At the heart of Chinatown, Amoy Street’s a real convenient spot for CBD folk to eat. But unlike fancier parts of the neighborhood that focus on fine-dining (think Bukit Pasoh) or drinks (Club Street), the area’s got all sorts of diverse options to take you through the day: French pastries for breakfast, generous sandwiches or inventive hawker fare for lunch, some serious sweets to perk you up mid afternoon, and as night falls, slick cocktails and comforting Italian dinners. It’s pretty much a Swiss army knife for folks who eat out.

Sarnies

On offer at this cute café is everything you need for a great weekday lunch: A perfectly seasoned chicken sanger packed with guacamole and bacon ($13.90), refreshing lemon-mint iced tea ($7) and a super dense chocolate-y brownie ($4). The servers are real friendly to boot.

Sophie Bakery

This first Singapore outlet by the French bakery chain is a convenient place to pick up pain au chocolat ($2.50) or—even better—plush white chocolate-studded buns ($1.90) for breakfast, and crusty baguette ($2.90) to go with dinner.

Truffs

For those who deem themselves true-blue dark chocolate aficionados this spot—owned by chocolatier Teng Ei Liang—is the place to be. The handmade truffles ($3), the signature chocolate cake ($11/slice, $85/whole), and espresso- and Earl Grey-infused chocolate tarts ($7/slice, $50/whole) are all delish.

The Market Grill

The industrial looking space features an open-concept kitchen, and can get pretty warm at times (ventilation isn’t great). Still, it’s worth braving the sweltering heat for executive chef Colin West’s soul satisfying menu of American grills. We reckon the burgers—hand-formed to weigh 150g each—including the CW Burger Breakfast ($21), a beef patty with a sunny side up egg, bacon and aged cheddar are the best in town.

A Noodle Story

This unusual hawker stall, setup by Shatec-trained chefs Gwern Khoo and Ben Tham—who have worked as top restaurants like Iggy’s, Waku Ghin and Restaurant ANDRE—offers Singapore-style ramen ($5/small, $6/medium, $7/large), which incorporates flavors from local dishes like prawn mee and wonton mee as well as sous vide cha-su.

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Matt’s The Chocolate Shop

Owned by Matthew Chow, this narrow minimalist store with all-white furnishings offers a menu that’s just as spare as the decor. The focus is simple ganache-topped chocolate cakes, which come in two sizes: Individual minis ($4) and 1kg-whole cakes ($48).   

Burlamacco Ristorante 

The more-ish beef tripe stew in tomato sauce ($18) and homemade pastas including linguine with lobster in spicy arrabbiata sauce ($26) at this Tuscan joint keep regulars coming back for more. The restaurant also houses a pretty floor-to-ceiling wine cellar with a collection of over 120 Italian labels (from $12/glass, $68/bottle).

Flying Squirrel

Local music act Jack & Rai, and Jack’s wife Angelina, run this cozy Japanese eatery hidden away on a side alley. To eat, there’s selection of fusion Japanese bites such as soba pasta ($16), featuring tomato-sauced noodles and breaded fried shrimp, as well as more traditional offerings like the sashimi platter ($42), and salmon and ikura chirashi ($13).

Jigger & Pony

Colorful and friendly, with red and yellow booth seats and a collection of vintage liquor posters on the walls, this welcoming cocktail spot offers a grid-like menu of tipples including classics like the negroni ($20) and new inventions such as Little Red Dot ($22), made from Tanqueray Ten gin, raspberries, lychee liqueur, grapefruit juice and Indian rosewater.    

Beng Hiang Hokkien Restaurant

This Hokkien establishment is a real institution, having been around for more than 30 years. It’s the perfect place for an old school Chinese meal, featuring classics like fried hokkien noodles (from $7), crisp fried prawn balls (from $8) and oyster omelette (from $12).

more places to eat in Tanjong Pagar