AMOY Escape
Just a few minutes’ walk from Raffles Place and its towering financial buildings, Amoy Street is always a delightful respite from the bustling business district. Here are six of our favourite food and drink spots in the popular, shophouse-lined hood.
1 Ding Dong
Known for its playful take on traditional Asian cuisine, modern Southeast Asian restaurant Ding Dong offers interesting creations like ginger lime parfait with Sichuan pepper crumble and lychee sorbet ($11), lobster tail in tom yum broth with sriracha crab cake ($30) and miso-cured salmon with yuzu sorbet ($22). There’s a $28 two-course set lunch from Monday to Saturday (add $10 for a cocktail, beer or glass of prosecco or wine), and a weekend brunch on every third Saturday of the month; it’s $100 for five courses, plus $50 for free-flow alcoholic beverages. 115 Amoy Street, #01-02
2 The Flying Squirrel
Inspired by New York, Melbourne and Tokyo, this “secret” holein-the-wall spot has a cool, underground vibe with its exposed brick and tiny windows. Popular items from the Japanese-inspired menu include sushi rolls (from $9), Truffled Ebi Fry ($15) – deep-fried prawns in truffled breadcrumbs and truffle mayo – along with eight different lunch bento sets ($19-30). 92 Amoy Street, #01-02
3 Employees Only Singapore
With Art Deco interiors recalling those of the original Employees Only (EO) in New York, this swanky spot has speakeasy-cool written all over it and serves pricey but potent cocktails in old-fashioned champagne coupes. There’s a full dinner menu and late-night bites such as truffled grilled cheese with parmesan fries ($ 20); and, if you’re one of the revellers left standing at closing time, you’ll get a serving of homemade chicken soup – a tradition at EO Manhattan. 112 Amoy Street
4 Sugarhall
This laid-back steakhouse and bar, named for its wide selection of sugarcane-based rums, serves up a menu of steaks and chops ($30-48) and small sharing plates ($12-19), accompanied by an extensive array of rum cocktails ($22), from daiquiris and mai tais to negronis and an old fashioned made with rum. The atmosphere is casual and hip, with communal seating, cool, rustic décor and Jamaican reggae tunes. 102 Amoy Street
5 Le Binchotan
This cosy, casual-chic French-japanese izakaya is a hidden gem – literally hidden, as it’s not actually on Amoy Street: the entrance is behind, on Gemmill Lane. It serves small and large plates from an innovative menu, and each dish is a talking point in itself. Standouts include the Japanese-style risotto ($29) and Smoked Chocolate ($15), a dessert made with frozen blueberries, yoghurt shards and smoky dark chocolate. 115 Amoy Street, #01-04
6 Aloha Poké
Bringing a taste of Hawaii to Singapore, Aloha Poké is a super- casual eatery that specialises in of-the-moment poké bowls (featuring various raw fish) in flavours that include original, wasabi mayo and spicy; each is served on salad or rice, with your selection of toppings. At night, it transforms into a tiki cocktail bar with a full dinner menu. It’s $11.90 for the Lil Swell (75g of poké), $15.90 for the Standard Bowl (150g) and $19.90 for the Big Kahuna (225g). 92 Amoy Street (additional at Marina Bay Link Mall and Chevron House)