2am:dessertbar

The ultimate sweet tooth retreat, this late night dessert haunt has made waves islandwide. Chef-owner Janice Wong's signature edible art displays include marshmallow walls to chocolate tables, and everything that comes out on a plate is equally decadent. There are dishes like matcha lava cake and pistachio sponge with coco mousse, as well as recently introduced savory items like beef cheek rendang and tacos.

CRAFT Bakery

For those who like a spot of people watching with a good lava cake and coffee, this is the cafe for you. The menu's pretty simple and the attention is focused on 3 Inch Sin's signature chocolate cakes, as well as a some savory options like  bacon mac n' cheese. There's also Papa Palheta coffee that's perfect for a lazy weekend afternoon.

Da Paolo Pizza Bar

As one of Da Paolo's remaining Chip Bee establishments, this pizza bar still draws the crowds with its cow print ceilings, wooden tables and huge wine racks. The thin-crusted pizza is the star of the show with options like tomato, mozzarella, pink peppercorns, avocado and chicken, as well as calzones (folded pizzas). If you're not in the mood for pizza, they've also got salads, meatballs and sandwiches on offer.

Hatched

If you love eggs, this is the place to go. The easy-to-miss cafe nestled amongst a stretch of banks and big corporations specializes in everything eggy. There are favorites like eggs benedict with streaky bacon and ham; wagyu burgers with fried eggs; breakfast burritos and baked eggs, too. 

Original Sin

An institution in Chip Bee Gardens, this Mediterranean restaurant is known for its vegetarian offerings. It's cozy and quiet, which is a welcome change from the raucous weekend atmosphere across the road, with dishes like pan-fried haloumi salad with roasted capsicum and lentils, creamy porcini pasta and great mezze platters to share. Don't miss their ever-changing risotto dish, too.

PARK

Housed in a converted cargo shipping container, this place has a casual vibe with food like spam chips, smoked duck tacos and burgers. If you're looking for casual drinks, they've got a pretty extensive list of beers and wines like Kronenbourg Blanc, Zonin prosecco and Blaissac Bordeaux AOC. Plus, they've got pretty good happy hour and ladies night deals.

The Pit

Tucked away in a corner of Lorong Liput next to some tech stores, this no-frills pub is right below 2am:dessertbar. Frequented by lots of regulars and soccer fans, it's got a convivial atmosphere fuelled by local craft brews by Archipelago. Plus, they've got some pretty decent bar bites like buffalo chicken wings and ribs.

Sanpoutei Ramen

This Niigata ramen restaurant has something a little different to offer: it uses fish stock as its soup base, rather than the usual blend of tonkotsu (pork bone) and shoyu bases. On offer are bowls of tori and miso-based noodles with chasiu, bamboo shoots and, of course, Japanese soy-flavored eggs.

Sunday Folks

Another dessert-centric place, this one specializes in more down-to-earth favorites like waffles and soft serve ice cream. Their ice cream swirling skills are pretty impressive, piled high atop waffles by the Creamier folks. They've also got other sweet treats like yuzu cheesecake, sticky toffee cake, chocolate peppermint marshmallows and takeaway ice cream cones.

Wala Wala

Who doesn't love a casual night out in the open air drinking with friends? This Holland Village stalwart pub has nailed the atmosphere with their approachable list of drinks, pub snacks, sports telecasts and live music. Think drinks like beers on tap, bottles of wine, rudimentary cocktails and bottles of spirits. Don't forget to order jugs of frozen margaritas on that next balmy night out.

2D1N Soju Bang

If you thought this Telok Ayer restaurant was actually a Korean travel agent peddling a soju-filled escapade, think again. Named after a Korean game show, this place is all about meat with cuts of pork, chicken and beef like short ribs and thinly-sliced bulgogi. They've also got more experimental meats like pig trotters and spicy fried chicken gizzards, too. Lines can get pretty long here so it's best to come early.

Big Mama Korean Restaurant

Tiong Bahru's not just hipster central, it's also home to some hole-in-the-wall mom and pop joints like this Korean place. They're known for their dakgalbi, an umami-laden, spicy grilled chicken dish cooked in front of you with veggies and some of the springiest topokki (rice cakes) around. Be sure to follow that up with the fried rice option that's done in the same pan with sesame oil, crisp seaweed and kimchi.

Chang Korean Charcoal BBQ Restaurant

For those times you feel like something a little less hole-in-the-wall, this expansive restaurant with traditional Korean BBQ will do you justice. There are eight different free-flow appetizers like kimchi and tofu to get you started and meats include boneless beef rib and marinated prime beef rib that the staff help you to cook at your table. The meats here are particularly fatty so items like the pork belly really melts in your mouth. 

Damotory Korean Wine House

We're cheating a little to include this wine house, but Damotory that has all manner of Korean tipples from a red ginseng wine to a mountain apple wine. The best part is that the place opens until pretty late and you can order classic dishes like kimchijeon (kimchi pancakes), bulgogi and seafood topokki.

E!GHT Korean BBQ

Unlike many homely Korean restaurants, this place has a more industrial design with exposed brick walls, dark wooden furniture and stools that resemble steel oil barrels. Go straight for house specialty the Eight Colours Set with Berkshire pork in eight different flavors: wine, original, ginseng, garlic, herb, curry, miso and red pepper paste. They've also got a solid seafood bean paste stew and pork belly kimchi stew.

Kko Kko Nara

When we say KFC, we don't mean Southern-style fried chicken. In this case, Korean fried chicken is certainly gaining popularity and this place does chicken justice. The juicy and glazed morsels come in three flavors: original, garlic soy and sweet and spicy. Although the sweet and spicy rendition is the most attention-grabbing, get the mixed platter to cover all your bases. Plus, if you're not in the mood for some fried chicken, they've got classics like bibimbap and ramyun, too.

Manbok Korean Seafood Restaurant

This place has some adventurous options on the menu like fermented skate, but not everything is so experimental. They've got a an addictive seafood soup with a smorgasbord of crab, prawns, abalone, scallops, clams, rice cakes, mushrooms and a whole octopus (!) in a spiced broth. They've also got tons of side dishes like shredded cabbage salad with cucumbers and potato mash with raisins.

Manna Korean Restaurant

If you ask most Koreans living in Singapore where they go to get a slice of home, they'll most likely point you in the direction of this restaurant. Manna Korean is homey and a little old-world, so don't expect anything glitzy. As well as the BBQ dishes, which are thoughtfully cooked in the kitchen, they have a slew of other things like kimchi stew (kimchi chigae), ramyun and a pork dumpling soup. Don't miss their beef ribs that come sizzling on a hot plate with side dishes like spicy bean sprouts, kimchi, long beans with eggs and spicy potato slices.

Togi BBQ

Adding to the slew of Korean BBQ places is this gem in an Orchard Road mall. They've got tons of meats like Black Angus rib eye, boneless short rib, spicy pork collar and marinated spicy pork belly. But if barbecuing meats doesn't take your fancy, they've got plenty of rice cakes, pancakes, rice and noodle dishes, as well as soups and stews like ginseng chicken and a spicy seafood stew.

Wang Dae Bak

Inspired by the retro culture in Korea, this barbecue place is all about the convivial atmosphere and good meats. They use charcoal grills, which give that nicely charred and smoky flavor to the meat, and carry your usual selection including pork belly, boneless prime rib and chicken, as well as more interesting marinated options like herb wine pork belly, shoulder loin and juicy pork shoulder butt. For those who don't want to just feast on meats, they've got other dishes like kim chi pancakes and spicy seafood tofu soup.