Gardens by the Bay in Singapore has become an iconic attraction due to its rich display of flora spanning 250 acres of land. With most of the landscape being freely accessible to the public, it’s a great place for a day out, especially under the shady cover of an umbrella. Even better still are the cooled conservatories, which knocks you back SG$28 (US$21) per person, though for good reason. The plants are gorgeously maintained, providing colour-popping Insta spots, all in a very comfortable climate.

It also seems that those with proof of bookings on flights with Singapore Airlines or Air Asia can receive a discount for the cooled conservatories. Put on the spot without boarding passes, we simply showed the gentleman at the ticket counter an email of our flight confirmation, and were discounted 10% off the bat. However, this may be conditional or for a limited time, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.

One thing to note is that the conservatories set different moods. The Cloud Forest is serene, and guides you through a determined path that ends on a poignant, arguably solemn note. The Flower Dome, on the other hand, has only an entrance and exit, and visitors are free to roam as they please. It’s more light-hearted and photo-ready. Because of this, I feel that the order that visitors attend the domes can be important, as the final dome will likely set the scene for some time after.

Satay by the Bay

The Gardens aren’t the only thing by the bay. Though popular, it seems that even some locals aren’t aware that there is a hawker centre situated within the Gardens famed for its satay skewers. Appropriately, it is named Satay by the Bay, though is home to other stalls that sell your typical hawker fare, albeit in some cases at a higher price. Still, with fairly ample seating and a variety of food, it’s a good place to relax and enjoy a meal after a walk through the Gardens.

Ordering Satay

When we were there, four of five stalls were open. Each had a policy of 10 skewers minimum, with the cheapest starting at 70c (US$0.50). Beware when ordering; the stalls offer a $7 deal for 10 satay, though this means you must only order from the 70c options, rather than allowing every option and charging additionally for the more expensive skewers.

The stalls have similar basic menus, offering beef, lamb, and chicken, with the non-Muslim stalls also offering pork. Outside of this, each stall has their own special items such as barbecued chicken wings, prawn skewers, or pork belly. Once an order is placed they will begin grilling the satay fresh, and you will be handed a numbered buzzer that will ring when your order is ready.

Because the satay is cooked to order, it can take at least 10-15 minutes for your satay to be ready. Additionally, depending on the length of the queue and the number of orders ahead of yours, it cannot be guaranteed that ordering from two stalls at the same time will mean both come out together. It is best to order what you want and enjoy it, without too many expectations, especially when it is busy.

Tasting Satay

Once grilled, it can be difficult to distinguish one meat from the other. They are all seasoned in a sweet marinade with spices, which become more fragrant after grilling. The spices are not pungent, but lend a flavour that, along with the smoky char, accompanies the meat nicely. The satay sauce, made from peanuts and spices, is also sweet in the cases that we tried. Perhaps we are more accustomed to a smokier satay, but they did become a little sweet for our tastes as it became the predominant flavour besides the meat.

We tried two stalls of the four open, and both were equally enjoyable. If there is one stall significantly better than the other, we did not find it. It is best enjoyed when ordering many skewers at the same time, eaten blindly but happily, and with good company.