PUBLISHED September 10th, 2024 10:00 am | UPDATED September 26th, 2024 07:10 pm
Looking at one of the most popular dining areas in Singapore, it’s hard to imagine its days with dodgy KTVs. Today, the neighbourhood is filled with some of the top spots to eat and drink and we share 12 of them in our dining guide to Duxton. Find everything from Asian, African, and Italian to yummilicious tipples and hidden gems. Here’s the lowdown on where to eat and drink yourselves silly around the trendy hood.
Araya
The first to bring South American fine dining to Singapore, Araya is an intimate, 30-seat restaurant offering guests a personal dining experience at its beautiful rose quartz counter. Helmed by Michelin-starred Chef Francisco Araya and Chef Fernanda Guerrero, the seven to eight course prix fixe menus blend the best of South American flavours with Japanese influences. Its current dinner menu is built around the Chilean Coastal and Andean mountain range, with marine-based Costa (S$368++) and the land-based Andes (S$298++). Plant-based folks can reach for the Vegetariano (S$298++) , inspired by the South Pacific plantae. No matter which you choose, you’ll revel in the perfect fusion of culture and techniques, with delicate sweet endings for the perfect finish. Read our review here.
Araya is located at Mondrian Singapore Duxton, 83 Neil Road. #01-08, Singapore 089813. Open Tue – Thu 6pm -11pm, Fri – Sat 12pm –3 pm, 6.30pm –11 pm. Closed Sun & Mon.
Tribal Dining
This cosy 58-seater restaurant offers a communal dining experience kissed by the flames. With a focus on Asian Fusion flavours, Tribal combines Chinese, Filipino, Indonesian, Japanese, and Thai influences in their menu serving dishes like the Yellowtail Umai (S$24++) , a Sawarakian twist to ceviche. The slow-cooked Santori Organic Kampung Chicken (S$38++) fired to a tender perfection and is accompanied by a floral and nutty condiment with Filipino and Vietnamese roots. But don’t leave without tucking into the moreish Fried Duck Neck (S$21++), where the otherwise discarded duck neck is turned into a “finger-licking-good” snack; dip into the Thai fish sauce for extra oomph! Read our review here.
Tribal Dining is located at first floor of Mondrian Singapore Duxton located at 83 Neil Rd, #01-07, Singapore 089813, p.+65 9789 4699. Open Mon- Sat 12pm -2pm, 6pm -9.30pm. Closed Sun.
Cat Bite Club
A haven for agave and rice spirits, Cat Bite Club is best known for their distinct Southeast Asian and Mexican mixes and as they mark their first year with a new menu, we can expect more classic spinoffs to come. The agave twist of Highball comes in the fizzy and savoury Hulk Splash (S$28++) mixed in with tequila, citrus fruits, fernet, and roasted broccoli. The rice version, Return of the Mak (S$25++) is led by Makgeolli and Soju, enhanced with the flavours of sherry, persimmon, and fresh citrus blend. Line your stomach with bar grub like Korean Chicken Al Pastor Quesadilla (S$19++) or the Tortilla Chips & Guac (S$15++). The speakeasy bar is marked by a neon-lighted Cat and lies behind Monument Coffee.
Cat Bite Club is located at 75 Duxton Rd, Singapore 089534, p.+65 8190 6597. Open daily 5pm -12am.
Tippling Club
Technically not within Duxton but it’s close enough, plus it just seems too much of a shame not to include it. The funky restaurant-bar under Chef Ryan Clift is known for their awesome experimental mishmash of tasty ingredients. Tippling Club is also one of the firsts in Singapore to serve up Forged Parfait, the umami delicacy cultured from the stem cells of Japanese quail. Savour it in the Tasting Dinner Menu (from S$250++) where Chef Clift reimagines a traditional French dessert into a sweet, savoury, and umami delight in the Forged Mont Blanc. You’ll also get to feast on other creations such as the Air Baguette topped with dutch eel and a super appetising Chilled Tomato Gelée. Find your First Kiss (S$26++) at the cocktail bar, mixed in with aquavit, aperol, grapefruit, and love potion lactose. Or recall your First Phone (S$26++) with nikka coffey malt black with kampot pepper.
Tippling Club is located at 38 Tanjong Pagar Rd, Singapore 088461, p+65 6475 2217. Open Mon-Tue, Thu 12pm – 12am, Fri -Sat 12pm – 2am, Sun 3 – 7pm. Closed Wed.
Tamba
Tamba, the vibrant West African-inspired restaurant celebrates the flavors and spirit of the region with West African classics like Jollof Rice (S$35++), packed with succulent smoked pork belly and a side of sakura chicken. Reach for the Pepper Soup ($35++) loaded with seafood and beef offal, and with its habanero kick – perfect for a chilly day! Complementing the food is a drink program built on a base of African spirits, such as The Next Pelé (S$30++) made with tamarind cachaca, lime, and long pepper, for a refreshing and peppery finish. It even comes with the image of the football player! Read our review here.
Tamba is located at 101 Duxton Road, Singapore 089964, p. +65 6513 5388. Open Tue-Sat 6pm-11.30pm. Closed Sun-Mon.
Yue Bai
Blending gastronomy, art, and traditional Chinese dietary therapy, Yue Bai offers a refined take on Chinese cuisine designed to nourish the body. Chef-owner Lee Hongwei crafts dishes inspired by Huang Di Nei Jing and adapts the menu to the changing seasons according to the lunar calendar, alongside some everlasting selections which are good through the year. Snacks like the Crispy Burdock with Sesame and Spice Powder (S$14++), with high fibre content, delights with its crunch and flavours. Nourish your stomach with the Double-boiled Superior Soup (S$22++), featuring Korean snow pear, dendrobium orchid, and wolfberries or go for the seasonal menu which starts from S$98++ per person. Read our review here.
