20 Great Places to Eat in Kampong Glam!

April 30th, 2015 by Raevian | Tagged in: brunch, cafe, Kampong Glam, singapore cafe

This is a list of 20 best places to eat in Kampong Glam! This area in Singapore has a lot of cultural significance as it used to be the residential area for the Malay aristocracy during the 18th and 19th centuries. In fact, you can still see the former Malay Palace Istana Kampong Glam, at Sultan Gate Road. The compound now houses the Malay Heritage Centre.

Today, other than being a great cultural attraction with a unique bohemian vibe, Kampong Glam is also an area where you can find a tidy sprawl of great food joints!

As a SG 50 tribute, we have compiled a list of 20 great places to eat at this unique part of Singapore. This took a few painstaking months of food tasting at dozens of food joints! The places have been categorized based on their respective locations (Aliwal Street, Bali Lane, Bussorah Street, Haji Lane, Kandahar Street, North Bridge Road). I have also included a map at the bottom of this article so you can find your way to these great bistros. From Japanese to Western to Italian to Fusion to Middle Eastern to Halal to Gluten-free food, there is bound to be something that will satisfy your taste buds!

Aliwal Street

1. A for Arbite
A for Arbite is a restaurant situated along Aliwal Street that serves great quality food at an affordable price. The menu offers Western fusion dishes, desserts, and a variety of drinks such as gourmet tea, coffee, Belgian craft beers and other specialty drinks. A for Arbite is a child-friendly joint with lots of open spaces between tables. The restaurant has a children schoolroom design theme along with toys to keep children occupied. We ordered the appealing dessert My Wife’s Chocolate Cake ($8), which consists of a scoop of salted caramel ice-cream served on top of a liberal pile of coffee “soil”. The unique blend of flavours – salty, sweet, bitter, sour – made this dessert a novel sensory experience that will appeal to people who are looking for something different from the usual cloyingly sweet desserts. Overall, A for Arbite provides great food and service along with a wonderful ambience. Read our full review here.

A for Arbite
Address: 28 Aliwal St, #01-01, Singapore 199918
Phone Number: +65 8321 2252
Email: mail@arbite.com.sg
Opening Hours: Closed on Mon | Tue to Fri: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm to 10.30pm | Sat & Sun: 11am to 10.30pm |
Website: www.arbite.com.sg
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AForArbite

Bali Lane

2. & Why…
As I step into & Why…, a quaint cafe along Bali Lane in Kampong Glam, I feel like I have been transported back in time to 1920s New York City. This is a halal bistro that serves Western coffee, pastries, desserts, salads, sandwiches, and other beverages. And Why exudes a vibe that is reminiscent of a scene from the quintessential American novel, The Great Gatsby. The bistro is decorated with dark-wood furnishings, vintage lamps, and other old-school memorabilia. Classic Jazz and Blues pop-tunes play in the background. The Panama Boquete SHB Coffee ($7) meets our expectations. It is light-bodied with a smooth texture, and the vivid coffee flavour leaves a nice aftertaste in my mouth. The Lobster Mobster ($16.90) catches my eye, will definitely be trying that next time! With its vintage New-York-City vibe, good service, and delicious food, this is definitely one of the hippest cafes in Kampong Glam! Read our full review here.

3. Choo Choo Chicken

Korean Fried Chicken, any one? Choo Choo Chicken is an unpretentious bistro along Bali Lane that serves tantalizing Korean Fried Chicken. This is a no-frills establishment with a modest interior design, but we were extremely impressed by the prompt and sincere service. The Wing & Drumlet ($16) didn’t blow us away, but it was definitely up to mark. The succulent meat was tender and juicy, and the spicy sauce was appealing with its distinct savoury taste. This is definitely the place in Kampong Glam to go for your Korean fried chicken fix!

Choo Choo Chicken
Address: 33 Bali Lane, Singapore 189869
Opening hours: Daily 11.30am to 11pm
Phone Number: +65 6299 0980
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1HIiDQK

4. Krave
Krave is a halal cafe nestled along Bali Lane. The cafe serves Western-Malay fusion food in an industrial chic setting. We enjoyed the Waffo Mess ($10), which consisted of fluffy waffles covered with bright berries and topped off with a scoop of sweet chocolate ice cream. The ice cream was average and melted relatively fast (probably due to the hot weather), but the waffles were plush and cushy with a rich fragrance. You can’t really go wrong with ice cream and waffles!

