Image adapted from: @mitsueki
Plenty of new food joints have opened recently this May so there’s no doubt that you’ll be happily chowing down everything from affordable Taiwanese dishes to unique brunch fare. If you’re up for trying an XL unagi don to rival Man Man’s or bubble tea with handmade matcha pearls, here are 20 new restaurants and cafes you need to get down to ASAP.
Image credit: @thesocialspace.sg
The Social Space looks a whole lot like Bali’s cafes with its clean design. And another bonus: the menu’s filled with goodies like smoothie bowls and open-faced toast.
Image credit: @thesocialspace.sg
Their Berry Berry Good Smoothie Bowl ($10) comes with a blend of bananas and coconut milk and a bunch of different berries – raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, and cranberries. Stir in the granola, coconut chips, and fresh berries for a refreshing crunch. Acai bowls, smoothie bowls – we like them all.
For a savoury bite, their Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese Toast ($10) comes with smoked salmon atop a slab of sourdough, topped with cream cheese, cucumber, and lemon zest.
Once your tummy’s filled, take a stroll around the shop. They’ve got shelves and shelves of ethical products up for sale, like cups and saucers from Center Pottery – a social enterprise that helps people with mental health issues.
Address: 333 Kreta Ayer Road, #01-14, Singapore 080333
Opening hours: Mon: 9AM – 7PM, Wed to Sat: 9AM – 7PM, Sun: 9AM – 4PM (Closed on Tuesdays)
Image credit: @sofrancebistro
Freshly-shucked oysters, a plate of tender canard, and a glass of red? Yes, please. So France is an multi-concept space that’s a bistro, but also a retail space for you to stock up on all your French food needs – think wine cellar and gourmet produce, like cheese and olive oil.
Image credit: @sofrancebistro
If you’re there for a sit-down meal, start with their Assorted Cold Cuts & French Cheese Platter ($32), which comes with a lavish spread of chorizo, pate, and a mix of hard and soft cheeses. For mains, their Grilled Duck Breast ($19/half) is a worthy choice: it’s first marinated with honey and sesame seeds before grilled and sliced. Pair with a glass of red wine (from $8/glass).
Address: 7 Fraser Street, Duo Galleria #01-51/56, Singapore 189356
Opening hours: Mon, Wed & Thu: 11:30AM – 3PM, 6PM – 9:30PM, Fri to Sat: 11:30AM – 3PM, 6PM – 10:30PM, Sun: 9AM – 9:30PM (Closed on Tuesdays)
Telephone: 6909 6449
Image credit: The Cook & The Barista
The Cook & The Barista is tucked away in a corner of Sultan Plaza, just a few minutes walk from Lavender MRT. True to its name – yes, it has both a cook and barista – it doles out hot food and freshly-made coffee. All the dishes there are Japanese-influenced, with picks like Katsu Curry ($7.90), The Cook’s Signature Soba ($8.90), and variety of dons such as Gyudon ($9.90).
Their Buta Don comes with torched pork belly, bonito flakes, pickled radish and an onsen egg. Image credit: @thecookandthebarista
Weekday set lunches are affordable – from $6.90 with no GST or service charge. Head down between 11:30AM to 2:30PM on weekdays, and see what main they’re offering with a free drink, side, and dessert.
Address: 100 Jalan Sultan, #01-26C, Singapore 199001
Opening hours: Mon to Fri: 9AM – 8PM, Sun: 9AM – 8PM (Closed on Saturdays)
Telephone: 9852 1156
Image credit: @jessiestars
Cafe owners Daphne Goh and Lionel Ang have already given us Atlas Coffeehouse and Lunar Coffee, so expectations are high when it comes to their newest brunch joint. Joining a bunch of other cafes along the Upper Thomson strip, Columbus Coffee Co. is a space that’s decked out with wooden furnishing and exposed lightbulbs.
Image credit: @yeowtiantian
There’s a solid range of both savoury and sweet on the menu. Try the Soft Shell Crab Burger ($22), which serves up a generous portion of crab in between brioche buns – it’s also topped with pomegranate seeds and mango chunks for added flavour. For the sweet tooth, their Buttermilk Waffles (from $12.50) has a range of flavours: we’re already eyeing the Earl Grey Caramel
Otherwise, a cup of coffee is always a solid bet, but it’ll be a toss-up between the Atlas blend, with hints of chocolate and caramel, or Nautica, with a tinge of blueberry and milk chocolate.
