While we love indulging in bubbly buffets and afternoon teas every once in a while, a delicious lunch is a fab midday pick-me-up, too. From hearty steaks to alfresco diners with stunning views, here are seven restaurants perfect for lunch catch-ups with the girlfriends or colleagues. Psst… Most are affordable options, while some are more suited for special occasions!
SKIRT
Every Saturday from 12pm to 3pm, this popular grill house at W Singapore serves up brunch – in the form of mod-European plates with an Asian twist. Tuck into prime cuts and fresh, sustainably sourced seafood, grilled to smoky perfection on the restaurant’s signature centrepiece parrilla grill.
Start with the burratina salad ($26) with char-grilled aubergine, macadamia and argan oil. Seafood fans will also love the grilled octopus ($26) and sobrassada-stuffed calamari ($35). You can’t go wrong with any of the sides at SKIRT. From olive oil mashed potatoes ($7) and lobster lardon mac and cheese ($20) to honey-glazed carrots ($11), there’s a side for everyone! If you’re going all out, a splurge-worthy main would be the wagyu katsu steak sandwich ($56): wagyu sirloin, potato bread, bacon jam, foie butter and vegetable chips. Alternatively, the Cape Grim eye fillet ($50) and sirloin ($55) are popular options. Prefer something lighter? Try the vegetarian farro risotto ($38) or seared salmon ($42).
W Singapore – Sentosa Cove, 21 Ocean Way
6808 7278 | skirt.wsingaporesentosacove.com
Sky22
Impress your business client or lunch date at Courtyard by Marriott Singapore Novena’s sky-high restaurant, Sky22. Located on the 22nd floor of the hotel, the all-day dining, 100-seater boasts panoramic views of the nearby nature reserve and its surrounds.
Expect everything from international offerings to local favourites, on top of a variety of wholesome options for the health-conscious. A value-for-money semi-buffet is offered for lunch ($28) on weekdays, where you’ll get to choose a hearty entrée on top of unlimited portions of appetisers, soups and desserts. The menu of mains rotates weekly, with highlights like chicken parmigiana with buffalo cheese, pan-seared sea bass with barley risotto, and Singapore laksa lemak. There’s also a nutritious salad bar for you to get your fill of greens! End the meal on a sweet note with a delectable dessert spread with the likes of bread and butter pudding, apple crumble, and pear strudel.
Courtyard by Marriott Singapore Novena
Level 22, 99 Irrawaddy Road
6378 2040 | courtyardsingapore.com
Picotin Express
In need of a midweek break? Whether it’s a monthly meet-up with friends and family, or a private party, Picotin Express is well suited for various occasions. The setting at the two restaurants – Bukit Timah and East Coast – is casual and relaxed, so it’s the ideal spot for a lunch out with your colleagues or girlfriends. With a lush green backdrop, Picotin Bukit Timah offers a panoramic view of the Champions Public Golf Course in a serene, semi-outdoor setting with ample space.
The spacious East Coast restaurant offers entertainment like pétanque, table football and snooker at the alfresco dining area, along with kid-friendly facilities like a bouncy castle. If you’re planning to host a function, the restaurant is equipped with a sound system and projector, and can host up to 240 people in total – 120 indoors and 120 outdoors. Book early for special package prices!
Psst… On 8 August from 8pm to 8.20pm, and 8.45pm to 9.05pm, there will be a free magic show by Tommillusions at the East Coast outlet – head down with the kids for a fun night out!
