Restaurants in Dempsey Hill for special occasions
Set opposite the forested greens of Singapore Botanical Gardens, Dempsey Hill has long been known as a favourite hangout for expats and tai tais alike. It has gotten increasingly popular, not least because it’s something different from your usual collection of eateries in a mall or hotel. Dining at most places here is not easy on the wallet, but if you’re looking to plan a special occasion or date night with a little extra something special, here are 25 Dempsey Hill restaurants you could consider.
1. The Dempsey Cookhouse & Bar
Image credit: @serena_qinnnn
Situated in a timeless colonial house, with a menu by Michelin-starred Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, The Dempsey Cookhouse & Bar at COMO Dempsey is the place to be seen. His signature starter is the Egg Caviar ($42++), where you’re served the fluffiest scrambled eggs you might ever try in an egg shell, topped with whipped cream and caviar. For extra indulgence, order yourself the Black Truffle and Fontina Cheese Pizza ($38++), topped liberally with the aromatic ingredient.
Address: 17D Dempsey Road, Singapore 249676
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 12pm to 2:30pm, 3pm to 5:30pm, 6pm to 9:30pm, Fri 12pm to 2:30pm, 6pm to 10:30pm, Sat 11:30am to 3:30pm, 6pm to 10:30pm, Sun 11:30am to 3:30pm, 6pm to 9:30pm
Tel: 1800 304 5588
Website
is not a halal-certified eatery.
2. Candlenut
The only Michelin-starred Peranakan restaurant in the world, Candlenut serves elevated Nyonya fare. The Taste of Candlenut ($88++ for lunch, $108++ for dinner) allows you to sample the best of their menu, and is regularly updated.
If their tasting menu isn’t your thing, try their Westholme Wagyu Beef Rib Rendang ($44++)— prepared with premium beef, it’s definitely not the rendang you’ll usually get at home. Similarly, Aunt Caroline’s Babi Buah Keluak ($36++) features free-range Borrowdale pork soft bones with the intense, polarising flavour of buah keluak. For a non-meat option, the Blue Swimmer Crab Curry ($48++) goes swimmingly well with a bowl of White Thai Hom Mali Rice ($2++).
Address: 17A Dempsey Road, Singapore 249676
Opening hours: Daily 12pm to 3pm, 6pm to 10pm
Tel: 1800 304 2288
Website
The Dempsey Cookhouse & Bar is not a halal-certified eatery.
3. Blu Kouzina
Image credit: @sophia_yeong
For a Greek feast, take your date to Blu Kouzina, its current Dempsey location a long way from their first eatery along Dunearn Road. The Grilled Pita or Crispy Pita, both priced at $3.90++, is specially imported from Greece, and goes superbly with dips including the classic Hummus ($15.90++), Tzatziki ($15.80++), or Taramasalata ($16.80++)—a dip of white cod roe, lemon juice, and capers.
Share a Meat Platter Medium ($108.80++), so you get a selection of lamb meatballs, beef Kalamaki, chicken skewers, and lamb chops. While they’re not a halal-certified eatery, the beef, lamb, and chicken here are all halal-certified.
Address: 10 Dempsey Road, #01-21, Singapore 247700
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am to 3:30pm, 5:30pm to 10pm, Sat-Sun 8:30am to 3:30pm, 5:30pm to 10pm
Tel: 6875 0872
Website
Blu Kouzina is not a halal-certified eatery, but the meat used here is halal-certified.
4. Hathaway
Image credit: @dempseyhillsg
Impress your date with the exquisite plates at Hathaway, where local cuisines including Indian, Malay, and Peranakan marry French and Middle-Eastern flavours in what they term modern Asian bistronomy.
They’re perhaps better known for their brunch menu, but their dinner menu features highlights such as Grilled Bone Marrow ($24++) with kecap manis and a herb crumb, as well as Ah Nya’s Fish Curry ($32++)━an heirloom recipe from the founder’s own grandmother. Have it with Nasi Ulam ($8++), a classic Nyonya rice salad, or get the best of everything with their Dinner Tasting Menu ($98++), so you won’t even have to choose.
