Hungry in Singapore: The Ultimate Dining Guide

Approximately halfway through my month-long stay in Singapore, I was fortunate enough, after entering a giveaway competition via Instagram, to have won a little black book, titled ‘Hungry in Singapore’. In it contained 40 different exclusive privileges to redeem at a mix of hip cafes, unique eateries, award-winning fine dining restaurants, alluring speakeasy bars, and trendy beach clubs. It really was the ultimate dining guide!

The exclusive privileges ranged from receiving 1-for-1 main dishes, up to 30% off the entire food bill, and complimentary starters, desserts, or cocktails. Some deals were, naturally, better than others so prioritised visiting the venues which offered the best deals, where the most money would be saved! Out of the 40 different deals in the book, I managed to redeem 11 of them (below), so all in all, not a terrible effort, if I do say so myself!

For all the best places to drink in Singapore view Drinking Sky High in Singapore

For accommodation in Singapore read about my stay at Marina Bay Sands and Grand Park City Hall

CÉ LA VI | MARINA BAY

DEAL: RECEIVE A COMPLIMENTARY DESSERT PLATTER FOR TWO WITH ANY ORDER.

Ride the elevator 57 floors up to the rooftop of the iconic Marina Bay Sands hotel and you'll find CÉ LA VI - a club lounge, restaurant, and sky bar. Featuring the city’s most stunning skyline views, a drink and bite to eat at CÉ LA VI is an absolute must, especially for all first-timers to Singapore. During our overnight stay at Marina Bay Sands (read about my stay at Marina Bay Sands here), after enjoying a selection of bar snacks at CÉ LA VI’s club lounge, we moved to the restaurant to enjoy a complimentary dessert platter for two - we didn’t even have to order anything else with it! Notably, an admission charge of S$22.00 applies for all non-hotel guests before 10.00pm, however, this is redeemable towards food and beverage purchases.

For overnight accommodation read about my stay at Marina Bay Sands

View Ce La Vi’s a la carte menu.

1 Bayfront Avenue Level 57, Marina Bay Sands SkyPark Hotel Tower 3, Singapore 018971

Open 7 Days Midday - 4.00am (Sunday - Tuesday closes at 2.00am)

WHAT WAS ORDERED:

DESSERT PLATTER

AURA | DOWNTOWN - (rebranded as art)

DEAL: BUY A PASTA OR MAIN DISH TO RECEIVE THE SECOND ONE COMPLIMENTARY.

The dinner my brother and I had at the fine-dining Italian restaurant Aura, where we effectively enjoyed 50% off, was easily one of the best deals in the book. At the time, Aura was considered to be a modern multi-concept dining destination spanning across two floors of the historic National Gallery Singapore, comprising of an intimate all-day Italian restaurant - where we ate - as well as a stylish, luxe rooftop Sky Lounge with panoramic five-star city views of the Marina Bay skyline. Since my trip last year, the Aura Italian restaurant has rebranded to ‘Art’, however still remains an elegant contemporary Italian restaurant and is owned and operated by the same people, the ilLido Group, which manages a range of Italian eateries in Singapore as well as the Sky Lounge upstairs, which is still known as Aura.

View Art’s menu.

1 St Andrew's Rd, 06-02, Singapore 178957

Open 7 Days 11.30am - 11:15pm

WHAT WAS ORDERED:

PRAWN RISOTTO

common man stan | cbd

DEAL: BUY A MAIN DISH TO RECEIVE THE SECOND ONE COMPLIMENTARY.

There are two ‘Common Man’ cafes in Singapore (and Malaysia), both of which were included in the book - Common Man Coffee Roasters in River Valley, on the outskirts of the city, and Common Man Stan, in Singapore’s CBD. I elected to visit Common Man Stan over Common Man Coffee Roasters because its location proved to be more convenient, plus the redeemable deal offered better value, as the other deal meant you’d only receive 15% off your food bill. Therefore, one morning, with a fellow UQ student who was interning at offices situated in the CBD, not far of a walk from the cafe, we left a little earlier than usual and visited Common Man Stan for breakfast. We both ordered a sweet breakfast - french toast and pancakes - and each enjoyed what we ordered. My pancakes, in particular, were delicious and was such a generous sized dish I struggled to finish them.

11-12 Stanley St, Singapore 068730

Open 7 Days 7.30am - 5.30pm

WHAT WAS ORDERED:

BRIOCHE FRENCH TOAST served with berry compote, maple syrup and vanilla ice cream.

COMMON MAN FLUFFY PANCAKES served with caramelised banana, walnuts, salted caramel sauce, nut crumble and berry coulis.

FAT PRINCE | CBD

DEAL: RECEIVE TWO COMPLIMENTARY HOUSE COCKTAILS WITH ANY ORDER.

