5 Interesting restaurants in Singapore which are full of character

Thinking of an interesting place to eat which is off the beaten track and a change from the typical mainstream restaurant in Singapore during the coming holiday season? Here are 5 interesting restaurants in Singapore which might appeal to you. We have provided links to our reviews to the restaurants where you can find more photographs and information.

Hua Yu Wee

There are many interesting restaurants in Singapore taking advantage of the draw of nostalgia with retro-themed decor. Hua Yu Wee is unique in that it looks like a vintage restaurant from old Singapore because it is really a vintage restaurant. Stepping inside this seafood restaurant in East Coast Road feels like stepping into Singapore at the time when our island home first became an independent country. Read more.

Hua Yu Wee
462 Upper East Coast Road
Singapore 466508

Tel: +65 6442 9313

Opening Hours : 4.30 pm – 11.00 pm (call to check)

Coastal Settlement

Located right at the northeastern tip of Singapore near Changi Point is a restaurant called The Coastal Settlement. It is housed in a low and long one-storey building that looks like its previous life was a military facility. From the outside, the place looks totally uninteresting. You might even mistake it for a second-hand furniture store. But once inside, it is quite an amazing place. Read more.

The Coastal Settlement
200 Netheravon Road
Singapore 508529

Tel: +65 6475 0200

Opening Hours:
Tuesday – Thursday: 10.30am till 11pm 
Friday & Eve of PH: 10.30am till 12 Midnight
Saturday: 8.30am till 12 Midnight
Sunday & PH: 8.30am till 11pm
Sunday & PH: 8.30am till 11pm
Closed on Mondays. But open if the Monday falls on a Public Holiday or its eve.

Website

Islamic Restaurant

The Islamic Restaurant is one of the oldest restaurants in Singapore. The sign at the restaurant claims to serve Singapore’s first and original briyani since 1921. We cannot verify this claim but the interior of this restaurant does look very quaint and atmospheric. We would not be surprised if they have been here for almost 100 years. Read more.

Islamic Restaurant
745 North Bridge Road
Singapore 198713

Tel: +65 6298 7563

Opening Hours: 10am– 10pm

Facebook Page

Chye Seng Huat Hardware Coffee Bar

Chye Seng Huat Hardware (or CSHH) is coffee roaster Papa Palheta’s flagship store. It has adopted the name of the former hardware store that it now occupies. The exterior remains unaltered. While many cafes try hard to be cool, CSHH is cool without even trying. In fact it is a cool cafe even though it does not even sound like a cafe or look like one from the outside. Read more.

Chye Seng Huat Hardware Coffee Bar
150 Tyrwhitt Road
Singapore 20756

Tel +65 6396 0609

Operation hours:
Tuesday to Thursday & Sunday
9am to 10pm
Last order for food – 9:30pm | drinks – 9:45pm

Friday & Saturday
9am to Midnight
Last order for food – 10:30pm | drinks – 11:45pm

Closed on Monday

Tel:+65 6396 0609

Website

New Ubin Seafood at Hillview

In 2016, New Ubin Seafood Hillview moved to their current location in the canteen of Lam Soon Industrial Building from their previous location at Sin Min Industrial Estate. From one industrial estate to another, but the new Hillview location is more convenient (free parking). This zi char restaurant which was recognised in the Bib Gourmand list of Singapore’s Michelin Guide 2016 – 2018. Read more.

New Ubin Seafood Hillview
63 Hillview Ave
Level 6 Canteen
Singapore 669569

Opening Hours: 11am-3pm, 5:30-10pm

We hope you have found our list of interesting restaurants in Singapore useful. Thanks for reading!

The Ordinary Patrons | Real Dining Experience of Ordinary People
an independent Singapore food blog

I am not a glutton. I am an explorer of food.
— Erma Bombeck