Address: Block 13 Dempsey Road, #01-07, Singapore 249674
Opening hours: Mon-Wed 10am to 9pm, Thurs-Fri 10am to 10pm, Sat 9am to 10pm
Tel: 9665 0681
Website
Hathaway is not a halal-certified eatery, but does not have pork or alcohol on the menu.
5. Bincho at Min Jiang
Image credit: @foodparesseux
For a classy Japanese izakaya experience, bring your plus one to Bincho at Min Jiang, which shares the same building as Min Jiang at Dempsey. The yakitori here is grilled over binchotan, from which the restaurant gets its name. Order the prized Thigh ($20++), or Tsukune ($21++), AKA chicken meat ball. For something more exotic, there’s Cock’s Comb ($7++), or Miyazaki Style Grilled Neck ($30++).
All the off-cuts of the chickens get made into a luscious broth that stars in Bincho Ramen ($40++), which is said to be an unforgettable bowl of noodles. Finish with Mochi Shabu Shabu ($16++), for a fun take on dessert.
Address: 7A/B Dempsey Road, Singapore 249684
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 12pm to 3pm, 6pm to 11pm
Tel: 6972 7328
Website
Bincho at Min Jiang is not a halal-certified eatery.
6. Margarita’s
Image credit: @dempseyhillsg
Margarita’s, which claims to be Singapore’s first Mexican restaurant, has been around since 1988. Start with Queso Fundido ($26++), where Oaxaca, a Mexican cheese, is broiled with chorizo and chilli. Dip corn chips or tortillas into this, and get your cameras ready for that cheese pull shot!
The signature dish at Margarita’s is Enchiladas de Cangrejo ($36++), stuffed with crab meat, and doused in a tomato-pepper sauce, with sour cream and toasted almonds. You’ll also find burritos (from $26++), tacos (from $26++), and fajitas (from $36++) on the menu here, with Fried Ice Cream & Buñuelos ($18++)—a fried dough fritter—for a sweet end to the night.
Address: 11 Dempsey Road, Singapore 249673
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 10:30pm
Tel: 6471 3228
Website
Margarita’s is not a halal-certified eatery.
7. Chopsuey Cafe
Image credit: @slurpsburps
Inspired by the Chinese food experience abroad in Western countries such as Australia, UK, and USA, the menu at Chopsuey Cafe features zhnged-up versions of these dishes. There’s Sweet Corn & Egg Drop Soup ($18++), and Crispy Duck Pow! Pockets ($17++), where shredded duck confit and pulled roast duck are stuffed in a mantou. Get Suzy’s Spaghetti Crab ‘Mee Goreng’ ($26++) too, for a modern take on your mamak stall favourite.
Address: 10 Dempsey Road, #01-23, Singapore 247700
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 11:30am to 10pm, Fri 11:30am to 10:30pm, Sat 11am to 10:30pm, Sun 11am to 10pm
Tel: 6708 9288
Website
Chopsuey Cafe is not a halal-certified eatery.
8. Open Farm Community
Image credit: @openfarmcommunity
Singapore’s first sustainable urban farm and restaurant, Open Farm Community is set within an edible garden so you can bring bae on a kampong date without actually visiting one. Be surprised by the kitchen when you opt for the Farm Feast ($88++ per person), which supports local farmers and growers, or start with Cauliflower ‘Wings’ ($15++) that definitely don’t come from a chook.
The OFC Farm Eggplant ($30++) is a sharing plate that stars Karana green jackfruit, cashews, as well as brinjal and herbs from the OFC garden. It all sounds rather green, but fear not, because meat options are available here too.
Address: 30E Minden Road, Singapore 248819
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 12pm to 2:30pm, 6pm to 9pm, Sat-Sun 11am to 3:30pm, 6pm to 9pm
Tel: 6471 0306
Website
Open Farm Community is not a halal-certified eatery.
9. Red Sparrow
Image credit: @dempseyhillsg
Take your date for Vietnamese, but at Red Sparrow, instead of the casual concepts elsewhere. This homely restaurant serves legit Vietnamese fare such as Pho Bo Tai ($19++) which features US chuck roll and braised beef brisket, while their Bun Cha ($24++) comes with chargrilled, minced Berkshire pork and marinated pork belly.
