Finding good food at Telok Ayer shouldn’t be a problem considering the abundance of eateries in the area. However, looking for the best…
Best things to eat at Telok Ayer
If you’re wondering what’re the best things to eat at Telok Ayer, we’ve compiled a list of eateries, comprising Japanese, Korean barbecue, brunch, fusion food, desserts and more.
1. Toku Nori Handroll Bar — Japanese handroll bar
2. Bochinche — free-flow Argentinian steakhouse
3. Meatsmith — $10 takeaway burgers
4. All Hands Cafe — new shokupan cafe
5. Sushi Kawasemi — omakase featuring aged fish
6. LUNA Patisserie — the best matcha cake in Singapore
7. Ajoomma Korean Charcoal BBQ Restaurant — with fresh lobsters and karaoke private rooms
8. Solo Ristorante — casual Italian dining
9. Kuan Zhai Alley — Sichuan restaurant with edible calligraphy brushes
10. Kaarla Wood-Fire Grill and Bar — wood-fire rooftop restaurant
11. Restaurant Espoir — halal Modern European
12. French Fold — authentic French crepes and galettes
13. Sarnies — brunch cafe
14. Nibbies — shophouse cafe with a DIY craft area
15. 85 Amoy — romantic old world-style bar
16. Aifokato — affogato takeaway cafe
17. Joong San — dual concept Korean restaurant
Best Telok Ayer cafes
1. All Hands Cafe
Housed in a charming century-old shophouse, All Hands Cafe specialises in shokupan, a Japanese milk bread. Every loaf is baked fresh daily, and you can get it plain, topped with kaya or milo cream, or DIY with various savoury items.
Meanwhile, mains include Laksa Barramoodi, and steakhouse calssics like Rossini and Steak Tartare.
Location: 159 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068614
Opening hours: 8am-5pm
2. LUNA Patisserie
Located along Telok Ayer Street, LUNA Patisserie is one of the best bakeries not just in the neighbourhood, but possibly the entire island. Besides the cakes’ classy and exquisite designs, the recipes were formulated thoughtfully to ensure that ecstasy is invoked in every bite.
The Orh Nee Cake ($8), the beauty that brings all the boys to the yard, features a velvety yam ginkgo paste and Chantilly coconut cream.
Meanwhile, Matcha fanatics will have every bit of their matcha cravings fixed with their Matcha Opera ($8). If she was human, her blood would be 70% matcha. Packed from head to toe, the sponge, the ganache and Chantilly cream all contained matcha. And if that is not enough, the final dusting of matcha powder will get the job done.
Location: 53 Amoy St, Singapore 069879
Opening hours:
Mon-Thu: 12-6:30pm
Fri-Sat: 12-9pm
Sunday: 12-6:30pm
3. French Fold
For authentic crepes and galettes, there is only one place to go- French Fold, a subsidiary under popular cafe, Marci Marcel. You will be greeted by a chorus of ‘bonjour’ upon entering, and its furnishing only adds on to the atmosphere.
We settled with No.09 ($19), a savoury dish which features reblonchon cheese, organic Bayonne ham, baby potatoes, pancetta and white wine pickled onions for a counterbalance to the savoury elements.
For crepes, go for the No. 18 ($10) which features an artisanal Manuka honey, roasted buckwheat seeds, hojicha sea salt ice cream.
While burgers, salads and brunch are on the menu, you have to leave some space for a crepe or two.
Location: 204 Telok Ayer St, Singapore 068640
Opening hours:
Mon-Wed: 8am-11pm
Thu-Sat: 8am-12am
Sunday: 8am-11pm
4. Nibbies
Check out this brand new cafe of October 2024.
Nibbies is located on the second story of a shophouse, offering a tranquil Japandi ambience for you to relax with a coffee or matcha.
Their menu includes interesting matcha options, such as the Pistachio Matcha ($7) and Ube Matcha ($8). If you’re hungry, you can also opt for their sandos such as the Gyukatsu Sando ($18) and Shibuya Sando ($12).
What makes Nibbies stand out from the other cafes in Telok Ayer is that it also has a separate DIY crafts corner, where you can dress up your own puppy plushie, or design your very own Shaker Shaker display case.
Location: 181A Telok Ayer St, Singapore 068629
Opening hours:
Mon-Fri: 8:30am-10pm
Saturday: 11am-11:30pm
Sunday: 12-8pm
5. Aifokato (Telok Ayer)
Aifokato is a small specialty cafe just off Telok Ayer Street that does one thing extremely well: affogato. A shot of single-origin matcha or coffee poured over a rotating gelato base, with daily flavours that range from hojicha cream to yuzu sorbet.
The drinks are built for takeaway, which is good because the cafe seats maybe eight people on a generous day?
