What to eat and drink at the Singapore Zoo (costs compared)
Given I usually recommend spending at least 4 hours at the Singapore Zoo, most people will end up having a meal there - whether breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I put this guide together as part of my series on visiting the Singapore Zoo to help understand how much it costs and what options are available.
There are roughly 10 eateries in the Singapore Zoo area selling meals, snacks, and drinks. There are also a couple of snack stands throughout the park selling snacks and drinks. Expect to pay S$10 to S$20 for a meal.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Laksa | S$13.50 |
| Chicken Rice | S$14.90 |
| Fish and Chips | S$18.90 |
| Coffee (local) | S$2.80 |
| Water (bottle) | S$2.90 |
You are allowed to enter and exit the park as many times as you like on the day of your ticket (meaning you can go into the park to check out the food, then come back out to eat if you prefer).
If you’re visiting the Bird Paradise as well, there are a lot of options there to eat and I usually recommend it over the Zoo.
In this guide I’ve included:
- Eateries available before you enter the Zoo
- Eateries available within the Zoo
- Drinks
- Bringing your own
Before you enter the Zoo
In the public area at the Zoo entrance (before you scan your ticket), you will find:
- Chomel Bistro, a self-serve outdoor eatery food court that sells Singaporean dishes such as Nasi Lemak, Fried Bee Hoon, and Laksa
- Chawang Bistro, similar self-serve outdoor eatery, selling western dishes such as burger and pasta
- Haagen Dazs, selling its branded ice cream
- The Wild Mart, selling steamed buns and snacks, including the panda-themed buns from River Wonders
- Inuka Cafe, with breakfast sets of kaya toast, eggs, and local ‘kopi’. Also sells chendol and tea
- KFC, in-door air conditioned fried chicken.
Some example prices from these restaurants:
| Dish | Price |
|---|---|
| Nasi Lemak | S$12.50 |
| Fried Bee Hoon | S$12.50 |
| Fish & Chips | S$19.90 |
| Aglio Olio | S$17.90 |
There is also a Starbucks in the public area at River Wonders, a short walk from the entrance to the Zoo (no ticket required to visit Starbucks).
Opening hours for these eateries are included in the table below:
| Eatery | Opening hours |
|---|---|
| Chomel Bistro | 10:30am to 6:00pm |
| Chawang Bistro | 11:00am to 6:00pm |
| Haagen Dazs | 10:00am to 6:00pm |
| Wild Mart | 10:00am to 6:00 pm |
| Inuka Cafe | 8:00am to 6:00pm |
| KFC | 10am to 7pm (opens at 9:00am on weekends) |
Within the Zoo
After you enter the Zoo, there are two main zones for eateries: Opposite Tram Stop 1, and at KidzWorld. Vending machines and snack stands are dotted throughout the park as well.
Food at Ah Meng - Opposite Tram Stop 1
Opposite Tram Stop 1 has:
- Ah Meng Bistro: Coffee, pastry, fruit juice, and dessert
- Ah Meng Restaurant: Food court style with selection of Singaporean Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Western dishes
Opening hours for Ah Meng Bistro are 9:00am to 5pm on weekdays, and 10:30am to 5:30pm on weekends and public holidays.
Opening hours for Ah Meng Restaurant are 10:30am to 4:00pm on weekdays, and 10:00am to 4:30pm on weekends and public holidays.
Indoor air conditioned seating is available at the Ah Meng restaurant. Outdoor seating is shared between Ah Meng Bistro and Ah Meng restaurant.
Example prices are included in the table below:
| Dish | Price |
|---|---|
| Chicken Rice | S$14.90 |
| Chicken Biryani | S$15.90 |
| Laksa | S$13.50 |
| Mala Chicken | S$17.90 |
| Fish & Chips | S$18.90 |
I last visited in June 2024.
These prices might seem high compared to alternatives in-town, but compared to other Zoos and parks I’ve visited, it doesn’t seem too bad.
These are similar to the restaurants available before you enter the Zoo (I imagine Mandai Wildlife Group control the prices at all the eateries).
On my last visit I had the laksa. It was rich and tasty, though prepared with long noodles (my wife tells me good laksa should be eaten with a spoon, however this one required chopsticks). The fish and chips also looked good, but beware when ordering this in Singapore as they likely do not salt the chips (this is standard procedure island-wide after a government directive).
The Ah Meng Restaurant has separate queues to order and collect food. I suspect this allows you to secure a table after you pay but before they prepare your food. I usually recommend going around 11am, or after 2pm, if you’re there for lunch; there can be a long queue at peak hours.
Breakfast is also available at the Ah Meng Bistro and Restaurant (outdoor area) that includes a 30 minute animal encounter (don’t worry, they won’t steal your food).
