Here’s where to eat, drink, shop and chill out at this bustling enclave in the Duxton neighbourhood.
Telok Ayer, we’ll be fond of you forever. But if there’s a neighbourhood to give our fave one a serious run for its money, it’s the leafy and lush Duxton Hill. Featuring many, many great eateries representing all sorts of cuisine from Mexican to French, and the independent stores that keep you occupied if you’re in for a spot of shopping, this enclave is one to explore.
Guide to Duxton Hill: Restaurants and cafes
Kilo Kitchen
Kampong Bugis might have lost a Kilo, but Duxton Road gained one! The cool kid on the block is impossible to miss with its cosy living room and beautiful alfresco space. Its open kitchen dishes out modern comfort food with Latin American and Asian influences on a wood-fired grill – everything’s so good, you’ll be back for seconds time and again.
Kilo Kitchen, 97 Duxton Road, Singapore 089541
Lucha Loco
With its twinkling fairy lights, garden bar and buzzy vibes, this Mexican taqueria is our go-to place for a tequila party. You can’t leave without ordering yourself a couple of tacos. Not to mention elotes, a Mexican street-style grilled corn rubbed with mayo, chilli, and cotija cheese. Don’t forget a mezcal cocktail to complete the night!
Lucha Loco, 15 Duxton Hill, Singapore 089598
Rhubarb
French cuisine runs the gamut of classy to cosy, and this restaurant is no doubt the latter. The one Michelin-starred name houses just a couple of tables where diners can watch the chef in action preparing contemporary French cuisine. Rhubarb offers a six-course tasting menu featuring exquisite, intricately plated dishes that you can pair with elegant wines for an unforgettable meal.
Rhubarb, 3 Duxton Hill, Singapore 089589
L’Entrecôte
Serving just one main dish, L’Entrecôte does a stellar steak and fries meal that comes with a mouth-watering secret butter sauce and leafy greens. Oh, and did we mention the crispy fries are free-flow? Score! Psst: Hungry diners can pad your meal with starters like French onion soup and desserts such as salted caramel lava cake.
L’Entrecôte, 36 Duxton Hill, Singapore 089614
Etna
Fun fact: Etna is the name of Italy’s most iconic volcano on the east coast of Sicily, and it’s also short for Every Table Needs Attention. The rustic yet elegant restaurant knows how to please the masses. With well-seasoned Sicilian and Mediterranean plates including diverse antipasti, housemade pastas, impeccable meats, fresh pizzas and classic Italian desserts, everything is set at affordable prices. Italian vinos are must-tries on the drinks menu, but there are also whiskys and aperitifs to go with your meal.
Etna, 49/50 Duxton Road, Singapore 089513
Latteria Mozzarella Bar
The folks behind this family-owned restaurant have a soft spot for cheese – particularly of the mozzarella variety – and this concept is proof. It boasts an assortment of fresh mozzarella in varying shapes and sizes, all flown in directly from Italy’s artisanal producers. But cheese isn’t the only attraction here. The outdoor area, strung with fairy lights in a tranquil setting, beckons romantic dates and intimate gatherings.
Latteria Mozzarella Bar, 40 Duxton Hill, Singapore 089618
Restaurant Jag
In the mood for French fine dining? This two-storey shophouse is an intimate 25-seater dining space with a first floor lounge and second level bar. Expect impeccable service as the menu takes you on a culinary journey, then head upstairs to enjoy Savoie-inspired cocktails made with herbs flown in from the French Alps.
Restaurant Jag, 76 Duxton Road, Singapore 089535
Pince & Pints
Lobsters and crabs are the main stars on the menu at Pince & Pints. You can get your lobster grilled, steamed or with chilli, but the tour de force is undoubtedly the lobster roll. Packed with generous servings of the good stuff with a side of mesclun salad, fries and garlic aioli sauce, this bad boy is full of flavour and certainly won’t disappoint. Wash down all that seafood with a refreshing pint of craft beer.
Pince & Pints, 32 Duxton Road, Singapore 089496
Inaho’s Kitchen Bar
Arguably Duxton’s best-kept secret, this hole-in-the-wall Japanese izakaya is hidden on the second floor of a shophouse, with only a nondescript sign outside the door on the first level indicating its location. Inside, you’ll find in-the-know Japanese salarymen lining the long, wooden bar and tucking into their banshaku sets. Make sure you get some sake on the side as well.
Inaho’s Kitchen Bar, 60 Duxton Road, Singapore 089524
Xiao Ya Tou
Here’s an edgy modern Asian restaurant that turns local cuisine on its head. Highlights include lobster kueh pie tee, chilli crab omelette, truffle roast duck, wok-fried wagyu hor fun and Hokkien mee loaded with seafood. There’s also a vegetarian menu for plant-based eaters! Think mala bowl, spicy eggplant, fried rice, braised tofu and more.
Xiao Ya Tou, #01-01, 6 Duxton Hill, Singapore 089592
Fung Kee Hotdogs
Never thought we’d see these words strung together, but would you care for a Scandinavian-Asian hotdog? These guys do a mean smoked pork sausage with ketchup and mustard, or you can get yours topped with shrimp salad and mash or pickled cucumber and crispy onions. Wash it all down with the signature negroni or a couple of beers.
