10 Best Souvenirs to Buy in Singapore 2023: Everyone Will Love

Singapore Travel Guide | January 31, 2023

Do you want to bring home something “uniquely Singapore” to be reminded of the special moments you have experienced in Singapore? There is a wide variety of Singapore famed products that you can gift yourselves or your family and friends.

For your convenience, we want to share with you the 10 best Singapore souvenirs [updated 2023] that you should consider, including the famous Singapore Sling, the Singapore Girl perfume, the premium Gold Plated Orchid, the highly recognized TWG tea, and the delicious Bakkwa. So, let’s have a look below!

1. Heritage Perfumes From Singapore Memories

Image: Singapore Girl Perfume - Singapore Memories

There is no better way to bring home a little piece of Singapore with you than with orchid-infused perfumes from Singapore Memories.

The Orchid is the national flower of Singapore, and it is closely associated with this garden city. This brought inspiration to the perfume experts of Singapore Memories to research the native orchids of Singapore as well as the therapeutic orchids of Asia in their desire to bring the aroma of Singapore into the world.

The Heritage Perfumes Collection of Singapore Memories is a product of the company’s brand rejuvenation which seeks to bring back to life the long-forgotten scents of Singapore. One particular scent, the Singapore Girl, has been a popular fragrance since the 1960s that briefly stopped production in 2006. It was reintroduced in 2014 in small hand-crafted batches, retaining its original formulation with hints of citrus, lotus, water lily, and teak wood. It continues to gain popularity to this day, especially among young and modern women in Singapore.

The Singapore Memories Heritage Perfumes Collection has eight variations of female, male, and unisex fragrances that are all inspired by Singapore’s flora, history, and culture. The brand also carries a line of therapeutic scents in the form of perfumes and room fragrances.

PRICE RANGE: S$28 – S$148, depending on size.

WHERE TO BUY:

Singapore Memories website
Signature Outlet – 36 Siloso Beach Walk, Sentosa
Design Orchard – 250 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238905
Singapore Flyer – 30 Raffles Ave, Singapore 039803
Marina Bay Sands Hotel @Atrium Shop – 10 Bayfront Avenue, 018956
Mustafa Center – 145 Syed Alwi Road Mustafa Centre, Singapore 207704

2. Singapore Sling

Singapore Sling is well known as the national drink of Singapore, created by bartender Ngiam Tong Boon at Raffles Hotel’s Long Bar in the 1930s and has become popular worldwide so far.

Originally, this Singapore Sling simply included gin, cherry brandy, orange juice, lime juice, and pineapple juice but now there are numerous recipes for you to choose from with this famous cocktail. Its bottled versions are certainly a great gift for your loved ones.

PRICE RANGE: From S$30.00

WHERE TO BUY:

Raffles Hotel’s Long Bar
Raffles Hotel’s souvenir shops
Changi Airport souvenir shops
Drink shops and supermarkets islandwide

3. Gold Plated Orchid from RISIS

Image: Gold Plated Orchid from RISIS

If you are looking for something premium for someone special, just think of a plated orchid.

Gold-plated orchid products from RISIS are real orchids plated in 24K gold. Those golden flowers are then used to make beautiful jewelry like earrings, pendants, necklaces, and brooches, as well as formal corporate gifts such as card and pen holders, display plates, and picture frames.

This gift is special because, once again, the national flower of Singapore is exquisitely made into a meaningful gift that shows off the spirit of Singapore.

PRICE RANGE: From S$60.00 onwards

WHERE TO BUY:
RISIS stores at

Gardens By The Bay
Takashimaya at Ngee Ann City Shopping Centre
The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
Suntec City Mall
National Orchid Garden at Singapore Botanic Gardens
Tangs Orchard
Tangs VivoCity
Changi Airport, Terminal 3

4. TWG Teas and Accessories

Image: Pixabay

To combine a memory of your trip to Singapore and a supreme taste, pay attention to TWG teas. They come in various versions and flavors, some of which are citrus, fruity, mint, spiced, and chocolate.

As for picking the tea type, better allocate a lot of time if you happen to be choosy. Some among many varieties are Fruit Mountain Tea, English Earl Grey, French Earl Grey, Black Pagoda Tea, and Holiday in New York Tea. Given that you prefer something fancier, how about Ace of Hearts, Immortal Moment, Ivory Orchid (so Singaporean, right?), and Love Me teas?

Moreover, you may wish to throw in a cookie or a jelly for additional pleasure.

For something more permanent, take a look at TWG tea accessories. Teapots, for example, are available in standard and imaginative designs. You can say the same for teacups and tea bowls.