Address: 220 Upper Thomson Road, Singapore 574352
Opening hours: Tue to Sat: 9AM – 10PM, Sun: 9AM – 7PM (Closed on Mondays)
Telephone: 6253 6024
Image credit: @xcrazyeyes
Guangzhou congee and rice roll chain Yinji has landed in Singapore, and we can finally try their chee cheong fun – famous for being stuffed to the brim, in one silky, slippery roll of goodness. It’s double what you’ll pay for at a market, but hey, their Fresh Prawn Roll ($7) and Tender Beef Egg Roll ($7.50) are worth trying at least once.
Image credit: @jennylikestoeat
If their large rice rolls aren’t quite enough, they also have Dumpling Noodle Soup ($6.50) and Boat Congee ($6.50).
Address: 133 Amoy Street, #01-01 Far East Square, Singapore 049962
Opening hours: Mon to Fri: 8AM – 8PM, Sat: 11AM – 5PM (Closed on Sundays)
Telephone: 6443 3875
Image credit: @fatpigdiary
There are so many bubble tea joints these days, but Hollin stands out by having handmade flavoured pearls. In fact, they refer to themselves as “pearl artisans”. There’s a different flavour everyday: Mon – matcha, Tue – cocoa, Wed – coconut, Thu – coffee, Fri – peanut, Sat – black sesame, and Sun – rock salt.
Their Rock Salt Macchiato (from $3.20) and Black Tea Latte (from $3.20) both sound equally refreshing. If you’re not keen on the unusual pearl flavours, their standard pearls are Honey White Pearls. All pearls are an additional 70 cents.
Address: Blk 190 Toa Payoh Central, #01-538, Singapore 310190
Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 12PM – 8PM
Telephone: 6252 2456
Image credit: @circles_circus
This ice-cream shop lies in the heartlands, for a quick dessert fix with their handmade ice cream and waffles. With ice cream flavours like Pistachio, Speculoos, and Earl Grey, you can choose to pair your scoop with red velvet, charcoal, or butter waffles. A scoop starts at $3.20, and you can choose a free topping with whatever strikes your fancy. Your choice includes: marshmallow, M&Ms, mini oreos, coco rice, peanuts, or Pocky sticks.
Address: 475 Choa Chu Kang Ave 3, #01-29 Sunshine Place, Singapore 680458
Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 10AM – 10PM
Telephone: 9829 8356
Image credit: @iris.nihao
As another joint to add to our list for Sunday brunch out, Twenty Eight Cafe has the whole minimalist chic thing going on with its white walls and wooden furniture. The menu’s fairly standard, you can expect brunch fare with a slight twist like Eggs Benedict ($18.50) on top of a mountain of potato hash.
Image credit: @matildalim
Otherwise, their Baked Avocado ($19.90) comes with an avocado with baked eggs and a side of bacon, along with toasted brioche to wipe up any spilled yolk. Try their Indian Churros ($4.90) for a sweet finish – they’re made with the dough used for Roti Prata, so although less dense than traditional churros, they stay crunchy.
Address: 28 Wilkie Road, Singapore 228051
Opening hours: Mon to Fri: 7:30AM – 5PM, Sat – Sun: 8:30AM – 6PM
Telephone: 9720 2828
Image credit: Eatbook
Although termed “ugly” for its chunkily peculiar shape, these ugly pretzels aren’t ugly at all. Monnani Kwabaeggi’s ugly pretzels are straight from Korea and have recently debuted their first international store in Singapore. These pretzels are made out of glutinous rice, and deep-fried before slathered with sugar.
Besides the original pretzel, there are four other flavours to try: sweet flavours like Yuzu ($1.70) and Korean Red Bean ($1.70) or savoury like Premium Cheese ($1.90) and Premium Sausage ($3).
Address: 16 Raffles Quay, #B1-48 Hong Leong Building, Singapore 048581
Opening hours: Mon to Fri: 8:30AM – 6PM, Sat: 8:30AM – 2PM (Closed on Sundays)
Image credit: @dutchieronaldo
The Stamford Brasserie is part of Swissôtel, and can be found at the ground floor of Equinox Complex. For those who work nearby, they’ve got a grab & go menu filled with salads and sandwiches that’ll do wonders for any office worker who’s trying to eat healthy. Try their Salt Baked Taproot Salad ($12) that comes with feta cheese, fresh spinach, and walnuts.
