Ever looked at a menu and wished that you could get just a small portion of each dish, simply because every option sounds so inviting? For us, that’s a problem we face whenever we open up a menu anywhere.

The next best choice is to pick a few of your favourites and split them with your dining partner so you can get a taste of both, yet sometimes, it just isn’t enough to satisfy. And that’s exactly why we absolutely adore the idea of having tapas—otherwise referred to small plates.

Not only does that mean that you get to sample numerous dishes in a single sitting, but portions are also kept small to reduce wastage. Here are 13 tapas bars in Singapore, including Taiwanese and Cantonese ones to hit up with your pals on your next gathering!

BOCHINCHE

Fueled by chef Diego Jacquet’s knack for putting together bold flavours with the use of quality ingredients, you can expect to find an array of classic Argentine dishes that has been spun with creative twists on their menu.

Their House Pork Chorizo Sausage (S$21) and Grilled Octopus (S$28) are amongst the most popular items and for good reason!

115 Amoy St, #01-02
Singapore 069935
Tel: +65 6235 4990
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 11pm
(Closed on Sundays)
Nearest Station: Telok Ayer

DON QUIJOTE

A true-blue Spanish restaurant known for their critically and traditionally made Spanish fare, Don Quijote is a must to go if authentic Spanish nosh is what you’re after. Here they offer a variety of both cold and hot tapas, on top of a range of savoury soups, pasta dishes and meats.

Dempsey Road
Block 7 #01-02
Singapore 249671
Tel: +65  6476 2811
Mon to Thu: 4pm – 10.30pm
Fri: 4pm – 11pm
Sat: 11am – 11pm
Sun: 11am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Holland Village

ESQUINA

If you’re a die-hard tapas lover, then you’re likely no stranger to Esquina, a hole-in-a-wall restaurant that specialises in tapas. The tapas here are utterly delicious and authentic, albeit a tad pricey but if exorbitant spendings aren’t too much a concern for you, then this is one restaurant you definitely cannot miss.

16 Jiak Chuan Road
Singapore 089267
Tel: +65 6222 1616
Tue to Sat: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
(Closed on Mondays & Tuesdays)
Nearest Station: Outram Park

FIVE TAPAS BAR

A local brand, Five Bar is best known for its value-for-money deals and is undoubtedly one of the most popular spots in town to hang out and chill over a pint of beer.

Under this brand, one of the concepts is Five Tapas Bar where they offer a stunning variety of small plates meant for sharing. From chicken wings to cold cut platters and even mini pasta, we reckon that there’s no way you’d be leaving this bar without feeling stuffed (and tipsy).

25 Cuppage Road, Cuppage Terrace
Singapore 229454
Tel: +65 8121 9304
Mon to Thu: 5pm – 12am
Fri & Sat: 5pm – 2am
Sun: 6pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Somerset

FRAPASBAR

A new venture by Saveur Group, FrapasBar combines French dining and tapas into a single concept. Their menu has plenty of tantalizing options that diners can choose from, including tapas that are meant for sharing and hearty mains such as Duck Confit.

Can’t decide on what’s tempting you the most? Get multiple plates and share them with your friends so you can sample every dish!

2 Tampines Central 5, #01-35
Singapore 529509
Tel: +65 6789 1121
Daily: 11.30am – 12pm
Nearest Station: Tampines

Photo Credit: La Taperia

LA TAPERIA

Renown for the authentic Spanish food that they push out, La Taperia will be a safe bet when it comes to unwinding over some wine and tapas with your squad, all without having to break the bank. Pair their Spanish signatures with one of their many wines in their impressive collection and you won’t regret!

1 Scotts Road
Shaw Centre #02-10/11
Singapore 228208
Tel: +65 6737 8336
Daily: 12.30pm – 3pm, 6.30pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

MY LITTLE SPANISH PLACE

Said to be one of Singapore’s first Spanish restaurants, My Little Spanish Place serves a myriad of Spanish cuisine that is set to impress. On their menu, you can find Spanish cheeses, cured meats, soups and a variety of wines as accompaniments to your tapas!

54 Boat Quay
Singapore 049843
Tel: +65 6532 0665
Mon to Fri: 12.30pm – 3pm, 5pm – 12am
Sat & Sun: 5pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay

SABIO BY THE SEA

Paying homage to the vibrant, group-friendly delicacies of Spain, Sabio by the Sea, Tapas Bar & Grill serves up an impeccable array of both hot and cold tapas with an elaborate cocktail list to match.

Coupled with a serene ambience and a view of the boat docks, their delectable grub won’t be the only thing impressing you!

31 Ocean Way, #01-02
Quayside Isle,
Singapore 098373
(Closed on Tuesdays)
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 10.30pm
Fri:12pm – 11pm
Sat: 11.30am – 11pm
Sun: 11.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Harbourfront

Photo Credit: Sum Yi Tai

SUM YI TAI

For good ol’ Chinese food served tapas-style, Sum Yi Tai would be it. Decked out in quirky paintings and neon lights, Sum Yi Tai serves delectable Cantonese food in generous portions alongside wines and other alcoholic beverages.

