$15 Nett

Bayang (3-Course Set Lunch):

• Choice of soto ayam soup and ayam pangang bali served with rice, soup sapi and chicken rendang served with rice or satay chicken with seafood fried noodles
• Lime or Ice Lemon Tea
• Bergedel side dish

Fremantle Seafood Market (3-Course Set Lunch):

• Choice of squid ink risotto, grilled cajun or grilled wild snapper served with herb pesto risotto
• Soup of the day
• Dessert of the day

Hutong (4-Course Set Lunch):

• Minced chicken cream corn soup
• Choice of crispy vegetable spring roll or deep fried shrimp wanton
• Choice of XO sauce chicken fried rice, fried beef noodles with XO seafood sauce or crispy noodles with seafood
• Lime juice or soft drink

Hotstones (2-Course Set Lunch):

• Choice of Australia beef, chicken fillet and tiger prawn or sashimi grade salmon
• Choice of soup of the day or homemade dessert
• Top up $3 for juice or soft drink or $5 for half pint of Tiger beer

Muchos Mexican Bar & Restaurant (4-Course Set Lunch):

• Soup of the day
• Choice of nachos (chicken or vegetarian), fajitas (chicken or vegetables) or creamy chicken served with spinach rice
• Dessert of the day
• Soft drink

Mulligan's (2-Course Set Lunch):

• Soup of the day
• Choice of fish and chips, cottage pie, bangers & mash, Kilkenny chicken burger, Irish cobb salad or spicy tomato chicken
• Top up $10 nett for a pint of draught beer, bottled beer or a glass of house wine

Paulaner Wirtshaus (4-Course Set Lunch):

• Soup of the day
• Salad
• Choice of pasta with pan-fried pork chop, quarter roast chicken with french fries or pork knuckles with mashed potato
• Choice of soft drink

Ras The Essence of India (4-Course Set Lunch):

• Soup
• 1 vegetarian main
• 1 non-vegetarian main
• 1 dal served with naan and ice
• 25% off all drinks with set lunch purchased
• Valid on weekdays from noon to 2.30pm excluding public holidays. Not valid with other promotions

Renn Thai (4-Course Set Lunch):

• Choice of spring rolls and green curry (served with rice), papaya salad and phad thai or mango salad and pineapple rice
• Tom yum soup
• Calamansi juice

The Forbidden City by IndoChine – Cocoon Alfresco (3-Course Set Lunch):

• Fresh rice paper roll and crispy spring roll
• Choice of PhôBò (Vietnamese beef noodle soup), PhôGà (Vietnamese chicken noodle soup), Ragoût (IndoChine-style French beef stew), Laotian-style red curry chicken, roast duck in green curry, Larb Kai Khao Neo (marinated minced chicken in lemon juice)
• Choice of a scoop of premium vanilla, chocolate or strawberry ice cream

Tomo Izakaya

• Bento Set Lunch: Choice of main course changes weekly and comes with salad, side dish, 2 kinds of sashimi, rice and pickles
• Don Set Lunch: Tori karaage don (deep fried chicken rice bowl) or Salmon Teriyaki don (salmon teriyaki rice bowl)

Vintry Singapore (5-Course Set Lunch):

• Fresh mixed salad
• Soup of the day
• Choice of English style roast beef, caramelised roast pork rice, cajun BBQ chicken, baked dory in caper lemon sauce, pork sausages and beef sautéed onions or mushroom spaghetti aglio olio
• Vanilla or coconut ice cream
• Soft drink

Xiao Chen Gu Shi (Set Lunch for 2):

• Bak kut teh (medium)
• Choice of braised pork or pig’s trotter
• Choice of salted vegetable or braised vegetables
• Braised peanuts
• 2 bowls of rice
• Offer is applicable from Mon to Sat, 11.45am to 2.30pm

$25 Nett

Coriander Leaf (2-Course Set Lunch):

• Choice of mini chicken tikka burger with fries and salad or pan-seared dory fillet with summer vegetables and herbed couscous
• Choice of lobster bisque, deep fried butterfly prawn or crème caramel with seasonal berries and freshly brewed coffee or tea
• Menu selection changes fortnightly.