Cafe by day, bar by night, Fat Prince is a modern Middle Eastern restaurant, well known for its mouth-watering, one-of-a-kind kebabs, mezze, and its selection of curated ‘koktails’, all inspired by the streets and stories of today’s nomad. I visited early one Thursday night - the final night before all the other UQ students departed and the night before my brother arrived - to enjoy a couple of complimentary cocktails and bar snacks (or dinner for me).

View Fat Prince’s food menu and drinks menu.

48 Peck Seah St #01-01, Singapore 079317

Open 6 Days Monday - Saturday 11.30am - 9.00pm (Friday & Saturday open till midnight)

WHAT WAS ORDERED:

SAGANAKI PRAWN

PEPPER SQUID

CAESAR’S LAST WORD Thyme-infused beefeater gin, yellow chartreuse, maraschino.

MALEFICENT Cimarron tequila, zhoug, lime, agave.

summerlong | Robertson quay

DEAL: RECEIVE TWO COMPLIMENTARY HOUSE COCKTAILS WITH ANY ORDER.

After finishing interning for the day, I met a fellow UQ student at Summerlong in Singapore’s Robertson Quay for a couple of complimentary cocktails. Situated along the river, Summerlong had a very Mediterranean, summery, welcoming, relaxed, laid-back vibe, which was reflected in the food offered, with a variety of Greek dips, mezze, souvlaki and other Eastern Mediterranean-inspired dishes featuring on its menu. Unlike a couple of other bars visited in the book offering complimentary cocktails with any order, which allowed us to pick any of the cocktails on the menu, we only had one choice at Summerlong. However, before even knowing this, we were both eyeing off the cocktail we ‘had to have’ anyway, which was gin-based, with passionfruit and lychee, and was so good, especially with the hummus we shared, which was also equally delicious.

View Summerlong’s menu.

60 Robertson Quay #01-04, Singapore 238252

Open 7 Days 5.30pm - 9.00pm (Friday & Saturday open till 10.00pm, Saturday & Sunday opens from 10.30am)

WHAT WAS ORDERED:

CLASSIC HUMMUS Semi-dried tomato and olive oil served with grilled pita flat bread.

ORACLE’S ELIXIR Gin, passionfruit and lychee.

BUTCHER BOY | CHINATOWN

DEAL: BUY TWO MAIN DISHES TO RECEIVE TWO SUNDAES COMPLIMENTARY.

Finding ourselves wandering around the incredibly colourful neighbourhood of Chinatown one afternoon looking for a place to enjoy a late lunch and finding few eateries still serving lunch, we stumbled into Butcher Boy, an Asian fusion bar and grill. As it was a Sunday, Butcher Boy was offering a good ol’ Sunday roast, which I ended up having. ‘The Butchers Block’ included either roast beef or roast pork belly (I opted for the pork) and was served with roast potatoes, Szechuan brussel sprouts, Yorkshire puddings, and carrot miso mash. Although I was starving, because it was so late, it was a lot, so there was still plenty left. Plus, with the deal, we did receive two complimentary sundaes, which I really couldn’t possibly fit in, though did have a taste and find it wasn’t too my liking anyway.

View Butcher Boy’s menu.

31 Keong Saik Rd., Singapore 089138

Open 7 Days Midday - 9.30pm

WHAT WAS ORDERED:

THE BUTCHERS BLOCK Roast pork belly with roast potatoes, Szechuan brussel sprouts, Yorkshire pudding and carrot miso mash.

BUTCHER BOT BACON & CHEESEBURGER

neon pigeon | chinatown

DEAL: RECEIVE TWO COMPLIMENTARY HOUSE COCKTAILS WITH ANY ORDER.

With the temptation of another two complimentary cocktails waiting to be drunk at another hip Singapore bar, hopping from one bar to the next, I visited Neon Pigeon in Chinatown. Neon Pigeon, its name derived from Tokyo, commonly referred to as the ‘Neon City’, and the prevalence of pigeons in all urban cities, is considered to be a modern urban izakaya - an eating drinking social house embodying the Japanese culture of living. Beyond serving up mouth-watering progressive Japanese food, Neon Pigeon also has an impressive cocktail list, which made it difficult to choose which complimentary cocktail to order - turned out we ordered the most extravagant ones, as you can see by the photographs below!

1 Keong Saik Rd., Singapore 089109

Open 6 Days Monday - Saturday 6.00pm - 10.30pm (Friday & Saturday open till midnight)

WHAT WAS ORDERED:

SOFT SHELL CRAB BAO Black pepper teriyaki, corn and avocado.

CITRUS Dark rum, citrus cello, rose wine and chamomile cointreau.

IS IT MOJITO? Sakura tea infused white rum, yellow chartreuse, sea buck thorn, apple cinnamon and pineapple rum.

