PUBLISHED April 6th, 2017 06:00 am | UPDATED May 18th, 2020 04:47 pm
There’re no signs of slowing down when it comes to new F&B establishments – from international burger and ramen imports to Asian-influenced bars and a new growler bistro. What we’re most excited about: a new bakery concept centred around massive wood-fired ovens.
New Restaurants in Singapore
Don Ho
New on the Keong Saik Road block is Don Ho, an industrial-tropical themed restaurant bringing you divine food, exceptional cocktails, and hearty conversations. As expected of the folks behind Sunshine Nation, you’ll be munching on fusion East and West dishes and sipping innovative tipples to the playlist of Motown soul and other groovy numbers. Think dishes like Smoked Sweet Potato Hummus with hazelnut dukkah, burnt onions, and homemade focaccia – all thanks to their wood-fired oven.
Don Ho is located at 1 Keong Saik Rd, Singapore 089109. p. +65 6223 5001. Open Tue-Sat 6pm – 12am. Closed Sun & Mon.
Menya Sakura
Straight from Japan’s Aichi Prefecture comes Menya Sakura, dishing out piping hot bowls of Nagoya-style ramen known for its rich meat and seafood soup. Highlights at this charming 68-seater ramen house include the Tonkotsu Ramen ($10.90), simmered for 12 hours, its spicy variant ($11.90), and a signature Chuka Soba ($10.90) that features a light chicken broth and fish dashi. Don’t feel like having noodles? Tuck into snack-sized don bowls with toppings like chashu and soy sauce ($6.90) or truffle oil, onsen egg, and kombu ($6.90).
Menya Sakura is located at 69 Boat Quay, Singapore 049857, p. +65 9469 3366. Open Mon-Sat 11.30am – 10.30pm.
25 Degrees Burgers & Liquor Bar
Swing by this American-style diner over at Hotel G for juicy burgers, all for under $20. Named after the precise temperature difference between a raw and well-done patty, the Los Angeles export – along with its signature funky music and swanky décor – offers up five burgers to choose from, including the Blue Cheese, Bacon and Thousand Island Burger, and the Mezzo Secco Jack Cheese Burger with Chipotle and Avocado. Don’t miss out on the weekday lunch set deals ($18) as well, beer included!
25 Degrees Burgers & Liquor Bar is located at 200 Middle Rd, Singapore 188980, p. +65 6809 7990. Open Mon-Thu 11am – 1am, Fri-Sat 11am – 2am, Sun 11am – 9pm.
Firebake
As its name might suggest, Firebake is focused on the craft of sourdough breadmaking using historical European methods – that is, to be baked with wood-fired bread ovens handbuilt from 37 tonnes of brick, sand, and mortar. But that’s not all; the full-service restaurant also dishes out selected slow-cooked dishes, from tartines and sandwiches to stews, and grilled meats. Heck, even the desserts are baked. Highlights include the 4-Spice Chicken Liver Pate ($12) and Cured Norwegian Salmon with Bread Crust ($25).
Firebake is located at 237 East Coast Rd, Singapore 428930. p. +65 6440 1228. Open Tue-Sun 6pm – 10pm. Closed Mon.
The Dempsey Cookhouse and Bar
The Dempsey Cookhouse and Bar marks Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s (the legendary restaurateur with over 30 concepts worldwide) first foray into Singapore’s F&B scene, showcasing his distinctive vegetable-forward style – preferring the textures and flavours of quality produce over traditional meat stocks and creams. Here, signature elements like an open kitchen elevates the cooking process into a performing art.
The Dempsey Cookhouse and Bar is located at 17D Dempsey Rd, Singapore 249676, p. +65 1800 304 5588. Open Sun-Thu 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10pm, Fri 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 11pm, Sat 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm.
Growlers Craft Beer & Bistro
Need a beer? Go for a whole growler at Growlers, the newest craft beer bar in Singapore. Their brews possess a unique flavour, aroma, and balance that when mixed with the artery-clogging bar grub – beer battered fish & chips, salted egg yolk chicken burger, and beer battered spam fries – is absolutely satisfying. Look out for the weekday lunch deals ($10.90), which includes a soup or salad, a main, and coffee or tea.
Growlers Craft Beer & Bistro is located at 37 Thai Thong Crescent, Singapore 347862, p. +65 8118 4677 Open Tue-Thu 11am – 11pm, Fri-Sun 11am – 12am. Closed Mon.
O’Coffee Club Xpress
Lunch doesn’t always have to take up too much of your time, let alone a fancy two-hour affair. Enter O’Coffee Club Express, the coffee chain’s latest grab-and-go concept that sees wholesome superfoods such as beetroot, pumpkin, purple sweet potato, and nutritious proteins like chicken, salmon, and a variety of nuts to keep you energised all day. Plus, all sandwiches, wraps, salads, and soups here are made twice daily for maximum freshness. Need an extra strong wake-me-up? Try the organic Jeju cold brew.
O’Coffee Club Xpress is located at #B1-25 Raffles Exchange, 5 Raffles Place, Singapore 048618, p. +65 6443 2932. Open Mon-Fri 7am – 8pm, Sat 7am – 2pm. Closed Sun.
New Bars in Singapore
Anarchy Wine + Brew Bar
Chocolate-brewed beverages by day, unconventional wine bar by night – this sounds like our kind of place. Anarchy is a maverick of sorts, so leave all your expectations and reservations at the door and enter into a world of absolute freedom and zero judgement. As you’ll be able to tell by the bottles, the wines are not your standard fare, instead being sourced from small boutique producers with interesting stories to tell. Highlights of the grub here include Baked Yuzu Miso Mussels and the Foie Gras Burger. The hungry will find rice bowls featuring the likes of Sesame Smoked Salmon and Truffle Yakiniku to fill their bellies.
Anarchy Wine + Brew Bar is located at 1 Selegie Rd #01-02, Singapore 188306, p. +65 6334 3137. Open Mon-Thu 5pm – 10pm, Fri-Sat 5pm – 12am, Sun 5pm – 9pm.
The Warehouse Hotel Lobby Bar
A lobby bar it may be, but you can bet that the cocktails at The Warehouse Hotel won’t lose out to the big boys. Even if you’re not spending a night here, it’s worth paying a visit to admire the expansive high-ceiling space decked out in elegant industrial-chic décor, while sipping on a selection of signature cocktails. You’ll find nine concoctions (priced from $19) available here, taking you through the three distinct eras of the warehouse’s past: the frenetic height of the spice trade, its seedy history as an underground distillery, and its disco heydays.
The Warehouse Hotel Lobby Bar is located at The Warehouse Hotel, 320 Havelock Rd, Singapore 169628, p. +65 6828 0000.
Lucky Bar
Remember bao-heaven, Full of Luck Club? It’s new rooftop space, Lucky Bar, brings the best to the west as the only cocktail bar in Holland Village – serving up a dynamic list of tipples that blend Eastern and Western flavours, craft beers, and a fun menu of modern Cantonese bar bites. Only accessible from an alley behind the restaurant, try the La Vida en Rose ($23) made with Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva; the Baccarat ($22) with its cognac, Jamaica rum, orgeat syrup, and aged bitters; or the fascinating Dragon’s Breath ($22) and its potent whisky-mezcal blend with goji and wintermelon syrup.
Lucky Bar is located at 243 Holland Ave, Singapore 278977, p. +65 6208 6845. Sun-Tue 6pm – 12am, Fri-Sat 6pm – 1am. Closed Mon.