PRICE RANGE: Prices for TWG teas range from several S$ to over S$1,000 (Imperial Gyokuro). For a teapot, plan anywhere between S$100 to around S$5,000, unless you aim for one made of sterling silver (S$13,000). To save a couple of hundreds or thousands of S$, opt for teacups (up to S$665).

WHERE TO BUY: You can find TWG stores at Changi Airport, Marina Bay Sands, Republic Plaza, and ION Orchard, among other locations.

5. Bakkwa (BBQ Meat)

Image: Bakkwa (BBQ Meat)

Among popular Singapore souvenirs, Bakkwa is an edible gift that you can buy for your relatives and friends.

Bakkwa is often made from pork, or beef which is well marinated with sugar, soy sauce, and spices, and grilled over charcoal. This barbecued sliced meat dish is a favorite snack of locals and it has become a traditional gift that our Singaporeans give parents and friends during Chinese New Year festival.

PRICE RANGE: From S$45.00 per kg

WHERE TO BUY:

6. Kaya (Coconut Jam)

Image: Ya Kun

Kaya toast is widely recognized as a national breakfast dish of Singaporeans, in which the toasted bread is filled with butter and kaya, a jam made from eggs, sugar, coconut milk, and pandan leaves. This flavourful jam is also used as a topping for several desserts and cakes. You can buy kaya jars at most supermarkets in Singapore.

PRICE RANGE: From S$5.00 to S$10.00 per jar

WHERE TO BUY:

Ya Kun Kaya Toast shops islandwide
Changi Airport souvenir shops
Supermarkets islandwide

7. Laksa Paste

Image: Ayam Brand

Besides bakkwa and kaya, Laksa Paste is another edible gift that makes recipients want to have more.

Laksa is a traditional Peranakan noodle soup, originally created by mixing Chinese and Malay styles of cooking, in which the mouth-watering soup is made of coconut milk, prawn paste, lemongrass, and laksa leaves. To make it convenient for visitors to bring home, laksa soup base is frozen and sold as ready-to-cook paste.

PRICE RANGE: From S$5.00 to S$10.00

WHERE TO BUY:

Changi Airport souvenir shops
Supermarkets islandwide

8. Singaporean Textiles and Fabrics

Image: Brighton Accessories House

You will find Singaporean textiles and fabrics in various shapes, designs, and sizes. These encompass table covers, carpets, the eye-appealing outfit, and more. And how best to remind yourself about a trip to Singapore than by having some of those?

But, if you look for a truly exceptional souvenir from Merlion City, search for batik garments and textiles. The easiest way to recognize those is through intricate patterns adorning the material.

Also, batik items are very comfortable to wear, which is why they feature a National Wear status in the island nation. Silk, cotton, and linen shirts for men and skirts and dresses for women are common batik-made clothing you should check out.

As for other textile types, you can find a variety of goods in many locations. They may correspond to Malay, Peranakan, or other cultures whose members reside in the Garden City. Laces, ribbons, bands, and zips are just a few among many products that will put you to sweet torments while shopping.

PRICE RANGE: From S$10 to S$1,000 depending on the product type.

WHERE TO BUY: Arab Street in Kampong Glam and Serangoon Road in Little India are some best places in Singapore to shop for textiles. Also, you will find many stores selling fabrics in Chinatown.

9. Souvenirs with Miniature Merlion

Image: Abstract Gourmet

Merlion mascot, a unique man-made creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish, is the famous national icon of Singapore. The lion head represents Singapore's original name, Singapura, which means "lion city" and the fish body reveals Singapore's origin as a fishing village.

Souvenirs with miniature Merlion are available at all souvenir shops in Singapore, and thus you can choose among a myriad of products such as key chains, fridge magnets, snow globes, picture frames, can openers, lighters, cigarette boxes, ashtrays, coasters, Merlion statuettes, chocolate and sweet.

PRICE RANGE: From S$2.00 per item

WHERE TO BUY: All souvenir shops nationwide

10. Singapore Pressed Pennies

Image: PennyCollector

Pressed pennies are also amazing souvenirs to add to your coin collections or give your friends after a wonderful trip to Singapore. For those who hear it the first time, pressed pennies, also known as elongated coins, are coins that have been elongated and engraved with iconic designs to create memorable souvenir tokens.

In Singapore, automatic penny flattening machines are placed at popular tourist destinations for visitors to make their own pressed penny souvenirs.

PRICE: S$2.00 per penny

PRESSED PENNY MACHINE LOCATIONS: