What is Gourmaze?
Gourmaze is a self-guided adventure that blends local eats with puzzle-solving and storytelling. Brought in from London where it’s already earned a solid fan base, Gourmaze made its Singapore debut in May 2025.
It’s not your typical tour: there are no guides, no headsets, and no groups to follow. Instead, your phone becomes your compass, sending clues via WhatsApp messages that lead you to hidden bites and forgotten stories around one of the city’s oldest districts.
What To Expect: The Fortune Teller’s Legacy edition
The journey kicks off at Nanyang Old Coffee, which is a retro-style kopitiam where the interior feels like stepping back into 1950s Singapore. But do note that the meeting location may vary if Gourmaze decides to switch things up.
You’ll receive your first clue here from Madam Sampan, a fictional fortune teller from the 1900s. Her riddles guide you through Chinatown to 7 heritage outlets, where you’ll sample local bites and collect the missing pieces of her Wheel of Fortune to reveal the hidden legacy. Do also note that the breakfast and local bites are all inclusive of Gourmaze experience so you do not have to top up additional for the food provided.
You should take a seat on level 2 if you really want to experience the full nostalgic charm — it’s filled with vintage decor, old-school knick-knacks, and faded posters that transport you to a different era, offering the perfect backdrop to sip your kopi and soak in the atmosphere.
A Singapore Breakfast to start with
Once you check in at the starting point, you’re rewarded almost immediately with a simple but nostalgic Singaporean breakfast. For two players, we got to choose one traditional hot drink each and were served two kaya butter toasts to share.
The bread was nicely crisped and golden, with a slab of slightly salted butter that melted just right under the sweet kaya spread. Dipping the toast into the kopi gave it that comforting local finish.
If you have time before starting the hunt, it’s worth heading upstairs in the kopitiam to check out the vintage memorabilia — an unexpected mini time capsule. You will also receive a chess board card, which you will be using to collect stamps along the way.
Start the food hunt after a traditional Singapore breakfast
From there, the treasure hunt begins. Over the next two to three hours, you’ll follow a trail that takes you to seven different locations, solving clues along the way that are cleverly woven into a fictional storyline.
These clues aren’t just simple directions — they require you to really pay attention to your surroundings. Some answers are hiding in plain sight, while others need a bit more thinking and observing. It’s engaging and satisfying when you figure them out, but you’ll need to stay alert.
Along the way, we found ourselves noticing details of Chinatown we’d normally walk past — mural art, old-school signage, and little alleys filled with personality. It made us realise how much of the neighbourhood’s history often goes unappreciated. Whether you’re a tourist discovering Singapore for the first time or a local who thinks you’ve seen it all, there’s something to learn (and eat) here.
End of the Food Hunt
By the end of the experience, after completing all 7 stops and collecting the required stamps, you’re given 2 souvenirs to take home — a small but nice way to wrap things up. While some parts of the route were slightly tricky to navigate, the organisers are responsive via WhatsApp if you get stuck. Just note that asking for help may come with a time penalty.
Tips and Tricks From Us
- While the teamwork element makes solving the clues more fun, we wouldn’t recommend going in too large a group. Most of the stops are small eateries, and things can get cramped quickly. A group of two to four feels just right for comfort and interaction.
- If you want to get a chance to grill your own bakwwa (barbecued pork jerky), it’s best to start before 11am. It is also slightly cooler in the morning. According to Gourmaze, 10 am would be the best timing.
- If you’re starting around midday, like we did, be prepared as it was very hot. A portable fan, umbrella, and plenty of water will be important to keep you cool and hydrated.
- You’ll also want a portable charger, because you’ll be using your phone constantly not just to receive clues, but also to take plenty of photos as you uncover unexpected corners of Chinatown.
- At a few points, we had to cross roads with active traffic, so it’s a good reminder not to walk while glued to your phone. Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes because we clocked about 6000 steps in just 2 hours.
- The whole experience will take around 3 hours so do allocate time for this experience.
Verdict : Is It Worth Your Time?
All in all, we really enjoyed our experience at gourmaze and would recommend both locals and tourists to try out this maze as we found it very interactive, engaging and educational. This food-meets-puzzle experience is best for curious locals, first-time visitors, couples, and small groups of friends. Whether you’re in it for the food, the challenge, or just a new way to rediscover Singapore’s heritage, Gourmaze is a refreshingly unique way to spend an afternoon.
By the end of the maze, we were very full as we really got to try many different kinds of traditional food in Singapore. This maze basically covered both our breakfast and lunch. We would recommend going for the earliest slot (10am), because you will get to experience grilling your own bakkwa, and the weather is not too hot yet. The trail is mostly flat and manageable for people of all fitness levels, though it may not be fully accessible for wheelchairs or strollers due to the layout of some older venues.
Gourmaze Singapore
The experience runs daily with start times between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM. Tickets cost S$65 per person, which includes 7 tastings and 2 souvenirs. Bookings are made online through Fever, and each slot is private to your team. You can form up to 6 pax in a team. Use promo code DEENISEGLITZ10 to enjoy 10% off.
After signing up, you will receive an email 1 to 2 days before the food hunt, containing all the information you need. This includes the meeting point and things to take note off.
This experience is not suitable for halal, vegan, vegetarian, gluten‑free diets. It is also not wheelchair-friendly.
