Singapore’s Best Brunch Places 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 & tourists love! So, what are the best brunch places in Singapore? The Expat Living team has tried and tested some fabulous free-flow champagne brunches for you (it was hard work) and here’s our top picks from the hotels in Singapore! Now make a reservation – it’s a great thing to do for birthdays and when guests are in town.
Mezza9
One of the long running brunches in Singapore, right near Orchard Road.
When: Every Sunday from noon until 3pm
What’s popping: Choose from free-flow Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut champagne ($158), or upgrade to Perrier-Jouët Blason Rosé ($178); both options are inclusive of free-flow gin and tonics, and select martinis. There’s a VIP experience for groups of four or more, including table butler service and free-flow Ruinart Blanc de Blancs or Ruinart Rosé champagne ($208 per person). Without alcohol, brunch is $118; kids aged 3 to 12 dine for $59.
I’m often left with gluttony guilt after a brunch – after all, who really needs all that food and drink in one sitting? It was a pleasant surprise to see that the Hyatt’s Mezza9 brunch features healthy options alongside indulgent yet sustainable ones, such as Maine lobster and Scottish brown crab; the freshly prepared sushi and sashimi also features sustainable ingredients.
With nine different dining sections to choose from, there’s plenty of choice without it being too overwhelming. With our 10- and 7-year olds in tow, our favourite haunts were the grill (my kids love their meat), the deli for the seafood and artisan cheeses, and, of course, the dessert station (I wish I’d saved more space for the bread and butter pudding).
While I mainly stuck with the champagne (apart from a splash of red wine), the handcrafted gin and tonics and the martini bar were both given the husband’s seal of approval. New for this year are the wine-pairing stations, showcasing a curated selection of red and white wine, as well as sake, matched to its respective kitchens.
The venue is dark and cosy, promising a fun yet intimate brunch. Just don’t forget your sunglasses when you venture back out into the Singapore sunlight! – Amy Brook-Partridge
Mezza9
Grand Hyatt Singapore, 10 Scotts Road
6732 1234 | singapore.grand.hyattrestaurants.com/mezza9
Edge
A Sunday Brunch that is lovely, light and spacious!
When: Sunday from noon to 3.30pm
What’s popping: Free-flow Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label Champagne for $188 or unlimited Veuve Clicquot Rosé Champagne for $208. The alcohol-free option is $128, inclusive of fresh juices and soft drinks. Kids aged 6 to 11 dine for $64.
As one of Singapore’s more extensive brunches (at three-and-a-half hours long), Edge is an amazing dining experience – a culinary tour of Singapore and the region. Not only does Edge feature 16 food stations (be sure to check out the new caviar bar), but also seven live food “theatres” with open kitchens, allowing you to observe and connect while the chefs prepare extraordinary creations. Highlights include crackling pork, angel hair pasta, tandoori snapper, giant burgers and Tajima wagyu.
I love the quirky option they have here of handing over table-numbered chopsticks to the chef when ordering from a food station – and, voila, the perfectly cooked dish arrives at your table a few minutes later! The chef also comes around with specials for you to try throughout the afternoon.
For dessert, you can indulge in the sweet stuff, or there’s also a drool-worthy range of artisanal Irish cheeses at the famous scorched raclette cheese station. The brunch is great for kids, too, as there’s balloon sculpting and a dedicated dessert station for the little ones. With the resident band playing softly in the background, it’s just what we needed for a perfect Sunday afternoon.
Psst – From 18 March, there will also be a botanical gin bar and a new live station featuring tender shaved chuck roast. – Jacqui Young
Edge
Level 3, Pan Pacific Singapore, 7 Raffles Boulevard
6826 8240 | edgefoodtheatre.com
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
Hilton Singapore
This one has the best dessert tray we have seen at a Sunday Brunch!
When: Sundays from noon to 3pm
What’s popping: $149 gets you free-flow champagne, wine and beer, while $108 includes sparkling wines and beer. The no-alcohol option is $88, while kids aged 5 to 12 dine for $39.
Featuring a dedicated cheese section with over 30 varieties and a live raclette station, the buffet at Opus Bar & Grill at Hilton Hotel Singapore is every cheese lover’s dream come true. The raclette cheese takes some time to prepare, so we’d recommend ordering a portion, then checking out other stations before returning to pick it up. For mains, head to the seafood bar for fresh lobsters, mussels and oysters. Our favourite picks were from the Asian specialties station, and included black pepper slipper lobster and steamed scallops with glass noodles. Another highlight was the umami-loaded scotch egg with black truffle hollandaise, crisp on the outside and creamy in the middle.
While there aren’t any child-friendly activities or game rooms, the variety of easy-to-eat dishes like fried rice, sushi and pizza will be a hit with the kids. And we can’t forget the impressive, six-metre dessert display! Standouts included green tea cake – fluffy matcha layers with mousse and azuki beans – and macarons, which were the perfect chewy-crisp texture without being overly sweet.
Tip: If you’re visiting in a group, it’s best to make a reservation beforehand; the restaurant was packed when we were there! – Anthia Chng
Hilton
581 Orchard Road
6730 3390 | singapore.hilton.com
Brasserie Les Saveurs
For the best Sunday brunch you don’t always need Champagne, we’ll leave it to you to choose your option!
When: Brunch is from noon to 3pm on Sundays; however, guests are encouraged to arrive as early as 11am for complimentary aperitifs at Astor Bar!