THE LOKAL | tiong bahru

DEAL: RECEIVE 15% OFF THE BILL

I visited The Lokal late on a Saturday morning, on my third weekend in Singapore. It was the first weekend I decided to ‘do my own thing’ and go off on my own, without any of the other students - mainly because I simply wasn’t particularly interested in anything they had planned - and The Lokal was the first place I visited from the book. So, I remember waking up quite late, after a much-needed sleep in and then immediately getting into a Grab - the Singaporean equivalent of an Uber - and heading straight to The Lokal. Despite its position on the edge of Singapore’s Chinatown, you could easily think you’ve just stepped into a cafe you’d find back in Australia, and that’s because The Lokal is a casual Australian restaurant and bar founded by an Australian chef serving Australian classics with a twist - so it really did feel like home!

What I also remember from that morning is I was absolutely STARVING and so so so looking forward to my eggs benedict which I ordered, as I love eggs benedict and hadn’t had a proper breakfast (a McDonald’s breakfast doesn’t count, does it?!) for pretty much the whole time I had been Singapore - plus I was STARVING, as mentioned! Therefore, it may very well have been for all those factors mentioned, but the breakfast I had was amazing!

View The Lokal’s menu.

136 Neil Rd, Singapore 088865

Open 5 Days Wednesday - Sunday 9.00am - 9.00pm

WHAT WAS ORDERED:

EGGS BENEDICT Poached eggs, dry-cured bacon, ham and hollandaise sauce on toasted brioche.

CARROTSTICKS & CRAVINGS | DEMPSEY HILL

DEAL: BUY A MAIN DISH TO RECEIVE THE SECOND ONE COMPLIMENTARY.

Late one Sunday morning, with a fellow UQ student, I visited Carrotsticks and Cravings for breakfast, which was situated in an area of Singapore known as Dempsey Hill, a tranquil hideaway that has been relatively recently been redeveloped to become a dining, entertainment and shopping destination. As we were approaching the cafe in the Grab I began to think the driver hadn’t gotten lost or gone the wrong way, as suddenly we were surrounded by lush greenery - a massive contrast to the CBD of Singapore, not far away at all. However, it turned out we were in fact at the right place!

Dubbed Singapore’s healthy food haven, the focus of the cafe, which also has a cooking school closeby, is all about balanced eating and home-style cooking, which was clear from the menu. Like The Lokal, a surprisingly large number of eateries in the book, Carrotsticks and Cravings was founded and is owned by an Australian, specifically Melbourne expat and cook book author, Terri-Anne. Its Australia influence is obvious when you notice a signature smashed avo dish on the menu and authentic Melbourne coffee being brewed!

So, although not looking like much from the outside - very ‘rustic’ - the organic gluten-free and refined sugar-free - very healthy! - blueberry oat pancakes and berry oat smoothie I had was very enjoyable.

View Carrotsticks & Cravings menu.

75E Loewen Rd, Singapore 248845

Open 7 Days 8.00am - 3.00pm (Saturday & Sunday open till 4.00pm)

WHAT WAS ORDERED:

PANCAKES THE RIGHT WAY Organic gluten free and refined sugar free blueberry oat pancakes served with Greek yoghurt, seasonal berries and organic Canadian maple syrup.

BERRY OAT SMOOTHIE Berries, oats, chia seeds and milk.

SYMMETRY | arab quarter

DEAL: BUY A MAIN DISH TO RECEIVE THE SECOND ONE COMPLIMENTARY.

Situated just outside Singapore’s Arab Quarter, Symmetry was located only a short walk away from the office where I was interning during my time in Singapore. As a result, I enjoyed lunch here in my final week in my lunch break, along with the other UQ student who had also been interning alongside me. Established in 2012 and inspired by modern Australian cuisine, Symmetry offers an all-day dining menu, meaning you can enjoy breakfast no matter the time, or alternatively savour one of the restaurant’s gourmet burgers, pasta dishes or dinner specials (available from 6pm). Although I did not take any photographs of my meal I remember I ordered a fresh piece of salmon in a broth with prawns - as that was the first time I had salmon in weeks!

View Symmetry’s all-day menu and drinks menu.

9 Jln Kubor, #01-01, Singapore 199206

Open 7 Days 9.00am - 9.00pm (Sunday closes at 7.00pm)

TANJONG BEACH CLUB | SENTOSA ISLAND

DEAL: RECEIVE A COMPLIMENTARY BOTTLE OF PROSECCO WITH A MINIMUM SPEND OF $150.

A serene sanctuary located on the finest sun-soaked stretch of sand in Sentosa, Tanjong Beach Club, lauded by Condé Nast Traveller as one of the World's Best Beach Clubs, is the ultimate coastal retreat away from the hustle and bustle of the concrete jungle, mere minutes away. Cross between a laid-back beach diner and a classy all-day beach club on the French Riveria, Tanjong Beach Club really does feel like a slice of tropical paradise a world away from Singapore’s busy, always-on city.