Those dining in can opt for a large communal platter to share, like their Butcher’s Meat Board ($26) or Gourmet Sausages ($19). Mains like their Baked Fish ‘En Papillote’ ($20) – a sea bass fillet cooked in garlic white wine or their Fresh Catch Seafood Stew – seafood infused with lemongrass and coconut paired with garlic toast, are both tasty choices.
Address: 2 Stamford Road, Swissotel The Stamford, Singapore 178882
Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 12PM – 10PM
Telephone: 6431 6156
Image credit: Yamato Izakaya
Yamato Izakaya’s a Japanese restaurant with three dining concepts in one – complete with hearty bowls of ramen from Hitoyoshi Ramen, don specialties from Tora Tora, and the newest branch of Man Man Unagi.
Image credit: @polly.wei
Try their Hitsumabushi (Grilled Eel Rice Bowl, $26.80), and experiment with the various garnishes to see how you best like eating it – my preferred way involves a scattering of spring onions and a gentle pour of dashi stock. Other garnishes include wasabi and nori.
If unagi isn’t for you, then the other two dining concepts are worth trying for Hitoyoshi Ramen’s Tonkotsu Ramen ($10.90) or Tora Tora’s Ikura Don ($7).
Address: 65 Ubi Road 1, #01-92 Oxley Bizhub, Singapore 408729
Opening hours: Mon to Sat: 11:30AM – 3PM, 5:30PM – 10PM
Telephone: 6385 5273
Image credit: Atout
Atout used to be Dempsey’s well-known Au Petit Salut, but has since revamped with a new chef, menu, and name. But once a French bistro, always a French bistro – their menu is filled with dishes like Jambonneaux (Pork knuckle, $10/100g) and Rabbit Rillettes ($10/100g).
Image credit: @kenneth_sk_wong
Their Peppercrust Black Angus Ribeye is priced at $88/500g, and when cooked medium rare, glistens a tender red in the middle. Pair it with a glass of red wine to add extra depth to its rich, meaty flavour.
Address: 40C Harding Road, Singapore 249548
Opening hours: Mon to Sat: 11:30AM – 10PM
Telephone: 6679 1800
Image credit: @kikikikibabybaby
Rakuya has a traditional seat-around bar so you can watch the sushi chef do his thing, but that’s where all Japanese conventions end here. There’s an omakase menu starting from $48, but instead of just regular nigiri sushi, you can expect fusion dishes like Bak Kut Teh Udon and Yuzu Kaya Toast.
Set lunch: Unagi Tamago Don. Image credit: @follow_the_cat
Their sake bar is loaded with a massive range of both hot and cold sakes for you to try. If you’re stuck on choice, their Sake Sampler ($25) lets you experiment a set of three from their featured brewery of the week. Their set lunches are also worth heading down for: prices start from $10 and include a choice of main with soup, chawanmushi, pickles, dessert and tea.
Address: 89 East Coast Road, Singapore 428790
Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 12PM – 11PM
Telephone: 6440 7071
Image credit: @bxsldvil
The newest addition from Lo & Behold: Le Bon Funk, a cosy diner along Club Street. With a chef straight from Burnt Ends – a restaurant known for their lavish cuts of meat – you can expect this joint to be as generous with their portions.
Image credit: @fionatingx
This Beef Tongue Sammy ($24) certainly has plenty of thinly-sliced beef tongue spilling out from between its slabs of warm brioche bread, paired with a gribiche dressing (hard boiled egg yolks mixed with mustard). The meat to bread ratio is insane, that no matter how wide you stretch your mouth, chunks of meat will fall to your plate anyway.
Other must-trys are their Burnt White Chocolate, Rosemary And Orange Tart ($12) and Cedar Jelly and Foie Gras Toast ($16).
Address: 29 Club Street, Singapore 069414
Opening hours: Tue to Sat: 5PM – 1AM
Telephone: 6224 1490
Image credit: @colourfulpalates
We’ll never get sick of Chirashi Dons, and Sumo-Ya’s Bara Chirashi Don ($15.90), which comes with truffle oil and sliced avocado, is a new one to try. If you’re not in favour of cubed sashimi, their other dons are looking tasty too: their Salmon Mentaiko Don ($14.90) comes with a generous drizzle of mentaiko and their Butaniku Don ($11.90) has pork slices topped with an onsen egg.
Apart from that, this quaint Japanese joint also serves Ramen and Tsukemen ranging from $12.90 to $17.90, along with a range of sashimi, maki, and curry dishes.