What’s popping: Free-flow wine, Tiger beer and fresh beverages for $180; upgrade to unlimited “R” de Ruinart Brut NV for $195, or free-flow Krug Grand Cuvée NV for $395.
If you haven’t had the chance to witness a sabering ritual, it’s reason enough to spend your Sunday at the palatial grounds of Brasserie Les Saveurs. Dating back to the battles of Napoleon Bonaparte, who famously popped bottles open with his sword in both victory and defeat, the art of sabrage has become a signature ceremony at St. Regis Hotels worldwide – and it’s a great way to kick off a bubbly brunch!
The theatrics and panache extend to the interiors and food, too. First to catch the eye are three huge hand-cut crystal chandeliers hanging from the gloriously high ceilings. Beneath them, polished wood, striking red upholstery and a grand piano create a grand space – the latter put to use by a magnificently soothing jazz band.
Unlike the usual all-you-can-eat walkabout, this refreshing brunch concept creates a more refined experience, combining smaller select spreads with a periodical stream of sit-down appetisers, tasting platters and main dishes. Along with the walk-up seafood spread, appetisers include freshly baked truffle bread with artisanal French butter, French scallop carpaccio de Saint-Jacques with piquillo pepper jelly and a tiered platter of Moulard duck rillettes, Torreon Iberico ham, as well as some vegetarian treats. If this and the subsequent Maine lobster thermidor dish doesn’t fill you, you can choose from a selection of four main courses; the Le Cabillaud au Four took both our votes: succulent Pacific cod on a rich bed of black mussels with Pernod Ricard, saffron and dill sauce.
Dessert is one of the few things that requires you to leave your seat here; but, from mille crepe cake to delectable chocolate mousse and choux a la crème, it’s worth not only the first, but second and third trip, too. – Leanda Rathmell
Brasserie Les Saveurs
The St. Regis Singapore, 29 Tanglin Road
6506 6860 | brasserielessaveurs.com
Kwee Zeen
This could be the best Sunday Brunch for kids, there seems plenty to do for them!
When: The Ultimate Sunday Champagne Brunch happens every Sunday from 12.30 to 3.30pm
What’s popping: Free-flow Taittinger Champagne and wine for $168; it’s $138 per adult without alcohol, and $58 for ages 5 to 11.
This casual buffet-style brunch, which can be enjoyed indoors or alfresco (I recommend sitting outside!), has a lot to offer. With 16 different food stations to choose from – including a foie gras gallery, fromage and charcuterie, Indian, French and Chinese, among other cuisines – there’s really something for everybody, even the kiddos. Speaking of little ones, they’ll be entertained with a bouncy castle, balloon sculpting and a dedicated children’s activity room – complete with a television, toys and a kid-friendly food corner – while adults can laze around with some bubbly.
While I made a beeline (and multiple return trips) for the sushi station for its fresh and fab sashimi, my husband dug into various Indian specialities, a bowl of Parmesan risotto, and crab and lobster from the chilled seafood station. After visiting the pasta counter twice, my toddler was all about the dessert. We shared some scoops of delicious chocolate ice cream, followed by various cakes from the confectionary (of course, my two-and-a-half-year-old loved the rainbow cake!).
Following lunch, we went for a swim in the hotel pool – a major bonus for all brunch-goers! The whole experience made for a wonderful Sunday afternoon with the fam. – Amy Greenburg
Kwee Zeen
Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa
2 Bukit Manis Road
6708 8366 | sofitel-singapore-sentosa.com
Town Restaurant
This won the best Sunday Brunch place in our Readers Awards in 2018!
When: Every Sunday from noon to 3.30pm (last pour is at 3pm)
What’s popping: $168 per adult with free flowing Veuve Clicquot and house red and white wines, $120 per adult without alcohol and $60 per child with free-flow chilled juices and soft drinks.
With a great selection of food paired with impeccable service, not to mention an iconic Singapore location, it’s hardly a surprise that The Fullerton has one of the most popular brunches in town. In fact, it took the top slot as Favourite Champagne Brunch Venue in our Expat Living Readers’ Choice Awards 2018. Whether you choose to sit in the cool and comfy indoor dining or outside overlooking the Singapore River, it’s the perfect place to enjoy Sunday brunch.
Food-wise there are fresh, juicy seafood options aplenty, along with wonderful Asian choices and some great Western favourites such as maple-glazed Champagne ham with Granny Smith apple sauce and roast beef with red wine sauce; beef, lamb chops, baked snapper and honey chicken are served along with every condiment you can imagine. Chefs cook fresh pasta on request, and the pizza station is kept fully topped up with homemade pizzas. Top that off with a fresh sushi bar complete with creative Japanese dishes, and there’s everything you could possibly ever want to eat in an afternoon. There’s even a full breakfast selection featuring light choices like yoghurt and fruit, and an English selection for those interested in having their morning feast a little later. All this is accompanied by a live repertoire of jazz and pop favourites.
Special mention goes to the dessert table, which is great fun, adorned with a chocolate fountain with marshmallows and strawberries, and some Fullerton specials such as caramelised lemon tarts, strawberry short cake, and bread and butter pudding.
A major bonus is that this brunch is perfect for kids. There’s a children’s room with babysitters, and little ones can be entertained with face-painting, colouring activities, cartoons and balloon-sculpting. There’s even a mini buffet of petite burgers, sausages, pasta and ice cream. What’s not to love? – Jacqui Young
Town Restaurant
The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, 1 Fullerton Square
6877 8911 | fullertonhotels.com/dining
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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!
