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A Guide to Keong Saik Road: Where to Wine, Dine, and Shop!
Whether you’re an early riser or a night owl, Keong Saik Road’s array of eateries, bars, and social spots are sure to capture your interest.
Known as a sub-capital of Chinatown, this vibrant enclave attracts tourists and locals for some casual eats and vintage shopping.
If you’re planning a visit here soon, here’s our comprehensive guide to Keong Saik Road, covering activities and points of interest for every hour of the day.
How to Get There
– From kkf3388
By Train: The nearest MRT station to Keong Saik Road is Outram Park MRT Station. It’s serviced by the East-West Line and North-East Line.
From Outram Park MRT Station, you can take a short walk to Chinatown, where Keong Saik Road is located.
By Bus: The bus lines that serve Keong Saik Road are 143, 147, 655, 80, and 166.
By Car: If you’re travelling to Keong Saik Road via car, you can park your car in the nearest car parks located in Duxton Hill, Outram Road, Tan Boon Liat Building, and the open car park next to the Singapore Chinwoo Association.
Where to Eat
Cure
Address: 21 Keong Saik Rd., Singapore 089128
Contact Details: +6593384207
Operating Hours: Tuesday and Wednesday, 6:00 pm to 10:0 pm, Thursday to Saturday, 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm, 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Cure, situated inconspicuously in Keong Saik’s numerous shophouses, offers an affordable fusion of fine dining and casual ambience.
The menu, curated by Chef Andrew Walsh, boasts seasonally changing, meticulously crafted dishes like salmon, prawns, beef, and pigeon.
Options range from a $95 three-course à la carte to a $150 chef’s tasting menu, available Monday to Thursday.
| Pro Tip: On Fridays and Saturdays, a $120 plant-based menu replaces the three-course option. |
Tong Ah Eating House
– From eat_996
Address: 35 Keong Saik Rd., Singapore 089142
Contact Details: +6562235083
Operating Hours: Tuesday and Wednesday, 6:00 pm to 10:0 pm, Thursday to Saturday, 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm, 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Since its establishment in 1939, Tong Ah Eating House has emerged as one of Singapore’s most iconic coffee shops.
Over the years, Tong Ah remains as popular as ever, driven by its renowned offerings of toast, half-boiled eggs, and kopi (local coffee).
For first-time visitors, we recommend trying the crispy thin toast kaya, a slim and delightfully crisp toast, paired with the sweet and aromatic kaya (coconut spread). You can’t really go wrong with this simple yet uniquely Singaporean treat!
| Pro Tip: Tong Ah Eating House won’t let you sit down on any empty table until after you’ve paid for your orders. It’s mostly regulars who know about this rule, but we’re giving you the heads-up! |
The Guild
Address: 55 Keong Saik Rd., #01-01, Singapore 089158
Contact Details: +6590423900
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday, 4:00 pm to 11:30 pm, Saturday and Sunday, 3:00 pm to 11:30 pm
Are you a fan of craft beers? The Guild is the place to satisfy your cravings.
Originating from Hong Kong’s renowned and largest independent craft brewery, Young Master Brewery, The Guild offers a fantastic selection of craft beer on tap. You can indulge in natural wines and cocktails crafted with small-batch, artisanal spirits.
If you’re feeling hungry, there’s a food menu to explore, featuring options such as prawn cocktails, chicken liver pate, and more.
| Pro Tip: Head over to The Guild’s Instagram page for updates on upcoming promotions and events and get good deals on their cocktails and craft beers. |
Esquina
Address: 16 Jiak Chuan Rd, Singapore 089267
Contact Details: +6562221616
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Thursday, 12:00 pm to 2:30 pm, 6:00 pm to 10:30 pm, Saturday, 12:00 pm to 2:30 pm, 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Amidst the lively and vibrant atmosphere of Keong Saik Road, dining at Esquina transports you straight to the heart of Spain. This Spanish restaurant, curated by head chef Carlos Montobbio, offers a delectable selection of Spanish and Catalan dishes.
Whether you’re indulging in snack starters like the sea urchin sandwich with cheese and truffle, or mains like the lobster paella.
Feel free to express your delight with shouts of “delicioso!” They’ll likely appreciate it.
| Pro Tip: Esquina has a tasting menu available for around $158++ per head. The whole course is applicable to big groups of people, so if you’re considering celebrating a milestone or special occasion, book a table for the tasting menu in advance. |
Potato Head Singapore
Address: 36 Keong Saik Rd., Singapore 089143
Contact Details: +6563271939
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 12:00 pm to 12:00 am
Undoubtedly one of the most famous restaurants in Keong Saik Road, Potato Head has unquestionably made a significant impact on the neighbourhood.
Introducing an impressive dining concept, the establishment provides a venue to savour gourmet burgers, including the much-acclaimed Impossible Burger.
