April brings with it relaxed dining restrictions, after-10:30pm opening hours, and a lengthy, lengthy list of new restaurants in Singapore to try out if you want to start your month out on a high.
Before we get to our list, be sure to also check out our ultimate food guide for the Geylang Serai and Kampong Gelam Ramadan bazaars, which are finally back after a two-year hiatus!
Super Coco takes the coconut shake trend and gives it a tiki-inspired twist. Their cute kiosk at GR.ID Mall is all pastel tones with neon elements—great for that obligatory drink-in-hand shot.
Their Original Coconut Shake (from $4.40) is very creamy and full of coconutty goodness. Flavours here include their signature tropical, fruity shakes, and their Pleasure series, which comprises richer, more dessert-like drinks. Their Honeydew Escape ($5.30), laced with actual green melon bits, is a popular thirst quencher, while their Cookies & Creamier ($5.30) is great if you’re big on cookies and cream.
Address: 1 Selegie Road, #B1-K2, GR.ID MALL, Singapore 188306
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 9:30pm
Tel: 9172 2069
Website
French bistro Les Bouchons has been serving up their classic steak frites for over two decades now, and has since brought that expertise over to their new opening at Rochester Commons. The Westside outpost is housed in a colonial bungalow surrounded by lush greens, complete with an al fresco area for romantic dining.
On the menu are dishes exclusive to Les Bouchons Rochester. There’s the Foie Gras Poele ($27++), for 120g of pan-seared goose liver served with onion chutney and toast. Also try the Grilled Sirloin Wagyu ($78++) for a treat, and enjoy a full sirloin steak of Hokkaido Black Wagyu cooked to your preferred doneness.
Address: 10 Rochester Park, Rochester Commons, Singapore 139221
Opening hours: Tue-Thurs 12pm to 2pm, 6pm to 10pm, Fri-Sat 12pm to 3pm, 6pm to 10:30pm, Sun 12pm to 3pm, 5pm to 9pm
Tel: 6904 8972
Website
The RAPPU Handroll Bar folks are back again with their newest concept, GOHO Kaiseki & Bar, with omakase menus starting from just $98++ for a nine-course, 11-dish menu. There’s also a $138++ menu, starring nine courses and 13 dishes, or the Ume ($188++), with 10 courses and 15 dishes. Whichever menu you pick, you’ll get a selection of dishes celebrating five Japanese cooking techniques━cutting, simmering, grilling, steaming, and deep-frying.
Only available on the Ume menu, however, is Mt. Goho, a theatrical finish to the savoury dishes. Reminiscent of the High Roller at RAPPU, this goblet is filled with uni, Wagyu beef, toro, snow crab legs, ikura, and caviar. The glass is then filled with bonito smoke, and sprayed with gold dust to serve. Don’t miss the alcohol pairings and cocktails here too.
Address: 53A Duxton Road, Entrance via RAPPU, Singapore 089517
Opening hours: Wed-Sat 6pm to 12am, Sun 6pm to 10:30pm
Website
Consider heading to Sol & Luna this April for a lofty escape from the hustle and bustle in the CBD. Nestled in the Green Oasis of CapitaSpring, this Latin-European dining concept is surrounded by lush greenery, with a menu that encompasses cuisines from Italy, France, Portugal, and Spain.
Weekday set lunches start from $35++. Otherwise, the weekend brunch has a Sourdough Croque Monsieur ($18++) sandwiched with jambon ham and gruyere. The Sol & Luna Big Pan Breakfast ($27++) stars free-range eggs and fresh Italian sausage, while the House-Made Raviolini ($20++) is stuffed with super smooth potato mash, and presented in a tomato-basil sauce.
Address: 88 Market Street, #17-01, CapitaSpring, Singapore 048948
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11am to 10:30pm, Sat 8am to 10:30pm
Tel: 8031 4316
Website
30-seater Unkai Sushi is led by 31-year-old Chef Eugene Lam, who’s already amassed 12 years of experience in big-name sushiyas including Hide Yamamoto, Ashino, and Sushi Mieda. The omakase menus here start from a wallet-friendly $88++, which comes with an appetiser, 10 pieces of sushi, one handroll, soup, and a dessert.
There are also a la carte options here; the Salmon & Roe Don is priced at $28++, while the Pork Cheek Rice Bowl, with 12-hour slow-cooked Spanish Iberico pork, costs $26++. If you’re here for a splurge, ask for Chef’s Magic Bowl━a don of the season’s freshest catch, served with his special abalone sauce.
