16 Best Tanjong Pagar Restaurants in Singapore | Best of Food 2022

Feeling a bit burnout from work? Take a break from the busy city life and go downtown to unwind with your friends. There are great food finds and drinks to enjoy if you have an idea where to look exactly. With an extensive variety of Tanjong Pagar restaurants in the market, which then is the best Tanjong Pagar restaurant in Singapore? In our Best of Food series, we introduce the 16 Best Tanjong Pagar Restaurants in Singapore, providing quality recommendations based on your lifestyle and budget needs.

Best Tanjong Pagar Restaurants in Singapore

1. The Populus Coffee & Food Co.

Get cosy at The Populus Coffee & Food Co. The restaurant cafe has wooden furniture pieces complemented by warm lights for a more comfortable stay. Perfect for a casual weekend, this spot is truly perfect for catching up with friends or enjoying your me-time. You can also enjoy your Buckwheat Pancakes any time of the day because of their all-day brunch menu. Besides this, they also have Donburi Rice Bowls to order especially if you’re looking for a more hearty meal. For drinks, they have a couple of the usual coffee choices and signature brews. They also have artisanal tea and chocolate drink choices too.

2. Lucha Loco

Enjoy authentic Mexican dishes at Lucha Loco in Duxton Hill. Comfortably nestled between lush greeneries, this restaurant is perfect if you need some time to relax and unwind. We love how colourful and lively the restaurant is — the choice of bright furniture pieces and colourful fairy lights especially elevates the place at night. The hidden garden also allows alfresco mini parties for all to celebrate. Besides being a fantastic hangout place for groups, you can also enjoy margaritas, special cocktails, and our collections of rare artisanal spirits here. But if you’re looking for food to try, their Chicken Chimichanga, Frijoles, and Cinnamon Churros are all good picks.

3. MeatSmith (Telok Ayer)

MeatSmith is a haven for people who love a good BBQ. This American restaurant has a laidback atmosphere that’s fantastic if you’re looking for a place to enjoy great food and drinks. Great for groups, you can choose from their set menu options. The Family Pack for 4 includes 2 mains ( choice between 200g Beef Brisket, Spiced Pork Ribs, and Jerk Chicken Chop) with a Cheeseburger and Sandwich. To make the experience more remarkable, go ahead and order Juniper Estate Chardonnay to share. Not only that, but you can also order add-ons of Kale, Persian Feta Salad and S’mores Tart to balance out the savoury slabs.

4. Shukuu Izakaya

Founded in 1804, Shukuu Izakaya started in Fukui and eventually found its home in downtown Singapore. Popular as a Sake Bar, customers can drop by and settle in their distinct fusion of traditional and modern Japanese interior design. The bar is made of wood with paper lanterns elevating the space along with hand-painted Japanese art on the walls. More than the atmosphere, this spot is also particularly great if you’re looking for something warm and delicious to slurp. Go for their Agedashi Tofu to warm up your appetite then try their piping hot Oden complemented with sake for the best experience.

5. Fat Prince

Fat Prince elevated the whole dining experience for its patrons by coming up with a modern sophisticated restaurant concept.  Moreover, this place also has a fancy bar that displays its collection of curated wine and spirits. You can also order any of their signature cocktails to complement their authentic Mediterranean dishes. With attention to comfort, their furniture pieces are selected with utmost care. Furthermore, the warm light also helps with the cosiness, adding a more intimate vibe. We recommend checking out their brunch menu and ordering Crispy Seabass Kebab with their Spice Heaps cocktail.

6. Pura Brasa

Opened in 2010, Pura Brasa was situated in Gueco Tower along Wallich Street. This hip restaurant serves authentic Spanish dishes with ingredients sourced abroad from Spain. With this in mind, the restaurant’s intent was also a collaboration with Josper® charcoal oven to showcase its functionality. This particular equipment is used in preparing the pizzas and some of their grilled dishes. Modern and casual, they also have booths that diners can occupy which gives them a bit of privacy to enjoy their meal and converse with each other. The whole dining space can actually cater to up to a hundred people. Our favourites are their Spanish Suckling Pig, Charcoal Seafood Paella, and Grilled Mussels — all prepared using Josper®.

7. Etna Italian Restaurant (Duxton)

Enjoy authentic Italian food with Etna Italian Restaurant located in Duxton. This restaurant has a humble yet classy ambience which wins over customers looking to experience fine dining services. Perfect if you’re looking for someplace to invite your special someone for dinner, this is truly one of the best places you can go for. You don’t even need to worry about choosing food since they already have different set menus you can go for. Furthermore, you can also choose from their curated wine options for a full Italian food experience.

