The past decade was absolutely phenomenal for the Singapore foodie scene with the introduction of innovative new restaurants serving up a diverse array of cuisines, celebrity chef debuts, and cool cocktail bars setting up shop. So it should come as no surprise that this decade is already off to a banging start with a slew of hip drinking and dining establishments opening their doors. If you’re looking to kick 2020 off on a delicious note, these are our picks for the top new restaurants and bars in Singapore that we see becoming fast fan favourites.
Restaurants
Mott 32
Our dim sum game just levelled up a notch with the announcement of Mott 32 slated to open at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands on 24 Jan 2020! While known for their contemporary Chinese cuisine, we are huge fans of their dim sum menu in Hong Kong, where it concept first launched courtesy ofMaximal Concepts. Now with locations around the world including Las Vegas, Vancouver and Seoul – Singapore will be the next lucky locale for this gorgeously executed concept. They have tapped award winning interior designer Joyce Wang to craft their ambiance for the space, and will also round out the experience with a well-crafted mixology programme.
The 149-seater Singapore restaurant will introduce exclusive dishes, such as the Signature Crispy Sugar Coated Peking Duck Bun, Crispy Prawns with Salty Egg Yolk and Oatmeal, and one of Singapore’s most well-known dishes, the Wok-Fried Live Whole Crab in Black Pepper Singapore Style.
Mott 32 will be open for dinner daily starting 24 January 2020, with lunch service commencing 11 February 2020.
Mott 32, B1-42/43/44, Galleria Level, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
1-V:U
Sentosa has a brand new lifestyle concept never seen before in Singapore and we can’t wait to check it out. 1-V:U is a sleek new day club occupying the entire rooftop of The Outpost Hotel and it features a pool overlooking Palawan Beach, DJs spinning beats from day until night, and a sleek restaurant serving up Asian bites from the land and the sea. Start with a chilled cocktail on the sun deck, then move inside for shared plates like the octopus with a gochujang emulsion or flat iron steak with XO pesto sauce.
1-V:U, 10 Artillery Avenue, The Outpost Hotel, Sentosa Island, Singapore 099951. p. +65 6513 7708. Restaurant: Open daily 6:30am – 10:30am, Mon – Fri 12pm – 2pm, Sun – Thurs 6pm – 9:30pm, Fri – Sat 6pm – 10pm, Sat – Sun 11:30am – 2:30pm (brunch). Day Club & Bar: Open Sun – Thurs 11am – 1am, Fri – Sat 11am – 3pm
Pistachio Grill at Wheelock Place
It wasn’t so long ago that we discovered Pistachio Grill, a hidden gem of a spot in Zhongshan Mall that served up seriously seductive Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food. Well it recently moved to Wheelock Place, which is perfect for those times when you need to fuel up before or after a shopping trip. Just like the previous space, this one is straight-forward and simple so you can focus wholly on the hearty, wholesome eats made with premium ingredients from scratch like succulent kebabs, shawarma wraps, and grilled chicken .
Pistachio Grill, 501 Orchard Road, #02-04/05 Wheelock Place, Singapore 238880. p. +65 6262 6400. Open daily 11:30am – 10pm
Burger Frites
Joo Chiat Road has a new burger joint that hits all the right spots with juicy US Angus beef patties, artisanal brioche buns from a French bakery, homemade sauces, and crispy golden fries double-fried for that extra crunch. You can also opt for a crispy chicken burger or a vegetarian version with breaded brie cheese. Do yourself a favour and order up a side of the addictive Jalapeño Cream Cheese Balls. Add a milkshake or a draught beer and you have the perfect comfort food indulgence.
Burger Frites, 340 Joo Chiat Rd, Singapore 427592. Open Tues – Fri 5pm – 11pm, Sat, Sun & PH 12pm – 11pm
Miyu
Looking for a new Japanese spot to get your sushi and sashimi fix? Miyu is a cosy little venue on Duxton Road offering up omakase menus that feature fresh, seasonal fish and produce flown in from Japan. Grab a seat at the counter and let the chefs wow you with buttery slabs of negitoro, subtly sweet crab meat with salty pops of roe, and creamy chawanmushi with fresh seafood. The lunch sets are good value, starting at just $38++ for five courses.
Miyu, 74 Duxton Road, Singapore 089533. p. +65 9839 5232. Open Mon – Sat 11:30am – 2:30pm, Mon – Thurs 6:30pm – 10:30pm, Fri 5:30pm – 10:30pm, Sat 6:30pm – 10:30pm
The Nomads
It’s not easy to find Central Asian cuisine in Singapore, so The Nomads is a much welcome addition to our culinary scene. The menu takes inspiration from the historic Silk Road trail with its mishmash of cultures, so you’ll find adventurous dishes like sturgeon with horseradish mash and filo, 48-hour braised beef tongue with burnt whole grain mustard cream, spiced beef jus and almonds, and charred heirloom carrots in an olive oil emulsion with coffee crumbs.
The Nomads, 70 Telok Ayer Street #01-01, Singapore 048462. p. +65 6977 7057. Open Mon – Sat 6pm – 11pm
Five Guys
American burger chains are wildly popular in Singapore right now (just check out the insane line-ups at Shake Shack), and Five Guys is the latest to hit our shores. The brand opened in Plaza Singapura in December and it was all-around madness as burgerphiles flocked to the counter to get their hands on the burgers, hot dogs and milkshakes. The key draw here is that nothing is frozen and everything is made fresh daily from scratch, so each bite is pure goodness.
