Best Brunch in Singapore 2019
Whether you’re looking for the best brunch places in Singapore with free-flow drinks, unlimited craft cocktails or all-you-can-eat international buffet fare, there are plenty of choices for a weekend or Sunday brunch that Singaporeans, expats and tourists alike love! So, what are the best spots for breakfast and bubbles on the island? The Expat Living team has tried and tested a few fabulous free-flow champagne brunches to come up with some of our top picks from the hotels in Singapore. (Yep, it was hard work!) Now, make a reservation – it’s a great thing to do for birthdays and when guests are in town.
Best brunch for variety and service: Edge
When: Sundays from 12 to 3.30pm.
What’s popping: Unlimited Veuve Clicquot Rosé Champagne, a selection of wines, and gin cocktails at $208 per adult; or, unlimited Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label Champagne, a selection of wines, and gin cocktails at $188 per adult. Without alcohol, the brunch is $128 per adult and $64 for children aged six to 12.
EdgePromoted as a “theatrical” brunch, Sunday at Edge restaurant is a truly indulgent experience. With 16 different food stations and a whole room dedicated to desserts, including a fairy floss machine, you’ll need half an hour at the start just to walk around and take it all in.
While my meat-loving husband made a beeline for the carvery to fill his (first) plate with meat and more meat, I scouted out the sashimi and sushi station. I loved watching the sushi master intently and precisely slicing the fresh salmon. But this was just the start. There are so many food choices – over 150 different Western and Asian dishes; no one will leave hungry.
The Edge brunch also has one of the biggest chilled seafood sections I’ve seen – there’s even a dedicated Alaskan king crab station!
One of the more recent additions is the Botanical Gin counter. The mixologists passionately talked us through the different blends of gin, what the best mixers would be and which fruit to add in. Of course, I was happy to try all their suggestions.
Although it’s not too suitable for small children (our two- and four-year-olds were a bit restless), families with older children will love it; the dessert station alone will keep them occupied for the whole three-and-a-half-hour running time! Our littlies did enjoy the roving balloon artist and the live band.
Though not one of the most cost-effective brunches on the island, the super attentive staff (who were always on hand to clear plates or top up drinks with a smile) and the amazing variety of food should definitely put this brunch on your must- try list for a special occasion.
– Kel Flanders
Edge
Level 3, Pan Pacific Singapore, 7 Raffles Boulevard
6826 8240 | edgefoodtheatre.com
Best brunch deal in town: Seasonal Tastes
When: Sundays from 12 to 3pm.
What’s popping: Optional free-flow for two hours of Tiger ($28), Tiger and wine ($38), or Tiger, wine and Bel Star Prosecco DOC ($48).
Seasonal TastesWhile champagne brunches are all about the bubbles, The Westin’s Sunday Family Lunch puts the focus on the families and the food. And it’s a steal at $58 per adult, and $29 per child (ages four to 12; three and under are free). Even with the Prosecco option, you’re barely breaking the $100 mark.
Located on the hotel’s 32nd floor, the lunch is relaxed and not overly crowded, and with everything you’ve come to expect from these affairs – freshly shucked oysters, Canadian lobsters and prawns on ice, plus gammon ham, chilli crab (or pepper crab, depending on the week), sashimi, and stations with laksa and satay. The cheese is from France, the cured meats from Italy, and the desserts – from the caramel tarts to the chocolate moelleux domes – are superb. The kids can stack their plates from the children’s mini-buffet, alleviating this burden from the parents.
There’s also a cookie decorating station (unlimited frosting!) and weekly entertainment like face painting, balloon twisting and crafts. The kids are entertained, but never too far away, so they can pop over to the table when they need to. And parents can enjoy the views of the CBD in peace, with money left in their wallets when they leave.
– Monica Pitrelli
Seasonal Tastes at The Westin
12 Marina View, Asia Square Tower 2
6922 6968 | thewestinsingapore.com
Best family-friendly brunch: Melt Café
When: Sundays from 12 to 3pm.
