Not even the extra calories gained throughout Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day can stop true foodies from seeking out new cafes and restaurant openings. Especially if it sounds as tempting as a dessert joint that serves ice cream on croissants, or a steampunk-inspired bar with local cocktail flavours.
From a retro-themed restaurant giving off New World Amusement Park vibes to a quaint cafe that serves gelato in burnt cones till midnight, here are 20 new cafes and restaurants in Singapore you can visit in March 2021.
For those that love steak but can never finish an entire cut by themselves, Fat Belly Social’s communal dining concept is the dream dining experience. Large cuts of steak from the ever-popular Rib Cap to the lesser-known Zabuton – an extremely marbled cut from the chuck – are served on a fancy silver plate and are meant to be shared by groups of three to four.
Image credit: Fat Belly Social
There are also a couple of uncommon sauces available to make your steak taste yummier, like scampi butter ($7) and sauce diane ($8) – made from cream, Worcestershire, mustard, and Cognac. For those who enjoy some tipple to go along with your meal, Fat Belly’s extensive wine list – especially the reds – will do nicely to complement the fatty and seared cuts of meat.
Address: 21A Boon Tat Street, Singapore 029620
Opening hours: Mon – Wed 5.30PM-10.30PM | Thu – Sat 5.30PM-11PM (Closed on Sundays)
Telephone: 6227 2247
L-R: Regular, Slightly burnt, Burnt cones
Image credit: Burnt Cones
A scoop of ice cream is best complemented with a crispy cone – you can’t eat a paper cup as an added treat, after all. The good folks over at Burnt Cones have reimagined the humble ice cream cone ($1) by “burning” it two ways, so each bite has a bittersweet kick and torched crunch.
Image credit: @burntcones
They have 12 flavours on regular rotation, including premium ones like black sesame and bronte pistachio which are $5 per scoop. Or you can go for the classic flavours like 85% dark chocolate ($4 per scoop) that never fail.
Those who want a more filling dessert can also pair their creamy gelato with a crispy and dense buttermilk waffle ($6). It can also be topped with two ice cream scoops ($7) so you can share with your dessert date.
Address: 105 Clementi Street 12, Singapore 120105
Opening hours: 9AM-12AM, Daily
Telephone: 9711 1097
There’s something magical about eating airplane food, it’s like you know you’re a little closer to your destination with each bite. Lobster Air lets you relive those wanderlusting days, and it’s a great affordable option for those who missed out on the Singapore Airlines Restaurant A380.
You can choose from either a Business or First Class course menu to feel like you’re in Bling Empire, and most of the dishes are – as the name suggests – lobster-themed. Go for the Baked Boston Lobster ($36 for half) that’s freshly-picked every day and served with a savoury garlic butter sauce.
Image credit: @shannn_eat
You can also have an upgraded version of the traditional avocado toast with the Signature Lobster Toast ($18). The avocado rocket salad is topped off with chunks of sweet lobster on top of a truffle olive toast.
Check out the full Lobster Air menu for more details.
Address: 371 Beach Road, #02-36 City Gate, Singapore 199597
Opening hours: Mon – Fri 11AM-10.30PM | Sat – Sun 10AM-10.30PM
Image credit: Maison Marie
Maison Marie’s opening at The Rail Mall means that Westsiders don’t have to travel far to slurp on premium oysters. The French bistrot hosts an oyster night every Wednesday, and this season they’re offering Gillardeau oysters ($4/piece) that are famed for their plump flesh.
The octopus bolognese is braised for hours
Image credit: Maison Marie
Other signature dishes include the octopus bolognese with gemelli pasta and tiger prawns that are charcoal-grilled in a Josper oven. After your delectable meal, you can even pop by their in-house fresh food market. With produce imported from the Rungis International Market in France, you can be assured that your house-party needs will be taken care of.
Address: 380 Upper Bukit Timah Road, The Rail Mall, Singapore 678040
Opening hours: 11.30AM-9.30PM, Daily
Telephone: 6235 0661
Step into Rails Bar to feel as though you’ve been teleported to another dimension where steampunk reigns supreme.
The futuristic-looking establishment is inspired by the nearby Tanjong Pagar Railway Station and Jinrikisha Station, and their cocktail menu is also experimentally-themed with ingredients like pi pa gao and uncommon spirits like Ceylon Arrack – made from coconut palm sap.
