Those who live along Stevens Road or in nearby areas like Balmoral must have already seen the new-ish establishment erected near where Raffles Girls’ School is. Anchored by integrated hotel Novotel and Mercure Singapore on Stevens, the new Dine At Stevens enclave brings to the area a much-appreciated burst of life (Bukit Timah and Orchard are nearby, but still).
The F&B enclave currently houses 11 venues, with options ranging from familiar chains to boutique destination dining places. There’s even a dedicated website conveniently pooling together what you can expect from each place, as well as what promos are currently ongoing. Here’s the lowdown of every restaurant and bar there.
Blue Lotus Chinese Grill House
Their second Chinese grill concept (after their Tanjong Pagar outlet), Blue Lotus’ Stevens Road outpost offers the same good satisfying eats like their Hot Stone Pork Lard Truffle Flavoured Fried Rice and Hickory Smoked Honey-Glazed Kurobuta Pork Belly, as well as dishes made using their signature chilli pomelo sauce; their Chilli Pomelo La Mian Soup with Crabmeat is sublime. If you’re like us, come for their happy hour (noon-10pm daily) too, and enjoy pints of beer and glasses of wine for just $8-$10.
Curry Gardenn
Fans of their Grandstand restaurant will be glad to know you can now get the same hearty Indian cuisine here too. They don’t use coconut in any of their cooking, for health reasons, yet dish out naan, biryani, chicken tikka masala and more authentic Indian eats that are packed with spices and flavor.
Food Exchange
Found on the combined second level of the hotels, this all-day diner is the place to be for a smorgasbord of international cuisine. Come for buffet lunch or dinner any day, or brunch too on Sundays, and enjoy fresh seafood, cold cuts, meats, noodles and more from the various stations and live kitchens. Dine alfresco for added ambience.
Fudebar
The lobby level cafe of Mercure Singapore on Stevens is a casual gathering space for your barista coffee, artisanal tea, sandwich and pastry fix. Dine in or takeaway, but be sure to try their bespoke Ette Tea label, as well as Fudebar’s own custom pale ale available on tap.
In Piazza
With four Italians the brains (and chefs) behind the restaurant, you know you can rely on this place for a satisfying Italian meal. Get fresh oven-baked pizzas, homemade pastas, and other traditional eats hailing from Genova, Sicilily, Rome and Vicenza here, paired with Peroni on tap, Menabrea craft beers by the bottle, or a limoncello to cap it all off.
L’Aperitif
Begin your evenings at this classy spot located at the lobby level of Novotel Singapore on Stevens. A cocktails and tapas place, here you’ll find meat and cheese platters, cold cuts and truffle fries to go with classic concoctions made with a twist. Be sure to get a glass of smoked cocktail (served in a glass dome) that is both a visual and aromatic treat. Beers, wines and bubbly are available here too.
Long Beach
Requiring no introduction, the Stevens Road branch of this beloved seafood restaurant empire takes it up a notch with their chichiest interior decor yet. Feast on Alaskan King Crab, Australian Lobster, Geoduck and more, all caught and cooked fresh from the tank. Remember to order the Black Pepper Crab, a household cuisine which first originated from their kitchens.
PappaRich
Have Malaysian street food like asam laksa, hokkien mee and fluffy hainan steamed bread in air-conditioned comfort here. While there are many branches all over Singapore, this outlet is the first globally to offer a kiosk with dine-in concept. Get thick, fragrant kopi here too, and sweeten it with stevia instead of sugar.
The Gyu Bar
For a refined yet not stuffy dining experience, this Japanese grill and sake specialist (by the same folks behind one Michelin-starred Sushi Kimura) is a standout, even from most other yakiniku places around town. Enjoy your meal omakase style or a la carte, or if you’re here for a casual lunch, get the donburis made with rice tossed in beef fat. Decadent.
Pool Bar
The infinity pool of Novotel and Mercure Singapore on Stevens is where you’ll want to be for lazy brunches and poolside dinners. Lie down on a lounger while having a mix of local and international eats, and go all out during the Sunday brunch where free-flow Champagne, beer, rose, and wines await.
Winestone
One for the oenophiles, the hotel’s modern European concept is all at once a restaurant, bar and wine retail store that caters to vino lovers of all kinds. Get the accessible Winestone Express Platter for a quick fix of wine paired with a meat and cheese platter, or go slow and dine on fine cuts of steak, hearty seafood and pastas. Come on their Thirsty Thursday nights for free-flow of wines and rose for just $40.
