Bugis has made a name for being a place of many vices. In the ‘80s, the area was a buzzing nightspot full of pasar malams and bars, a place popular with the LGBT community and tourists alike. Today, it hosts a different kind of vice. Whitewashed streets are filled with shopping malls and shops. At night, the streets of Bugis lock up for crowds of diners looking for the best steamboat restaurants and drinks.
With plenty of hotel staycation opportunities (whether it’s at the history-embedded Raffles Hotel or swanky JW Marriott) and a wide range of activities all around, there’s even more reason to visit the bustling enclave.
Recently, Bugis joined Bras Basah as part of the Bras Basah.Bugis precinct, representing one of Singapore’s arts and heritage districts.
Past and present coexist harmoniously, from the art-adorned Waterloo Road to the entertainment-filled malls at Victoria Street. The neighbourhood also hosts the recurring Singapore Night Festival, a contemporary arts festival.
If you’re in the vicinity this weekend, take some time to explore the neighbourhood and you’ll find a broad range of cafes and restaurants, ranging from casual to fine-dining. Here’s where to grab a bite this weekend.
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12 best cafes and restaurants around Bugis to dine at:
665°F at Andaz Singapore
After a brief closure for refurbishment, steakhouse 665°F at Andaz Singapore reopens to serve artisanal meat cuts meticulously heated to its signature 665 degrees Fahrenheit in a PIRA oven. Returning to lead the culinary team is Chef de Cuisine, Peter Gomez. Expect dishes that showcase the finest Southeast Asian ingredients like using certified sustainable seafood and locally sourced seasonal produce prepared with Western cooking techniques.
Reopens on September 2, 2024.
(Image credit: Andaz Singapore)
- Address 5 Fraser Street, Level 38 Andaz Singapore. Singapore 189354
- Phone +65 6408 1255
Atlas
Atlas is a lounge and cocktail bar that revels in the building’s Art Deco glamour. Besides the mesmerising interiors, Atlas has one of the largest collections of gin in the world. The bar also offers modern European cuisine and languid afternoon teas to go with cocktails.
- Address 600 North Bridge Road, Parkview Square, Singapore 188778
- Phone +65 6396 4466
Beyond The Dough Pizzeria Singapore
Tokyo is well known for being at the forefront of a new wave of Neapolitan pizza, and Chef Eddie Murakami introduced this with his debut of Beyond The Dough in Singapore. With meticulous attention to detail, Murakami ferments his dough for more than 30 hours, hydrates it with filtered water, and bakes it at a temperature of approximately 500 degrees Celsius in an oven fuelled with chips of Japanese cedar wood. This is evident in signatures like the 5 formaggi and Margherita pizza.
- Address 150 Arab Street, Singapore 199832
- Phone +65 8679 1788
Cicheti
As one of Singapore’s OG Italian cuisine restaurants that serve wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas, Cicheti is certainly a reliable option should you crave the aromatic smokey dough with a slightly charred crust. Savoury Antipasti plates and wood-fired pizzas are highlights on the menu.
(Image credit: @cichetirestaurant/Instagram)
- Address 52 Kandahar Street, Singapore 198901
- Phone +65 6292 5012
Chikuyotei
Chikuyotei has been around for a while but continues to put out quality fine-dining Japanese kaiseki fare. The menu features a long list of items — from sashimi to hot pot. Yet, the restaurant is most popular for its unadon. The unagi is prepared in two different ways: simply grilled for more bite or steamed and grilled for softer flesh.
- Address 80 Middle Rd, #01-01 InterContinental Singapore, Singapore 188966
- Phone +65 6825 1064
Choon Hoy Parlor
The Masses’ owner-chef Dylan Ong creates a restaurant serving traditional Singaporean cuisine and a love letter to his mother. With its retro décor, Choon Hoy Parlour has an impression of stepping back in time to pre-millennium, but the cuisine remains deliciously timeless. Experience classic dishes like Teochew Braised Duck, Braised Dua Cai, and Pork Leg Trotter Jelly, prepared using family recipes by Chef Dylan and his stellar crew, which includes Renee Tang and Benji Chew.
(Image credit: Choon Hoy Parlor)
- Address 85 Beach Road, #01-02, Singapore 189694
- Phone +65 6266 0061
Garibaldi
The one-Michelin-starred restaurant is a popular spot for Italian fine-dining. Chef Roberto Galetti serves up modern interpretations of traditional recipes, prepared with ingredients imported from Italy. The wine list here is worth checking out too.
- Address 36 Purvis Street, Singapore 188613
- Phone +65 6837 1468
Gunther’s
Just next door is French fine-dining outfit, Gunther’s. Chef Gunther Hubrechsen, who has trained with renowned names like chef Alain Passard, introduces modern French cuisine with a focus on natural flavours of fresh, seasonal ingredients. Must-tries here include angel hair pasta with caviar and roasted suckling pig with hibiscus sauce.
- Address 1 Beach Road, Raffles Hotel Singapore, Singapore 189673
- Phone +65 6337 1886
Kurasu
Kyoto-based coffee and matcha specialist Kurasu’s flagship outlet at Waterloo Street is a zen hideout perfect to chill and relax Their signature coffee – a 3-beans house blend with beans from Brazil, Guatemala and Ethiopia – is roasted in their Fushimi Inari roastery in Kyoto and shipped over weekly to Singapore. They also have a selection of coffee equipment to ensure you can enjoy quality brews from the comfort of your home.
Opening Hours: Mondays to Sundays, 8:30 am to 6:30 pm
(Image credit: @kurasusg/Instagram)
- Address 261 Waterloo Street, #01-24, Singapore 180261
- Website Website here
LUCE
- Address 80 Middle Road, Singapore 188966
- Phone +65 6825 1008
Madame Fan
This ornate restaurant is Hong Kong-based restaurateur Alan Yau’s first Singapore venture. Madame Fan offers contemporary Chinese food, with items such as its signature wok-fried crispy duck, jasmine tea-smoked ribs and white pepper crabs. Dim sum is also a must-have here.
- Address The NCO Club, 32 Beach Road, Singapore 189764
- Website Website here
- Phone +65 6818 1921
Man Fu Yuan
For more traditional Chinese fine-dining, head over to Man Fu Yuan. Dim sum is a popular affair at this Cantonese restaurant, which sees a range of modern and classic bites. Besides live seafood, the restaurant offers some truly luxurious dishes such as Duroc pork char siew and crab bisque with bird’s nest.
- Address 80 Middle Rd, InterContinental Singapore, Singapore 188966
- Website Website here
- Phone +65 6825 1008
This story first appeared here.
(Featured image credit: Singapore Tourism Board)
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The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
Written By
Jasmine Tay
Jasmine Tay is the dining, culture and jewellery writer. She makes fine silver jewellery and causes mini-explosions ..Read More
Derrick Tan
Derrick believes in Anais Nin's quote, "We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect." ..Read More