5. Stateland Cafe
Stateland Cafe is a bistro at Bali Lane that serves European cuisine and desserts. With its rugged furnishings and artistic furnishings, Stateland Cafe exudes an industrial-themed vibe that that is uniquely artistic but casual and comfortable at the same time. We LOVED the desserts here. My favourite was the Hazelnut Honey Toast. The nutella and ice-cream went perfectly with the toasted bread to form a heavenly indulgence. The waffles here are wonderful too – we simply adored the Red Velvet Waffle. The waffles was soft and fluffy with a nice aftertaste that lingered lovingly in my mouth. The luscious vanilla ice-cream blended in nicely to complete this wonderful dessert experience. All the bread is produced in-house, which probably explains why they taste so fresh and delicious. Our only regret with Stateland Cafe is that we did not discover it earlier! Read our full review here.

Bussorah Street

6. Beirut’s Grill – Fine Middle Eastern Cuisine
As we walk along the exotic Bussorah Street, we realize that both sides of the street are lined with Middle Eastern restaurants. We make our way to Beirut’s Grill, because we had read many positive online reviews about the restaurant. The interior is cool and well-ventilated. The restaurant has a homely Middle Eastern décor, with drapes of red cloth lit by exquisite Arabic lamps hanging from the walls. We enjoyed the Falafel ($10), a traditional Middle Eastern dish that consists of a deep-fried patty made from ground chickpeas and fava beans wrapped in a thin layer of pita bread. The patty had a distinct piquant flavour with a nice aftertaste, and it went nicely with the pita to form a delicious dish. Service was great too – the staff were all warm and attentive. Beirut’s Grill also has an expansive alcohol menu. If you are a fan of Middle Eastern food, do check out this place for an Arabian dining experience!

Beirut’s Grill – Fine Middle Eastern Cuisine
Address: 72 Bussorah St, Singapore 199485
Opening Hours: Daily 11am to 11pm
Phone Number: +65 6341 7728
Email: info@repl.sg
Website: www.beirut.com.sg
Facebook: www.facebook.com/beirut.grill.restaurant

7. La Marelle Café & Boutique
Welcome to La Marelle Café & Boutique at 25 Baghdad Street, where whimsical furnishings and big quaint lanterns suspended from the high ceiling set the tone for dining at this convivial joint. The halal menu presents a variety of All-Day-Breakfast items, pasta, small bites and desserts. The café also offers power points and free wifi.

La Marelle Café & Boutique
Address: 25A Baghdad Street, Singapore 199664
Opening Hours: Daily 12pm to 10.30pm
Email: lamarelle@mail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lamarellecafe

8. Pizza Fabbrica
Pizza Fabbrica is a contemporary Italian restaurant that serves wood-fired pizza, fresh homemade pasta and a variety of beer and fine wine. The restaurant exudes a sophisticated charm with its elegant furnishings, and the professional service of the staff gave us a pleasant dining experience. We enjoyed the Linguine ai Frutti di Mare (Linguine with Fresh Seafood and White Wine) – $24. The pasta is tomato-based and served with a generous portion of tomatoes. Our favourite part of the dish was the linguine, which was cooked perfectly al dente. The oodles of noodles tasted bouncy and chewy with just the right amount of bite! The seafood is fresh and delicious too. The dish was a tad spicy but overall it was definitely a satisfying meal. We will definitely be back again to try the wood-fired pizzas!

Pizza Fabbrica
Address: 70 Bussorah Street, Singapore 199483
Opening Hours: | Tue to Thu 11.30am to 11pm | Fri & Sat 11.30am to 12am | Sun 11.30am to 11pm |
Phone Number: +65 6291 0434
Email: hello@pizzafabbrica.sg
Website: http://pizzafabbrica.sg/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/PizzaFabbrica

Haji Lane

9. Al’ Frank Cookies
As we walked along Haji Lane, we caught a whiff of freshly baked cookies in the air. Captivated by the smell, we traced the fragrance trail to the homely bakery of Al’ Frank Cookies. This is a bakery that sells freshly baked gluten-free oatmeal cookies. Why go gluten free? Research is beginning to indicate that gluten may have various adverse effects on your health. Click here to find out more. But hey, Al Frank makes it easy to go on a gluten-free diet with its delicious cookies.

We loved the Oatmeal Macadamia Cookie, which is also the shop’s bestseller. The freshly-baked cookies were firm and crunchy to the bite, with the alluring fragrance of oatmeal punctuated by the crunch of lightly musky macadamia nuts. There are also a variety of other flavours like chocolate, earl grey, cranberry, hazelnut, and pistachio. The next time you are walking along Haji Lane and you catch a whiff of fresh cookies baking, you know you’re near Al’ Frank Cookies!

