Whether it’s a casual dinner and catchup with friends or pre-drinks before hitting the clubs, Circular Road’s bars and restaurants have you covered.
With the lightened Covid restrictions, we welcome back the buzz of Singapore’s city life. Bars are now open almost all night long, and the 5-person-per-table cap is a thing of the past. If you’re looking for your next tried and true haunt in Singapore, why not take Circular Road’s food and drink spots out for a spin? We’ve got a whole list of great hangouts for team lunches. And when the sun sets at 7pm and the roads are closed off to traffic, have your late-night (and likely drunken) heart-to-heart conversations with friends over ice-cold beers.
Circular Road guide: Best food and drinks
1. The Dragon Chamber
We love a good speakeasy, and The Dragon Chamber certainly doesn’t disappoint. Be transported to a whole new timeline with decor reminiscent of old-school Chinatown. The menu combines Chinese and American cuisine, and features some incredibly unconventional ingredients (crocodile penis soup, anyone?). If you’re not quite ready to push the boundaries of your palate, browse the wide selection of specialty cocktails instead!
The Dragon Chamber, 2 Circular Road, Singapore 049358
2. Dumpling Darlings
If your gang of friends love to order all kinds of things to share, this is the perfect place for you. Marked by the iconic neon red sign, Dumpling Darlings brings us – you guessed it – dumplings with a variety of flavours. From the very classic minced pork dumplings to pierogies stuffed with bacon and potato, you’ll be spoilt for choice. End the night with dessert dumplings filled with vanilla-scented cream cheese, poached pears, and spiked with amaretto liqueur.
Dumpling Darlings, 86 Circular Road, Singapore 049438
3. Dazzling Delish
With its striking blue awning, it’s hard to miss this quaint cafe. The menu is kept simple with a selection of savoury and fruit sandwiches, accompanied by a soup and salad of the day if you make it a set. Did we mention that the ingredients are also flown in straight from Japan? Just remember that this cosy spot only opens for a few hours on weekdays for lunch!
Dazzling Delish, 37 Circular Road, Singapore 049393
4. Bedok Bak Chor Mee
Despite its name, Bedok Bak Chor Mee is actually located right here in the city (don’t worry, we checked). Along with both a soup and dry version of bak chor mee – thick noodles with minced pork and dumplings – you can also order some ngoh hiang to share with colleagues over lunch. Pick out bouncy fishballs, yam rolls, and don’t forget the crispy prawn cracker. Starting at $5.50 a bowl, it’s quite a steal compared to typical lunch prices in the city.
Bedok Bak Chor Mee, 13 Circular Road, Singapore 049369
5. WhiteTree Cafe
A cafe, lifestyle store, and hair salon? That’s what you get when you visit WhiteTree Cafe. With its minimalist decor and natural light flooding every nook and cranny of the space, rest assured that any picture you take will be Instagram-worthy. Take respite in this cosy cafe with a pot of wellness tea, carefully curated with beauty and well-being in mind.
WhiteTree Cafe, Level 2, 24A Circular Road, Singapore 049380
6. Sonny’s Pizzeria
With the classically retro black and white square tiles, and red neon sign, Sonny’s pizza brings us a taste of New York without the hefty price of a plane ticket. Crispy and chewy sourdough crust topped with melted mozzarella makes for an all-American classic. Pair it off with one of the curated craft beers to complete the experience.
Sonny’s Pizzeria, 17 Circular Road, Singapore 049373
7. Ramen Bar Suzuki
Ramen Bar Suzuki’s claim to fame is its tonkotsu soup. It’s simmered for hours with carefully selected ingredients to create the rich broth, and served with noodles made from Japanese wheat. Choose between three different flavours of broth – original, spicy, and black garlic with squid ink – and enjoy various types of seafood.
Ramen Bar Suzuki, #01-01, 61 Circular Road, Singapore 049415
8. Molly Malone’s Irish Pub
Molly Malone’s was the first Irish pub to open in Singapore (since 1995!), transported piece by piece from Ireland. Enjoy pints of ice-cold Guinness with classic fish and chips. Join weekly Monday quiz nights with The Singapore Quizmaster and stand a chance to win a free bucket of beer!
Molly Malone’s Irish Pub, 56 Circular Road, Singapore 049411
9. Jidai
For an omakase experience that combines French technique with Japanese cuisine, look out for Jidai and the iconic maneki-neko design on its glass door. Choose between an eight- or ten-course menu, and add on $88 to get a sake wine pairing. If omakase isn’t your thing, search the array of a la carte menu items including indulgent fatty tuna hand rolls and frog leg karaage.
Jidai, 9 Circular Road, Singapore 049392
10. Ricciotti
Situated along the Singapore River, Ricciotti is the place to be for authentic Italian fare. Start the night with fresh oysters before tucking into a plate of homemade ravioli stuffed with savoury porcini mushrooms, and round it off with a classic tiramisu. For a show-stopper at your dinner table, check out the pizza mezzo metro, a half-metre-long pizza perfect for sharing.
Ricciotti, #B1-49/50, 20 Upper Circular Road, Singapore 058416
11. The Working Class
Looking for a new lunch spot? Take advantage of the lunch promotions at The Working Class. Pick from mains such as chasu pork, salmon mentaiko, and Korean gochujang chicken served on a bed of Japanese rice, plus a beverage of your choice. For fuss-free drinks, swing by at night for happy hour and get a bucket of five Heineken beers or a glass of house red to unwind.
The Working Class, 26 Circular Road, Singapore 049382
12. Tendon Kohaku
You really can’t go wrong with tempura seafood and vegetables over rice, and no one does it better than Tendon Kohaku. Choose from different toppings like an all-vegetable bowl or a prawn bowl and enjoy it with the secret amber-coloured sauce. The menu also offers sashimi and sushi rolls if you feel like going for something fresh.
Tendon Kohaku, #01-01, 64 Circular Road, Singapore 049418
13. Foodcoholic
If you’re looking for Indian cuisine, pop by Foodcoholic for a huge menu filled with biryani options, Desi chakna, and kebabs. This eclectic eatery also serves up Chinese and Western fare – perfect for groups that can’t agree on one cuisine for dinner!
Foodcoholic, 40 Circular Road, Singapore 049396
14. The Mask Restaurant and Bar
Located right smack in the middle of Circular Road is The Mask Restaurant and Bar. Take a seat outside along Circular Road and watch the whole place explode with energy as everyone crawls out for their evening activities. It’s the perfect place for groups looking to grab drinks and catch up, or to pre-drink before heading to the clubs for a night of dancing your weekday woes away.
The Mask Restaurant and Bar, 23-24 Circular Road, Singapore 049379
15. BK Eating House
Of course, we can’t have an article about Circular Road without giving a shoutout to BK Eating House. This ever-reliable 24-hour establishment is the go-to supper choice for those wrapping up a night of drinks. Sober up with a bowl of bak chor mee before heading home.
BK Eating House, 32 South Bridge Road (start of Circular Road), Singapore 058667
Now, go forth and plan your next night out at one of these Circular Road food spots!