Address: 3 Pickering Street, #01-52 Nankin Row, Singapore 048660
Opening hours: Mon to Sat: 11AM – 3PM, 5PM – 9:30PM (Closed on Sundays)
Telephone: 8432 0239
Image credit: @eyeoh
Unlike their name – Fancy – the cocktails and food here are minimalist to the max. Their drinks have no unnecessary frills, and are served in simple glassware. Their bartending team used to be from bars Sugarhall and Jigger & Pony, so there’s no need to question if their cocktails are worth heading down for.
Order off the Pollen Menu for floral-inspired drinks, all at $22 each: Rose for a mix of gin and peach, Chamomile for cognac and rye, and Jasmine for Spanish rum and citrus.
Image credit: @danandesthersg
But don’t leave it at just one drink, make sure to also try their Steak Frites ($34) which comes with a tasty three pepper rub – black, white, and Szechuan. It comes with a side of fat and chunky chips that are triple-cooked in duck fat.
Address: 35 North Canal Road, #01-01, Singapore 059291
Opening hours: Mon to Sat: 5PM – 12AM (Closed on Sundays)
Telephone: 6535 0332
Image credit: @kayarocks
It’s a Korean chain restaurant that’s just opened their first branch in Westgate, but NY Night Market doesn’t simply serve Korean food. Instead, it has a wide array of international street foods that are served with a Korean twist.
Image credit: @xhuiqingx
Their Pasta de Dakgalbi ($16.90) has bites of fried chicken on top of gochujang-based pasta, while their M.A.C feat. Bacon ($10.90) is a modern rendition of a homey mac and cheese, with fried potato strips scattered over.
Address: 3 Gateway Drive, Westgate #01-08, Singapore 608532
Opening hours: Mon to Fri: 11AM – 10PM, Sat to Sun: 11AM – 11PM
Telephone: 6816 1018
Image credit: @mitsueki
The competition’s getting fierce for unagi joints, but we’re lapping it up since that just means more unagi dons to try. This XL don is by Unagiya Ichinoji, and while it certainly looks huge, it’s meant to serve 2-3 people for $77.80.
But if you’re after a meal that’s appropriately sized for one, a single serving of unagi ranges from $18.80 for the Mamushi Donburi to $19.90 for the Seri Mushi or Hitsumabushi. Try their Mamushi Donburi – it comes with unagi along with strips of kinshi egg, mentaiko, Japanese yam, and an onsen egg.
Address: 30 Robertson Quay, #01-05 Riverside Village Residences, Singapore 238251
Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 11:30AM – 3PM, 5:30PM – 10PM
Telephone: 6732 1970
Keeping to the diet with brussel sprouts for just $5. Image credit: @thesaltedplumsg
Once known as the Taiwanese eatery Five Ten, The Salted Plum brings the return of affordable hearty dishes mostly priced at $5 and $10. For just $5 each, you can feast on Brussel Sprouts with Shiitake Mushrooms, Smashed Baby Potatoes, and Chicken Hearts with Fried Ginger.
Image credit: @sir.fried.chicken
For $10 each, try their Braised Pork Belly, Pork Chop, or Burnt Chilli Chicken. Pricier dishes on the menu include their Hamachi Collar for $15 and their Boston Lobster for $25.
Address: 10 Circular Road, Singapore 049366
Opening hours: Mon to Sat: 11:30AM – 3PM, 6PM – 10PM (Closed on Sundays)
Telephone: 6260 0155
Huge range of sake at Jinjo. Image credit: @matthewmervin
Les Amis Group’s new restaurant Jinjo is known for sumiyaki – Japanese-style charcoal grilling that makes sure every bit of your skewer is charred beautifully. Their range of sumiyaki is solid, and standouts from their menu include Gindara – cod, Tarabagani – Hokkaido King Crab Leg, and Kama – Tuna Belly.
Image credit: @jinjosg
Prices are a bit of a splurge and range from $18 to $40, so it’s best treated as a dinner date sort of place. Jinjo also has a Donabe menu, which means Japanese rice pots for all to share, and it’s filled with luxe ingredients: we’ve got our eye on the Angus Donabe ($38/2pax).
Address: 1 Scotts Road, #02-19, Singapore 228208
Opening hours: Tue to Sun: 12PM – 2PM, 6:30PM – 10PM
Telephone: 6732 2165
This May, you’ve caught on to some of the best new restaurants and cafes in Singapore that’ll leave your bellies aching – too much good food – but it’s all worth it, amirite? When it comes down to it, we’re more than willing to save money to dine out since trying out new restaurants is always at the top of our priority list.
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