Al’ Frank Cookies
Address: 12 Haji Lane Singapore 189205
Opening Hours: Daily 11am to 8pm
Phone Number: +65 6341 7041
Mobile Number: +65 9236 9661
Email: frank@alfrankcookies.com
Website: www.alfrankcookies.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/alfrankcookies

10. BERGS – Gourmet Burgers
Nothing like relishing a succulent beef patty sandwiched between fresh buns (no puns intended). Berg Gourmet Burgers is a burgers franchise in Singapore opened by two Australians who decided to open their own burger outlet after failing to find the ultimate “burger nirvana” in their quest across Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Service was a lil inconsistent, but the burger more than made up for it. I had the signature The Berg burger, which is made from prime beef patty, lettuce, the secretive Bergs Sauce, and other veggies. I was sold the moment I sank my teeth into the burger. It tasted G R E A T! The succulent beef patty was done impeccably and was so juicy and tasty. And I absolutely relished the savoury juices oozing into my mouth. The lettuce and other veggies added a refreshing touch. I attacked the burger with gusto and wolfed it down in less than 5 minutes. This was the best burger I had had in a long time! Read our full review here.

BERGS – Gourmet Burgers
Address: 10 Haji Lane, Singapore 189203
Opening Hours: | Sun to Thu 11.30am to 10pm | Fri & Sat 11.30am to 11pm |
Phone Number: +65 6293 3424
Email: contactus@bergsburgers.com
Website: www.bergsburgers.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BergsBurgers

11. I am…
I am… is a halal bistro located at the far end of Haji Lane. The bistro is Dutch-inspired – the story goes that the owner visited Amsterdam and was enamored by the beautiful city. Upon returning to Singapore, he decided to build a cafe which would incorporate his beloved elements of Amsterdam. And so I am… was bornt. The bistro serves a variety of European/ Western dishes, such as fried calamari, onion rings, burgers, fish & chips, pizzas, etc. The restaurant is flanked on one side by a floor-to-ceiling picture of Amsterdam, with its iconic canal, narrow houses, and vintage bicycles. You can choose to dine al fresco or sit inside the restaurant. We chose the latter option but even though it was away from the sun we still felt pretty warm because the restaurant has an open-space concept. One of our favourite items was the restaurant’s signature offering: Fries & Mayo ($5.90). The chunky fries were crisp and delicious and my only complaint was that the serving was not bigger!

I am…
Address: 674 North Bridge Road, Singapore 199486
Opening Hours: | Mon to Thu 11.30am to 11pm | Fri & Sat 11.30am to 1am | Sun 11.30am to 10pm |
Phone Number: +65 6295 5509
Email: iamathajilane@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Iamathajilane
Website: www.iam.com.sg

12. Le Kue
We love the satisfaction of discovering great joints that are still relatively unknown to most people. Le Kue is one such hidden gem. This cafe serves Asian-inspired French desserts in a Parisian-themed setting. We ordered the Tarte Au Framboise (fancy French name for “Raspberry Tart”), which goes for a pricey $7. At first, we were a little taken aback by the high price, but after tasting the tart, we felt that it was worth our money. The impression was one of delicate balance between sweet and sour, and we finished the tart in a matter of minutes.

Le Kue
Address: 20 Haji Lane, Singapore 189213
Email: creampuff@lekue.sg
(email temporarily unavailable till July 2015; in the meantime send to azhar@sotoyolo.com)
Phone Number: +65 62914110
Website: www.lekue.sg
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lekuesg
Opening Hours: | Mon: Closed | Tue to Fri: 2pm to 12am | Sat: 11am to 12am | Sun: 11am to 11pm |

13. The Pantry at Shop Wonderland
Fans of beautiful aesthetics will like this café. The Pantry at Shop Wonderland is a café along Haji Lane that serves pastries, coffee, and tea. It is housed within Shop Wonderland, the retail arm of Wonderland for Detailed Planners, an event company. We were captivated by the beautiful interior design as we entered the cafe. The walls are lined with beautiful pictures, and the café has vintage wooden tables paired with classic Tiffany chairs. We enjoyed the Gryphon Marrakesh Mint Tea ($6.50), which was light-bodied with the refreshing fragrance of mint and lemongrass. We paired this with a slice of Coffee Cake ($8). The luscious cream was not overwhelming, and complemented the aromatic coffee flavour nicely. The Pantry at Shop Wonderland also sells a variety of goodies and bakes from young local brands. Read our full review here.