There’ll also be yummy bar grub courtesy of Chix Hot Chicken, a local eatery specialising in Nashville-style Southern fried chicken. Think hot wings (from $9.90 for three pieces) and the signature Soul Slider ($9.90) to stuff your face with in between drinks. There are also plenty of meat-free alternatives from Quorn for all the vegetarians among us.
Click for our full Rails Bar review.
Address: 21 Tanjong Pagar Road, #01-02, Singapore 088444
Opening hours: Tue – Sat 5PM-10.30PM | Sun 3.30PM-10.30PM (Closed on Mondays)
Telephone: 8725 6789
The BFF Salmon I Love You Burger ($23.90).
Fans of the adorable bunny rejoice: the world’s first Molang-themed pop-up cafe has arrived in Singapore. Created in collaboration with local cafe Kumoya, you can drop by their outlet at Jalan Klapa in Bugis to bask in the whimsical cuteness while savouring food and drinks curated by Little Miss Bento.
Their menu hits all the right spots to satisfy your inner child, both taste and aesthetics wise. The Molang Lychee Soda Slurper ($13.90) has a cloud of cotton candy sitting atop the glass that will get so many likes on Instagram.
Meanwhile, the Huggy Hugs Mango Berries Shibuya Toast ($24.90) is surrounded by an assortment of colourful berries and sweets. There’s even a special surprise for when you slice open the toast!
Click for a full Kumoya x Molang pop-up review.
Address: 8 Jalan Klapa, Singapore 199320
Opening hours: Tue – Sun 12PM-9.30PM (Closed on Mondays)
Telephone: 8204 5330
Korean fried chicken is one of those fast food treats that will instantly lift your spirits – at a small cost of feeling damn jelak after. But Chir Cafe + Bar elevates this sinful snack into a modern dining experience with the opening of their first cafe concept. No more gorging on drumstick after drumstick.
A must-try is the Chir Chicken Croffle ($17.90), a delightful twist on the classic chicken + waffle combo. Instead of using a plain waffle, Chir toasts and flattens a croissant with a waffle iron so you get a fluffy carb option with a flakier, chewier and more tasty inside. Tip: Don’t pour too much maple syrup, otherwise the sweetness will overpower the other flavours.
Click for a full Chir Cafe + Bar review.
Address: 26A Lorong Mambong, Singapore 277685
Opening hours: Mon – Fri 11AM-10.30PM | Sat – Sun 9.30AM-10.30PM
Telephone: 6235 9950
Image credit: Bonding Kitchen
Chef Danny Chew has upsized his private home dining joint serving modern Peranakan cuisine in Johor Bahru into a full-fledged restaurant called Bonding Kitchen. But he still strives to make each guest feel like they’re dining in a cosy home despite its prime location in Orchard Gateway.
Image credit: Bonding Kitchen
For a restaurant located in the shopping district, the prices of each dish won’t make you break the bank. The Nasi Goreng Buah Keluak, Chef Danny’s speciality, is $15, while some dishes with premium ingredients like the tender and aromatic Wagyu Beef Rendang is only $32.
Address: 277 Orchard Road, #02-18 Orchard Gateway, Singapore 238858
Opening hours: Tue – Sun 11.30AM-10.30PM (Closed on Mondays)
Telephone: 8860 9087
Have you ever heard someone talking about “slipping shrimps on the barbie”? This Aussie saying is almost a mantra at JOMO where every Sunday involves a cookout for the entire community to indulge in. And you better jio your buddies if not they’ll get some serious JOMO feels, a.k.a. join or miss out.
Image credit: JOMO
Rather than have the diners cook on the grills themselves like a self-service barbeque spot, the Sunday family BBQ is served up dim-sum style and comes with free-flow drinks like Aperol Spritz, draft beers on tap, and select wines. All of this will only set you back $42/pax nett.
Address: 48 Lorong Mambong, Singapore 277699
Opening hours: Mon – Sat 3PM-10.30PM | Sun 11AM-6PM
Telephone: 9800 3787
With Singapore’s independence, came an era of partying and entertainment, and Yum Sing! is throwing back to the spirit of the swinging sixties at its Clarke Quay restaurant. Think of it as a playground-for-adults with its retro-looking neon lights, ceiling-mounted carousel, and a beverage menu with locally-inspired cocktails like the Yum Sling ($18) and Kopi-O Gao ($20).
Image credit: Yum Sing!
