Straight from the source, it can’t get any better than enjoying seafood fresh from the kelong. For the ultimate farm-to-table experience, check out kelongs around Singapore before they’re all gone.
Love your seafood restaurants and farm-to-table dining? It all starts from a kelong. Kelongs are floating fish farms found in waters off Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia. Because of rapid urbanisation, only a handful remain today. So if you ever need a respite from city life, pack light, dress down and hop on a boat. Heads up: at some of these kelongs around Singapore, you can dig into the freshest seafood meal you’ll ever get your hands on!
The remaining kelongs around Singapore
1. Smith Marine
This unique restaurant is an excellent spot for seafood if you’re getting jaded by choices on the Singapore mainland. What started off as a fish farm in 2006 has transformed into a modern-day kelong using a steel pontoon. It’s now a floating seafood restaurant serving you the freshest catches of the day. Tuck into salted egg prawns and scallops steamed with garlic, and even crispy chicken with lemon sauce. Remember that you’ll have to book your spot in advance in order to get there!
Smith Marine, between Pulau Ubin and Changi Point Ferry Terminal
2. Ah Hua Kelong
Talk about farm-to-table dining: Ah Hua Kelong takes its fresh seafood very seriously. This fish farm features a huge array of seafood from grouper and seabass to mussels and crabs. It distributes wholesale to restaurants. And the good news for seafoodies out there? It even delivers to your homes! If you don’t feel like whipping up a homecooked meal, you can always visit the dining concept Scaled by Ah Hua Kelong. The eclectic restaurant serves a stellar chawanmushi – a Japanese steamed egg – with clam broth and squid ink, and seafood risotto served with a seabass demi-glace.
Scaled by Ah Hua Kelong, 8 Hamilton Road, Singapore 209179
Technically not in Singapore, but kelongs worth a visit!
3. Kelong Acheh
Located off the coast of a small fishing town in Malaysia, this kelong is one of the few that’s still around thanks to its pivot into tourism. A 10-minute boat ride away from Penyabong Jetty, this fishing outpost is known for its untouched charm. It’s touted as one of the best finishing spots in Malaysia, so gather your fishing buddies for a day out of the city. The staff around are friendly and ensure that you have everything you need for an enjoyable stay.
Kelong Acheh, South China Sea, Johor, Malaysia
4. Chia Soon Kelong
If you want to boast that you had your dinner “overseas” with your colleagues, Chia Soon Kelong’s your spot. A short ride from Changi Ferry Terminal, Chia Soon Kelong is technically in Malaysian waters, so be sure to bring your passport. Built to be a day trip and also a stay-over destination, there’s accommodation if you do decide to spend a night – don’t expect anything fancy though. For the avid fishermen amongst us, bring your gear along and spend your day catching fish while admiring the morning sunrise.
Chia Soon Kelong, Pasir Gogok, Johor, Malaysia
5. Blue Mountain Kelong
Take a slightly longer boat ride in the open waters and make a stop in the Riau Islands at Blue Mountain Kelong. Blue Mountain has all the facilities and amenities for an entire day of swimming, chilling, and fishing. And at night once you’ve gotten a view of the sunset, stay a little longer and stargaze. If you really want to get away from the Lion City for a day (or three days and two nights), hop on the ferry to Riau Islands.
Blue Mountain Kelong, Subang Mas, Galang, Batam City, Riau Islands 29483, Indonesia
Stop by these kelongs around Singapore and beyond before they disappear.