The Singapore Night Festival is on in Bras Basah.Bugis from 21 August to 5 September 2026, and it doesn’t switch on until 7.30pm. That’s the bit that trips people up. By the time you’ve finished wandering, most mall kitchens have already shut. So eat first. I Love Taimei is at B1 in Bugis Junction, steps from Bugis MRT, open until 10pm daily โ fried chicken and milk tea before you walk.
When does the Singapore Night Festival 2026 run?
The festival runs from 21 August to 5 September 2026 across the Bras Basah.Bugis precinct, from 7.30pm to 11pm, stretching to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. This year’s theme is Myths and Legends, and it’s spread over four zones โ the Museum Zone, plus Zone 1 (Funan to CHIJMES), Zone 2 (Cathay Green to Waterloo Centre) and Zone 3 (Bras Basah Complex and Stamford Arts Centre). General admission is free. A handful of programmes are ticketed.
One honest caveat: published guides don’t fully agree on whether every single night in that window is programmed, and individual installations run their own dates anyway. Check the official programme for the night you’re going rather than trusting any one listing โ including this one. Time Out’s festival rundown is a good starting point.
Bugis is one of several MRT stations serving the precinct, along with Bras Basah, Bencoolen, City Hall and Dhoby Ghaut. If you’re coming by train and want food before the lights come on, Bugis is the practical one.
Why should you eat before the festival starts?
Do the maths and it’s a bit sian. Festival: 7.30pm to 11pm. Our Bugis Junction outlet: 11am to 10pm, every day. So there’s a comfortable window before 7.30pm, and a much tighter one if you decide mid-festival that you’re hungry.
Our honest advice is the boring one. Eat around 6.30pm or 7pm, then walk. You’ll be less rushed, the queue is shorter, and you won’t spend the last hour of your night looking for something open.
To be clear, we’re not part of the festival programme. We just happen to be a five-minute walk from it.
What to order at I Love Taimei Bugis Junction
The outlet is at 230 Victoria St, #B1-K11 to 11A, Bugis Junction, Singapore 188024, open Mon-Sun 11:00-22:00. It’s the closest-to-an-MRT outlet we have โ B1, just steps away from Bugis MRT.
If you’re eating before a long walk, here’s what actually works:
- Taiwan Popcorn Chicken ($6.90) โ bite-sized and easy to share while standing around. It’s fried with basil leaves in the oil, which is the night market move that makes ้นฝ้ ฅ้ taste Taiwanese rather than generic.
- Original Chicken ($6.90) โ the cleanest version, if it’s your first time. All four chicken items are $6.90: Original, Extra Crispy, BBQ and Taiwan Popcorn.
- Golden Sweet Potato Fries ($4.60) with Sour Plum powder โ sweet-sour, and the seasoning pairing we’d pick every time. Powders are free: Mala, Seaweed, Cheese, Garlic Seafood, Sour Plum.
- Brown Sugar Milk Tea ($3.90 M / $4.90 L) โ the drink we pair with the chicken. If you’d rather something floral, Moon River Honey Jasmine Milk Tea is $4.50 M / $5.50 L.
- Tofu Fries ($3.90) โ the most overlooked thing on the menu. Fluffy inside, thin-shell crunch outside, and vegetarian.
The chicken is thigh, not breast, and it’s fried fresh to order rather than batch-fried and held under a lamp. That’s why it takes a few minutes. Worth knowing if you’re on a schedule.
Two things people ask before ordering: all our food is prepared with no pork and no lard, and we are not halal certified. That’s the honest, direct answer โ more on it in our full explainer on what no pork, no lard actually means. We’ve been women-owned since 2009, and the menu comes straight out of Taiwan’s night markets โ here’s the longer version of that story.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Singapore Night Festival 2026 free? General admission is free, and most of the outdoor installations and projection mappings can be viewed without a ticket. Some programmes โ certain museum activities and guided trails โ are ticketed and need booking ahead.
How late can I get food near Bugis during the festival? Our Bugis Junction outlet closes at 10pm daily, which is before the festival winds down at 11pm (midnight on Fridays and Saturdays). Plan to eat before you walk, not after.
Is I Love Taimei halal? No โ we are not halal certified. All food is prepared with no pork and no lard, and we don’t serve beef either, which is why multi-faith groups and families often eat with us. It’s a meaningful middle ground, and we’d rather say it plainly than let you assume.
Are there vegetarian options? Yes. Shake Shake Fries, Mini Hashbrown and Tofu Fries are $3.90 each, Enoki Mushroom and Golden Sweet Potato Fries are $4.60, and Mushroom Combo is $4.90. All of them take the seasoning powders.
Is there anywhere to sit? It varies by outlet, and Bugis Junction is primarily a takeaway counter at B1. If you want more Bugis-area context before you go, we’ve written a guide to eating around Bugis MRT.
Before you head down
Festival at 7.30pm, food before that. That’s the whole plan. Have a look at what you feel like on the I Love Taimei menu, then come find us at B1.
Taste it for yourself โ 14 outlets island-wide. No pork, no lard.
