(Updated September 2016) The Bukit Merah SAFRA (Singapore Armed Forces Reservist Association) Clubhouse at the junction of Alexandra Road and Jalan Bukit Merah had been a destination for badminton, shooting, rock climbing and other sports for many years. The photography club there must have trained a few generations of photographers. Where the SAFRA Clubhouse once stood is now Alexandra Central, a new development comprising a 6 storey podium called the Alexandra Central Mall and a 13 storey hotel, the Park Hotel Alexandra.
The hotel is operational but more than half of the Alexandra Central Mall is still unoccupied. Gain City and Daikin Pro Shop are at the mall and a few nail spas and hair salons have started business. It is supposed to be the new hub in the area for education, electronics and dining. We are of course most interested in the dining part. When we visited Alexandra Central recently, we were glad to note that the food and beverage options there, though limited presently, could be quite interesting.
AlibabaR Dining Cafe Bar occupies a prime spot on the ground level of Alexandra Central Mall. The place is run by the folks behind Alibabar The Hawkers Bar in Katong (see Alibabar O Bun Sesame). It has a small indoor seating area as well as outdoor seating. They have a good range of craft beers. All day breakfast, potatoes jackets, burgers, pasta and other Western dishes are on their menu. Their beef burger ($11.70) was good – thick juicy patty and nicely toasted buns. The fries were nice too. In the afternoon they serve High Tea.
AlibabaR Dining Cafe Bar
#01-15
Tel : +65 62502633
Otoko Ramen offers ramen in a variety of soup bases as well as rice dishes such as curry rice, chasu rice and kaisendon.
Otoko Ramen
#01-16
Tel : +65 6250 2889
ToastBox is just next to Alibabar. Besides coffee and toasts, local dishes like Hainanese Curry Chicken, Laksa, Steamed Pork Ribs with Yam and Chicken Chop Rice are available. There is a lunch set of Cheesy Chicken Chop Noodles with a glass of barley water for $7.20.
Toastbox Alexandra
#01-17
Operating hours
Sat – Thurs: 8am to 8.30pm
Fri – Sat, eve of PH & PH: 8am to 9pm
Tel : +65 6250 2080
Master Prata @ Alexandra serves a wide varity of pratas and thosai as well as dishes like fried rice and mee goreng.
Master Prata @ Alexandra
#01-02
Opening Hours : 10 am to 10 pm
Tel : +65 8268 8210
Update 2017
When we visited Alexandra in April 2017, the tenants mentioned above were still operating in the mall. The Gogi, So Thai So Nice, Katong Laksa and several other new food and beverage outlets have opened in the Alexandra Central Mall.
So Thai So Nice
#02-01
The Gogi
#03-01
328 Katong Laksa
#02-24
BAP Korean Food #01-01
Yummy Punjabi #01-07 – Indian/Pakistani Tapas Bars and Vegetarian Restaurant.
Crunchie Cookies #01-11
Here are pictures of the Directory Listing we saw.
Those are the food and drinks options we have seen so far. The number is small for now but there is a good mix. Alexandra Central is right next to Ikea; so you can always go for a super cheap breakfast at Ikea (see My $1 Breakfast) if necessary.
The car park entrance of Alexandra Central is at Jalan Bukit Merah. Be prepared for an exciting long ride up the spiraling ramp to the carpark on level 4.
Alexandra Central Mall
321 Alexandra Road
Singapore 159971
Tel : +65 61003800
Mon – Sun: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
The Ordinary Patrons
Singapore Food Blog by Ordinary People looking for Places to Eat
Tried Alibabar today and the food standard is just not good. The signature burger with bacon is very average and the truffle fries are absolutely not worth mentioning. Not recommended.