Dining in peace
Children are a delight – they’re the future of our world bundled in little packages, and I’ve got a soft spot for them. However, they’re also prone to crying loudly, squirming in their seats, and shouting for attention.
It can be difficult to enjoy your meal when the restaurant feels like a playground, and there’s little more frustrating than a romantic night ruined by the tot at Table 3 screaming his little lungs out. I’ve written about kid-friendly dining establishments, but let’s take a look at the flip side of the coin.
If you’re looking for a kid-free place to dine in peace, we’ve got your back. Here are 10 places you can go to for a night out without a crying child in the vicinity.
P.S: Most of these places are pretty fancy, and the dress code is smart casual at the bare minimum. So leave the t-shirts and flip flops at home, ok?
1. Tenshin
Tucked away on the third floor of Regent Hotel, Tenshin is famous for serving up authentic Japanese fare. The cosy restaurant seats just 28, and they specialise in delicious tempura and fresh sashimi, with ingredients sourced from the famous Tsukiji Fish Market. With both a la carte and set menu options (ranging from $40 – $180), Tenshin’s got Nippon-esque class down pat.
Source: @shushu_t
Kids under 10 are only allowed in on Sundays and Public Holidays, so your sacred Friday date night is safe.
Address: 1 Cuscaden Rd, #03-01 The Regent, Regent, Singapore 249715
Opening Hours: 12:00 pm – 2:30 pm, 6:00 pm – 10:30 pm
Tel: 6735 4588
2. Tamarind Hill
Taking Thai food to a whole new atas level, going to Tamarind Hill feels like going on a quick getaway to that post area of Phuket. It’s a popular place for weddings, and when you look at the restaurant, it’s easy to see why.
Located in Labrador Park, away from the bustle of civilization, its Asian-inspired decor and wood finishings channel villa vibes while staying crisp and chic. It’s the perfect place to say ‘I do’, but also the perfect place to get some good food.
Source: @makeyourcaloriescount
With classics like tom yum soup and prawn cakes served up alongside intriguing dishes like lamb chop in peanut sauce, you’ll be able to get your Thai food fix in serene style. Your experience will be 100% child-free – because diners here have to be at least 14 years old.
Address: 30 Labrador Villa Rd, Singapore 119189
Opening Hours: 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm, 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Tel: 6278 6364
3. Manhattan @ Regent
Manhattan at Regent Hotel is open to kids most of the time, but here’s the thing: they’ve got an adults-only Sunday Cocktail Brunch that allows you to feast on lobster and sip your martini without worrying about toddlers getting underfoot.
Check out their peppercorn-crusted NY strip!
With access to unlimited booze, including a Bloody Mary station with a humongous variety of toppings, and a plethora of delicious good ranging from oysters to steak, this is one heck of a luxury brunch.
At $150++ per person, the damage to your wallet is also pretty significant – but at least you can drink till you forget.
Address: Regent Singapore, 1 Cuscaden Road Level 2, Singapore 249715
Opening Hours: 11:30 am – 3:30 pm (for Sunday Cocktail Brunch)
Tel: 6725 3377
4. CÉ LA VI
Ce La Vi is best known for being one of the coolest clubs/bars in town, but they’ve also got a restaurant section that dishes up good food to go with the beautiful scenery. The restaurant specialises in Modern Asian cuisine – think stuff like fusion sushi rolls, rib-eye steak, and a delicious Goma cake that features both matcha and black sesame.
It’s not an entirely child-free dining experience, as kids are welcome, but strollers have to be left outside. Kids under 12 aren’t allowed into the outdoor area, so head outside for a guaranteed no-kids experience with one heck of a view.
Address: SkyPark at Marina Bay Sands, Tower 3, 1 Bayfront Avenue Singapore 018971
Opening Hours: 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm (Mon – Fri), 12: 00 pm – 3:30 pm (Sat – Sun), 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm (Sun – Wed), 6:00 pm – 11:30 pm (Thu – Sat)
Tel: 6508 2188
5. Eight Cafe & Bar
When a restaurant’s located in the CBD, kids are usually a rare sight – and that’s the case over at Eight Cafe and Bar. With their kitschy interior and general chill vibes, they’re a cosy lunch spot for busy executives in the area.
Their menu is pretty impressive – think the happy marriage of Western favourites and Asian delights, all living together under one happy roof. They’ve got stuff like laksa and fish and chips, as well as more interesting options, like spring chicken in delicious lemongrass curry and teppanyaki beef with egg.
Source: @eightcafebar
Kids under 10 aren’t allowed to dine here, so tuck into some hearty fare without worry.
Address: 8 Bukit Pasoh Rd, Singapore 089822
Opening Hours: 11:30 am – 3:00 pm (Mon – Sat), 6:30 pm – 11:00 pm (Mon – Thu), 6:30 pm – 1:00 am (Fri – Sat). Closed on Sundays.
Tel: 6220 4513
6. Gunther’s Restaurant
Purvis Street is home to some pretty great eats, and Gunther’s is no exception.
Specialising in honest, down-to-earth French cuisine, they serve up everything from roasted bone marrow to a delicious dry-aged beef. They’ve got set menus starting from $38++ for their lunch set, as well as plenty of a la carte options for you to choose from.
Not sure where to start? We recommend giving their Cold Angel Hair Pasta with Oscietra Caviar a try. The combination of flavours is A+.
Source: @esmooond
You’ll have a peaceful meal here as well – kids have to be above the age of 6 to eat in the main dining area.
Address: 36 Purvis Street #01-03, Singapore 188613
Opening Hours: 12:00 pm – 2:30 pm (Mon – Fri), 6:30 pm – 10:00 pm (Mon – Sat), closed on Sundays.
Tel: 9010 3075
7. Me@OUE
Source: @getchug
Me@OUE is located right at the very top of the OUE building, right smack in the middle of the Marina Bay Financial District. That gives them the total atas factor, plus an amazing view.
There are three cuisines living under Me@OUE’s roof – Chinese, Japanese, and French. However, unlike most places with different cuisines in the same restaurant, there’s no fusion food here – you’re getting 100% pure flavours and authentic taste.
Source: @meatoue
You can order from one menu for continuity in your meal, but we think ordering dishes from across the three menus might be thrice the fun. Be sure to give their ultra-fresh sashimi a try – without piercing screams, because kids below 10 are not allowed in.
Address: The Rooftop Level, 50 Collyer Quay, OUE Bayfront, Singapore 049321
Opening Hours: 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm (Mon – Fri), 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm (Mon – Sat). Closed Saturday afternoons and Sundays.
Tel: 6634 4555
8. Odette
Source: @heytabby
Odette is the name of the princess from the classic ballet Swan Lake, and it’s also the name of a fine-dining restaurant here in Singapore that looks like something out of a fairytale.
Making its home at the National Gallery, Odette is inspired by, and named after, chef-owner Julien Royer’s grandmother. Specialising in French cuisine, it promises honest flavours and the best ingredients possible.
Source: @xlbcr
One dish you absolutely have to try at Odette is their Smoked Organic Eggs. Smoked with various different woods and herbs ranging from pine to rosemary, it arrives at your table in a cloud of white smoke, before that perfectly half-boiled egg is served up atop a platter of vegetables, pancetta and truffle. Talk about divine.
There won’t be any toddlers running about, as children have to be at least 7 years old to dine at Odette.
Address: 1 Saint Andrew’s Road, #01-04, National Gallery, Singapore 178957
Opening Hours: 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm (Tue – Sat), 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm (Mon – Sat). Closed on Sundays and public holidays.
Tel: 6385 0498
9. Les Amis
Armed with 2 Michelin Stars and one of the most extensive wine lists in town, Les Amis is the place to go if you’ve got someone to impress.
A fine dining concept that fuses French and Asian flavours, Les Amis boasts authentic flavours and top-notch service. You should definitely try their angel hair pasta, with kombu, caviar and black truffle, as well as the sweet erquy scallop, which comes served in an adorable clam with caviar on top.
Source: @znnlle
Source: @ahlongparty
Kids have to be at least 7 to step in here, so your peaceful meal is guaranteed.
Address: 1 Scotts Road, #01-16 Shaw Centre, Shaw Centre, Singapore 228208
Opening Hours: 12:00 pm – 1:45 pm (Mon – Sun), 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm (Mon – Thu), 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm (Fri – Sun).
Tel: 6733 2225
Kid-free dining, here we come
There’s a certain serenity to being able to eat out without hearing a child scream across the room or having to worry about accidentally tripping over a toddler when ferrying food back to your table from the buffet, and it can be pretty refreshing.
Whether you’re looking for a place to unwind in peace with a good book, or a fancy restaurant for that romantic dinner date, you now know where to go. Have a good meal, folks!