Address: 1 Tanglin Road, #01-10, Orchard Rendezvous Hotel, Singapore 247905
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 2:30pm, 6pm to 10pm
Tel: 9634 8508
Website
The Oyster Bank has expanded from their original Funan Mall flagship, and opened a second eatery at Great World City. You get their famously affordable $2++ oysters here, available at happy hour, from Monday to Friday, 5pm to 8pm, and Saturday to Sunday, between 3pm to 6pm, when you order a bottle of wine, sake, or liquor. If you prefer your oysters big on flavour, then choose from their array of flavoured, raw or baked options, including the popular Mentaiko and Garlic Miso, which are priced at $4.95++ a pop.
Apart from oysters, they have a selection of Japanese-style bites, small plates, and don bowls. Visit with a big gang and order their Seafood Platter ($168++), which comes with a whole Maine lobster.
Address: 1 Kim Seng Promenade, #01-111, Great World City, Singapore 237994
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 11:30am to 3pm, 4:30pm to 9:30pm, Fri 11:30am to 3pm, 4:30pm to 10pm, Sat 11:30am to 10pm, Sun 11:30am to 9:30pm
Website
Il Cielo returns to the newly opened voco Orchard as a more casual Italian concept, with just 28 indoor seats, plus al fresco poolside tables. Start with Carpaccio ($28++), where slices of Angus beef tenderloin are paired with mascarpone, shimeiji mushrooms, and 24-month aged Parmigiano Reggiano.
On the pizza front, give the Burrata e Tartufo ($34++) a try: this 10-inch pie comes with Fior di Latte mozzarella, mushrooms, fresh burrata, and black truffle. Top up $5++ for shavings of fresh truffle! Then, go for Granchio & Asparagi ($32++) for squid ink angel hair pasta in a crab meat ragout, and finish with a serve of extra smooth Panna Cotta alle Nocciole ($16++).
Address: 581 Orchard Road, Level 24, Singapore 238883
Opening hours: Wed-Sat 12pm to 3pm, 5pm to 10pm
Tel: 6730 3395
Website
From now till 10 April, head down to Shukuu Izakaya to enjoy their Sake and the City omakase pairing dinner. Limited to just 10 seats a night, the seven-course omakase meal stars delicious Japanese dishes with a fitting sake counterpart. Pairings are designed by certified sommeliers, and diners are provided with tasting notes, as well as the opportunity to try the sakes in different cups.
Dishes on the menu include an Uni Somen, two types of Buta Jowl, and a range of sushi and sashimi. Accompanying these are sakes sourced from across Japan, spanning different grades. Our favourite was the Shichiken Sparkling, a light, low-alcohol sake with notes of tropical fruit and citrus.
Address: 8 Stanley Street, Singapore 068727
Opening hours: Daily 5:30pm to 10:30pm
Tel: 6327 9240
Website
Add Hello Arigato to your weekend brunch list the next time you’re craving cafe fare with a twist. The Upper Thomson gem specialises in sandos, with their popular Gyu Sando ($26++) making rounds on social media. Milk toast sandwiches a whole Angus sirloin steak, cooked medium-rare, and dressed simply with a sweet onion jam.
If you’re big on spice, the Otah Sando ($20++) and the Tom Yum Somen ($18++) are both worth a try. The former is a sandwich with a thick, house-made otah slice in the middle, while the somen is all bright, zingy tom yum flavours with slurpable noodles.
Read our Hello Arigato review.
Address: 227 Upper Thomson Road, Singapore 574359
Opening hours: Tue-Fri 11am to 4pm, 6pm to 9pm, Sat-Sun 10am to 4pm, 6pm to 9pm
Website
Touted as Singapore’s first wood-fired KBBQ, Omma Korean Charcoal BBQ lets you choose from no less than five specially curated woods: applewood, cherry, pecan, hickory, and jarrah. Going for $3++ per 30g of wood chips, you’ll be able to select your wood chips as desired, each pairing well with different items on the menu.
There are more than 60 different a la carte options on the menu here, with top-end Japanese A4 Ribeye ($81++ for 180g) for melt-in-your-mouth butteriness. If you can’t decide, go for the Special Beef and Pork Set ($105++) that comes with 720g of meat, Steam Egg, and Kimchi Soup!
Hilton Singapore Orchard has finally reopened after a major renovation! Located on level five of the five-star hotel is its buffet restaurant Estate, which sees colonial-style furnishings with a botanical touch, inspired by the history of Orchard Road.
If you’re out to splurge, go for the Dinner Buffet Experience, priced at $82++ per person from Sunday to Thursday, and $99++ for Friday and Saturday. Start with the cold selection of seafood on ice, freshly shucked oysters, salads, and cheeses, before making your way to the meats. Must-tries from the grill section are the Black Miso Chicken Skewers, Kurobuta Pork Teriyaki with Spring Onion Skewers, and Wagyu Beef Skewers. Other premium options dishes worth trying are the Estate Black Truffle Roasted Duck and Squid Ink Homemade Gluten-Free Tagliatelle with Octopus Confit.