Hooters Singapore (4-Course Set Lunch):

• Soup of the day
• Pork rib and chicken combo
• Ice cream
• Soft drink and coffee or tea
• Top up $5++ for a mug of Tiger beer

Peony Jade Clarke Quay (6-Course Set Lunch):

• Choice of poached chicken “Jing Du” style, sliced pork belly with garlic sauce or Peony Jade handcrafted Hong Kong dim sum trio
• Choice of Peony Jade signature Szechuan hot and sour soup, signature Cantonese slow boiled soup of the day or braised sweet corn soup with crabmeat
• Choice of 2 dishes—stewed whole black mushrooms with tender organic broccoli in premier oyster jus, steamed homemade healthy tofu with diced seafood, Peony Jade signature crispy roast chicken topped with Szechuan hot and sour sesame sauce or “Jing Du” spare ribs
• Choice of Cantonese style fried rice with mixed greens and wolfberries, stir fried wok-hei “xin zhou” mi fen with diced BBQ char siew and shrimps or “Yang Zhou” fried rice with diced BBQ char siew
• Mini egg tart with choice of chilled herbal jelly, chilled cream of mango with sago, hot cream of Azuki beans or hot sweetened taro cream with sago

$35 Nett

Coriander Leaf (3-Course Set Lunch):

• Choice of mini chicken tikka burger with fries and salad or pan-seared dory fillet with summer vegetables and herbed couscous
• Choice of lobster bisque or deep fried butterfly prawn
• Crème caramel with seasonal berries and freshly brewed coffee or tea
• Menu selection changes fortnightly.

The Forbidden City by IndoChine – Madame Butterfly (3-Course Set Lunch):

• Trio of seared homemade radish cake, crispy lychee prawn and pan-seared scallops
• Choice of stir-fried chicken of the bamboo pavilion or house roast duck
• Tempura ice cream

Mulligan's (4-Course Set Lunch):

• Soup of the day
• Choice of Irish favorites, Asian delights, mains, burgers or sandwiches
• Choice of dessert
• Free flow of soft drinks
• Top up $10 nett for a pint of draught beer, bottled beer or a glass of house wine.

Tomo Izakaya

• Choice of sushi platter or sashimi platter
• Miso soup

Vintry Singapore (5-Course Set Lunch):

• Fresh mix salad
• Soup of the day
• Choice of sirloin steak, pork chop with scotch and coffee glaze, butter herb baked chicken, twice-cooked Asian duck confit, East Asian white clam or salmon in parchment
• Vanilla or coconut ice cream
• Soft drink

For more information, visit Clarke Quay's Executive Set Lunch microsite.

When I first started spinning… I just stayed in my room for nine months watching YouTube videos and practicing six to seven hours a day.

Song requests are… fine as long as they’re not weird.

I go weak in the knees for… Barbara Palvin.

I’m ashamed to admit that… I watch Gossip Girl.

Nothing beats… Ippudo’s Karaka-men on my cheat day.

The track that always gets me is… Zedd’s “Clarity”.

DJ Inquisitive spins at Avalon on Wednesdays and Fridays, 10pm onwards.

Blame it on the penny-pinching economy or a desire to break free of same-same malls, but what was once a novelty is now the norm. Zouk’s quarterly Flea & Easy used to be the go-to (and pretty much only) weekend bazaar for used designer clothing and unheralded artworks on the cheap. Today, not only is that formula being imitated, but perhaps it has been improved on, with the proliferation of younger upstarts like the new weekly Bras Basah. Bugis Arts Flea Market at Bugis+ and the bi-monthly Sunday Artists Market at The Vault. Other independent bazaars like Boutiques are also upping their game, featuring vendors selling original creations not found elsewhere. And not forgetting regular bazaars like the weekly China Square Central Weekend Bazaar specializing in arts and antiques—there's no longer any shortage. So ready your wallets and credit cards as we gear up for the ultimate battle of the flea markets.