Location: 111 Telok Ayer St, Singapore 068580
Opening hours: 10:30am-9pm
6. MOOF Bar
Need a midday pick-me-up? Head to the new specialty matcha bar, MOOF. What sets them apart is their matcha creations.
Look forward to their special drinks such as Black Sesame Matcha ($8.5) topped with sesame brittle, creamy Strawberry Royal Milk Pudding ($9), and rich Hojicha Latte(from $7) brewed using premium matcha from Mori Matcha.
Location: 70 Shenton Way, #01-15, Eon Shenton, Singapore 079118
Opening hours:
Mon-Fri: 8.30am-4.30pm
Sat-Sun: 10am-3pm
Best Telok Ayer restaurants & bars
7. Toku Nori Handroll bar
Opt of a fun and interactive dining experience at Telok Ayer’s newest sushi handroll bar.
Toku Nori offers affordable handrolls from $7.6. But these aren’t just your ordinary handrolls. Each protein is thoughtfully paired with complementary ingredients to showcase its best flavours. For instance, we loved how the sweetness of the fresh scallops are underscored with the spicy, tangy notes from the yuzu kosho and lime zest.
For a no-frills, affordable experience, opt for the Jyosen Set ($38), which includes five handrolls. Otherwise, you can also order each handroll a la carte.
Location: 200A Telok Ayer St, Singapore 068638
Opening hours: 11:45am-2:30pm, 5:30-11pm
8. Bochinche
This might just be the best way to enjoy a hearty, meaty steak — aged and grilled to perfection with a fiery wood and charcoal grill.
The flavours offered at this Argentinian steakhouse is just unmatched. While you can enjoy it a la carte, one piece might not be enough
Instead, opt for their Free Flow Steaks on Saturday, at $70 per person. In 90 minutes, you can order as many steaks as you want, with the choice of either the “Black Label” Ribeye or “Robbins Island” Inside Skirt.
Location: 27 Club St, Singapore 069413
Opening hours:
Mon-Fri: 12-3pm, 6-11pm
Saturday: 11:30am-3pm, 6-11pm
Sunday: Closed
9. Meatsmith
Meatsmith is an American smokehouse located along Telok Ayer Street.
It is home to one of the best burgers in Singapore, the MS Cheeseburger ($16). Lightly crusted potato buns, succulent beef brisket patties seared with a smoky aroma. And as you lift the perfect concoction up, buns still warm to the touch, a little bit of juice oozing out from the cracks of the caramelized patties. But that is not where it ends.
Get the Meatsmith Meat Platter ($90), a sinful compilation of pork ribs, beef brisket, pastrami, pork belly, brisket springrolls and fried buffalo wings.
Did I mention the MS Cheeseburger is $10 if you opt for takeaway?
Location: 167-169 Telok Ayer St, Singapore 068620
Opening hours: 11:30am- 11:45pm
10. Sushi Kawasemi
This omakase restaurant, located beside Telok Ayer MRT Station, specialises in nigiri sushi made with aged fish.
Fresh sashimi from Japan is prepared edomae style, which is known to be saltier and sweeter than other methods. Fish is doused with salt, soy sauce, kelp, vinegar, or boiled water, and the aging process can take place from anywhere between five to 15 days.
Omakase sets start from $98 per person.
Location: 120 Telok Ayer St, Singapore 068589
Opening hours: 12-2:30pm, 6:30-10:30pm
11. Ajoomma Korean Charcoal BBQ Restaurant
There are multiple reasons why Ajoomma might be one of the best KBBQ restaurants in Telok Ayer.
In addition to premium meats, authentic Korean mains and the fiery charcoal grill, Ajoomma also serves fresh lobster sashimi on their menu. You can eat it as it is, grill it lightly, and even enjoy it hotpot style.
Furthermore, if you’re dining with a group of friends, you can also enjoy their private rooms with karaoke machines. Minimum spend starts from $500 for their small room, which is big enough for 8 pax.
Location: No 2 &, 4 Gemmill Ln, Singapore 069247
Opening hours: 11am-11pm
12. Solo Ristorante
Hearty Italian dishes in a homely setting, that is the vibe that Solo Ristorante gives. Helmed by Chef Simone Fraternali, the menu showcases a balance between gastronomically artistic flairs and traditional flavours.
Take the Wagyu Carpaccio ($32) for example. While the Wagyu might be the star of the plate, the real show stopper was the 24-month aged Parmigiano Reggiano that boasts delicate sweetness as the aftertaste.
Next, taking a page from Japanese cuisine, the Taglioli ($45) is an indulgent concoction that features the same ingredient with vastly different profiles. The uni sauce, smokey and sweet, is juxtaposed against the fresh luxurious slab of fresh sea urchin atop.
Location: 45 Amoy Street, Singapore 069871
Opening hours: 12–2:30pm, 6–10:30pm (closed on Sunday)
13. Kuan Zhai Alley
Translating to narrow alley, this Sichuan restaurant in Telok Ayer went viral for their edible Chinese calligraphy brushes.
