Located within the vicinity of Tanjong Pagar Conservation Area is Duxton – the ideal destination for an interesting foodie experience. Many hipster cafes and fancy restaurants are housed in the beautiful restored colonial shop houses lined up along Duxton Road and Duxton Hill.

From Melbourne-inspired hipster cafes to Italian restaurants, the dining scene in the Duxton neighbourhood is undeniably vibrant and nobody would have thought that Duxton was once infamous for its strip of sleazy karaoke lounges.

Here is our guide to Duxton Hill’s best restaurants, cafes and bars, featuring 11 dining destinations in the neighbourhood.

BUYAN RUSSIAN RESTAURANT & CAVIAR BAR

Fancy some caviar and Russian vodka? Buyan at Duxton Hill stands out for being one of the few Russian restaurants in Singapore. Some of the classic dishes that you can look forward to include Chicken Kiev (S$26), Beef Stroganov (S$30) and Kulebyaka (S$24) – traditional Russian pie with layers of salmon, rice and mushroom. For those who are working in the area, Buyan serves a value-for-money 2-course set lunch at S$15.

9 Duxton Hill
Tel: +65 6223 7008
Mon: 6pm – 10.30pm
Tue to Fri: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Sat: 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

DEPARTMENT OF CAFFEINE

Department of Caffeine, also known as D.O.C., is renowned for their excellent coffee and delicious brunch food. The passionate baristas roast their premium coffee beans with Five Senses Coffee – a dedicated Australian wholesale coffee roaster that aims to source the best single origin and blends via sustainable means.

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The brunch food served ranges from fresh poached salmon to fluffy buttermilk waffles, exuding homely vibes like its warm woody interiors. D.O.C. keeps its prices reasonably affordable, where a main course and regular salad costs only S$15 on weekdays. Reservations are strongly recommended as D.O.C. is usually packed to the brim on a daily basis.

Department of Caffeine is listed in our guide to Singapore’s best coffee shops.

15 Duxton Road
Tel: +65 6223 3426
Mon to Fri (except Wed): 10.30am – 7.30pm
Sat & Sun: 9.30am – 7.30pm
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

ETNA ITALIAN RESTAURANT

Etna Italian Restaurant is named after Mount Etna in Sicily, Italy, where the world’s most excellent Italian ingredients are produced. Anna Borrasi, Singapore’s only female Italian Executive Chef, leads this fine Italian restaurant. Etna is one of the few restaurants awarded the Ospitalita Italiana Gold Seal Award, an award that acknowledges the superb Italian food and services provided. The elegant ambience is perfect for those looking for a place to celebrate that special occasion without burning a hole in the pocket.

49/50 Duxton Road
Tel: +65 6220 5513
Daily: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10:30pm
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

FLOR PATISSERIE

Flor Patisserie is no ordinary bakery. The pastries are largely influenced by the French but made with Japanese-origin ingredients and Japanese techniques, hence resulting in uniquely delicious East-meets-West creations. With a focus on freshness and quality, Flor’s surprisingly light soft sponge pastries are made possible with an absence of artificial additives and preservatives.

Treat yourself to Flor’s signature Berry Berries (S$6.40/slice, S$31.80/whole cake) or an iced cheese tart (S$3.40) that comes in 8 different flavours; caramel, choco orange, earl grey, green tea and yuzu, mango, maple, original and strawberry).

Flor Patisserie’s Strawberry Souffle is also listed in our guide to Singapore’s 50 Must-Try Desserts.

2 Duxton Hill #01-01
Tel: +65 6223 8628
Mon to Sat: 10.30am – 7.30pm
Sun: 10.30am – 6.30pm
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

GROUP THERAPY CAFE

Finding Group Therapy is far from an easy feat; one has to navigate through the strip of restored shop houses, climb up a flight of stairs and push through a heavy door before stepping foot into the café.

But once all that was been done, a cozy café featuring an array of all-day brunch food and fantastic coffee (S$5.50) await. The food is unpretentious, featuring simple classics like poached eggs and smoked salmon on thick toast (S$15) & bacon and mushroom aglio olio (S$19).

Group Therapy Cafe is also listed in our guide to Singapore’s best cafes.

49 Duxton Road
Tel +65 6222 2554
Tue to Thu: 11am – 6pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 11pm
Sun: 10am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

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KIKU

Japanese restaurant Kiku occupies a two level shop house along Duxton Road. Opened by Hong Kong restaurateur Calvin Yeung, Kiku has boldly defied Japanese dining conventions by incorporating both Kappo and Izakaya styles, presenting to customers an extensive Japanese menu that ranges from premium fresh blue fin sashimi flown in from Japan’s famous Tsukiji market to innovative sushis inspired by Southeast Asia cuisines.