What’s popping: Free-flow Ruinart Blanc de Blancs Champagne ($218 per person) or free-flow Ruinart “R” de Brut Champagne ($178 per person), plus unlimited wines, cocktails, beers, juices and soft drinks. The non-alcoholic option goes at $118 per person, which gets you free-flow juices and soft drinks. For kids, it’s $78 per child aged 10 to 12, $48 for those aged seven to nine, and free for those who are six and under.
Melt Café is tucked away in a quiet and exclusive corner of the hotel’s dining enclave on Level 4, neighbouring a couple of other upscale restaurants on the same floor. Once you’ve entered, the first thing you’ll notice is how spacious and welcoming the restaurant looks; it’s almost as if you’re being led in to join a private feast! We recommend making a reservation beforehand if you’re visiting with the troop. It’s not surprising that this Sunday brunch is a hit amongst families with little ones, as there’s a children’s corner with movie screenings, toys and even a separate mini buffet serving kid-approved bites.
Adults will love the variety offered here. A highlight is the seafood on ice – fine oysters, spanner crabs, Boston lobsters, green lip mussels, and more – which turned out to be among the freshest we’ve had at a brunch. Then, load up on your carbs at the bread section; the freshly baked focaccia, dipped in balsamic vinegar, is a must try, and we duly went in for seconds. If you’re all about being indulgent, head to the live foie gras station for pan-seared foie gras served with assorted sauces and toasted brioche. Or, if you prefer the classics, there’s also a wide range of European staples like slow-braised oxtail stew and shepherd’s pie, as well as buffet must-haves like honey-glazed gammon leg ham and slow-roasted Australian aged beef prime rib. My favourite station out of the lot? The Indian section, where you’ll find perfectly baked naan and an unending assortment of flavoursome curries.
Just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, the desserts proved us wrong. The made-in-house marshmallows, bathed under a luxurious dark Valrhona chocolate fountain, were absolutely delicious. And, if that’s not enough chocolate for you, “The Melt” chocolate cake and chocolate pralines will certainly hit your cocoa spot like it did for me.
– Anthia Chng
Melt Café
Level 4, Mandarin Oriental Singapore
6885 3500 | mandarinoriental.com/singapore
Best brunch on the beach: Coastes
When: Coastes’ “Brunch & Bubbly by the Beach” is available every Saturday and Sunday (and on public holidays) from 11am to 3pm (brunch items and other dishes are served from 9am to 3pm).
What’s popping: Free-flow Freixinet Cordon Negro Brut, and red, white and rosé wines for $45.
This breezy beach bar-restaurant on Sentosa is a long-time favourite for weekend brunching with the fam; but, the newly introduced free-flow “top-up” has made the experience that much better. Kiddos can play in the sand while grown-ups enjoy four hours of free-flow bubbly and wine to complement their à la carte brunch orders (a great deal if you ask us!); simply show your wristband at the bar to receive your refills. We lazed around for hours with rosé in hand, feeling like we were on a beach holiday. (And, our whole Saturday was sorted!)
A total hit with the kids and adults alike was the thickly sliced French toast with bacon, maple butter and homemade jam ($16). We also loved the avocado- chicken salad with mesclun and egg in a chunky green apple-avocado dressing ($18), the grilled ham and cheese on sourdough ($16), the Greek salad ($14) and the roast chicken with smashed avocado and poached eggs ($18), though the latter could have used a bit more crunch; next time we’ll ask to swap the muffin for sourdough. They’ve got plenty of burgers, pizzas and pastas, too: the Super Burger ($26) – a 200g beef patty with egg, bacon and cheese – is a fan-favourite, as is the 10-inch Big Bad Wolf pizza ($25), featuring roast chicken, bacon, capsicum and mushrooms.
– Amy Greenburg
Coastes
50 Siloso Beach Walk
6631 8938 | coastes.com
Best brunch place for desserts: Hilton Singapore
When: The “Ultimate Hilton Sunday Brunch” happens every Sunday from 12 to 3pm at Opus Restaurant.
What’s popping: Free-flow Taittinger Champagne, wine and beer for $168 per person, free-flow prosecco, wine and beer for $128 per person, and unlimited coffee, tea and soft drinks at $98 per person; kids aged five to 12 eat for $49, while the under-fives dine for free.
