Unsung Eats: 5 best places to eat – and drink – in Singapore
Discover the city’s hidden culinary gems ensconced in side-street speakeasies, revamped warehouses and intimate supper clubs
Side Door
The brainchild of bartender Bannie Kang and her award-winning chef husband Tryson Quek, this is a homey space where creative cocktails meet whimsical tapas-style dishes. What began as a private dining concept in 2022 is now styled as an industrial-esque modern cafe where guests might enjoy the martini-like World Class paired with an oyster, or the savoury-sweet Great To Ma To paired with a scallop and caviar tartlet.
Location: #01-01, 3 Neil Road
Must-order: Chinese fried chicken or the private eight-course dinner with four cocktails.
Jiak Kim House
Set in a restored 1920s warehouse – which once housed the legendary nightclub Zouk – this elegant restaurant specialises in modern Asian cuisine, promising to “unveil the tales of yesteryear” in an immersive setting. Chef-partner Seow Tzi Qin boldly blends traditional flavours and ingredients from across the region with contemporary cooking techniques in dishes like the rich butternut curry ravioli, piquant chilli crab pie tee DIY and flavoursome beef tongue-to-tail.
Location: #01-17, 5 Jiak Kim Street
Must-order: Tingkat of Memories, a starter of crab cakes, lamb croquettes, otak-otak fish cakes and beef skewers, all laced with staunchly Asian flavours.
Wildcard
This cosy bistro, set in an unexpected location on the CBD’s fringes, boasts a stylish atmosphere of colourful posters, exposed wood and plush sofas. Chef Angelo Maniam’s Indian-edged soul food – half French chicken, oxtail croquette, scallop-stuffed pani puri – is served with a drinks menu focused on natural wines. Visit on Thursdays for live jazz or Sundays for the biweekly Test Kitchen chef collaborations.