For dessert, you won’t go wrong with the handcrafted sweets on display, including the tangy Torched Citron Tart, rich and creamy Marsala Wine Tiramisu, and refreshingly light Champagne Raspberry Gelée.
Address: 333 Orchard Road, Level 5, Hilton Singapore Orchard, Singapore 23886
Opening hours: Daily 6:30am to 10pm
Tel: 6831 6270
Website
Baristart Coffee might be most known for their Hokkaido milk-infused cream puffs, but the popular Japanese cafe also serves up a mean brunch. New to the menu are all-day breakfast plates that will fill you up: think Eggs Benedict ($22.80++), Croque Monsieur ($24.80++) and more.
The Eggs Benedict sees two perfectly poached eggs atop a tarragon-spiked hollandaise sauce with pink peppercorns, served on a thick slice of sourdough that’s smeared with avocado salsa. For something slightly different, order the Roku Kinoko ($22.80++) instead. This brekkie plate swaps out the guac for kombu butter and mushroom sauteed with wild seaweed. Topped with parma ham, poached eggs, and torched mentaiko mayo, this dish is an umami bomb.
There’s also the Baristart Wagyu Burger ($26.80++) if you prefer something meatier. Exclusively available at the Tras Street outlet, the burger comes with a deep-fried Wagyu patty that’s coated with breadcrumbs, finished with smoked cheddar and fresh veggies. It’s served with a side of seaweed fries and wasabi mayo dip for a bright and punchy flavour.
Address: 65 Tras Street, Singapore 079004
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 9am to 6pm, Fri-Sun 9am to 9pm
Tel: 6904 3168
Website
High tea enthusiasts, here’s something you’ll want to bookmark for your next meetup. Beach Road Kitchen has partnered Nespresso to launch The Art of Afternoon Tea, a limited-time, weekend-only special available at the restaurant from now till 29 May 2022. To make things even sweeter, the high tea is going at a promotional price of $40++ per person (U.P. $48++).
Held on Saturdays and Sundays from 3:30pm to 5:30pm at the JW Marriott Singapore South Beach restaurant, the high tea includes a good mix of savoury and sweet items, some of which are infused with Nespresso coffee from Brazil, Peru and Guatemala. Tuck into the savoury Truffle Kaya Toast, Foie Gras Tart, and Lobster Bisque served on the side, before indulging in sweet treats such as the Pistachio Strawberry Swiss Roll and Vanilla Coffee Caramel Tart. The price also includes free-flow TWG tea and Nespresso coffee, so you can pinkies up and luxuriate the afternoon away with a cup in hand.
Address: 30 Beach Road, Singapore 189763
High tea hours: Sat-Sun 3:30pm to 5:30pm
Tel: 6818 1913
Website
Spice Brasserie at PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road has just spruced up their buffet with a full range of local and Malaysian dishes. For those who miss feasting on the cheap across the causeway, you can trust Penang-born Executive Sous Chef Patrick Ooi to deliver an awesome Penang assam laksa that is made with a family recipe. It features firm mackerel fish meat, along with sweet and sour pineapples, as well as ginger torch flowers.
This restaurant is also a one-stop spot for local eats such as Hokkien mee, satays, popiah, kueh pie tee, chwee kueh, otah, and an addictively tart vinegar pork trotter. Prices start from $25 nett for lunch on Wednesdays to Fridays, or $35 nett for lunch on weekends. If you’re here on the weekend, don’t forget to stay till 2:45pm for their wooden chest of kueh, complimentary as afternoon tea for every pair of buffet diners.
Address: 181 Kitchener Road, Singapore 208533
Buffet hours: Wed-Fri 12pm to 2:30pm, Sat-Sun 12pm to 4pm
Tel: 6428 3000
Website
This April, experience Dopo Teatro’s Italian fare in a new light with their all-new Italian Weekend Roast buffet! For only $58++ per person, enjoy the Dopo Signature Porchetta Slab—sliced roast pork with crackling skin that is accompanied by a shiso yuzu pesto and a candied apple condiment. Whet your appetite in between mains with the Insalata Caprese, which is a rocket leaf salad dressed in a bright balsamic vinaigrette and topped with fresh mozzarella pieces.
Indulge in the decadent Chocolate Fondant with dulce de leche and lime sorbet to round off your meal. To complete your relaxing weekend lunch, top up $28++ to enjoy free flow of beverages from 12pm to 3pm.