Whether you prefer to relax in the intimate atmosphere of the drinking den or enjoy the rooftop garden with its panoramic views and Chinatown ambience while sipping on a cocktail, Potato Head offers a multifaceted experience.
| Pro Tip: If you like the ambience at Potato Head, treat yourself to a jamming session all the way from Bali with their Headstream! Potato Heads streams live DJ sets from Bali throughout the week, so if you don’t mind some music to go with your meal (especially if your ordered delivery), then by all means, plug and play. |
Tilly’s by Butcher Boy
Address: 31 Keong Saik Rd., Singapore 089138
Contact Details: +6587529578
Operating Hours: Tuesday, 5:00 pm to 12:00 am, Wednesday to Thursday, 4:00 pm to 12:00 am, Friday and Saturday, 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm, 4:00 pm to 12:00 am, Sunday, 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm
If you’re craving a satisfying Sunday roast, Tilly’s by Butcher Boy, an Irish grill in the heart of Keong Saik Road, serves up the kind of roast meats that might satisfy your palate.
Whether it’s the roast beef or the pork belly accompanied by Szechuan brussels sprouts, Yorkshire pudding, and mashed carrots, the menu is a delightful array.
With roasts so tender, who needs cutlery? The menu also features other enticing dishes like Peking pork buns, stuffed chicken wings, and grilled fish.
| Pro Tip: Happy Hours at Tilly’s by Butcher Boy are from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm every Wednesday to Sunday. Take this chance to get great deals on Irish beers and a few bar bites to chow down with your friends. |
Kok Sen Restaurant
Address: 4 Keong Saik Road, Singapore 089110
Contact Details: +6562232005
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 12:00 pm to 2:15 pm, 5:00 pm to 9:15 pm
Nothing beats a good zi char (Hokkien food stall) feast now and then, but when you’re in Keong Saik Road, a visit to Kok Sen Restaurant is a must if you’re craving zi char delights.
The star dish is the prawn hor fun, a stir-fried noodle dish cooked with thick sauce and topped with prawns. It’s a hearty dish for anyone who wants a filling yet budget-friendly meal.
Other than prawn hor fun, Kok Sen Restaurant also offers clay pot yong tau foo, a medley of vegetables and tofu filled with fish and squid paste, as well as braised pork ribs in black bean sauce.
| Pro Tip: Unlike other zi char establishments in Singapore, Kok Sen Restaurant is air-conditioned, so dining here is relatively more comfortable than the usual food court. That said, tables can fill up quickly, so we highly suggest dropping by before lunch hours and dinner hours to avoid the crowd. |
Heart of Darkness
Address: 1 Keong Saik Rd., Singapore 089109
Contact Details: +6562087940
Operating Hours: Monday to Thursday, 4:00 pm to 12:00 am, Friday, 2:00 pm to 12:00 am, Saturday, 12:00 pm to 12:00 am
Here’s another place to enjoy pints of craft beer! Heart of Darkness offers an array of excellent craft beers on tap, featuring limited releases and guest taps.
A few signature brews include the Dream Alone pale ale, Kurtz’s Insane India pale ale, Futile Purpose cucumber pilsner, and the Black Shadow Espresso martini stout.
If you’re feeling peckish, indulge in bar snacks such as nachos, tacos, grilled calamari, or Bangkok fries loaded with toppings.
| Pro Tip: Heart of Darkness gets packed during peak hours (dinner and late evening), so book a table in advance and drop by at least 15 minutes before your reservation. |
Olivia Restaurant and Lounge
Address: 55 Keong Saik Rd., #01-03, Singapore 089158
Contact Details: +6562210522
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 12:00 pm to 2:30 pm, 6:00 pm to 10:30 pm
Exploring Keong Saik Road would be incomplete without a visit to Olivia Restaurant and Lounge. Immerse yourself in the concept restaurant, which brings the lively, cosmopolitan dining culture of Barcelona to the heart of Singapore.
The menu features delights such as wagyu barbecue rib, cured Cantabrian anchovies, and king crab stew with pasta. If you want to explore their small bites, go for the jamón Ibérico de bellota (Iberian ham shavings) and Ibérico ham croquettes.
Complement your experience with a selection of Spanish and international wines for a perfect pairing.
| Pro Tip: Although Olivia Restaurant and Lounge accepts walk-ins, it’s still best to reserve a table, especially if you plan on dining here on a Friday or Saturday. It’s a popular dinner date spot in Keong Saik Road, so don’t spoil the romance and get a table ahead of time. |
Afterglow
Address: 24 Keong Saik Rd., Singapore 089131
Contact Details: +6562248921
Operating Hours: Monday to Saturday, 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Those with a penchant for vegan food will enjoy brunch, lunch, or dinner at Afterglow, a vegan restaurant that cooks up vegan-friendly delights using locally and regionally sourced vegetables and fruits.