You can’t have Vietnamese food without having some spring rolls, so get the Cha Gio ($17++), stuffed with fresh crabmeat, prawns, minced pork, and yam, and deep-fried. There’s banh mi (from $15++) here too, and a host of other delicacies that will bring your tastebuds all the way to Saigon.
Address: 11 Dempsey Road, #01-18, Singapore 249673
Opening hours: Sun-Thurs 11:45am to 3pm, 5pm to 10pm, Fri-Sat 11:45am to 3pm, 5pm to 10:30pm
Tel: 6776 6118
Website
Red Sparrow is not a halal-certified eatery.
10. Jim Thompson Thai Restaurant & Wine Bar
Image credit: Jim Thompson Thai Restaurant & Wine Bar
Housed in one of the colonial barracks on Dempsey Hill, Jim Thompson Thai Restaurant & Wine Bar could be one of the poshest Thai restaurants in Singapore. It’s inspired by American Jim Thompson’s famous mansion in Bangkok, and the cuisine here is refined Thai. If you’re spice-averse, simply let the staff know, and they’ll dial the spice levels down accordingly.
Starters are available in sets (from $38++ for two), which come with your choice of green papaya or green mango salad. You can also order them a la carte, including Gai Hor Bai Toey ($22++), AKA the classic pandan leaf chicken, paired here with a special Thompson dip. There’s standard Thai fare, such as Pad Thai Goong Sod Rue Gai ($25++), though the Poo Nim Phad Pong Gari ($29++) is a deep-fried soft shell crab in yellow curry that’s said to be very popular.
Address: 45 Minden Road, Singapore 248817
Opening hours: Daily 12pm to 3pm, 6pm to 10pm
Tel: 6475 6088
Website
Jim Thompson Thai Restaurant & Wine Bar is not a halal-certified eatery.
11. Huber’s Bistro
Image credit: @_chio.eats_
For a more casual sort of date night experience, consider Huber’s Bistro, the dining area attached to Huber’s Butchery. The European-style butchery and deli, much-loved for its quality meats and produce, provides everything on the menu at their bistro━a good, hearty meal that’s wallet-friendly is guaranteed here.
Start with Tagliere Di Affettati Misti ($15++), a platter of assorted charcuterie, and don’t miss the Braised Grain-fed Bone-in Short Rib ($22++). Of course, you can always opt for some good ol’ fashioned steak, with prices ranging from $22++ for a Flat Iron Steak, to $52++ for Japanese Wagyu Ribeye.
Address: 22 Dempsey Road, Singapore 249679
Opening hours: Tue-Fri 11am to 10pm, Sat-Sun 9:30am to 10pm
Tel: 6737 1488
Website
Huber’s Bistro is not a halal-certified eatery.
12. Moonbow
Image credit: @dempseyhillsg
Moonbow is a relative newcomer to the Dempsey dining scene, but it’s won a fair share of fans with its modern European, Asian-influenced cuisine. The Sea Urchins Crema Avocado ($26++) is a light, indulgent starter, topped with uni, caviar, and ikura pearls. And if you’ve never had black chicken, which is said to strengthen one’s immune system, try the Spicy Garlicy Black Silkie Poulet ($28++). End the meal with one of the Moonbow Rediscovery Dessert Boxes that are good for two to four━the All Chocolatey Wonderland ($42++) comes with five cocoa-based treats!
Address: Block 10 Dempsey Road, #01-21, Singapore 247700
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am to 3pm, 6pm to 10:30pm, Sat-Sun 11am to 5pm, 6pm to 10:30pm
Tel: 9010 2717
Website
Moonbow is not a halal-certified eatery.
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13. P.S. Cafe Dempsey Hill
Image credit: @tiffany.foodie_
Set apart from the main Dempsey thoroughfare, P.S. Cafe Dempsey Hill is surrounded by lush greenery that almost makes you forget you’re in Singapore. You can’t visit P.S. Cafe and not have the Truffle Shoestring Fries ($16++), though the Portobello Mushroom Soup ($14.50++) is another popular choice.