8. Pastaria Abate 

Feel at home by dining in Pastaria Abate. They serve authentic Italian dishes that are great for sharing. Their extensive menu includes handmade pizzas and pasta prepared using fresh ingredients to maintain classic Italian flavours. Moreover, we like how family-friendly the ambience of the restaurant is. They also have booths that are perfect if you need a little bit of privacy. Some of our favourite picks are Aglio Olio with Prawns, Porchetta Pizza, and Lasagne. As expected, there are also bottles of wine and house spirits available to complement the dishes they serve.

9. The Blue Ginger 

Popular because of their Peranakan dishes that hits us close to home. The Blue Ginger has a warm and cosy interior that aligns with the traditional Peranakan culture and heritage. Located on Tanjong Pagar Road, this restaurant used to be a shophouse that was recently refurbished to be the restaurant we all love. Great for families, you can have dinner here and share hearty meals to bond further as a family. Also, they focus on delivering flavourful, aromatic, and spicy dishes that leave an impact not only on locals but tourists too. We like their Beef Rendang and Udang Kuah Pedas Nanas.

10. Binomio

Need to impress your coworkers? Binomio houses posh and modern dining areas and private rooms ideal for meetings and celebrations. This restaurant serves an authentic Spanish menu, incorporating both two concepts: a casual tapas bar and a fine dining experience. Moreover, this incorporation of the two concepts makes this spot perfect for everyone. We particularly love how hospitable and seasoned their crew are. Squid Ink Paella, Gambas al Ajillo, and Traditional Spanish Suckling Pig are fantastic options best complemented with a bottle of Ximénez Spínola Old Harvest.

11. Bearded Bella

Great for casual weekends with friends, Bearded Bella has a global menu that allows you to enjoy your favourite comfort brunch any time of the day. We like how this also allows more options for lighter dishes that can be best enjoyed with a warm cup of coffee or any of their refreshing drinks. Its colourful exterior also adds charm to the already trendy cafe concept. Besides this, they also offer coffee prepaid cards and a happy hour promo which is best maximized through frequent visits either alone or with the gang.

12. Esquina

A fantastic spot for date nights, Esquina is a glamorous Spanish restaurant in the area. Not just serving traditional Spanish cuisine, they also made sure to implement modern techniques that elevate the recipes we all love. Besides this, it’s also worth commending how their seasoned chef pays extra attention to plating and serving proportions. Definitely serving a hearty meal that’s worth the value. We particularly recommend their Smoked Sardine and Roasted Cauliflower with their Spanish Strawberries for dessert.

13. Chicken Up 

Chicken Up is a good hangout spot if you’re looking for something casual without any pressure on your peers. They serve various Korean Chicken Wings that are best enjoyed with a bottle of Soju. Not only that, but they also have a couple of other homey Korean favourites such as Kimchi Fried Rice and Japchae. The meal served are ideal for sharing so more people in the group also means more flavours to try. For dessert, they have Watermelon Bingsu as well.

14. Ristorante Luka

Contemporary home to our Italian favourites, LUKA is situated along Tanjong Pagar Road. Their pizza is considered authentic and oven-baked to a doughy perfection. Though many are sceptical of fusion dishes, this restaurant combined traditional Italian recipes with Asian ingredients and techniques, making the food they serve even more flavourful and unique. Their Risotto Milanese and Sagari are only two of the exceptional dishes they offer. They also have Gelato too!

15. Mellben Signature

Mellben Signature focuses on delivering the food that’s best enjoyed when with loved ones. They have a communal dining setup and their portion is great for sharing. Besides this, the restaurant itself has a bright and spacious atmosphere. The food they serve has a traditional Chinese influence that’s been part of our lives growing up. Surely, you can feel at home here since you have everything you could ever ask for — great ambience, fantastic food, and togetherness. A few of the crowd-favourite dishes are their Creamy Butter with Truffle Crab and Stir-fried Wagyu Beef with Truffle.

16. SBCD Korean Tofu House 

Offering Korean dishes, SBCD Korean Tofu House is a great spot if you’re looking to hang out in a cosy spot. Great for families, you can spend time together while sharing comfort Korean food with rich Asian household flavour. Not only that, they also accommodate private intimate events for groups celebrating a milestone in life. Here, we recommend trying their Bibimbap and Bulgogi Combo. Besides this, it would also be fantastic to order Korean Seafood Pancakes and extra Kimchi on the side. Just make sure to watch out on the spiciness level since not everyone has a different tolerance.

We hope that our guide on the 16 Best Tanjong Ragar Restaurants in Singapore has helped you to discover the best Tanjong Ragar restaurant in Singapore to drop by downtown for delicious food. Please share this with your family and friends if you have found it useful.