60 Fairways Drive
6877 1191 | events@picotin.com.sg
picotin.com.sg
Nassim Hill
Gather your girlfriends for a laidback lunch at this cosy bistro bar in Tanglin Post Office. On offer is a great variety of boozy drinks, multi-cuisine eats – think pastas, brunch dishes and steaks – plus a fab ladies’ night promotion to boot. For lunch (11am to 4pm), you’ll find a mix of salads, light bites like sandwiches and pizzas, as well as heavier items like pastas if you’re on the hungrier side. A new dish we’re dying to try is the dry laksa pasta ($26) – a combo of creamy laksa sauce, spaghetti, fish cakes and fresh prawns. Other new additions to the menu include truffle pizza ($15), chicken pesto panini ($18) and coddled egg with truffle mash ($9), featuring poached egg, truffle mashed potatoes and chives served with toast. Brunch lovers can also tuck into all-day breakfast items from 8am to 4pm; you’re spoilt for choice with the number of egg dishes available here.
Psst… This gastrobar offers one of the longest happy-hour promotions we’ve ever come across. From 9am to 9pm daily, enjoy one-for-one on draught beers, as well as affordable house pours priced from $8 to $12.
#01-03 Tanglin Post Office
56 Tanglin Road
6835 1128 | facebook.com/nassimhill
Mezza9
If you find yourself stranded along the busy shopping district during lunch hour, head to Grand Hyatt Singapore’s multi-concept restaurant Mezza9. Located on the mezzanine level of the luxury hotel, the chic dining spot offers a mean lunch deal at just $35 for a two-course meal, or $45 for three courses.
Start with the blue swimmer crab cake with remoulade sauce or yasai sushi moriawase (plant-based sushi) if you’re feeling healthy, then choose from a selection of mouthwatering mains like the signature Mezza9 cheeseburger or sustainable market fish with sauteed organic vegetables and salsa verde. For dessert, we’ve got our eye on the organic, fair-trade Swiss chocolate fondant with vanilla soft serve and red wine poached pear! Top up $5 for coffee or tea.
Grand Hyatt Singapore
10 Scotts Road
6732 1234 | singapore.grand.hyattrestaurants.com/mezza9
Ricciotti
Open since 2004, this breezy riverside gem serves unpretentious, delicious and affordable homemade Italian fare with contemporary flair. The two-course weekday lunch is priced at a wallet-friendly $25, while the three-course option will set you back $30. The lunch menu changes on a weekly basis, but the restaurant is best-known for its selection of pizzas, pastas, breads and desserts, which are mostly made from scratch using fresh, quality ingredients. Signatures on the à la carte menu include Vellutata di Zucca e Stracciatella ($16) – pumpkin soup with Stracciatella cheese and crispy barley – Caprese salad ($20) and Tomino Piemontese, Salsa Verde e Salsa Rossa ($20) – melted cow cheese with oyster mushrooms, grilled veggies, parsley sauce and capsicum chilli sauce.
Psst… If you’re a die-hard cheese fan, don’t leave without trying the Tortelloni di Bufala ($26): homemade buffalo mozzarella DOP-stuffed pasta, cherry tomato confit, pearl onions and basil sauce. The Pizza Genovese ($24 for 9-inch, $32 for 12-inch) – topped with two types of cheese, basil pesto, olives, green beans and pine nuts – is another signature that’s great for sharing.
#B1-49/50, The Riverwalk
20 Upper Circular Road
6533 9060 | ricciotti.co
The Spot
Whether you’re having a business lunch or a catch-up sesh with the girlfriends, this newly opened CBD joint suits both occasions. Helmed by Executive Chef Lee Boon Seng (formerly of Osia and Curate), the food offerings here are largely modern European with an Asian twist. What we like about the lunch menu is having the flexibility to choose between two ($33), three ($39) or four courses ($49), depending on whether you’re able to withstand the post-lunch food coma (or not).
If you’re feeling extra hungry, we recommend the four-course, which gets you two appetisers, one main and one dessert. Highlights include pan-fried red snapper, a gorgeous combination of crispy skin, tender flesh and a flavourful green curry emulsion, and licorice ice-cream – caramelised candied parsnip, malt molasses, coffee crumble – an interesting dessert that happens to be the chef’s fave.
#01-26/27 Marina One The Heart
5 Straits View
6284 2637 | thespot.sg
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