21 Duxton Road
Tel: +65 6225 5567
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Sun: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

LATTERIA MOZZARELLA BAR

Family-style Southern Italian Restaurant Latteria Mozzarella Bar is truly mad about the fragrant cheese. From Burrata (fresh artisanal cheese from Apulia with a solid outside and soft center, made from cow milk) to Bufala (fresh mozzarella made from water buffalo milk in Naples), Latteria is unsurprisingly home to Singapore’s widest selection of Mozzarella.

All the cheeses are directly from in from Italy, hence guaranteeing unrivalled freshness. When night falls, fairy lights light up the outdoor patio, exuding romantic vibes that are perfect for a cheesy affair.

40 Duxton Hill
Tel: +65 6866 1988
Daily: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

L’ENTRECOTE

L’Entrecote follows a Parisian concept that was started in the 1930s, where only one main, the E’entrecote steak (S$29.90/standard, S$39.90/large) is served. The thin slices of beef are complemented with a fresh walnut salad and free flow crispy golden French fries. Do note that Lentrecote on Duxton Hill does not accept any reservations, so do show up early to secure a seat.

L’Entrecote is also listed in our guide to Singapore’s best steakhouses.

36 Duxton Hill
Tel: +65 6690 7561
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 11pm
Sat: 6pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

MARS BAR

Mars Bar is a pop up bespoke bar that is well known for incorporating local flavours into their cocktails. If you feel adventurous, go for the exotic Chilli Crab Cocktail (S$22), which is interestingly made of kaffir lime leaves, lemon grass reduction, chilli crab paste, orgeat, Malibu and Tanqueray.

Safer alternatives include the creamy delicious Milo from Mars (S$20) and Atas Ribena Cocktail (S$20). The bar tenders are passionate mixologists dedicated in giving you the best experience possible. Simply tell them a drink you desire and watch in awe as they work their magic. Mars Bar will only be around till the end of the year, so what are you waiting for?

83 Duxton Road
Tel: +65 9651 6714
Mon to Sun: 4pm – 1am
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

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MERCHANTS OF WINE

Merchants is a boutique wine cellar door selling over 200 artisan wines from New Zealand and Australia. These bottles of wine (from S$30 and onwards) are directly shipped from the outback and cannot be found in other stores.

Besides wine, Merchants is also a café-cum-bar serving excellent coffee (S$4/small, S$5/large) made from Dutch Colony blend. The food menu features all day brunch, bar bites and Western mains with wine pairings. Merchants also hosts pop-up cellar door tastings and wine pairing dinners from time to time. You know who to look for now if you are looking to host a private wine event.

52 Duxton Road
Tel: +65 6222 1162
Mon to Fri: 8am till late
Sat: 9am till late
Sun: 10.30am – 7pm
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

SABIO TAPAS BAR

Sabio Tapas Bar is the perfect place to unwind after a long day at work. Its extensive menu boasts over 50 hot and cold authentic mouthwatering tapas as well as a variety of imported wine and beers.

Must-orders include the succulent scallops (S$14), spicy chorizo in red wine (S$11), churros (S$9) and homemade sangria (S$12/glass, S$49/jug). The bar features a one-for-one tapas promotion every Monday where the complimentary tapas must be the same as the one ordered.

5 Duxton Hill
Tel: +65 6690 7562
Mon: 12pm – 11pm
Thu: 12pm – 11pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 12midnight
Sun: 11.30am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

About the writer:
Hui Jun Ng was previously a marketing executive and freelance photographer in the food industry. Her work has been published on Epicure, Lifestyle Asia and Meld Magazine etc. She is currently on a break and traveling around the world. Follow her travel adventures on Instagram or The Keepers Map where she shares useful curated travel itineraries.

Note: Kki at Ann Siang Hill is currently closed, and it is currently looking for a new premise.

I first heard of Kki Cafe at Ann Siang Hill from a friend, and then another friend mentioned it too. I was about to visit Kki, but suddenly, all the media and food blogs in Singapore started to write about it. I am not sure about you, but I am not one who will follow the crowd, so I decided to wait for the hype to die down.

Finally, my chance to visit Kki Patisserie came. After having dim sum at Majestic Restaurant, my friends wanted some cakes for desserts, so we dropped by Kki Cafe. Given that there are so many new dessert places in Singapore, is Kki Cafe worth the trip?

It took us a while to decide on the cakes. Even though we’ve read about the popular cakes at Kki Cafe like Antoinette and Little Red Hiding Hood, we were feeling adventurous so we randomly picked three cakes.

Amongst the three cakes that we had, my favourite was the Emily ($9). Just look at the first photo of this post: the cake had a beautiful shade of red, and the subtle champagne mousse was gorgeous.

The Souffle Cheese ($6), on the other hand, was exceptionally ordinary. It was light and moist, but I thought that the flavour was somewhat missing.

We also enjoyed their rendition of the Noisette: Hazelnut Dacquoise layer with Chocolate & Praline Cream. It was a slice of delicious cake!

So all in all, would I go back to Kki Cafe at Ann Siang Hill for cakes? I don’t think so.