Their KZA Chinese Brush Pastry ($36) set features six calligraphy brushes of different flavours. It’s not just for show though. You can actually paint and write with the chocolate “ink” provided on the side.
But Kuan Zhai Alley serves more than gimmicky stun food. Indulge in hearty Chinese cuisine, such as Crispy Shimeji Mushrooms with Salted Egg Yolk ($26), Trotters with Sichuan Style Chilli Oil ($48), and Auspicious Shrimp Cakes ($78).
Location: 23 Church St, #01-02 To 08 Capital Square, Singapore 049481
Opening hours: 11 am-3 pm, 5:30-10 pm
14. Kaarla Wood-Fire Grill and Bar
An unobstructed view from the 51st floor, wood-fire open grill, and farm-to-table concept — what’s not to like about this restaurant for date night.
Incidentally, Kaarla also serves the best Australian Wagyu Beef Tartare ($24), garnished with shaved cured egg yolks and a variety of fresh produce for an explosion of flavours.
We also recommend the Parker Brioche ($10), Natural Pork Loin ($36), and Cherry Ripe ($18).
Location: 88 Market St, #51-02, CapitaSpring 048948
Opening hours:
Mon-Fri: 11:30am-2:30pm, 6-11pm
Saturday: 11:30am-3pm. 6-11pm
Sunday: Closed
15. Restaurant Espoir
and the royal colour associated with Malay sultans
Restaurant Espoir serves refined halal Modern European cuisine with traces of local influence.
For the appetisers, we recommend the Gambas Al Ajillo ($22), a traditional Spanish dish, localised with Szechuan peppercorn and kaffir lime. Meanwhile, the Pan Seared Scallops ($26) was served in a coriander lime emulsion.
Meanwhile, for mains, the Tagliatelle ($30) is spiced up with Sambal while the the Beef Stroganoff ($26) is perfumed with sweet Thai basil.
The coolest part about this underrated restaurant is its 0% cocktails, concocted with Glen Dochus West Coast Blend, a whiskey alternative with hints of fruits and pepper.
Location: 70 Amoy St, Singapore 069889
Opening hours:
Monday: Closed
Tue-Fri: 11:30am-10pm
Saturday: 10am-10pm
Sunday: 10am-5pm
16. Sarnies
Sunlight, wooden benches and a hot cuppa joe. Located right beside Telok Ayer MRT Station, Sarnies is renowned for its brunch menu.
Their Breakkie Burg ($19) features a smashed beef patty and soft scrambled eggs. The addition of cheddar, bacon onion jam and fermented garlic butter infuses sweet and savoury elements into burger.
The Salmon Cauliflower ($19) is also another popular item, featuring crispy salmon and roasted cauliflower that is lifted by tangy elements such as pomegranate and burnt lime.
Location: Telok Ayer St, 136, Singapore 068601
Opening hours:
Mon-Thu: 7:30am-10pm
Fri-Sun: 8am-3:30pm
17. 85 Amoy
This might be one of the vibiest restaurants for date night.
85 Amoy sets itself apart with its posh furnishing and decor, exuding a timeless, vintage charm reminiscent of an old-world gentlemen’s club.
Their set menu, at $68 per pax (minimum 2 diners), offers one of the best lamb racks and paellas in Singapore too.
Location: 85 Amoy St, Singapore 069904
Opening hours: 11:30am-2:30pm, 5:30pm-2am
18. Joong San (Boon Tat Street)
Buckwheat noodles by day, Korean barbecue by night — a dual-concept Korean kitchen tucked beside Um Yong Baek.
Joong San is the latest addition to the Boon Tat Street strip just off Telok Ayer, and it’s already pulling crowds at both meal services. Lunch is built around housemade buckwheat noodles and soft tofu stews — the kind of clean, slurpable bowls that make sense on a CBD weekday. Come dinner, the same room shifts into a full Korean BBQ format, with marbled cuts and banchan service. Walk-ins work for lunch; book ahead for dinner. Easily one of the strongest Korean openings on this side of town in recent memory.
Location: 28 Stanley St, #01-01, Singapore 068737
Opening hours: 11:30am-3pm, 5:30-10:30pm
19. Cherry Discotheque “Cai Fan” (Closed)
You didn’t read that wrong.
This nightclub has been selling “cai fan”, also known as Chinese mixed rice, for the past few months, and it’s been a great hit.
Food prices at Telok Ayer, and anywhere in the CBD, tend to be quite high. But Cherry Discotheque keeps their food affordable at an average of $4-5 for a full plate of cai fan (which is quite insane in this area if you ask me).
Also, their eatery is air-conditioned.
Location: 133 Cecil St, Singapore 069535
Opening hours: 11am-3pm
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