The Stalwarts

Flea & Easy  
The city’s first trendy flea market (great music, cool crowd, rare finds) may have lost some of its luster with its slightly more random (and younger) pickings these days, but it still tries its darndest every time. Recently revamped from a daytime flea to an evening one to set itself apart, with operational hours from 4-9pm and a convivial shopping atmosphere set inside Zouk, this flea has 70 stores offering anything and everything from pre-loved clothes and books to vintage collectibles spanning 20,000 sq. ft. worth of space. And it has probably the best music vibe of them all—the all-girl DJ group FFF DJ Bootcamp are always on board to drop quality dance music tunes while you shop, and even after 14 years, it's still one of the coolest fleas to see and be seen in.

Quality: ☺☺☺ 
Variety: √√√
Frequency: Once every quarter
Number of stalls: 70-80
Price point: $ to $$$ 
Payment mode: Cash only
Ambiance: ☼☼☼☼☼

Bras Basah. Bugis Arts Flea Market
Organized by the ubiquitous Public Gardens collective, this highly popular flea market, now a monthlstaple, is one of the most reliable fleas for random shopping: vintage goods are sold alongside artworks, clothing, food, CDs, books, locally published zines and collectible toys. Although pre-loved products are kept to a minimum here—you won’t be able to find that past season Valentino or Prada at any price—more affordable creations by aspiring designers as well as trendy home accessories like trendy terrariums are easy to snap up. It’s simple, casual, not overly ambitious and does the job well enough.

Quality: ☺☺☺  
Variety:  √√√
Frequency: Monthly
Number of stalls: 50-100
Price point: $ to $$$ 
Payment mode: Cash only
Ambiance: ☼☼☼

Winner: Flea & Easy. It’s a close fight in terms of variety and price point, but Flea & Easy gets an extra mark for its one-off charity editions (held annually) where portions of rental fees are donated to charities.
 

The Art Farts

MAAD
This is the original flea mart that focuses on original products created by local and locally-based artists and creatives. Spanning a spacious 700 sq. m. inside the Red Dot Design Museum building as well as another 120 sq. m. outside along the sidewalk, it also boasts a convivial atmosphere with DJs spinning trendy dance music and displays of ad campaigns, posters and product designs by local design and advertising agencies. Goods wise, this is the perfect place if you are looking for small gift ideas—there are lots of one-off notebooks, accessories like earrings, temporary tattoos and hand-painted ceramics available for sale.

Quality: ☺☺☺ 
Variety: √√
Frequency: Once a month (held either on the first or second friday of the month)
Number of stalls: 60
Price point: $ to $$$
Payment mode: Cash only
Ambiance: ☼☼☼☼

Sunday Artists Market
One of the coolest new entries in town. Co-organizer Sharmaine Khoo handpicks all the emerging local artists found here, which has already grown from just 12 at its inaugural edition in November last year to its current 25. The eclectic range of products and services found here is inspiring: get some henna artwork and a haircut done (courtesy of the Hounds of the Baskervilles and Feist Heist teams) while you shop for original works by up-and-comers The Jungle (Pop Art merchandise), Carte Postale (funky prints on T-shirts), Koom (customized shoes), Forest Child (handmade leather products) and HMLM (crochet works).

Quality: ☺☺☺☺  
Variety: √√√
Frequency: Bi-monthly (held on the first Sunday of every alternate month)
Number of stalls: 25
Price point: $ to $$$ 
Payment mode: Cash only
Ambiance: ☼☼☼☼☼

Winner: Sunday Artist Market. Not only is the atmosphere great and in the presence of like-minded individuals, this is the new place to be for rare, one-off buys. Plus, you’re supporting local artists.

The High Enders

Boutiques
What started out as a smallish, carefully-curated high-end shopping fair at Fort Canning Park is now the go-to place to check out creations by local and locally-based independent designers. Held twice yearly in May and November to coincide with Spring/Summer and Christmas, Boutiques is where you can find well-made, fashionable resort wear by local designer brands Simone Irani and Vama, clutch and shoulder bags by Atalier Cheetham, choice accessories from online stores Jooix (www. jooix.com) and homeware from HOME. This is an eclectic yet superior weekend bazaar where the vibe is easy-going yet luxurious—shame that we don’t see it more often.