Kki Cafe has very pretty Japanese desserts, but there are many lovely cake shops in the area like Flor Patisserie, Bonheur Patisserie, and Patisserie Glace that have equally good cakes at a lower price point.

Having said that, I think Kki cafe is a nice place to enjoy a slice of cake while reading your favourite book. There is also The Little Drom Store, a quirky vintage store selling all sorts of random things.

Read: Dessert Places & Patisserie | Best Cakes in Singapore | Best Cafes in Singapore

Singapore Food Blog Review
Kki Cake Cafe
7 Ann Siang Hill
Tel: +65 6225 6650

Operating Hours:
Daily: 12pm – 7pm
except Saturday 12pm – 4pm
& closed on Monday.

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I have been to Patisserie Glace and in fact, blog about their Japanese Desserts and Cakes a few times before. But I am curious about how they have been doing since Chef Yamashita left to set up Flor Patisserie, so I went back and had some cakes (all in the name of curiosity).

My accomplice chose the Mont Blanc ($5.6). It had a airily light chiffon base which was nicely decorated with the pretty swirls of Japanese chestnut with custard cream.

I have no idea why the chef decided to call this the Chiffon Cup. Yawn, the name hardly does justice to the dessert. If it’s up to me, I will call it something like: happiness-in-a-tiny-cup, or omg-the-best-chiffon-cup.

“Mmm.. Mmm..” This is all we could muster after having the Chiffon Cup ($3.5). How could something be so impossibly light, and dainty? Not to mention that there’s my favorite puff pastry on top of the chiffon too! I’d buy half a dozen of these, and have it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And no, I’m not going to share them with anyone. They are all mine! ALL MINE!

If you like green tea, you will definitely enjoy the Emerald Isle ($5.2). I had this cake during my previous visit to Patisserie Glace (which I didn’t blog about).  The perfect pairing of Green Tea Sponge with red beans, and topped with Japanese chestnut and strawberry.

Give me a Strawberry Souffle and I will do anything for you.

After having the Japanese Desserts from both places, I’m more inclined to go back to Flor Patisserie mainly because they have a dine-in area. But if it’s a takeaway, Patisserie Glace at Icon Village (5 minutes walk from Tanjong Pagar MRT) will be more convenient.

Having been to Tampopo Deli, Patisserie Glace, Flor Patisserie and Provence Bakery, I think it’s time to check out Kki at Ann Siang next. Tell me, which is your favorite Japanese Patisserie in Singapore?

// There’s no dine-in area at Patisserie Glace. However, you can eat the cakes at Kopi Alley which is just around the corner (with the purchase of any drinks). If you are working in the area, drop by after work as there’s 20% off cakes after 6pm.

Restaurant Review
Patisserie Glace
12 Gopeng Street #01-33/34
ICON Village Singapore
Tel: +65 6400 0247

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Flor Patisserie by Chef Yamashita is a new Japanese Patisserie in Singapore. The talented chef was previously from the ever-popular Patisserie Glace, left and set up his own dessert place at the quaint Duxton Hill.

I wouldn’t call the Napoleon ($6.20) a cake since it has a bigger proportion of puff pastry to cake. But this is exactly what I love about the Mille-feuille. Flor Patisserie’s rendition has a layer of cake in between the layers of puff pastry and cream. I love how the puff pastry crumbled in the mouth together with the cake and cream.

During his stint at Patisserie Glace, Chef Yamashita’s Strawberry Souffle ($6.5) was so heavenly that it was something I must order with every patronage. I am usually a generous person, and sharing is a form of love to me. But you cannot say the same for Strawberry Souffle because no one is to fight with me over that dessert. I would peg that as inhumane.

Essentially an open-faced cream puff, the Berry Choux ($6) uses Flor’s special pastry cream, fresh cream and berries. However, I wouldn’t pay six dollars for Patisserie Flor’s choux pastry since I can buy two of the best cream puffs at Tampopo Deli for the same price.

Baked till golden at its most precise perfection, the Mango Pie ($6.0) took us completely by surprise. Atop the pie sat the rich-coloured mango, looking pretty from all angles and our appetite were instantly whet from its delightful appearance. But apart from its superficial beauty, we were not expecting Heaven from the tart – or what the chef calls a Pie.

Let’s make this clear first – the mango pie isn’t the regular ‘perfect 10′ dessert you would fall in love at first sight. The one that I had grew on me after a few bites. I was so greedy about them that I took to licking my spoon to get every last smear of the pie. It took the promise of a ‘good dinner’ to stop me from placing more orders at the Japanese cake shop.

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Patisserie Flor is located at the slope, right before the rows of Duxton Hill restaurants. The Japanese desserts are reasonably priced around $5-6 for each slice of cake. For lucky ones who work at that district, it is such a blessing because you can now cultivate the new habit of popping by for a tantalizing dessert after lunch!

Flor Patisserie
2 Duxton Hill #01-01 Singapore
Tel: +65 6223 8628
Mon to Sat: 10.30am – 7.30pm
Sun: 10.30am – 6.30pm
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar