It’s Singapore’s most raved holiday of the year, and that means we’ll be seeing a whole lot of people on Instagram posting photos of #ootds, reunion meals and and their cute baby nephews or nieces.
As a Korean living in Singapore, I’m part of the non-Chinese crowd that doesn’t go house visiting during CNY *cue sad music*. When I’m not crashing CNY gatherings at my friends’ homes, I’ll always be on the lookout for restaurants that are still running throughout the festive period.
If you’re like me and you’re not house-hopping, here are some places that you can dine at during the CNY weekend without getting disappointed at the door! Remember to take some good photos to show the people of Instagram that you’re not missing out.
With long opening hours and huge portions to satisfy the heavy eaters, Margarita’s is the perfect place for hang outs with your friends. Listen to Spanish renditions of your favourite pop music and you might trick yourself into thinking that you’re in a completely different country!
Don’t miss out on their delicious Chicken/Beef Fajitas ($32), which are juicy and sweet chunks of meat served with tortillas and 4 dips of vastly differently flavours ranging from sour to spicy. It’s located at Dempsey Hill so public transport is rather limited, but the food and time spent with your company will be well worth your travel hassle.
Address: 11 Dempsey Rd, Singapore 249673
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 11pm (Sun to Thu), 11:30am – 12am (Fri and Sat)
Telephone: 6471 3228
Source: @mexout
Barrio by Mex Out is a more affordable alternative to Margarita’s, sans the chill atmosphere because its outlets are in the bustling malls of 313 Somerset and Vivocity. Their Char Grilled Chicken Taco ($12.90) tastes amazing with its spicy kick of salsa sauce, and it’s a safe choice for those not-so-adventurous eaters of strong Mexican spices. As they strongly advocate, “I don’t want tacos, said no juan ever.”
Address: Vivocity, 1 Harbourfront Walk #01-116, Singapore 098585
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm every day
Telephone: 6265 6260
Source: @explodingbelly
Truffles aren’t even a rare treat on our sunny island anymore, and Kanshoku Ramen Bar serves the richest Dry Truffle Ramen ($16.90) at a reasonable price.
Warning: the scent is really strong, so you’ll either love it or hate it depending on your affinity with truffles. If you’re not a fan, try their soupy ramen that is sure to relieve your CNY post-party hangovers.
Address: ION Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn #B3-18, Singapore 238801
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm every day
Telephone: 6509 8221
Source: @janeilaoooo
I love me some hidden gems in Orchard, and Mon Bijou is one of my treasures for an illusory trip to France. Brightly lit with marbled tables perfect for Instagram flat-lay shots, the visuals of the food here are only complementary to its taste.
Instead of traditional pastas, treat yourself some generous melt-in-the-mouth Wagyu Beef Cheese Burger ($26) or their signature Crab Cake Benedict ($20) with poached eggs and crab croquettes drizzled with hollandaise sauce. Complete your French affair with a wide selection of pastries from macarons and tarts to cakes!
Address: 442 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238879
Opening Hours: 10am – 9pm every day
Telephone: 6739 6738
Source: @therantingpanda
Located near the happening area of Arab Street, Pizza Fabbrica is raved for their wood-fired pizzas with crispy crusts and seafood dishes. Frutti Di Mare Pizza ($28) is a seafood funfair on a single plate topped with mussels, scallops, prawns and chewy, fresh mozzarella.
Besides pizzas, try their Tuscan Style Seafood Stew ($28), a slightly spicy concoction served with a generous variety of seafood too. The mains are perfect for sharing, so this is a good place for group gatherings too!
Address: 70 Bussorah St, Singapore 199483
Opening Hours: 12pm – 11pm (Sun to Thurs, closed on Mon), 12pm–12am (Fri and Sat)
Telephone: 6291 0434
Source: @supplydemandsin
You might find it a little odd the have a soft egg on your pizza, but Supply and Demand does it right with their fusion of Italian and Asian cuisine. They’re well known for their pizzas, so don’t miss out on them if you go! Pop the yolk on the Morning After Pizza ($18/$22) and let it ooze through the the surface before biting into its moist goodness. It might be crowded during the CNY weekend especially for dinner so you might want to book your tables fast.
Address: Explanade, 8 Raffles Ave #01-13, Singapore 039802 (Esplanade)
Opening Hours: 11am – 10:30pm (Mon to Thu), 6pm – 3am (Fri and Sat), 12pm – 10:30pm (Sun)
Telephone: 6336 0588
Source: @kawkawsg
Hanging out with my Muslim friends always required extra research on my part so that I wouldn’t bring them to a place which was tidak halal. Spacious and perfect for group gatherings, Kaw Kaw SG is a quaint cafe that radiates warmth and feels like home.
Order their burgers, especially the vegetarian Portobello Burger ($12.40) that might change the opinions of staunch meat lovers. Their famous Permaisuri Burger ($16.70) is a must-try for its crispy and thick chicken patty — well fit for a permaisuri (queen).
Address: 28 Aliwal St, Aliwal Arts Centre #01-01, Singapore 199918
Opening Hours: 12pm – 9:30pm (Sun to Thu), 3pm – 10:30pm (Fri), 12pm – 10:30pm (Sat)
Telephone: 6444 8349
Source: @royzetvous
This is a one-of-a-kind restaurant that serves halal wine ($8.90 by glass)! An atas cafe sure to impress a date, their succulent, large portioned Brazen Beef ($32.90) and Smoked Duck ($26.90) sprinkled with homemade spice are sure to satisfy your meat cravings. Best of all, they’re cooked up in a halal certified kitchen.
For drinks, try the Red Rooibos Tea Latte ($7) which has an interesting flavour of sweet and fragrant rooibos, an uncommon ingredient in Singapore.
Address: 137 Telok Ayer Street, #01-01, Singapore 068602
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon to Thu), 11am – 11pm (Fri), 12pm – 11pm (Sat), 12pm – 10pm (Sun), Closed from 4pm – 5pm daily
Telephone: 6293 0270
Source: @ninjabowl
Holla to all the health junkies! These rice bowls may look like a random rojak of meat and vegetables, but they’re a delicious combination of all nutrients in the food pyramid, ranging from carbs, vegetables, to protein. Recommended bowls are Yasai ($16) for salmon lovers and Buta ($14) for savoury chashu fans.
Their opening hours are slightly different over CNY, but you’ll still be able to get a decent breakfast or lunch.
Address: 15 Duxton Road, Singapore 089481
Opening Hours (for CNY): 9:30am – 6pm (27 Jan), 9:30am – 3pm (28/29 Jan), 9:30am – 9:30pm (30 Jan)
Usual Opening Hours: 9:30am – 9pm (Mon to Fri), 9:30am – 6pm (Sat and Sun)
Telephone: 6222 8055
Family gatherings aside, CNY is a great festive time for you to meet your friends and talk about the good ol’ times. I might not get as much angbaos as my Chinese friends, but I’ve always enjoyed CNY with some good food and catch-up sessions with my best pals. Jio your non-Chinese friends along with you to have a chill time outside this CNY! If you’re one of those lucky ones who’s invited for a house visit, remember to bring a pair of mandarin oranges with you. Gong xi fa cai!
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