Five Guys, 68 Orchard Road, Plaza Singapura #01-23, Singapore 238839. p. +65 6976 4385. Open daily 11am – 10pm
Burger+
If you haven’t experienced the East-meets-West creations at Burger+ yet, they now have a new spot in Clarke Quay where you can try burgers, hot dogs and fried chicken infused with Korean flavours. Popular menu items include the bulgogi burger and the Yangnyeom fried chicken with a slightly sweet, slightly fiery sauce. Pair your fusion eats with a Korean cocktail like the Yuza Ja with soju, honey, yuza and sparkling water. Night owls you’ll be happy to know the new locale stays open super late.
Burger+, 435 Orchard Road, Wisma Atria #01-37/38, Singapore 238877. p. +65 6694 1226. Open Sun – Thurs 8am – 10pm, Fri – Sat 8pm – 11pm. 6 Eu Tong Sen Street #01-07, Singapore 059817. p. +65 6909 5684. Open Sun – Thurs 8am – 1am, Fri – Sat 8am – 3am
Smalls
Chef Bjorn Shen has never been one to tamp down his creativity, and now he has a unique spot to really let loose and experiment with new flavours and ideas. Smalls is located in Shen’s former office in Artichoke and features just four seats where guests can get up close and personal with the chef and sample his omakase offerings. Word on the street is that he’s currently playing with variations of pizzas. Smalls will open just three days a week, and since space is super limited, reservations are essential.
Smalls, 161 Middle Rd (inside Artichoke), Singapore 188978. p. +65 6336 6949.
Zorba the Greek Taverna
Set next to the Singapore River in Clarke Quay, Zorba is striking new spot done up in Mediterranean hues of blue and white and offering authentic Greek cuisine. Fresh ingredients are flown in from Greece and artfully prepared in a variety of vegetarian, meat and seafood dishes. Start with a fresh tzatziki salad or beautifully layered moussaka, then try items straight off the grill like the lamb kebabs, octopus or sea bream.
Zorba the Greek Taverna, 3A River Valley Road, Clarke Quay, #01-02, Singapore 179024. p. +65 8558 1704. Open Mon – Sat 6pm – 12am
Royal Taj
Sample an array of delish dishes from various states across the Indian sub-continent at Royal Taj in the Village Hotel on sunny Sentosa. You’ll find all your favourites here like paneer achari tikka and butter chicken, as well as some international dishes like chicken lollipops with a spicy sauce and Singapore laksa. Come at lunchtime for a la carte selections, or bring the whole gang for dinner when they offer a sumptuous buffet.
Royal Taj, 2 Gunner Lane, Village Hotel, Sentosa Island, Singapore 099567. p. +65 8456 8535. Open 12pm – 3pm, 7pm – 10:30pm
Bars
No Sleep Club
Keong Saik has a new coffee and cocktail spot and it’s already winning points with punters for its easy-going, open-plan atmosphere and creative beverages. No Sleep Club is owned by two veterans of the Singapore bar scene, Juan Yi Jun, who worked Tippling Club and Operation Dagger and Jessica Hutch, who previously worked at 28 Hong Kong Street. Together they make a formidable team, whipping up unique drinks like the Hay & Apples with whisky and fermented, fizzy apple chamomile honey.
No Sleep Club, 20 Keong Saik Road, Singapore 089127. p. +65 8838 0188. Open Tues – Sat 10am – 12am, Sun 10am – 6pm
Bee’s Island Drinkery
We love the tropical vibes at Bee’s Island Drinkery, a fresh new spot in the Telok Ayer hood. Grab one of the turquoise-cushioned bar stools at the Peranakan-tiled bar and settle in for a few tiki style drinks amid hanging plants and funky jungle-patterned walls. During the day you can fuel up on fresh fruit juices and Asian-inspired wraps, and come evening it’s all about fun cocktails with a focus on rum. Bar bites include the grilled mushrooms and curry chicken skewers.
Bee’s Island Drinkery, 72 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 048460. p. +65 8201 0204. Open Mon – Tues 11:30am – 4pm, 5pm – 11pm, Wed – Fri 11:30am – 4pm, 5pm – 12am, Sat 5pm – 12am
Barbary Coast
Barbary Coast pays homage to the 1800s when both Singapore and the namesake coast in San Francisco were booming. During that period, ships would flock to Boat Quay, where taverns were bustling with sailors from around the world. Step inside the bar and you find a rustic ground floor space serving up craft beers and cocktails out of a glass vat. For a bit more opulence, head upstairs to the ballroom with its velvet banquettes and exclusive VIP booths.
Barbary Coast, 16 North Canal Road, Singapore 048828. Open Mon 4pm – 1am, Tues – Wed 4pm – 2am, Thurs – Sat 4pm – 3am
Sling
Maison Ikkoku has a new craft cocktail bar taking over the art gallery space, and it’s dedicated to the iconic Singapore Sling. However, don’t expect the same old syrupy sweet drink. The five interpretations here are made with all-natural ingredients and feature modern twists. Take for example the Majulah Sling, which is more on the dry side and features Campari, or the Coco Sling with roasted coconut and coconut foam. Peranakan snacks are also on offer.
Sling, 20 Kandahar Street, Singapore 198885. p. +65 6294 0078. Open Mon – Thurs 11:30am – 3pm, 6pm – 1am, Fri 11:30am – 3pm, 6pm – 2am, Sat 11:30am – 2am, Sun 11:30am – 1am