Get the Chicken Rossa Penne ($27++), for grilled chicken, bacon, spinach, and mushrooms in a garlic-tomato cream sauce, and finish with what some call the best Sticky Date Pudding ($15++) in Singapore.
Address: 28B Harding Road, Singapore 249549
Opening hours: Mon 8am to 4pm, Tue-Thurs, Sun 8am to 10pm, Fri-Sat 8am to 10:30pm
Tel: 6708 9288
Website
P.S. Cafe is not a halal-certified eatery.
14. Min Jiang at Dempsey
Image credit: @darrylsng
Min Jiang at Dempsey takes Chinese dining modern with its contemporary, resort-style decor━perfect for date nights when you’re craving Chinese but need something special. The Black Truffle-braised Whole African 5-head Abalone and Stir-fried Scallop and Egg White with White Truffle Oil ($58++) screams atas, while the Deluxe Dim Sum Platter ($38++) that’s been all over Instagram means you can enjoy dian xin even at dinner.
Image credit: @weeatfish
If the Legendary Wood-fired Beijing Duck served with Homemade Crepes ($108++) is too much for two, consider the Braised ‘Mee Pok’ with Eggplant and Minced Meat in Min Jiang XO Chilli Sauce ($22++) for a spicy carb.
Address: 7A & 7B Dempsey Road, 249684
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am to 2:30pm, 6:30 to 10:30pm, Sat-Sun 11am to 2:30pm, 6:30 to 10:30pm
Tel: 6774 0122
Website
Min Jiang is not a halal-certified eatery.
15. Claudine Restaurant
Image credit: @jazpster
If three Michelin-starred Odette is out of budget, consider heading to Claudine, named for Chef Julien Royer’s mother. Here, he serves up classic French dishes from his hometown in France’s Auvergne region with a deluxe spin.
The quintessential onion soup is reimagined as Claudine Onion Soup ($22++), featuring Comte and dry-cured ham, while the Claudine ‘Bouillabaisse’ ($178++) is a seafood stew for sharing, zhnged-up with premium carabinero prawns. Another hit is the Vol-au-Vent ($58++), though the sweetbread and cockscomb in this may put off the less adventurous diner.
Address: 39C Harding Road, Singapore 249541
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 11:45am to 2pm, 6pm to 9:30pm
Tel: 6265 2966
Website
Claudine Restaurant is not a halal-certified eatery.
16. Ippoh Tempura Bar By Ginza Ippoh
Image credit: @cheukeatout
Whisk your date to Japan with dinner at Ippoh Tempura Bar By Ginza Ippoh, the Singapore offshoot of Osaka’s oldest premium tempura restaurant. The OG in Japan has been making tempura since 1850! There are three dinner set menus here: Sora ($100++), Tsuki ($140++), and Yuki ($200++). The selection of tempura, besides the live prawns included in every set, will vary according to the season’s produce.
If you’re still craving more after the set, you can add more of your favourites via the a la carte menu. Alternatively, you could skip the sets and only get a la carte tempura, although there is a minimum spend of $100++ per person.
Address: 17B Dempsey Road, Singapore 249676
Opening hours: Daily 12pm to 3pm, 6pm to 10pm
Tel: 6486 1052
Website
Ippoh Tempura Bar By Ginza Ippoh is not a halal-certified eatery.
17. Siri House Dempsey
Image credit: @pinkie_food_travel
For dinner with a swanky locale, head to Siri House Dempsey, a lifestyle-and-dining space backed by one of Thailand’s largest property developers. The food here is modern Asian, and highlights on the menu include Biscuit 2.0 ($12++): a chicken fat cookie, topped with spiced cream, chicken skin, and mushroom dust, which is said to be extremely moreish.
Another must-order here is Pappardelle ($37++); it’s well worth every cent for the intense, bisque-like sauce it comes in. Made with prawn and lobster heads, this fresh pasta dish is crustacean heaven.
Address: 8D Dempsey Road, #01-02, Dempsey Hill, Singapore 249672
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 11:30am to 10pm
Tel: 9487 1552
Website
Siri House Dempsey is not a halal-certified eatery.
