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Eighteen Chefs

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Why it matters: founded in 2007 by ex-offender Benny Se Teo, this affordable Western-food chain builds its social mission into its franchise agreements – every outlet, including this one, is required to employ ex-offenders and at-risk youth as a licensing condition, not just a hiring preference. Ten outlets operate islandwide, all halal-certified. This Bugis Junction branch is the most central for visitors: order the signature cheese baked rice or a salted-egg chicken burger, and expect a full, cheerful lunch crowd.

Bettr Coffee @ The Foundry

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Why it matters: Bettr Coffee is a certified B Corp that trains marginalised women and at-risk youth as baristas through its own academy, reinvesting profits back into that training. This Prinsep District cafe, opened in 2024 inside the historic Foundry building, is Bettr’s first sit-down location. Order a single-origin pour-over or check the seasonal menu, and ask staff about the academy behind the counter – several are graduates. Go on a weekday for full 9am-10pm kitchen hours; weekends close earlier at 5pm.

Dignity Kitchen

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Why it matters: founded in 2010 by social entrepreneur Koh Seng Choon, this Boon Keng hawker centre runs all seven of its stalls with differently-abled and disadvantaged colleagues, from hearing-impaired bakers to a kopi master fluent in sign language. Braille-marked registers and height-adjusted counters make every stall accessible, and the whole operation is halal-certified. Order the wanton mee or claypot rice, and go for breakfast or an early lunch – it’s open Mon-Sat 8am-3pm only, closed Sundays and public holidays.

Jurong East Swimming Complex

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Singapore’s favourite heartland water park, with a wave pool, lazy river, jacuzzi and a big splash pad for kids — the old slide tower came down in the 2025–26 revamp, and the 50m lap pool stays closed until end-2026. Entry costs a fraction of the commercial water parks, so local families pack it on weekends; come on a weekday morning if you want the lazy river to yourself. It’s a short walk from Chinese Garden MRT, and note it’s closed every Monday for maintenance.

Toa Payoh HDB Hub

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The Housing Development Board, or HDB, is the government agency managing Singapore’s public housing. It is thus out of necessity for majority of Singaporeans to visit the Toa Payoh HDB Hub rather…

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