Address: 8 Raffles Avenue, #01-11, Esplanade Mall, Singapore 039802
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 12pm to 3pm, 5pm to 10:30pm, Sat 12pm to 4pm, 5pm to 10pm, Sun 12pm to 4pm, 5pm to 10:30pm
Tel: 6534 5188
Website
Park Bench Deli has long been a go-to for top-tier sandwiches. They’ve since expanded to open ONDA, a concept in Clarke Quay that zooms in on Cuban sandwiches to locals. There are a total of four sandwiches, and one hot dog on the menu.
The Cubano ($16.50) is a must-have. The PDB crew truly flexed their sandwich expertise here with grilled soft roll slices, house-cured sweet ham and lechon, as well as generous slices of Swiss cheese. They also offer a Grilled Cheese ($14), made with brown buttered sourdough toast, and an emmental-cheddar combo. While grilled cheese sandwiches are typically served with tomato soup, ONDA’s spin comes with tomato dip.
Read our ONDA review.
Address: 21 Lorong Telok, Singapore 049033
Opening hours: Tue-Fri 10:30am to 3pm
Website
Muslim-friendly banh mi eatery Joo Chiat Caphe is run by the folks behind famous local otah label, Nam San Mackerel Otah. They’ve decided to branch out into making banh mi as homages to both their partners, who are Vietnamese locals.
The signature here is the Mackerel Otah ($6.50) banh mi, the best of both worlds when it comes to the founder’s specialties. This is also the only otah banh mi in Singapore. We especially loved the medley of textures this offered, with the crusty baguette playing off the soft, spicy otah fillet. The Iced Drip Vietnamese Coffee ($4.80) is a must-order too, prepared with the traditional Vietnamese-style dripper.
Read our Joo Chiat Caphe review.
Address: 263 Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427517
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 9am to 7pm
Tel: 6988 1900
Website
Two Bake Boys first came to fame as a popular home-based mille crepe business. Run by a former air stewardess, the home bakery served up mille crepes with Thai milk tea-inspired flavours, before eventually expanding to a brick-and-mortar cafe.
Don’t fret, as their signature crepes are still available here, in a wider variety of flavours. Their expanded menu also sees intriguing new desserts such as their Croffles Krub ($8), where croissant waffles are powered up with a scoop of house-made Thai milk tea gelato. On the savoury front, we recommend the Truffle Green Curry Spaghetti ($16). The aromatic pasta dish also happens to be plant-based, served with Quorn mock meat balls.
Read our Two Bake Boys review.
Address: 8 Jalan Kubor, Singapore 199207
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 5pm
Tel: 8782 6566 (WhatsApp only)
Website
Back after its short hiatus, Chatterbox has seen a chic upgrade of its interiors, as well as a menu spruce-up. Its iconic Mandarin Chicken Rice (from $25++), though, remains exactly as it used to be, with plump, flavourful chicken that’s been cooked in stock, then slowly steamed and cooled. New to the menu is a Mackerel & Crab Otah-Otah ($18++), packed with handpicked crab meat and grilled over charcoal, as well as Sea Perch with Burnt Green Chilli ($35++) that’s cooked to flaky perfection.
Don’t leave without trying the Lobster Laksa ($34++) which comes with a whole Boston Lobster claw in a toothsome, rich broth, and their famed Signature Coconut Ice Cream ($15++), made to another 51-year-old recipe.
Address: 333 Orchard Road, #05-03, Hilton, Singapore 238867
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 2pm, 5:30pm to 9:30pm
Tel: 6831 6291
Website
New to the Serangoon Gardens ‘hood is Babba, a Peranakan cafe-restaurant where you’ll be able to get your cuppa Glasshouse coffee too! By day, enjoy dishes including a Homemade Kaya Butter Toast & Eggs ($12++), where house-made, pandan-laced custard comes aside toasted brioche and 63-degree sous-vide eggs. The Crab Omelette ($25++) has been making the IG rounds too, though the Breakfast Burger ($22++) is a well-executed classic.
Come 6pm, find Peranakan fare such as Nyonya Otah ($12++), Ayam Buah Keluak ($28++), and Bakwan Kepeting ($24++) on the menu. Available all day are assorted kueh and a delectable Homemade Banana Cake ($13++), served with coconut sorbet and salted gula melaka sauce.
Address: 15-9 Jalan Riang, Singapore 358987
Opening hours: Daily 8am to 10pm
Tel: 8285 3826
Website
Check out all these new restaurants in Singapore for April 2022 and start your month on a high note. For more food news, the famous Nam Seng Wanton Mee has reopened. Jollibee has also announced their latest delivery-only kitchen in Sembawang.
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