Tipsy Bird at Paya Lebar Quarter

A tipsy bird, known for being “drunk, clumsy and a bit of a clown”, was voted New Zealand’s Bird of the Year in 2018 (according to BBC News). The description of the kererū, or wood pigeon, could well apply to quite a few patrons of the many drinking holes in Paya Lebar late on a Friday evening. A new place for a tipple in Paya Lebar Quarter is the recently opened Tipsy Bird Gastrobar. It gets pretty crowded in the evenings but can be a quiet spot for lunch.

Tipsy Bird Gastrobar

Tipsy Bird Gastrobar is located on the ground level of PLQ 2 of Paya Lebar Quarter, opposite the PLQ Mall. It has an air-conditioned dining area with the dining hall on one side and the bar on the other. There are a huge TV screen and a small stage of live performances. There is a naturally ventilated sheltered outdoor area which is quite large.

Menu of Tipsy Bird PLQ

With a name like Tipsy Bird Gastrobar, you would expect the drink list to be much more extensive than the food menu. You would not be wrong. Tipsy Bird offers beers, like Hike Beer and Frosty’s Lager, whiskey, wine, cocktails and shots and other alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. The food menu offers all day breakfast items, salads, quinoa bowls, burgers, meats and local claypot dishes. Below are pictures of a few pages of the menu of Tipsy Bird.

Lunch at Tipsy Bird Paya Lebar

We were at Tipsy Bird Paya Lebar for lunch on a recent weekday. Relative to the scene in the evening, it was quiet. There were only a few other tables that were occupied. We ordered an Iberico Char Siew Quinoa Bowl ($16) and a Pork Brioche Burger ($16). A cappuccino was $4.50.

The Iberico Char Siew Quinoa Bowl is a healthy option that can be quite enjoyable. The high protein quinoa is touted as a “superfood” and a healthier substitute for white rice and pasta. In Tipsy Bird’s quinoa bowl, there was quite a substantial portion of the quinoa seeds beneath the toppings of char siew, poached egg and archar. On its own, the seeds were not very exciting but the combination with the pork and egg would tickle the palate.

The Pork Brioche Burger was served on a wooden board and came with fries and side dishes of creamy cabbage and achar. In between the brioche bun were vegetables and slices of Iberico BBQ char siew slices drizzled with a honey glazed sesame sauce. Individually, each of the items was fine but as a whole the East meet West combination did not quite work for us. We will probably try their more conventional beef burger the next time.

Nice Quiet Spot for Lunch

We think that Tipsy Bird Gastrobar is more a bar than a restaurant. With live performances and a big TV screen showing sports events, it is a lively venue in the evening. You go there for the drinks and convivial atmosphere and not for gourmet dining. Nevertheless, if you like a quiet spot for a decent lunch, Tipsy Bird Gastrobar fits the bill too.

Tipsy Bird Gastrobar
1 Paya Lebar Link
#01-08 PLQ 2
Paya Lebar Quarters
Singapore 408533

Tel: +65 8879 6057

Opening Hours:
Sun-Thu: 12 noon to 1 am
Fri & Sat: 12 noon to 2 am

Nearby MRT Station: Paya Lebar Interchange (EW8/CC9)

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