18. Rakuichi Japanese Restaurant
Image credit: @thehungryywan
Another Japanese restaurant to consider, Rakuichi Japanese Restaurant will fit the bill if you’re looking for assorted Jap fare. Here, you’ll find everything from various sushi and maki rolls, to grilled and deep-fried items, and even skewers that come on a tabletop grill!
Get the Sumiyaki Moriawase ($32++) if you can’t decide which skewers to order, or the Rakuichi ($28++) maki roll, which sees deep-fried soft shell crab wrapped with avocado and various kinds of sashimi.
Address: 10 Dempsey Road, Singapore 247700
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 2:30pm, 6pm to 10pm
Tel: 6474 2143
Website
Rakuichi Japanese Restaurant is not a halal-certified eatery.
19. Chang Korean BBQ
Image credit: @mervyn6
Treat your date to K-BBQ that’s a cut above the crowded, smoky ones in Tanjong Pagar. The brightly lit, wooden interiors of Chang Korean BBQ, with its spaced-out tables and private rooms if you so desire, are sure to impress. With a Korean chef helming the kitchen here, you can rest assured that the flavours are super authentic.
On the beef front, the Wagyu Modeum for 2pax, priced at $155++, comes with four different cuts of Australian Wagyu. If you’re a fan of beef tartar, the Yuk Hoi ($43++) is the Korean version, served with pear, cucumber, pine nuts, and an egg yolk. Pair your BBQ with various Nangmyeon ($19++), Korean pancakes (from $25++), or even Soonduboo Jjigae ($18++).
Address: 71 Loewen Road, #01-01, Singapore 248847
Opening hours: Sun-Thurs 12pm to 3pm, 6pm to 10pm, Fri-Sat 12pm to 3pm, 6pm to 10:30pm
Tel: 6473 9005
Website
Chang Korean BBQ is not a halal-certified eatery.
20. Da Paolo Dempsey Restaurant & Bar
Image credit: @snackitty.poo
The Da Paolo Dempsey Restaurant & Bar made its appearance in the Dempsey enclave to celebrate the brand’s 30th anniversary, with the biggest space and widest selection of gelato of all their outlets. They’ve got a wood-fired pizza oven here, and serve Naples-style pie that’s made with a slow fermentation process.
You can’t skip the 8 Cheese ($35++), topped with the chef’s choice of eight cheeses, smoked date cream, truffle honey and black pepper. Pasta wise, go for the Carbonara Calabrese ($30++)━the traditional egg yolk-based is zhnged-up with nduja, a spicy Italian sausage, that makes this oh-so-moreish.
Address: Block 8 Dempsey Road, #01-13, Singapore 247696
Opening hours: Sun-Thurs 8am to 10:30pm, Fri-Sat 8am to 11pm
Tel: 6261 3128
Website
Da Paolo Dempsey Restaurant & Bar is not a halal-certified eatery.
21. MORSELS
Image credit: @you.me.food.sg
Dining at MORSELS is akin to being in someone’s living room, where Chef Petrina Loh whips up fusion dishes with an Asian twist in the open-concept kitchen. Choose from either the Sharing Set Menu ($85++/$115++), or the Omakase ($135++), where the Sharing Set Menu allows you to pick a selection of Snacks, Smalls, Carbs, Mains, and Dessert. The menu is updated seasonally, but a mainstay here is the House-poached Octopus, served on a bed of squid ink risotto with salted egg sauce and tobiko.
The Batallē Spanish Duroc Pork Ribs, on the other hand, features Spanish ribs with a chocolate buah keluak BBQ sauce, while the Kühlbarra Barramundi stars locally farmed fish with pineapple tomato kimchi, pearl barley risotto, and a lemongrass beer broth.
Address: 25 Dempsey Road, #01-04, Singapore 249670
Opening hours: Tue-Thurs 12pm to 3pm, 6pm to 10pm, Fri-Sat 12pm to 3pm, 6pm to 10:30pm, Sun 11am to 3pm
Tel: 6266 3822
Website
MORSELS is not a halal-certified eatery.