But the food is the star of the show here, with the focus on local fare. Besides the classics like Bak Kut Teh ($10) and Char Kway Teow ($10), you can even lo hei year-round with the Rainbow Yu Sheng ($6.80/pax) that’s available 365 days a year.
Address: 3B River Valley Road, #01-06/07, Singapore 179021
Opening hours: 4PM-10.30PM, Daily
Telephone: 6261 6463
Image credit: Persea
Those on a keto diet have a new dining spot at Persea. Tucked in a corner at Ann Siang Hill, the restaurant focuses on low-carb, high-fat dishes with Mediterranean flavours. So your belly won’t be bogged down by flour and rice and an impending food coma, but you’ll be fuelled by flavourful meats and fats that taste great while satisfying your nutrient requirements.
Image credit: Persea
Some of the zero-carb dishes include the bone marrow ($24) and ribeye steak ($34). But if you don’t mind cheating a little bit, the eggs muhammara ($14) – a spicy dip made with walnut, capsicum, chives and Spanish paprika – and calamari ($24) are highly recommended.
Persea also switches up their menu every four months, with the menu from April onwards slated to feature more Asian-fusion dishes.
Address: 23 Ann Siang Road, Singapore 069703
Opening hours: Tue – Sat 5.30PM-10.30PM | Sun 11AM-3.30PM (Closed on Mondays)
Telephone: 8138 3217
We usually associate omakase menus with Japanese cuisine, but Chef Julien Li takes things to the next level with a seven-course pizza omakase menu hosted in his home at Marine Parade. At $75/pax, you can expect some unorthodox flavours like creamy bechamel sauce and chayote – a Mexican squash – or a sweet mascarpone and matcha dessert pizza.
Chef Julien gets his flour directly from Naples and kneads the dough by hand three days in advance, so you know that each pizza will make for a gastronomical experience. However, do note that dinner slots are fully booked out till May, with only some lunch sessions left available.
Bookings can be made via the Zuzu Kitchen Instagram page, with a minimum of four pax.
Opening hours: Lunch and dinner on Saturdays only.
Japanese brunch with sake? Sign us up please.
Image credit: @tanokesg
Since we can’t travel to Japan now to sip on some real good sake, a trip to the newly-opened Tanoke on Purvis Street will do just as well to tide us through our withdrawals. They have over 40 types of premium Japanese sake from various regions, each carefully selected to complement their food menu with.
Wagyu Marmalade Toast ($12)
Image credit: Tanoke
They have a happy hour every Tuesday to Friday from 5PM-6.30PM, where every order of their house signature cocktail or sommelier’s choice sake comes with a complimentary serving of their Wagyu slider. But if you really want a comprehensive and atas dining experience, you can opt for a tasting menu (from $158+) that has sake pairing (additional $38+) with it.
Address: 7 Purvis Street, 2nd Floor, Singapore 188586
Opening hours: Tue – Fri 11.30AM-10.30PM | Sat 6PM-10.30PM | Sun 11.30AM-10.30PM (Closed on Mondays)
Telephone: 9106 3378
Chicken sandwich
Image credit: @samwitchsg
Skip the peanut butter bread you have every day and fill your morning appetite with a juicy sandwich from Samwitch. The humble shop only has two sandwiches on the menu – Shredded Chicken ($7.60) and Beef Pastrami ($8.90) – but this also lets them focus on the quality of current offerings.
Image credit: @samwitch
The beef pastrami sandwich is topped with sliced pickles and torched cheese for a sinful breakfast option, while the chicken sandwich overflows with shredded lean meat and fresh vegetables like carrot and spinach for a healthier choice. There are only a limited number of sandwiches available per day so get there early or you’ll miss out!
Note: Samwitch is not a halal-certified eatery, but they currently use no pork or lard.
Address: 806 Hougang Central, #01-152, Singapore 530806
Opening hours: Tue – Sun 9AM till sold out (Closed on Mondays)
Image credit: Yeast Side
Yeast Side, best side? Ironically, this quaint new bakery is located in the posh enclave of King Albert Park instead, so Westies have first dibs to all their freshly-baked sourdough bread. Other items on the menu include a mouth-watering apple crumble bostock and a savoury mushroom ham and cheese brioche.
Image credit: Yeast Side
But it’s the 12 craft beers on tap that really makes Yeast Side stand out from your mom-and-pop bakery. They have lagers, ales, and IPAs to complement the rustic texture of the sourdough loaves.