The Pantry at Shop Wonderland
Address: Level 1, Shop Wonderland, 37 Haji Lane Singapore 189230
Opening Hours: Daily 10am to 8pm
Phone Number: +65 6299 5848
Facebook: www.facebook.com/wonderlandfordetailedplanners

Kandahar Street

14. 26 Tapas Bar
If you are looking for a place to party the night away, this is the joint for you. 26 Tapas Bar is located at a quiet corner along Kandahar street, and it is a bistro-by-day and pub-by-night. It serves finger-foods, a variety of tapas, pastas, cocktails, and other alcoholic beverages. The joint is decorated with bright pink neon lighting, and Polaroid pictures of group-selfies line the wall. There is also a television set screening the sports channel. We went during happy hour and enjoyed the promotion of 3 Bites for just ten dollars. We ordered Truffle Fries, Calamari Rings, and Hand Battered Onion Rings, all for just ten dollars! I downed the food with an ice-cold Belgian Wit, which had a light and refreshing fruity flavour. This is definitely the perfect place to have a fun night out with your favourite people.

26 Tapas Bar
Address: 26 Kandahar Street, Singapore 198888
Opening Hours: | Mon to Fri 12pm to 3pm, 5pm to 12am | Sat 3pm to 12am |
Phone Number: +65 6341 5027
Email: 26tapasbar@empire26.sg
Website: http://statigr.am/26tapasbar
Facebook: www.facebook.com/26tapasbar

15. Box N Sticks
This is one of our favourite hidden gems in Kampong Glam! Box N Sticks is a traditional Izakaya-style Japanese restaurant situated at 28 Kandahar Street. It serves a variety of Japanese food such as Sushi, Sashimi, Maki, Don (Ric Bowl) Kushiyaki (grilled skewer meat/ vegetable), Yaki Mono (Japanese grilled meat), and other Japanese food. We LOVED the Kushiyaki here! The classic Yakitori (Teriyaki Chicken Bites) was tender and succulent and went perfectly with the savoury-sweet Teriyaki sauce. The Butabara Shioyaki (Salted Pork Belly) was grilled to perfection with a fragrant smoky flavour that had us hooked from the first bite. And we topped up just $5.80 to get the dinner set (Rice + Miso Soup + Chawanmushi). Overall, we had an extremely satisfying and affordable Japanese meal. Box N Sticks definitely ranks as one of our favourite food joints in Kampong Glam! Read our full review here.

Box N Sticks
Address: 28 Kandahar Street, Singapore 198889
Opening Hours: | Tue to Fri 12pm to 3pm, 6pm to 10pm | Sat & Sun 1.30pm to 10pm |
Phone Number: +65 6341 7780
Email: boxnsticks@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/boxnsticks

16. Dong Po Colonial Cafe
As I walked into Dong Po Colonial Cafe, it was like visiting a vintage coffee-shop from 1960s Singapore. This is a retro-themed space along Kandahar Street that sells Singapore-style tea and coffee along with traditional confectioneries. Mr. Kelvin Soh started Dong Po Colonial Cafe in 2013 to fulfill his father’s dream of keeping the four-generation family recipes alive. The cafe’s confectioneries have their roots in French pastry, as it was Kelvin’s great granduncle who started the family business after apprenticing at the now defunct Western cafe “GH Cafe” along Battery Road. I enjoyed the Bostock with Teh (Set F, $3.50), which is basically toasted bread covered with a layer of frangipane (a sugar, almond, flour and butter mixture), sliced Almonds toppings and icing sugar. The bread was crisp and crunchy to the bite, combining with the sweet toppings to produce a light pastry that had a harmonious blend of flavours. Whether you are looking to eat some delicious and affordable kopitiam-esque breakfast, or looking for a place to take great old-school pictures, Dong Po Colonial Cafe is the place for you.

Dong Po Colonial Cafe
Address: 56 Kandahar Street, Singapore 198904
Opening Hours: | Sun to Thu 8am to 8pm | Fri & Sat 8am to 10pm |
Phone Number: +65 6298 1318
Email: dongpocc@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/DongPoColonialCafe

North Bridge Road

17. Don Antonio Pizza Bar (CLOSED)

*This bistro is now permanently closed.

We visited Don Antonio Pizza Bar on a Saturday afternoon. As we entered the restaurant, we were warmly greeted by a smiling lady staff who promptly led us to our seats. Don Antonio Pizza Bar is an Italian bistro located along Jalan Klapa in Kampong Glam. It serves authentic Italian cuisine in a homely setting. The food is personally prepared by Italian Chef Antonio Cocozza, who has over 25 years of experience in Italian cuisine. The bistro exudes a homely charm with its unadorned wooden tables and chairs, complete with homespun paintings of Italian food lining the whitewashed walls. We ordered the Rigatoni Salsiccia ($24). The pasta was perfectly al dente and went nicely with the luscious cream sauce, which was rich but not overwhelming. The sausage tasted delicious too with just the right amount of tenderness. With its homely and unassuming ambience, Don Antonio Pizza Bar is the perfect place for a family gathering, the place for a catch-up with friends, the place for an intimate dinner with your loved one – the place to go when you want to enjoy authentic and delicious Italian food with your favourite people. Read our full review here.