8 Rooftop Restaurants Under $50++ For The Perfect Date Night With Bae
22. Atout Restaurant
Image credit: @oogaboogabites
If you used to frequent Au Petit Salut at Chip Bee Gardens, you’ll be happy to know that that same chef is now manning the kitchen at Atout Restaurant. Besides coming here to dine, you can end your date night with a perusal of the French groceries available in-store.
Indulge in a Lobster Bisque with Scallops Dumpling ($20++), or get a dozen Escargots ($24++), paired with sauteed mushrooms and garlic butter. Much raved about is the “Peppercrusted” Angus Beef Ribeye With Brandy Sauce ($98+), where 500g of premium beef is crusted with your choice of original Penja white pepper or yellow Kampot pepper. Then, end the meal with what they claim to be a World Champion Chocolate St Honore Cake ($24++).
Address: 40C Harding Road, Singapore 249548
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 12pm to 9:30pm
Tel: 8799 4567
Website
Atout Restaurant is not a halal-certified eatery.
23. Burnt Ends
Image credit: @bongsteroo
It’s almost impossible to get seats at Burnt Ends, so you’ll be getting yourself major brownie points if you manage to score yourself a date night reservation here. Ranked number 34 on the list of The World’s Top 50 Best Restaurants, almost everything on the menu goes through the four-tonne brick kiln specially designed by Chef-Owner Dave Pynt.
Must-orders here are the Smoked Quail Egg and Caviar ($15++), and King Crab and Garlic Brown Butter ($125++) that you’ve probably seen all over the IG sphere. Finish the night with their Marshmallow ($2++) for an atas take on s’mores.
Address: 7 Dempsey Road, #01-04, Singapore 249671
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 11:45am to 11pm
Tel: 6224 3933
Website
Burnt Ends is not a halal-certified eatery.
24. Sushi Sato
Image credit: @sushi.teh
Pull out all the stops to celebrate a special occasion at Sushi Sato, one of the newest openings on Dempsey. They’re the only traditional omakase restaurant in the area, with only six seas at the moment. Sit at the counter, made with 200-year-old Hinoki wood, and watch Chef Yuji Sato prepare your courses a la minute.
With 26 years of experience under his belt, including time at Hashida Singapore, there’s no doubt that Chef Sato’s menu will be an impressive one. There are three dinner menus here: Omakase, priced at $380++, Kokoro ($480++), and Kiwami ($580++).
Address: 6B Dempsey Road, Singapore 247662
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 12pm to 3pm, 6:30pm to 10:30pm
Tel: 6971 8265
Website
Sushi Sato is not a halal-certified eatery.
25. JUMBO Seafood @ Dempsey
Image credit: @sffoodhunt
With a history dating back to 1987, JUMBO Seafood is one of the best places in Singapore to visit for your fill of seafood. Their Award-Winning Chilli Crab is a must-order, with a sweet-savoury, house-made sauce laced with eggs. Otherwise, the Signature Black Pepper Crab is absolutely addictive. Choose from their selection of live crabs, including Alaskan Crab ($26.80++/100g), and Sri Lankan Mud Crab ($10.80++/100g).
There’s also a full range of other live seafood such as lobsters, fish, and prawns. Complement your meal with the bestselling Mee Goreng (from $24++), and the zi char favourite Donut with Seafood Paste (from $16++).
Address: 11 Dempsey Road, #01-16, Singapore 249673
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 2:30pm, 5:30pm to 10pm
Tel: 6479 3435
Website
JUMBO Seafood @ Dempsey is not a halal-certified eatery.
Date night restaurants on Dempsey Hill
Shake up your date nights with a romantic evening at one of these Dempsey Hill restaurants. While not the cheapest, the dining experiences that you’ll walk away with will make it a special occasion to remember.
We also have a guide to rooftop restaurants in Singapore so you and your love can catch a sunset over a meal. Otherwise, consider these romantic restaurants for more paktor options!
Feature image adapted from @_chio.eats_, @weeatfish, @jazpster, @cheukeatout, @you.me.food.sg, and @bongsteroo‘s posts.
This post was originally published on 14 February 2020.
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