Quality: ☺☺☺☺  
Variety: √√√√   
Frequency: Twice a year
Number of stalls: 70
Price point: $ to $$$ 
Payment mode: Cash and credit cards
Ambiance: ☼☼☼☼

Robe Raiders
Created by fashion editor and fashion designer Sarah Tan, fashion designer Resham Melwani and business development manager Claudia Sondakh, expect only pre-loved designer womenswear and accessories at this notable but very ad-hoc weekend bazaar. How they work: the trio call for submissions of off-season designer brands at their website and blogspot www.roberaiders.wordpress.com periodically, which result in some of the most fabulous designer finds at any bazaar here. In previous editions held in venues like Kha and Palais Renaissance, used Louis Vuitton pants, Chanel and Balenciaga dresses and Proenza Schouler bags were sold at nearly 80 percent off their original prices. Oh, and some of the pieces were raided from the fashionable trio’s personal wardrobes, so rest assured you only get the premium stuff here.

Quality: ☺☺☺☺  
Variety: √√√  
Frequency: Ad-hoc
Number of stalls: 5-10
Price point: $$ to $$$$  
Payment mode: Cash and credit cards
Ambiance: ☼☼☼☼

Winner: Boutiques. It’s more organized and the range is certainly more diverse, even if you can score some unexpected great buys at Robe Raiders.

Hoarder's Grounds

Thieves Market
Daily, 1-7pm at Larut Road

This is the original flea market, having been around since the '30s, where local collectors and general hoarders gather to earn a few easy bucks over the weekend. Just a couple of years ago, shoppers could still manage to score an old pair of Levi’s, vinyls and collectible books here—but not any more. Ever since the majority of the area has been hoarded up for the construction of the upcoming Sungei Road MRT Station, some of the peddlers selling collectibles have gone over to the China Square Central Weekend Bazaar (see right), and what’s left are old clothes, shoes, toys and gadgets that may or may not work.

Quality: ☺
Variety: √√ 
Frequency: Every Sat-Sun
Number of stalls: 50
Price point: $ to $$
Payment mode: Cash only
Ambiance: ☼☼

China Square Central Weekend Bazaar
This weekly flea market is one of the most reliable grounds to score all sorts of antiques and collectibles. Expect to find a wide variety of rare finds here: books, CDs, vinyls, vintage toys, China ware, stamps, comics, old photographs, watches—but at a price. An old Rolex watch can go up to $5,000, but if you’re lucky, you can score hard-to-find movie posters and CDs for as low as $4. As it happens weekly, you won’t have to worry about missing out, plus the same sellers are there almost every week.

Quality: ☺☺☺☺  
Variety: √√√√ 
Frequency: Every Sunday
Number of stalls: 90
Price point: $ to $$$$   
Payment mode: Cash only
Ambiance: ☼☼☼☼

Winner: China Square Central Weekend Bazaar. It’s hard to leave here without buying anything, and to shop amongst like-minded collectors and sellers is a real treat.

Semi-Finals

Flea & Easy vs Sunday Artists Market: A tough fight this one. Both are similar in terms of vibe and atmosphere, but this new kid on the block is certainly fresher with its art-focused offerings. And you get to meet lots of budding young artists you’ve previously never heard of.

Winner: Sunday Artists Market

Boutiques vs China Square Central Weekend Bazaar: Depends on what you’re looking for, really. While we love Boutiques for its precious curation of designs by up-and-comers, the selection may be too niche for those looking to do some general shopping. China Square Central Weekend Bazaar is that much more accessible.

Winner: China Square Central Weekend Bazaar

Finals

Sunday Artists Market vs China Square Central Weekend Bazaar: You can’t go to one without going to the other. The fact that they’re located within a minute’s walk from one another is serendipitous; go to both for the best in arts and rarities, old and new.

Winner: Tie
 

Upcoming sales and fairs in Singapore