What’s more, the restaurant also has a DJ who plays in-house on some nights so you can imagine how fun the atmosphere is!

25 Boon Tat Street
Singapore 069622
Tel: +65 6221 3665
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5pm – 1am
Sat: 5pm – 1am
(Closed on Sundays)
Nearest Station: Telok Ayer

Photo Credit: Tapas Club

TAPAS CLUB

As its name suggests, this restaurant situated in Orchard Central dishes out tapas that makes dining in a group convenient and fuss-free.

Helmed by Executive Chef Jose Angel Alonso and one-star Michelin Chef Manuel Berganza, the grub here is authentic and scrumptious but rest assured that you wouldn’t get a shock upon receiving your bill as prices are kept economical for the masses.

181 Orchard Road
#02-13 Orchard Central
Singapore 238896
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 3pm, 5pm – 11pm
Fri: 12pm – 3pm, 5pm – 12am
Sat: 12pm – 12am
Sun: 12pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

THE GREAT MISCHIEF

From the folks that brought you Working Title, Afterwit, The Mad Sailors and STACK, The Great Mischief is a new halal-certified Spanish tapas bar and the fifth installation from The Black Hole Group.

Besides a humble range of delectable and affordable Catalan-inspired savoury tapas such as Coca Pizza, Croquetas and Calamares Sliders, the restaurant also offers a selection of Spanish-style desserts such as Churros and Torrijas alongside mocktails, speciality coffee and tea.

30 Madras Street
Singapore 208423
Tel: +65 8768 0460
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 4pm, 6pm – 11pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 11pm
Sun: 11am – 5pm
Nearest Station: Jalan Besar

THE SALTED PLUM

Previously known as Five Ten, The Salted Plum is a casual restaurant which serves a medley of Taiwanese street food—from favourites such as Braised Pork Belly, Braised Pig Intestines and Taiwanese Sausage Patties to other interesting options including the likes of Salted Pork and Oyster Steamed Egg.

Priced affordably at mostly S$5, S$10 and S$15, what better way is there to enjoy Taiwanese tapas than at The Salted Plum?

10 Circular Road
Singapore 049366
Tel: +65  6260 0155
(Closed on Sundays)
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay

XIAO YA TOU

Xiao Ya Tou, or better known as XYT,  is a modern Asian restaurant bar on Duxton Hill that serves up a plethora of playful and somewhat cheeky food and drink offerings—all of which find their inspirations stemming from cuisines from all across Southeast Asia.

6 Duxton Hill
Singapore 089592
Tel: +65 6226 1965
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 11pm
Fri & Sat: 10am – 12am
Sun: 10am – 5pm
Nearest Station: Outram Park

Century Square’s renovations are finally about done and the malls spanking new look is definitely well worth the wait. Apart from that, the mall is packed with a whole bunch of new food options that have got out bellies rumbling.

Amongst them is FrapasBar by the renowned Saveur. This new restaurant serves up delectable, authentic French fare and tapas with modern twists here and there—all while keeping prices affordable. Craving French? FrapasBar will not disappoint, especially not their S$15 lunch deals that feature both a fancy starter and a hearty main.

Beautifully furnished with marble tables, plush chairs and a gorgeous circular bar decked out in wooden textures to match, this restaurant exudes vibes of a classic French cafe.

Posh as the establishment might appear, rest assured that prices here are kept consistent with that of Saveur. Their lunch deals are especially enticing—for just S$15++, you get an appetiser and a main.

We started off with a plate of their Crabmeat Croquette (S$9), which featured crab meat that was mixed with fennel, cucumber, red chilli, spring onion, mayo and coconut.

The croquette was nice and crisp on the outside, yet still managed to remain tender and juicy on the inside. The crab meat lent a subtle, sweet flavour to the croquettes which went well with the other components. We recommend adding a dash of lemon to it before you eat it — it really makes quite a difference!

Next up, we had the Saveur Pasta (S$6) which consisted of angel hair pasta mixed with chilli oil, kombu, pork sauce and sakura ebi.

The varying tastes and textures of all the ingredients came together to create a fragrant medley of flavours. The pasta was also cooked to a perfect al dente giving it a nice, slightly chewy texture.

Moving on to the mains, we tried their Duck Confit (S$15), served on a bed of creamy mash and cooked to a lovely, golden crisp. Served alongside are a grilled orange round and a handful of fresh watercress.

The confit of duck, was immensely crunchy while remaining tender and juicy on the inside. The mash, on the other hand, was in another league of its own and was lusciously creamy and delicious.

Finally, we had a plate of their Seafood Bouillabaisse Pasta (S$16), which we have to admit is our favourite. This lip-smacking pasta dish consisted of angel hair pasta topped with fresh and juicy seafood such as mussels, squid, prawns and sea bass.

The varying flavours of the seafood added a great depth of flavour and texture to the overall dish. We also like how generous they were with the amount of seafood they gave. Taking inspiration from the classic French stew, we’d say that they nailed the recipe down perfectly.