Fung Kee Hotdogs, #01-02, 68 Duxton Road, Singapore 089527
Flor Patisserie
Its exquisite fruit-focused Japanese- and French-inspired cakes, tarts and pies are purely made without baking powder, artificial rising and softening agents, stabilisers or preservatives. The softness and moisture of the baked goods, according to the team at Flor, come from the natural aeration of eggs as they are whipped to their full peak. Sell-out creations include the strawberry souffle and strawberry shortcake, so be there early if you want a bite.
Flor Patisserie, #01-01, 2 Duxton Hill, Singapore 089588
Guide to Duxton Hill: Bars
SG Taps
Craft beer enthusiasts will love this bar, with its beers on tap and one of the coolest selections of draft beers in Singapore. You can also choose to sip on bottled beers to go with Japanese-style bar bites like gyoza, pork katsu and chicken karaage.
SG Taps, #01-01, 13 Duxton Hill, Singapore 089597
Praelum Wine Bistro
Well-crafted European-inspired bites, a 1,000-strong wine collection and a quaint, down-to-earth vibe make this snug spot popular with nibblers and sippers. Wines by the glass are dispensed from the bistro’s wine systems, or you can try wine flights to learn more about the grape stuff. Bottles are stored in the carefully curated walk-in cellar that holds fine wines, and if ever you’re in doubt, just chat up the sommeliers!
Praelum Wine Bistro, 4 Duxton Hill, Singapore 089590
RPM by D.Bespoke
Daiki Kanetaka, who gave us D.Bespoke on Bukit Pasoh Road, has a sister bar and listening room in Duxton. This one’s a vinyl-only bar that strongly focuses on shochu, a Japanese distilled spirit. Apart from enjoying shochu cocktails, you’re also treated to jazz, soul, funk and rock music played on a vinyl sound system.
RPM by D.Bespoke, 16 Duxton Road, Singapore 089482
Bar.celona
Crazy about cava, huh? Cobblestoned Duxton Hill is home to this bar that serves up bubbly with Spanish tapas. FYI: This hangout offers regular happy hour deals from 5pm to 8pm, as well as ladies’ nights on Wednesdays with a free bottle of cava doled out to every table of four. Just sayin’.
Bar.celona, 21 Duxton Hill, Singapore 089604
Guide to Duxton Hill: Shops and more
Monument Lifestyle
Yes, besides wining and dining, Duxton Hill is home to retail therapy spots as well. This multi-label store – filled with apparel, accessories and more – was started by a husband and wife team, inspired by their love for coffee, the beach, quality goods and the Californian lifestyle.
Monument Lifestyle, 75 Duxton Road, Singapore 089534
Sultans of Shave
Gents, up your grooming game at Sultans of Shave. It’s conveniently located in the CBD, which is ideal especially if you work around Tanjong Pagar. This place has it all – haircuts, shaves, trims, express facials and more.
Sultans of Shave, 15 Duxton Road, Singapore 089481
The Co.
Hot desking on your mind? It’s easy to see why The Co. is one of the more popular co-working spaces in Singapore. Its Duxton haunt has beautiful interiors, drenched in natural light and plenty of plants. Besides, it’s a hop, skip and jump away from some of the best cafes, restaurants and bars this side of town.
The Co., 99 Duxton Road, Singapore 089543
CruCycle and CruBox
How about a full-body workout with choreographed, authentic boxing moves to a thumping playlist? This fitness studio is here to get your heart pumping with its energetic indoor cycling and boxing classes that make for a totally satisfying sweat sesh.
CruCycle and CruBox, #01-01 and #04-01, 68 Duxton Road, Singapore 089527
Huls
Amidst all the bustling restaurants and bars, you’ll find a quiet gallery dedicated to fine Japanese craftsmanship. Drop by Huls for a stunning curation of crafts including ceramics, lacquerware, glass, textile, bamboo and woodworks that walk the line between art and functionality.
Huls Gallery Singapore, 24 Duxton Hill, Singapore 089607
Retrophonic Records
Vinyl lovers, take note. Head here to pick up everything including the latest radio hits, obscure indie rock, 70s pop songs and vintage Chinese records. Plus, this boutique also has rad turntables, amplifiers and speakers on offer.
Retrophonic Records, 53A Duxton Road, Singapore 089517
Littered with Books
This quaint indie shop is one of our favourite bookstores in the city. It’s got fantastic service, competitive prices, a well-edited selection of reads including non-fiction, sci-fi, fantasy, crime and children’s books… what more could you want?
Littered with Books, 20 Duxton Road, Singapore 089486
Lululemon Athletica
Here’s where you can stock up on stylish activewear and yoga-focused outfits by popular label Lululemon. It offers a delightful range of running shorts, leggings, activewear bras, singlets, sports bags and sweatbands. We want it all.
Lululemon Athletica, 79 Duxton Road, Singapore 089538
The [email protected]
Venture a little further in this hood and you’ll stumble upon an architectural wonder: The [email protected] A stone’s throw away from the CBD, this award-winning 50-storey residential development features the world’s two longest sky gardens (500 metres each). While the first sky garden located on the 26th floor is reserved only for residents’ use, visitors can make their way up to the 50th floor – which is open to the public – to enjoy a picturesque bird’s eye view of the quaint neighbourhood.
[email protected], 1 Cantonment Road, Singapore 080001
Done exploring? Venture to other neighbourhoods in Singapore for more adventures!
