The buzz: Restaurant owner Chris Morris—who hails from Trinidad and Tobago—brought in London-based celeb chef Hasan Defour to consult on the menu at Singapore’s first Caribbean resto. The laid-back joint is on a really happening Chinatown stretch, right by izakaya Mariko’s and cocktail bar The Cufflink Club.

The vibe: The decor of the two-storey establishment is homey and rustic featuring raw unfinished walls, mismatched vintage tables and chairs, plus an antique Peranakan door fixture. The ground floor’s a restaurant, and the second floor’s a comfy lounge. Both spaces are relaxing hangouts, with cool reggae beats (thankfully, not played too loudly) and airy surrounds.

The food: Well-spiced and filling Caribbean classics served up in generous portions. There’s a fiery curry goat with rice and peas ($26) as well as some sweet-savory jerk chicken with textures of sweet potato ($24). Plus, lighter bites such as the Paradise Salad ($12), a refreshing mix of tomato, mango and rum dressing, which you can soup-up with jerk chicken ($3 supplement) or prawns ($5 supplement) for a full meal.   

The drinks: A variety of rum tipples like the Jamaican rum punch ($16), a potent combination featuring rum and 7-Up, and the rum julep ($19), comprising rum and lime. There are also some wines, from Piper Heidseck Brut ($26/glass, $130/bottle) to easy drinking new world house pours such as Indomita Varietal Sauvignon Blanc ($11/glass, $65/bottle).

Why you’ll be back: Besides having a monopoly on the market for Caribbean food in Singapore, the setup of the place is truly inviting.

Book a table at Lime House with Chope