I’m always up for checking out new cafes, but sometimes, it’s cool to visit a restaurant older than me too. These are the oldest restaurants in Singapore, each of them the epitome of old but gold, some dating back to over 100 years! Take your parents or grandparents to any of these restaurants, and get swept away by the flashbacks.
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Image credit: @cuisinewineasia
Housed in the original Teochew Club building that hails back to 1845 is Chui Huay Lim Teochew Cuisine. Your parents and grandparents will surely enjoy the Teochew Style Steamed Pomfret (seasonal price) at your next family gathering! Pair this with the popular Crispy Sweet Yam Paste Roll with Salted Egg ($14++) for a smooth taste within a deep-fried wafer paper.
Address: 190 Keng Lee Road, #01-02, Chui Huay Lim Club, Singapore 308409
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 2:30pm, 5:30pm to 11pm
Tel: 6732 3637
Website
Chui Huay Lim Teochew Cuisine is not a halal-certified eatery.
Around since the 1970s, Beach Road Prawn Noodle House is famed for their incredibly delicious prawn mee. They have lesser-seen options such as Prawn with Pig Tail Mee ($9.50/$13.50)—their signature hae mee zhnged up with pig tail. Else, their signature Jumbo Prawn Mee ($13.50) is a must-try if you’re a diehard fan of prawns. This bowl gives you fresh prawns that are significantly larger than the ones found in other prawn mee dishes, along with a heady broth that strikes a perfect balance of briny and prawny.
Read our Beach Road Prawn Noodle House review.
Address: 370/372 East Coast Road, Singapore 428981
Opening hours: Wed-Mon 7am to 4pm
Website
Beach Road Prawn Noodle House is not a halal-certified eatery.
Back in 1961, Balestier Road Hoover Rojak found a place to call home at Whampoa Makan Place. There’s only one single item on the menu: rojak. The smaller portion costs $4, while the slightly larger one is priced at $5. You get a beautiful medley of fresh ingredients, including an assortment of fruits, cucumber, tau pok, you tiao, and our favourite—springy jellyfish. If you’re planning to get chilli in it, do note that it’s sweeter than it is spicy.
Read our Balestier Road Hoover Rojak review.
Address: 90 Whampoa Drive, #01-06, Whampoa Makan Place, Singapore 320090
Opening hours: Wed-Sun 10am to 4pm
Balestier Road Hoover Rojak is not a halal-certified eatery.
Around the hood since 1939, Tong Ah Eating House needs no introduction. While it used to be housed in their iconic red-and-white building at Keong Saik, this kopitiam can now be found at a spot further down the same road. Be sure to get their set meal that comes in four different types, with Combo A ($6.20) known as the crowd favourite: it comes with traditional kaya toast, soft-boiled eggs, and a coffee or tea of your choice.
Read our Tong Ah Eating House review.
Address: 35 Keong Saik Road, Singapore 089142
Opening hours: Thurs-Tue 7am to 10pm, Wed 7am to 2pm
Tel: 6223 5083
Website
Tong Ah Eating House is not a halal-certified eatery.
Seow Choon Hua is the oldest restaurant in Singapore for Fuzhou cuisine. They have been open for over seven decades, and still make their famous Fuzhou dumplings from scratch to this day. The Fishball Fish Dumpling Noodle ($5) features fishballs hand-stuffed with meat and handmade fish dumplings submerged in a robust broth. Another must-try here is their Red Wine Chicken Flour Vermicelli (from $6), a popular dish starring house-fermented red glutinous rice wine soup with mee sua.
Read our Seow Choon Hua Restaurant review.
Address: 327 Beach Road, Singapore 199560
Opening hours: Daily 9am to 8:30pm
Tel: 6298 2720
Seow Choon Hua Restaurant is not a halal-certified eatery.
Singapore has plenty of old-school breakfast spots, and Chin Mee Chin Confectionery is arguably one of the most popular ones around. The East Coast hawker has been around since the 30s, but closed for a lengthy renovation, before making their comeback. Get traditional breakfast sets and bakes, such as their Hae Bee Hiam Buns ($2.60) and their Cream Horn ($2.20), so you get to enjoy the most out of this blast to the past.
Read our Chin Mee Chin Confectionery review.
Address: 204 East Coast Road, Singapore 428903
Opening hours: Sun, Tue-Thurs 8am to 4pm, Fri-Sat 8am to 4pm, 6pm to 11pm
Website
Chin Mee Chin Confectionery is not a halal-certified eatery.
Originally named Swee Kee Eating House, Ka-Soh is the OG restaurant that brought Cantonese-style fish soup to Singapore, where the broth is made milky through long hours of boiling the stock at high heat, rather than adding milk on the side. Their history spans from the 1930s, and Ka-Soh restaurant has since expanded around Singapore and the broader Southeast Asian region. FYI: their Outram eatery was placed on the Michelin Bib Gourmand list in 2016, so that is well worth a visit if you’re ever in the area.
Read our Ka-Soh review.
Website | Full list of locations
Ka-Soh is not a halal-certified eatery.