The breakfast is similar to what you would be served in a hotel and includes pastries, cold cuts, cheese, fruit, eggs, rice porridge, cheong fan, prata, and tea & coffee. Many hotels in the region serve halal-only breakfast, and Ah Meng’s is the same (meaning turkey bacon and chicken ham).
Breakfast in the Wild key facts:
- Cost: S$47 for adults and S$37 for children
- Venue: Ah Meng Restaurant outdoor terrace, before you reach Tram Stop 1
- Time for food: 09:00am to 10:30am daily
- Time for animal appearance: 09:30am to 10:30am
Bookings are subject to availability and the Zoo recommends booking at least 3 days in advance. The breakfast price does NOT include Zoo entry, this also needs to be purchased.
Food at Kidzworld
KidzWwrld zone is home to a KFC and a cafe called Kidzworld cafe. There is a stand for a pizza shop as well, but I didn’t see it open and it’s not listed on the Mandai app.
Expect to spend S$12 to S$19 if you eat a meal at either of these eateries.
Opening hours for the Kidzworld Cafe are 10:30am to 5:30pm on weekdays, and 10:00am to 6:00pm on weekends and public holidays.
Other food options
Vending machines are dotted throughout the park that sell ice creams. Expect to spend S$3 to S$5 on a snack from these vending machines.
Snack stands are available at the Shaw Amphitheatre and the Elephant enclosure. Ice cream, fruit cups, and chip packets are available. Expect to spend S$3 to S$6.
Drinks at the Singapore Zoo
Keeping hydrated as you explore the Zoo is very important. It is likely going to be very hot at the time you visit (I still recommend visiting the Zoo in the heat rather than the rain), and having a drink will keep you cool and keep your energy up while you walk around the Zoo.
Drinks can be purchased within the ticketed area of the Zoo from:
- Drink stalls, wherever food is sold
- Snack stalls, at the Shaw Amphitheatre and the Elephants of Asia exhibit
- Vending machines dotted throughout the park
The following drinks are available at Singapore Zoo:
| Drink | Price |
|---|---|
| Re-fill water stations | FREE |
| Bottled Water | S$2.90 |
| Fruit juice (fresh blend) | S$8.90 |
| Soft drink (can) | S$3.50 |
| Beer (can) | S$12.00 |
| Tea | S$2.80 |
| Coffee (local ‘kopi’) | S$2.80 |
| Coffee (cappuccino) | S$6.90 |
You can bring your own water bottle and fill it up at re-fill stations around the Zoo. Re-fill stations are usually located outside each toilet block. I usually buy one bottle of (cold) water and then re-fill it at the various stations as I travel around the Zoo.
Vending machines also sell canned soft drinks. These are priced around the range of S$3 to S$3.50 per can. I couldn’t find any low/no sugar ones on my last visit so I never purchased a vending machine drink. Credit card is the easiest way to buy from a vending machine.
Beer is available for purchase at the Shaw Amphiteatre snack stand. It costs S$12 for a can.
Bringing your own food and drink to the Singapore Zoo
You are allowed to bring your own food and drink to the Singapore Zoo. There is no restruction against bringing your own, and the Mandai Wildlife Group ackonlwedges on their website that some guests prefer to do this.
Spaces are available where the Zoo encourages you to eat food (so that you’re not eating near the animals), these include:
- Pavilion by the Lake
- Garden with a View
- Picnic Area (near Rainforest Walk)
There is no rule against eating in other locations, however there is a rule against feeding the animals.
I found more seating outside KidzWorld that could also be used for eating your own food. There are also benches at the amenities structure accompanying each toilet block (where you can also find the water re-fill stations).
Rubbish bins are available at these seating areas as well. There are not many rubbish bins available throughout the park outside of these areas.
Be careful of Macaques
- Macaques are small monkeys who live all across the islands of Singapore
- They are not part of the Zoo, and are wild animals who roam the Singapore jungles
- Macaques may try to steal food from your bags or prams, even if you don’t have any inside
- Macaques can get angry if you try to shoo them away or if they do not get food
- Zoo help phone number is avaialble if macaques are giving you trouble: +65 6269 3411
Toilets at the Singapore Zoo
There are 7 toilet areas within the park, and an additional one outside (note that if you are counting along with me, I included the two at KidzWorld as a single block). These toilets are distributed throughout the park and are clearly signed.
All toilets are outdoor spaces without air conditioning. Fans are provided to keep cool. Some areas of the male toilets use trees and plants for privacy - very fitting for the jungle theme. One of the toilet blocks I visited even had a stream running through it.
Toilets appeared to be regularly cleaned, I never encountered a dirty toilet. Like with many Singapore toilets however, the floor may be wet due to the regular cleaning.
I also never had to queue for a toilet, but that may be because I only used the male toilets.
Further Reading
The complete FAQ for visiting the Singapore Zoo can be found on the Mandai Wildlife Group website here.
