Explore Tekka, Singapore’s most culturally-rich market, which is located at the vibrant Little India district. Known for having the longest operating hours, you can find a wide variety of fresh produce and dried goods all in one place. Some exclusive ingredients (that are not readily available at other markets) such as Shark’s Fin can also be found here. Tip: Tekka Wet Market offers chicken, beef and fish at better prices. This is also the best place to stock up on different spices, especially those needed for Indian dishes.

Tekka Wet Market is at 665 Buffalo Road, Singapore 210665. Operating hours: 6.30am to 5.30pm daily.

If you’re looking for dried goods, this is the place. Located in the East, Victoria Wholesale Centre’s also the only dried goods private wholesale centre in Singapore, featuring up to 15 stalls on the ground floor. Stock up on a broad range of dried food products such as ikan bilis, dried scallops, dried shrimps, dried cuttlefish, dried sea cucumber, red dates, dried plums, fish maw, duck web, bird’s nest and more. Expect most items to be pre-packed, but you may also buy some ingredients in a desired amount, and by weight. Other than dried goods, you can also conveniently find party supplies such as plastic utensils, plates and bowls for sale. Check out the list of retailers here.

Victoria Wholesale Centre is at 101 Kallang Avenue, Singapore 339508. Operating Hours: Mondays to Saturdays, 9 am to 6 pm. Visit victoriawholesalecentre.com

If you’re a fan of Malay cuisine, this bustling market is for you. Located near Paya Lebar, Geylang Serai Wet Market is where you can get the best ingredients to whip up some delicious sambal belachan dishes or lip-smacking kuehs. It offers a wide selection of fresh produce, live seafood, fresh vegetables, seasonal and exotic fruit, fresh meat, tofu, noodles, spices, dried goods and eggs. Bonus tip: Don’t be shy; ask the spice stall owners for secret recipes on how to cook the best curry with different spices! Feeling peckish? Head to its food centre for some authentic Malay dishes like beef rendang.

Geylang Serai Wet Market is at 1 Geylang Serai, Singapore 402001. Operating hours: 6.30 am to 12 noon daily.

Centrally located, this wet market has two floors, with the ground level dedicated to fresh produce such as live seafood, fresh vegetables, seasonal and exotic fruit and fresh meat, and the second level filled with hawker stalls. The special thing about this market is its popularity with expats. Be well surprised by the variety of Western fresh produce that’s available here. It’s been said that Australian and New Zealand beef are obtainable at way cheaper prices than your regular supermarkets. You can also get some beautiful freshly-cut flowers from the floral stalls there. Take some time to check the stalls out and stop by the neighbourhood stretch of hipster cafes for brunch afterwards.

Tiong Bahru Wet Market is at 30 Seng Poh Road, Singapore 168898. Operating hours: 9am to 1pm daily.

Known as Singapore’s main distribution point for imported fruits and vegetables, the Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre is a 26-block complex, about 20 football fields in size, and it houses some 1,405 stalls, shops, offices and cold rooms. Located just off the West Coast Highway viaduct, many hawkers get their supplies in bulk here. If you happen to drop by, don’t let the sprawling size intimidate you. Look out for the sign “Auction Hall”. And remember that you can always buy in smaller quantities, but of course, prices get better when you buy in bulk.

Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre is at 1 Wholesale Centre. Operating hours: 24 hours daily, but it’s most crowded from 12 am to 6 am.

Senoko Fishery Port is Singapore’s very own version of Tsukiji Fish Market. The port comes to life at wee hours in the morning when everyone else is in deep slumber. It houses over 3,000 local wholesalers, so there are plenty of options for enthusiastic customers who come to seek the freshest seafood from fishermen themselves. Squid, mackerel, crabs, snappers, pomfret and more — you can probably find everything you want at this wholesale market. Most importantly, the price is relatively cheaper than those at heartland wet markets. Definitely worth a visit!

Senoko Fishery Port is at 31 Attap Valley Road, Singapore 759908. Operating hours: Tuesdays to Sundays, 2 am to 6 am. Visit 

Veggie lovers unite! You won’t want to miss this unique experience of shopping at a makeshift open-air market that operates at night only. At the Toa Payoh Vegetable Wholesale Market which extends about 120m along Toa Payoh East, most vegetables are displayed haphazardly and openly either in boxes and baskets on the roadside or even directly on the road. Expect to score fresh vegetables such as kailan, cauliflower and lady’s fingers at affordable prices (about 20 per cent cheaper than the supermarkets). Depending on the season, you may even find special items such as Shimeji mushrooms.

Address: Toa Payoh East, outside Pei Chun Public School. Operating hours: Mondays to Saturdays, 11 pm to 6.30 am.

Sashimi enthusiasts, check out Fassler Gourmet, aka salmon heaven, where you can buy fresh cuts of salmon fish at reduced prices. Aside, they also have other quality seafood, soups and sauces, and more. Perfect if you’re planning a seafood party with your friends! Two tips: Cover up as it can get cold at Fassler Gourmet, which is situated at Woodlands Terrace. Do also bring along your own cooler box or bag so that you can keep your seafood purchases fresh.

Address: 46 Woodlands Terrace, Singapore 738459, tel: 6257 5257. Operating hours: Mondays to Thursdays, 8.30am to 5.30pm. Fridays, 8 am to 7 pm. Saturdays, 8 am to 3 pm. Visit fasslergourmet.com

If you’re uncomfortable with the idea of ‘wet markets’, you’ll love Greenwood Fish Markets, where you can also get quality and some exotic seafood, such as monkfish tails or wolf fish, used in hotels and restaurants. From Boston lobsters to an array of oysters to pink snappers, in-house smoked salmon, mackerels and French black mussels, you’ll be spoilt for choice. For meat lovers, you can find top-grade items like denuded baby lamb, Australian lamb, and beef and veal. Fret not if you are feel lost from the vast array of seafood options available, as there’re fish connoisseurs stationed at each retail market to share their knowledge. Great news, they have introduced a price-drop by 20 to 30 per cent at all outlets, leaving you with almost no reason not to check it out! Psst, you can sign up for their WhatsApp updates to receive firsthand information of weekly shipments (to do so, email info@greenwoodfishmarket.com or drop them a Facebook or Instagram message).

Greenwood has outlets in Bukit Timah, Dempsey Hill, Quayside Isle and Valley Point. Visit www.greenwoodfishmarket.com

At the basement of Chinatown Complex lies a sprawling wet market consisting of many small stalls selling everything you need to cook Asian cuisines – from fresh produce to imported dried goods. You can also find a good variety of vegetables to cook in your steamboat or dishes, plus many fruit stalls offering fresh whole fruits. The best thing to come here for is the amazing amount of live seafood you can find here, from your usual, prawn, cockles, clams, crabs, fish and lobsters to more unusal ones like frogs, turtles and eels. Everything wallet-friendly, so if you are on a budget be sure to try this place!

Chinatown Wet Market is at Chinatown Complex, 335 Smith Street, Singapore 050335. Operating hours: 8 am to 12 pm daily.