Drinks & Bites in Singapore Private Tour

I was disappointed in this tour. For the price we paid I expected a lot more for my money. I felt like I was just wandering markets with a guy who just had his own agenda, we lost him several times. There was definitely no alcohol but the description led me to believe there was. We were to choose our food (I told him countless times to choose for us) even though I thought the guide would choose the best eats for us. We walked past so many stalls (100or so) but three of our dishes came from the same stall right at the end (it was probably one of the least exciting stalls of the whole night). The guide was nice and took great photos. I could have had six nights out at the same place for the money we spent and I wouldn’t have had to deal with awkward conversation and him trying to sell other tours to us.

Arthur actually arrived at our agreed upon meeting place prior to the agreed upon time, so we began as soon as my wife and I arrived. One of his first questions was whether we had anything else planned that day as he felt that the amount of time advertised for the tour was insufficient. Since we did not, Arthur provided us with a very comprehensive food and cultural tour of the 3 main ethnic groups found in Singapore. Being an avid photographer, Arthur was very eager to take pictures of my wife and I. He took us to a number of "off the beaten track" shops and food establishments along with the more well known Hawker center. I have a hearing problem, but had no problem understanding Arthur. His English is excellent and he made sure that my wife and I both heard and understood what he was saying. We ended with an amazing full-day tour that was definitely a major highlight of our southeast Asia vacation. I definitely recommend Arthur! Note - my wife and I took this tour in January 2018.

Overall, Arthur was a great tour guide. Although not everything went completely smoothly (certain restaurants were closed, which was not his fault of course), he adjusted well on the fly. His enthusiasm for Singapore (not just the food but the city as a whole) is infectious. Two things to bear in mind if you are thinking about booking him. First, Arthur likes to take his time, so he prefers to spend 5 hours on the food tour rather than 3. To me, this was a bonus, as I got a longer tour for the same price and could eat at a more relaxed pace. I just thought I should mention this for those who are more in a rush or find a 5 hour tour to be too long/tiring. Second, unlike most tour guides who keep their personal views to themselves, Arthur is quite open and speaks his mind on issues of personal beliefs, politics, etc. Personally, I did not mind this, even if he and I do not share the same views on everything, and I would not let this deter you from choosing Arthur. Again, just something to bear in mind. Overall, a very pleasant half-day trip with an affable host and some amazing Chinese, Malay and Indian food!