Yue Bai is located at 33 Duxton Rd, Singapore 089497, p. +65 9721 8055. Open Wed-Sun 11.45am-3pm, 5.45pm -10pm. Closed Mon and Tue.
Xiao Ya Tou
A fusion concept from the folks behind Symmetry, restaurant-bar Xiao Ya Tou puts its own playful spin on modern Asian cuisine. Start off with their Lobster Kueh Pie Tee (S$24++), which feature lobsters, prawns, and picked mangoes set within a crispy shell. If you get a chance, try the Truffle Roast Duck (S$32++) that’s available in limited portions each day. The elevated duck is seasoned with a Chinese-spiced truffle sauce that’ll leave you smacking your lips for more. Even the drinks at Xiao Ya Tou get the local touch – imbibe uniquely Asian cocktails like the Milo Dinosaur (S$21++) which sees vodka and whisky stirred in with chocolate liqueur and a Milo ice ball. Remembering the coffeeshop uncles in the form of Coffee & Cigarette (S$22++); a drink with black coffee liqueur, whisky, and honey.
Xiao Ya Tou is located at 6 Duxton Hill, #01-01, Singapore 089592, p. +65 6226 1965. Open Mon – Thu 11.30am – 11pm, Fri – Sat 11.30am – 11.30pm, Sun 11.30am – 10pm.
Etna Italian Restaurant
From humble trattoria to sophisticated Italian restaurant, Etna Italian Restaurant may have evolved but it stays true to its Italian roots, using only quality ingredients from Italy. Yet, it still manages to serve up affordability in their three-course weekday set lunch which is priced at S$27.80++. If not for their warm hospitality and ambience, you’ll find yourself returning for comfort grub like the shellfish-stuffed Ravioli ai Crostacei (S$38++) and homemade tagliatelle pasta in Tagliatelle alla Callara (S$28++) finished in braised lamb sauce and pecorino cheese. There’s a diverse selection of antipasti and cheesy pizzas to indulge in, along with classic desserts like the Cannolo ETNA (S$14++) filled with ricotta cheese and chocolate chips.
Etna Italian Restaurant is located at 49/50 Duxton Rd, Singapore 089513, p.+65 6220 5513. Open daily 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm.
RPM by D.Bespoke
The laidback younger sibling of Ginza-style speakeasy D.Bespoke, RPM is a shrine to shochu. Besides a formidable collection of shochus organised by prefecture, there’s a cocktail list featuring classics reinvented with shochu as the base – think Shochu Martini (S$23) and a wonderfully tangy RPM Dark & Stormy (S$23). No one’s judging if you order a shochu smoothie either – the Osaka Mix (S$24) is a tropical fruit explosion that’ll brighten up your night. As you sip, enjoy jazz and funk tunes from RPM’s 1000-strong stash of vintage vinyl.
RPM by D.Bespoke is located at 16 Duxton Rd, Singapore 089482, p. +65 8359 1334. Open Tues-Fri 6pm – 12am, Sat-Sun 3pm – 12am. Closed Mon.
Lucha Loco
Lucha Loco is largely responsible for changing the face of the area and pumping fresh life into the neighbourhood. This colourful cocina-bar dishes up authentically-inspired contemporary Mexican food and top-notch agave-forward tequila creations. Sink your teeth into crowd-pleasers like the Lamb Tacos (S$12++) folded in with succulent braised lamb, grilled tomato and red onion salsa, and Elotes (S$8++) – a popular street-style grilled corn drizzled with chipotle mayo, cotija cheese and lime. Don’t miss out on their delightful mezcal cocktails that are bound to win you over.
Lucha Loco is located at 15 Duxton Hill, Singapore 089598, p+65 8798 1035. Open Mon – Thu 11.30am – 11pm, Fri – Sat 11.30am – 12.30pm. Closed Sun.
Praelum Wine Bistro
Attention wine enthusiasts, this is where you should be heading to for your dose of vino. Run by talented sommelier Gerald Lu, this is a great stop for sampling a few wines from their 1000 bottle-strong cellar, or even popping open a few bottles if you’re so inclined. Naturally, the food here – predominantly European with French techniques – melds perfectly with their wines. Wine pairing or not, you won’t go wrong with the crowd-favourite Crab Cakes (3 pieces, S$18++), stuffed with swimmer crab legs or the braised Angus beef cheeks in the Beef Bourguignon (S$40++). We’ll leave it to the experts at Praelum Wine Bistro to tell you all about their wines; they even offer tasting flights for WSETs and CMS practice.
Praelum Wine Bistro is located at 4 Duxton Hill, Singapore 089590, p.+65 9022 0141. Open Mon-Sat 6pm – 112am. Closed Sun.
Latteria Mozzarella Bar
The family-style Southern Italian may be the biggest mozzarella bar in Singapore (hence its name), it still serves up some pretty impressive dishes like the fork-tender Stinco di Agnello al Nebbiolo ( from S$32++), an eight-hour slow cooked lamb shank served with mashed potato and caramelised pistachio. On the dairy side of things, you can expect the freshest mozzarella and burrata cheese interpreted in various dishes, like the sinful Bocconcini ‘in Carrozza’ (S$25++) made with deep-fried buffalo milk mozzarella in spicy arrabbiata sauce. Their three-course lunch menu (S$37++) is a steal with selections like Latteria’s Chicken Cordon Bleu and Homemade Gnocchi “al Pesto Genovese”, or round up your pals for a lavish Sunday Brunch at S$68++ per person at the pretty alfresco terrace.
Latteria Mozzarella is located at 40 Duxton Hill, Singapore 089618, p.+65 6025 6025. Open daily 12pm – 2.30 pm, 6pm – 10.30pm.
Top Image Lucha Loco