Don Antonio Pizza Bar
Address: 2 Jalan Klapa, Singapore 199314
Opening Hours: Tues to Sun – 12pm to 2.30pm | 6.30pm to 10.30pm
Phone Number: +65 6293 6548
Email: ciao@donantonio.sg
Website: www.donantonio.sg
Facebook: www.facebook.com/donantonio.sg

18. Hyde & Co. Cafe
Hyde & Co. is an English-themed cafe which just opened three weeks ago in Singapore. It is located amidst a cosy enclave of cafes and bistros along North Bridge Road. The bistro offers a variety of English desserts, main courses and tea. We visited this quaint cafe on a late Saturday afternoon. The friendly staff was quick to escort us to our table. Hyde & Co. has a classic character to it but it’s also contemporary and stylish. The whitewashed walls, warm lighting, and modern furnishings create a nice space for patrons to dine comfortably. One of our favourites was the Lemon Curd & Cream Crumpets ($7.90). “Crumpet” is an English pastry that is basically a thick fluffy pancake served with a spread of butter or an alternative spread. The crumpets were delicious. They were spongy, soft, warm and glazed with sweet condensed milk. The luscious lemon curd (a dessert spread made from cream and lemon) topping complimented the crumpets perfectly and had just the right touch of sweetness. With its extensive tea selection, tantalizing English desserts, delicious dinner menu, friendly staff and convivial ambience, this cafe is simply too good to miss out on. Read our full review here.

Hyde & Co.
Address: 785 North Bridge Road Singapore 198753
Opening Hours: | Daily 11am to 6pm | Closed on Tue |
Telephone Number: +65 9369 4369
Email: hello@hydeandco.com.sg
Website: www.hydeandco.com.sg
Facebook: www.facebook.com/hydeandcompany

19. Symmetry
Situated at Jalan Kubor Road, Symmetry is a café by day, restaurant bar by night. It is famous for its delicious Brunch menu. The interior décor is a mixture of rustic and eclectic elements with many interesting art pieces and memorabilia. Evans was especially interested in the Jimi Hendrix pop art (which unfortunately triggered a long-winded commentary on the history of rock music). The warmly served Waffle ($14) with its thick spread of peanut butter, small berries toppings, and blueberry ice cream made this dessert a divine indulgence. Symmetry is definitely the place to go for brunch in Kampong Glam! Read our full review here.

Symmetry
Address: 9 Jalan Kubor, #01-01, Singapore 199206
Opening Hours: | Tue to Thur 11am to 11pm | Fri & Sat 11am to 12am | Sun 11am to 7pm |
Phone Number: +65 6291 9901
Website: www.symmetry.com.sg
Facebook: www.facebook.com/symmetry.com.sg

20. Tolido’s Espresso Nook
Last but definitely not least, Tolido’s Espresso Nook is a cozy cafe/ coffee bar at Crawford Lane that serves great artisan coffee and Western food. The cafe exudes a cozy indie vibe with its rustic wooden furnishings and old-school tungsten bulbs hanging from the ceiling, complete with background indie music. We ordered the Sea Salt Caramel Latte ($6). It tucked at our heartstrings to blemish the beautiful latte art, but we had no choice but to do it to taste the delicious coffee. The latte had a rich coffee fragrance that was punctuated by the distinctive sweet+salty flavours of the sea salt caramel. I am not a coffee-connoisseur but this cup of coffee came close to making me a convert. With its cozy indie vibe, artisan coffee and decent food offerings, Tolido’s Espresso Nook is a great cafe to spend a lazy afternoon chilling out with friends. Read our full review here!

Tolido’s Espresso Nook
Address: Block 462 Crawford Lane, #01-63, Singapore 190462
Opening Hours: | Tues – Thurs: 9.30am to 7pm | Fri & Sat: 9.30am to 10pm | Sun: 9am to 6.30pm | Closed on Mondays |
Phone Number: +65 6648 0178
Email: hello@tolidosespressonook.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/tolidosnook

Directions to the above 20 places in Kampong Glam:
Below are three types of maps for you to find your way to these 20 great food joints!

1. The first type is an interactive map along with listings. Click here to access this map.

2. This is an old-school map with physical listings.

3. This is an interactive map. Click on the blue markers to see the restaurant names!

1 Comments and Questions