Health-conscious individuals can relish a vast array of flavourful and nutritious options that are devoid of gluten, refined sugar, and preservatives.
A few notable dishes are the dragon fruit, pomegranate, avocado salad bowl with chunky chopped macadamia and mint dressing, zucchini linguine with walnut ‘meat’-balls, and acai bowl.
| Pro Tip: In case you want to enjoy Afterglow’s healthy dishes at home, you can order your meals via delivery service. They do islandwide delivery, including Sentosa Island and Punggol! |
Man Man Japanese Unagi Restaurant
– From hungrinna
Address: 1 Keong Saik Rd., #01-01, Singapore 089109
Contact Details: +6562220678
Operating Hours: Monday to Saturday, 11;30 am to 2:25 pm, 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Nestled in a park near Keong Saik, Man Man Japanese Unagi Restaurant might escape your notice unless you spot the consistently long line of patrons waiting eagerly.
Man Man isn’t just about indulging in some of the finest unagi (eel) rice bowls in Singapore; it offers a complete Japanese culinary experience.
You can savour the eel plain or with the accompanying spring onion and self-grind wasabi for freshness. Alternatively, pour dashi over it to create a porridge-like dish (this is a kid-friendly way to eat unagi, in our opinion).
| Pro Tip: Man Man Japanese Unagi Restaurant welcomes a lot of customers daily, with a notorious 45-minute waiting time. Drop by for an early lunch or dinner to skip the crowds! |
Kafe Utu
Address: 12 Jiak Chuan Rd, Singapore 089265
Contact Details: +6569963937
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Friday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm, Saturday and Sunday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
For those seeking a taste of African cuisine, Kafe Utu serves up dishes hailing from Liberia, Swahili, Kenya, Nigeria, and beyond.
The menu, influenced by flavours from Kenya to Morocco, includes enticing items like Liberian peanut chicken stew, macadamia goat stew, Swahili fish curry, and more.
Whether you’re there for brunch or dinner, you can enjoy classics like eggs benedict and ricotta hotcakes alongside Kenyan porridge and curried avocado with raw garlic toast.
| Pro Tip: When dining here, be mindful that Kefa Utu has a 90-minute dining limit during lunch hours and a two-hour limit during dinner. You can ask the restaurant to extend your stay, but you’ll have to inform them in advance. Unfortunately, you can’t make back-to-back bookings, even if you put down another person’s name. |
Pasta Bar
Address: 55, 01-05 Keong Saik Rd., Singapore 089158
Contact Details: +6562220637
Operating Hours: Monday to Tuesday, 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm, Wednesday to Sunday, 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm, 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm
Resisting freshly made pasta is tough, especially when crafted right before your eyes. Pasta Bar’s daily fresh and handmade pasta dishes draw customers to their humble Italian restaurant, thanks to the inviting open kitchen concept.
The menu features enticing options like beef ragu tagliatelle, lobster ravioli, crab pappardelle, torched wagyu beef carpaccio, and more.
It’s best to try out as many pasta dishes as you can per visit, as the Pasta Bar chefs change their menus based on the freshest ingredients available in the season. So, savour your favourite dish now, because you might have a new one next time!
| Pro Tip: The seating at Pasta Bar is quite limited, as there are mostly bar stools and tall tables. If you’re dining with a big group (around 5 or more), you’ll need to make your reservation via [email protected] ahead of time to get better and more comfortable seating. |
Gaston
– From @serenefoodology
Address: 25 Keong Saik Rd., Singapore 089132
Contact Details: +6569098120
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 12:00 pm to 12:00 am
Dive into the rich Burgundian heritage at Gaston, an all-day bistro and wine bar, where classic homemade specialities like jambon persillé (cured ham) and eclair au cassis (blackcurrant eclairs) are celebrated.
With a commitment to tradition, each dish showcases the freshest seasonal ingredients directly sourced from artisanal producers.
Don’t let the fancy names intimidate you, though. Gaston may be one of the more upscale dining options in Keong Saik Road, but the ambience is completely open for people who simply want to enjoy good food and even better wine.
| Pro Tip: Despite staying open until midnight, Gaston accepts last orders up to 10:00 pm. You can, however, stay until closing to finish your drinks! |
Where to Shop
Dustbunny Vintage Shop
Address: 2-A Keong Saik Rd., Singapore 089110
Contact Details: +6562220116
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday, 11:30 am to 6:30 pm, Saturday, 1:30 pm to 6:30 pm
Since 2003, Dustbunny Vintage Shop has been a purveyor of vintage clothing and accessories, featuring its own line of retro-inspired dresses.
Embracing fresh floral patterns and feminine designs, the brand curates pieces from the ’50s to the ’90s, including vintage kimonos, ’60s scooter dresses, and ’80s batik shifts that you can thrift for cheap.