Executive chef Kazi Hassan re-creates the brunch essentials with seasonal ingredients and eight live stations including an ocean-fresh seafood bar, prime meat carvings, a dedicated seasonal cheese room with over 30 European seasonal cheeses and a raclette station, a charcuterie area, a six-metre long dessert showcase and more.
The ambience here is lovely; it’s bustling and vibrant, but perfectly compact so that no station is too far away. The attentive and helpful staff make it complete.
The food itself is amazing. Our favourites included the fresh seafood station with Alaskan king crabs, Maine lobster and a variety of freshly shucked oysters from Canada, Ireland and France. There’s also 14-hour slow-roasted Australian wagyu beef, king crab ravioli with shellfish espuma, giant ikura (salmon roe), foie gras brûlée with toasted brioche, and Japanese grain rice with slow-braised wagyu short ribs, foie gras, runny onsen egg and freshly shaved truffles. The pizza station was unusual but tasty – we tried the stone-hearth oven-baked pizza with black truffle and fontina and taleggio cheeses, plus one with artichoke and prosciutto. My British cravings were satisfied by the yummy homemade Scotch eggs.
We managed to squeeze in some dessert, too: beautiful, artisanal, handcrafted desserts taken from the six-metre long dessert showcase at D9 Cakery. Specialities include the signature Hilton cheesecake, macarons, homemade cakes and pralines. Kiddos will especially love two new dedicated dessert stations: a grilled s’mores bar and gelato popsicle station with design-your-own popsicles.
– Jacqui Young
Hilton Singapore
581 Orchard Road
6730 3390 | hiltonsingaporerestaurants.com
Best Italian brunch spread: Dolce Vita
When: Saturday and Sunday from noon until 3pm
What’s popping: On Saturdays, guests can enjoy freeflow “R” de Ruinart Champagne, wine, select cocktails and beer for $158 (brunch without alcohol is $118). On Sundays, it’s $118 with free-flow Prosecco, wine, Mandarin Spritz and beer. Or, $158 with unlimited “R” de Ruinart Champagne, house wine, Mandarin Spritz and beer (or $68 for the no-alcohol option).
The fact that this brunch is offered on a Saturday already means major brownie points in my book. Throw in the delicious Italian menu and an airy, contemporary-chic, poolside space (choose indoors or alfresco), and it’s clear the Dolce Vita folks know what they’re doing; and they do it well. In fact, it’s my favourite brunch to date, and I cannot rave about it enough.
Overlooking the pool, the restaurant has a relaxed and light atmosphere, making it a great spot to sip on bubbles and unwind; children are welcome, but it’s the kind of place you’d want to unwind without a toddler, as there aren’t any child-friendly features.
All brunch menu items, including starters and mains, are served family-style to the table, while dessert is offered buffet-style along with cheeses and cold cuts. The portion sizes are very generous, but if you want more of a particular dish, just ask! Menu items change regularly, but on our visit the starters included heirloom tomato and buffalo mozzarella salad, grilled baby prawn salad, white asparagus with parmesan and truffle (my husband’s favourite), cured salmon with fennel salad and quail eggs (my favourite), vegetable tempura with bell pepper coulis, fresh oysters and a shot glass of wild mushroom and truffle soup (yum!).
As if the appetisers weren’t enough, we moved on to mains including cod fish with tomato tartare, seafood risotto stew with lobster bisque, barramundi, roasted chicken roulade with delicious charred kale, onion and mustard seed ragout, and, star of the show, homemade taglioni with butter, parmesan and black truffle – I was dreaming about this dish long after we left. We were so full, we didn’t even come close to finishing the mains; however, we managed to squeeze in a little dessert after sitting for a while – a small lemon tart for me, and chocolate cake for Evan, though there were tons of other great sweets to choose from, too.
Sunday’s brunch is set up a bit differently, with three sharing starters brought to the table, and individual choices of a primo piatto (pasta, risotto or soup) and a secondo piatto (main fish or meat), plus cheese, cold-cut and dessert buffets.
– Amy Greenburg
Dolce Vita
Mandarin Oriental Singapore, 5 Raffles Avenue
6885 3500 | mandarinoriental.com/singapore
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This article first appeared in the April 2018 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase a copy or subscribe so you never miss an issue!