A relaxed, carefree day lazing and sipping tropical cocktails by Tanjong Beach Club’s stunning beachfront infinity-edge pool had always been high on my list of things I wanted to do whilst in Singapore, ever since I saw pictures online of the glorious place months prior to my departure. I first visited Tanjong Beach Club with a few other UQ students who were with me on the trip, after spending most of the day at nearby Universal Studios. As it was a Sunday afternoon, the place was, unsurprisingly absolutely buzzing. With a DJ and dancing, it was the ultimate beach party!

After only enjoying a few drinks and not getting the chance to take a dip, plus with my brother joining me in Singapore for a few days, I knew I definitely wanted to return and spend a longer time really soaking up the place. Consequently, I reserved one of the many daybeds - I choose one poolside, rather than on the beach - for a few hours on a much quieter weekday - where it was less beach party, more peaceful hideaway. Though it was overcast and did rain for awhile - pretty much as soon we arrived and for almost the first time since I had been there for a month - thankfully, it reasonably quickly cleared up, allowing us to enjoy a lovely afternoon swimming, drinking (including a complimentary bottle of prosecco, thanks to the ‘Hungry in Singapore’ book!), eating, and just blissfully unwinding.

View Tanjong Beach Club’s all-day menu.

120 Tanjong Beach Walk, Sentosa, Singapore 098942

Open 7 Days 11.00am - 7.00pm (Saturday & Sunday open from 9.00am till 10.00pm)

WHAT WAS ORDERED:

BEER BATTERED FISH & CHIPS Snapper, chips, tartare and lemon.

OTHER DEALS MISSED:

Akira Back at the JW Marriott South Beach in Downtown - 15% OFF THE BILL
Amò in Downtown - 25% OFF THE BILL
Artemis Grill & Bar in Downtown - BUY TWO MAIN DISHES TO RECEIVE TWO GLASSES OF WINE COMPLIMENTARY
Beach Road Kitchen at the JW Marriott South Beach in Downtown - 20% OFF THE BILL
Cool Cats at the NCO Club in Downtown - 25% OFF THE BILL
Madame Fan at the NCO Club in Downtown - COMPLIMENTARY SEASONAL DISH WITH ANY ORDER
Birds of a Feather in CBD - WITH EVERY PURCHASE OF A SMALL PLATE GET A SECOND ONE COMPLIMENTARY
Chef’s Table by Chef Stephan in CBD - 20% OFF THE FOOD BILL
Gemmills in CBD (PERMANENTLY CLOSED) - BUY A MAIN DISH TO RECEIVE THE SECOND COMPLIMENTARY
Moosehead in CBD - BUY A MAIN DISH TO RECEIVE THE SECOND COMPLIMENTARY
Native in CBD - 10% OFF FOOD BILL
Bistecca in River Valley - BUY TWO MAIN DISHES TO RECEIVE TWO GLASSES OF HOUSE WINE, BEER, OR SPARKLING COMPLIMENTARY
Publico Ristorante at the InterContinental in Robertson Quay - BUY TWO MAIN DISHES TO RECEIVE TWO DESSERTS COMPLIMENTARY
Toby’s Estate in Robertson Quay - 20% OFF THE BILL
Common Man Coffee Roasters in Robertson Quay - 15% OFF THE BILL
Cibo Italiano in Robertson Quay - 15% OFF THE BILL
Jones the Grocer in Robertson Quay / Dempsey Hill - BUY A MAIN DISH TO RECEIVE THE SECOND COMPLIMENTARY & A $5 CHEESE ROOM VOUCHER
Blu Kouzina in Dempsey Hill - BUY A MAIN DISH TO RECEIVE THE SECOND COMPLIMENTARY
Blu Meze in Dempsey Hill - BUY A MAIN DISH TO RECEIVE THE SECOND COMPLIMENTARY
Como Cuisine in Dempsey Hill - BUY TWO MAIN DISHES TO RECEIVE TWO DESSERTS COMPLIMENTARY
Maison Ikkoku in the Arab Quarter - BUY TWO MAIN DISHES TO RECEIVE TWO DESSERTS COMPLIMENTARY
Forty Hands in East Coast / Chinatown - BUY A MAIN DISH TO RECEIVE THE SECOND COMPLIMENTARY
Don Ho in Chinatown - BUY FOUR SHARED DISHES TO RECEIVE TWO GLASSES OF WINE COMPLIMENTARY
Oxwell & Co in Chinatown - 20% OFF THE FOOD BILL
Plain Vanilla in Tiong Bahru - 20% OFF THE BILL
Panamericana in Sentosa Island - 17% OFF THE BILL
The Naked Finn in Gillman Barracks - BUY A SET MENU FOR TWO TO RECEIVE TWO COMPLIMENTARY GLASSES OF SPARKLING HOUSE WINE.