And by Singapore River, we don’t just mean right by it, but the surrounding enclaves and neighborhoods like HongKong St., Mohamed Sultan Rd., Robertson Quay… you get it. While these areas are hot for a night of tipples, they’re also a go-to for hungry patrons of the night. Here are a couple of places we’ve deemed worthy.
Bacchanalia
After Bacchanalia moved from the Masonic Building in City Hall to HongKong Street, the mood and the menu lightened considerably—no more heavy velvet drapes and black-out brunch parties. Helmed by Australian Chef Luke Armstrong, who’s cheffed at establishments such as two-Michelin-starred The Ledbury in London, you can look forward to ever-changing five- and seven-course degustation menus featuring local and regional produce sourced from farms in Singapore and Malaysia. 39 HongKong St., 6509-1453. $$$$
Bistecca Tuscan Steakhouse
Dim lighting, dark wood furnishings and deep red accents give this Italian steakhouse a distinctly sexy feel; a great date venue. In case the name wasn’t a dead giveaway, it’s all about the meats here, specifically wagyu, so forgo their pastas in favor of their signature Fiorentina—a deliciously smoky char-grilled 1-1.2kg T-bone steak of marble score six Aussie wagyu, big enough to be shared by three or four people. 26 Mohamed Sultan Rd., 6735-6739. $$$
FOC
It opened a few years ago, but this boisterous and well-dressed Spanish tapas and cocktail joint, by Michelin- starred Nandu Jubany in collaboration with Jordi Noguera and Dario Nocentini, is still perpetually packed most nights of the week, thanks to its affordable cocktails and gently tweaked versions of classic dishes. Expect modern takes on dishes like black Mediterranean paella with seafood and garlic mayo. Jubany has also added in some Asian flair with progressive plates of onion soup ramen noodles with smoked quail eggs, pork belly and shitake mushroom. 40 HongKong St., 6100-4040. $$
Japanese BBQ Yakiniku Yazawa
You can’t swing a bat without knocking into a Japanese eatery in the Robertson Quay area, but this BBQ establishment is a standout, despite the pretty ordinary setup (think black booth seats, dim lighting and wood accents). Grilled everything is the order of the day, from seasonal fish to Kurobuta to Saga beef. The Yazawa meats on offer are reason enough to warrant a return visit, as are the set menus at lunch and dinner. #01-01 Robertson Walk, 11 Unity St., 6235-2941. $$
RVLT
This is exactly the kind of place we’d want to own, if we decided to open a cool resto/wine bar that is. Run by Ian Lim and Alvin Gho, these guys know a thing or two about vino, and are more than happy to share. As you’d expect, their wine offerings are carefully curated, and complement the honest, straightforward fare coming out of the kitchen care of Manel Valero—whom some may remember from his time at FoodBar Dada and Moosehead—nicely. Their beef tartare, as well as crab, kohlrabi and tamarind, stand on their own. An unassuming, chilled out vibe is a big draw, as is the friendly service. #01-01, 38 Carpenter St., 9388-1436. $$
Tamashii Robataya
Run by Chef-owner Patrick Tan, his wife Nicole and Chef-co-owner Max See, this joint specializes in robatayaki (Japanese grill). Snag a seat at the long chef’s counter: they serve food up on long wooden paddles, making for a fun interactive experience. Also worth a go is their shabu-shabu/sukiyaki menu that includes two specialties—sake nabe, which uses 100% sake in hot pot and whisky sukiyaki for whisky lovers. If you don’t want to blow your budget, swing by for their affordable lunch sets. #02-01, 12 North Canal Rd., 6222-0316. $$$
