Where can you find the best food at Singapore’s airport?

Hidden above a parking structure and at the end of a quiet hallway, lies Changi airport’s best-kept secret: the staff canteens. Far removed from the glitzy airport features like the rooftop pool and butterfly garden, these vibrant hawker stalls offer some of the best, and most affordable, meals not only at the airport but in all of Singapore.

Despite their name, the staff canteens at Changi are actually open to the public. Their simple, no-frills meals have earned them a loyal following, making them a well-loved underground dining spot.

Eat like the locals

Finding the staff canteens is intentionally challenging. Designed to offer workers at the award-winning airport an affordable meal, these hawker markets are hidden away and are not listed in the airport's official food directories.

Those with a keen eye will notice 'staff canteen' signs scattered around terminals 1 and 2.

The eateries are located in the public areas of the airport since not all staff have access to restricted zones, says Ivan Tan, senior vice president of communications at Changi airport.

He adds that the canteens have always technically been open to the public since their establishment in 1981 (Terminal 1) and 1991 (Terminal 2). The airport simply didn’t expect people to be interested in dining there.

Moritz Rossmanith, a Singapore resident and blogger at The Jet Sets, shares, 'I first learned about the canteen at T2 through word-of-mouth. It takes me back to how food courts in Singapore used to be—affordable and retro in design. Many food courts have become glamorous, but airports don’t always showcase a country’s culinary culture... the staff canteens offer an authentic selection of local dishes.'

The two canteens have gained such popularity, Tan notes, that local families and food enthusiasts now visit the airport specifically to dine there.

A whole street dedicated to satay

What can you expect to find on the menu?

The airport carefully curates the variety of stalls in its canteens, Tan explains, ensuring that all the nationalities of its workforce are represented – while also keeping prices affordable for staff.

You can enjoy a wide variety of cuisines including Halal, vegetarian, Korean, Vietnamese, Indian, Malay, Cantonese, Taiwanese, Western, and of course, authentic Singaporean dishes.

The vibe inside both canteens is a far cry from Singapore’s sleek airport: meals are served on paper plates, eaten with brightly colored plastic utensils, and there’s no air conditioning. Just like the food, the crowd is diverse, from police officers, security personnel, and cleaners, to flight attendants, pilots, and well-dressed travelers with designer bags.

Automated and stylish: The airport’s revolutionary terminal

How to find the staff canteens

So, how do you locate the staff canteens? Just following the signs won’t quite do the trick.

Terminal 1 boasts the largest canteen, featuring over 25 stalls. It operates from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., matching the staff's working hours. To find it, head towards the restrooms (look for the red doors), then take the nearest lift down to basement 1. Once there, turn right and you’ll see the canteen right in front of you.

To reach the Terminal 2 canteen, start by finding Starbucks on the second floor. Then, take the lift to level 3, which leads to the car park. From here, walk up the stairs, turn left, and look for an unmarked iron door. Behind it could be the best and most affordable meal you’ll ever have at the airport.