Address: 9 King Albert Park, #01-09, Singapore 598832
Opening hours: Wed 4PM-10.30PM | Thu – Sun from 9AM-10.30PM (Closed on Mondays & Tuesdays)
Sometimes all we want is a hearty bowl of nyonya laksa to comfort ourselves after a long day at work, and a $7.90 bowl from SATS’ – the one that does Changi Airport’s in-flight catering – new canteen at Singapore General Hospital sounds really good.
The concept is pretty simple: you pre-order your meals through the SATS mobile website or their digital kiosks on-site, and you can collect them in food lockers upon receiving a text notification.
The food lockers look a little like our neighbourhood POPstations
Image credit: SATS
Their signature dishes beyond the laksa include ayam bakar chicken rice ($7.90) and satay chicken rice ($7.90).
Address: 10 College Road, Singapore 169851
Opening hours: Mon – Sat 7.30AM-8PM (Closed on Sundays)
SGH Housemen’s Canteen website
The folks behind legendary hawker burger joint Ashes Burnnit have recently expanded into the dessert space with Maison Sucree. The freshly-baked croissants are buttery and crisp with just enough flakiness, and if you’re there at the right time, you might also get to try their seasonal croissants with flavours like Biscoff and Nutella Rocher.
While you can always take them away in a box to savour at home, we recommend taking a seat and trying out Executive Chef’s Elzuan Japar’s signature souffle and sticky date pudding that are only available for dine-in guests.
Click for a full Maison Sucree review.
Address: 63B Lengkok Bahru, #01-362, Singapore 152063
Opening hours: Tue – Sun 11AM-9PM (Closed on Mondays)
Telephone: 8779 2580
Coffee joints in the CBD are typically rackety, but Equate Coffee’s secluded outpost at the second floor of Tanjong Pagar Plaza means that you’ll be able to find some much-needed respite from the hubbub of city life.
The entrance resembling a cave beckons you to step in for a good cuppa, using beans from Brazil and Sumatra. Equate Coffee also has various pastries to go with your latte, like the soft and fluffy Canele ($4) and house-made Mount Ondeh ($7) that has just the right amount of sweetness.
Address: Block 1, #02-25 Tanjong Pagar Plaza, Singapore 082001
Opening hours: Mon – Sat 10AM-4PM (Closed on Sundays)
Image credit: @adlerpoh
We’re all suckers for ice cream and waffles any day, but every once in a while, a dessert joint comes along and drags us out of our comfort zone. Enter Madame Ooze, a dessert bar that serves up scoops of ice cream on a warm, toasted croissant.
You can expect interesting flavours like Kyoto Hojicha and New York Blueberry Cheesecake at just $4.20 per scoop. Plopping it on a croissant will be an additional $4.50, and even though it might get a little messy, your efforts will be rewarded because the result is a mix of some of the best dessert flavours and textures – chewy and flaky, plus sweet and buttery.
Address: 259 South Bridge Road, Singapore 058808
Opening hours: 12PM-10PM, Daily
Yakiniku doesn’t have to be a costly affair as evident with Yakiniku-GO. The a la carte chicken platters start at $2.50, with lamb and beef starting at $2.90. And yes, there is no pork on the menu at all – the restaurant is in the process of getting their halal certification – so you’re safe to jio your Muslim friends to eat here too.
The set meals also come in 100G and 200G serving options, so those with smaller appetites won’t accidentally over-order and waste food. Be sure to try out the four yummy sauces: House Special Yakiniku Tare, Spicy Yakiniku Tare, Miso Tare, and Negi Shio Tare.
Click for a full Yakiniku-GO review.
Address: 33 Sengkang West Avenue, #01-49 The Seletar Mall, Singapore 797653
Opening hours: 11AM-10PM, Daily
Telephone: 6242 5939
From all the new dessert bar openings to the many affordable restaurants popping up in the heartlands, March has never been a better time to eat good and explore new dining spots. Westsiders especially have it a little better than others, with many more eateries opening in their hood. But don’t ever let distance stop you from trying out these new restaurants in Singapore.
From hearty brekkie sandwiches in the heartlands and authentic Peranakan dishes in town to futuristic bars and late-night gelato spots to finish the day off on a sweet note, there’s also something for every timing of the day.
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Cover image adapted from (L-R): @adlerpoh, Fat Belly, Rails Bar
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