’m pretty sure it still counts as one. If you are seeking fresh seafood, this is the place to go. Want to catch some live selling action? Go between the times of 2am and 4am.