As the oldest surviving Hainanese coffeeshop, Killiney Kopitiam is probably one of the places your ah gong brought your ah ma to for kopi c kosong while they were still paktor-ing. Come early to try their housemade kaya toast and rich Colombian Arabica kopi, or swap the toast for a slice of French toast—the famous dish that first made them popular.
Address: 67 Killiney Road, Singapore 239525
Opening hours: Daily 6am to 6pm
Tel: 6734 3910
Website
Killiney Kopitiam is not a halal-certified eatery.
Curry has been a mainstay at Raffles Hotel since 1899 even before its main dining hall was officially named Tiffin Room many decades later. Come dressed in casual chic and indulge in their Mera Royal Dabba Menu (from $149++ per person), which offers a premium North Indian meal featuring mains such as Scallops Coconut Curry served with a scrumptious spread of black lentil curry, basmati rice, and naan.
Address: 1 Beach Road, Raffles Hotel, Singapore 189673
Opening hours: Daily 7am to 10:30am, 12pm to 2pm, 6:30pm to 9:30pm
Website
Tiffin Room is not a halal-certified eatery.
With five locations around Singapore, you’ve probably come across Ananda Bhavan Restaurant at least once. But bet you didn’t know this Indian vegetarian chain has been around since 1924! This is one of the oldest Indian restaurants in our country, and they serve up quality, plant-based dishes at affordable prices. Their menu is extensive, spanning Garlic Naan Set ($12.60), Mee Goreng ($6.70), and Onion Masala ($5.30).
Address: 95 Syed Alwi Road, Singapore 207671
Opening hours: Daily 7:30am to 10pm
Tel: 6398 0837
Website
Ananda Bhavan Restaurant is not a halal-certified eatery.
You should be no stranger to Zam Zam—operating since 1908, this is one of the oldest restaurants in Singapore that also doubles up as a popular supper spot. Their signature murtabak (from $7) is made in an open-air kitchen facing the sidewalk, from sizes small to super extra huge. Plus, there are seven variations here! Highly raved about in the food community, this century-old eatery is the perfect place to camp at with a cup of teh tarik.
Address: 697-699 North Bridge Road, Singapore 198675
Opening hours: Daily 7am to 11pm
Tel: 6298 6320
Website
Zam Zam is not a halal-certified eatery.
Close to 100 years old, it is highly possible that your grandparents know of Islamic Restaurant in Bugis. They are best known for the Beryani Set ($18.50++), which you can choose out of chicken, mutton, and fish. Food aside, soak in the antiquated vibe of the restaurant adorned with old pictures and memorabilia for the best experience.
Address: 745 North Bridge Road, Singapore 198713
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 9:30pm
Tel: 6298 7563
Website
Islamic Restaurant is a halal-certified eatery.
Guan Hoe Soon is a Peranakan restaurant nestled in Joo Chiat since 1953. In fact, they are the oldest restaurant in Singapore serving Peranakan fare, and their menu still retains the heritage through recipes that have been passed down through three generations. Expect familiar Nyonya dishes such as Ayam Buah Keluak ($18.80++), Sayor Lodeh ($15.80++), and Beef Rendang ($18.80++).
Address: 200 Joo Chiat Road, #01-01, Singapore 427471
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11am to 3pm, 5:30pm to 9pm, Sat-Sun 11am to 3pm, 5pm to 9pm
Tel: 6344 2761
Website
Guan Hoe Soon is not a halal-certified eatery.
Golden Mile is haven for Thai food, but nestled within the complex is one of Singapore’s oldest Hainanese restaurants, Thien Kee. The eatery specialises in steamboat, and has been around since 1952. The chicken broth used in their steamboat is cooked for up to eight hours to tease out all the richness and flavour from the bird. It comes served with Chinese cabbage, fishball, sliced beef or pork, and fish maw. Aside from steamboat, the eatery also has Hainanese zi char dishes, chicken rice, and satay.
Address: 6001 Beach Road, #B1-20, Golden Mile Tower, Singapore 199589
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 10pm
Tel: 6298 5891
Website
Thien Kee is not a halal-certified eatery.
Sabar Menati is a nasi padang eatery that has been around since the 1920s, serving up a variety of spicy, rich dishes all prepared with family recipes. Their Beef Rendang ($5) is a must, with a really coconutty, fragrant rempah, but don’t miss out on their Ikan Hijau (from $6) as well, where fish is served with tangy, spicy green chilli.
Address: 719 North Bridge Road, Singapore 198705
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 7:30am to 5pm
Tel: 6291 0109
Website
Sabar Menati is not a halal-certified eatery.
No restaurant can survive decades without good food and the same goes for these restaurants. From nasi biryani to kaya toast, these iconic restaurants have been sharing not just food, but also a little bit of Singapore’s history. Apart from these historic dining locations, check out our guide to rare hawker dishes in Singapore for more traditional fare. Alternatively, read our guide to the best old-school breakfast spots in Singapore.
This article was originally written on 19 September 2016.
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