For those with more luxurious tastes, Dustbunny offers a coveted collection of rare designer handbags from Chanel, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, and Bottega Veneta. Prices for clothing and accessories start at $40, while luxury bags range from $900 to $10,000.
| Pro Tip: The shopkeepers can also assist you with sourcing rare finds, especially if they already have something similar (or even better) in stock! |
Mills
Address: 30a Keong Saik Rd., #02-01, Singapore 089137
Contact Details: +6592959309
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday, 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Saturday 11:00 am to 6:00 pm
If Dustbunny Vintage Shop’s target market is often women with a vintage taste, Mills is the destination for men looking to refine their wardrobe.
Offering complete suit packages starting at an affordable $450, your only concern will be finding enough closet space for your newfound elegant wardrobe. The exceptional quality of the suits makes the prices exceptionally attractive.
Mills takes pride in its extensive customisation options, offering a broad range of alternative designs, from buttons to pants adjustors, ensuring the creation of a unique suit or shirt tailored specifically for you.
| Pro Tip: Mills operates on an appointment-only basis, so you won’t be able to shop around unless you book a meeting with one of the tailors. You can, however, get in touch with them via their Facebook page and ask for their range of materials and designs before you book! |
Coach Play Singapore Shophouse
– From graseleong
Address: 05 Keong Saik Rd., Singapore 089113
Contact Details: +6566778595
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 10:00 pm
Aside from vintage shopping and tailoring, Keong Saik Road offers a touch of luxury retail therapy with the Coch Play Singapore Shophouse. It’s hard to miss it when you’re out in the street, thanks to the baby-pink facade.
This multi-concept store includes a retail area showcasing the latest bags and ready-to-wear collections, along with vintage treasures and accessories.
For those in the mood for a snack, the space also houses a Coach Cafe, where you can indulge in exclusive diner-style finger food and savour artisanal coffee.
| Pro Tip: Don’t skip out to the door once you buy something inside. Instead, head over to the third floor and get your item personalised with your initials or patches! |
Where to Stay
Hotel Soloha
Address: 12 Teck Lim Road, Singapore 088387
Contact Details: +6562228881
Check-In: 3:00 pm
Check-Out: 11:00 am
Pricing: $$
Hotel Soloha boasts an intimate setting with 45 rooms and exudes tropical modernism perfectly aligned with the street’s charm. The hotel introduces a lively burst of colour that contrasts with the earthy tones of the surrounding neighbourhood.
The experience begins at the reception counter, which doubles as a vibrant bar, seamlessly tying together the urban jungle chic aesthetic. All rooms are equipped with a fully functioning kitchenette and free Wi-Fi and can sleep up to four guests.
It’s an iconic staycation place along Keong Saik Road, and if you want to be close to the best bars and restaurants in town, this is the hotel you should look out for!
| Pro Tip: There’s no free breakfast included in your bookings at Hotel Soloha, but you can have breakfast at an additional charge. |
The Kesa House
– From yimbosauce
Address: 55 Keong Saik Rd., #01-01, Singapore 089158
Contact Details: +6569581588
Check-In: 2:00 pm
Check-Out: 12:00 pm
Pricing: $$$
Whether you’re in search of a staycation or in need of temporary living arrangements for a month, picture residing in the midst of it all at Kesa House––with bars, restaurants, and local eateries just a stone’s throw away.
You can experience this lifestyle with Kesa House’s adaptable living concept. Select from comfortable choices within the 60-room building, ranging from apartments with a kitchenette to those featuring a private patio.
Additionally, there are communal areas like the lounge and common kitchen where you can socialise or unwind with other guests staying here after a day (or night) out.
| Pro Tip: Some rooms at The Kesa House don’t have windows but skylights, so if you’re particular about that, consider booking the suites or larger rooms. You can ask the front desk to get you a room with more windows too! |
Hotel 1929
Address: 50 Keong Saik Rd., Singapore 089154
Contact Details: +6562268929
Check-In: 3:00 pm
Check-Out: 12:00 pm
Pricing: $$
If you’ve developed an affection for Keong Saik and desire a complete immersion in the neighbourhood’s allure, Hotel 1929 is a recommended stay.
The hotel, named after the five conservation shophouses that form its structure, offers 32 individually designed rooms inspired by Singaporean heritage. Each room is furnished with kitchenettes, TVs, and comfortable beds suitable for at least two people.
The hotel promotes socialising in its kitchenette area, where guests can cook their own meals. Additionally, the patio serves as a delightful space for relaxation and a quick breakfast.
| Pro Tip: If you rent a car or plan on driving to the hotel, the nearest car parks are along Neil Road, 81 Keong Saik Road, Metro Parking, and the car park at Duxton Hill. There are no parking slots in the hotel, so it might be best to come by via public transport if possible. |