FrapasBar by Saveur
2 Tampines Central 5, #01-35
Singapore 529509
Tel: +65 6789 1121
Daily: 11.30am – 12pm
Nearest Station: Tampines

The Wagon is one of the newest but most unassuming restaurant on Tras Street, Singapore. It looks subtle and unassuming from the outside, along the rows of restaurants and shophouses. But if you can locate this gem, you are in for a treat.

When night falls, a huge red neon signboard bearing the words ‘The Wagon’ lights up in full glory. And that is also when The Wagon comes alive. From the brick walls to the copper pans and pots hung up, the interior of The Wagon is chic and fun – all while boasting a very sassy yet casual vibe.

From French-Japanese inspired tapas served on trolley, to the amazing beef platter which features four different premium cuts of Hokkaido beef (dry-aged in-house), to the whole Muenier Flounder, The Wagon is full of surprises and a place that is suitable for all occasions.

Think of it as a spot where you can have great tapas and mains in a relaxed setting. And did we mention that it serves cocktails at S$7 each during Happy Hour? Also, our readers can quote “ladyironchef” to get a surprise dish from the chef.

The kitchen is headed by Chef Makoto Deguchi – he who has cooked at a 1-Michelin Star restaurant in Paris. This explains why his dishes feature a rustic French style while using primarily freshly-imported ingredients from Hokkaido.

What we were sold by immediately was the “wagon” that is being pushed from table to table. The idea is really to surprise diners every time with tapas of the day. The tapas are off-menu and are different every day, with a few mainstays.

What happens is that after you’ve settled in your seats, the wagon would be pushed to you, presenting to you the various tapas and its prices. The team will also verbally introduce every item to you, tell you stories that might interest you, and you can then pick whatever you fancy.

This provides a very personal interaction; think of it like olden day dim sum push carts, but in a fresh alternative with items that you probably couldn’t even guess!

Apart from the rotational items, expect mainstay dishes such as Foie Gras Creme Brûlée (S$12), fresh uni (S$8 for 10g) on Carrot Mousse (S$5), and Shaky Shaky Fries (S$8).

The Brûlée was intensely flavoured with foie gras and this smooth treat is not for the faint-hearted. The uni was undeniably fresh and creamy; just the way we like it.

You can order the fresh uni by weight on its own, but a recommended serving is to have it on top of the Carrot Mousse that is adorably displayed inside an empty uni shell. The textures are incredibly similar and while the taste differs, it complements each other pretty well.

A surprising star for us was the Shaky Shaky Fries, which is vaguely like an upgraded version of McDonald’s Shaker Fries. The burst of umami came immediately upon first bite because of the ultra-tasty seasoning that is imported directly from Miyazaki itself. Potato wedges are used instead, and the broad surface balanced out the saltiness of the snack. For just S$8, we would do this over and over again.

Another tapas to look out for is the Frill Lettuce (S$15) with a side of minced beef. You are to wrap the beef up in the leaves, like how you would enjoy K-bbq. Every lettuce is flown in from Hokkaido, and it was served to us still with the root intact – this is as fresh as it can get; the plant is basically still alive!

On to the mains. Which comes in a regular menu and is pretty much fixed, but no less boring.

One of the most impressive dishes is the Grilled Platter (S$75), featuring four different premium cuts of Hokkaido beef with various accompanying sauces. The beefs are dry-aged in-house and are extremely buttery with a gorgeous marbling.

The cuts might differ daily and you will be served the four best and freshest cuts of the day on this platter. We had the rump, sirloin, tenderloin and top blade – all served atop rosti chunks. The sirloin and tenderloin were the juiciest and most stunningly-marbled.

Then, there is the Muenier Flounder (S$60 whole and S$30 half). It is something that is not commonly seen here in Singapore. Our fish was served whole on the plate and was so well-seasoned, we polished the flounder to the bone (literally).

In case you are wondering, yes, flounder is a common fish breed used in Japanese cuisine, but this white fish is given a makeover here at The Wagon and prepared the French way – flavourful, elegant and so good that you need no condiments.

This main alone will be more than enough to impress. The whole fish is pretty massive, and we recommend half a portion for one person and a whole fish for two, so you can still enjoy some of the small tapas plates from the cart.

One seasonal item to look out for this Spring is the Sautéed Spring Vegetables (S$28) which features a variety of Japanese vegetables that are so very fresh. Prepared in the simplest of way, the vegetables are cooked over high heat to produce a broth so natural and sweet; the end result is a hearty and healthy dish so intensely packed with Sprin flavours.

And because we always have room for desserts, we went for The Moelleux Au Chocolat (S$15) and Milky Blanc-Manager (S$13). They are lighter dessert choices that would be great if you are already feeling quite stuffed from your tapas and mains.

We could not leave without trying some of The Wagon’s cocktails. As rum-lovers, the Wagon Mai Tai (S$18) takes first place for us. It comprises a mix of Dark and White Rum with Lime Juice, Orgeat, Burnt Orange and Vanilla Syrup for a very complex but well-balanced taste. So similar yet distinctly different from your classic Mai Tai. 

We also had the Pi Pi Piew (S$20) – just because, right? Quirky name, light cocktail. It uses a mix of strawberry and thyme-infused vodka with peach liquor and more for a fruity and refreshing aftertaste.

The Wagon also has excellent happy hour promotions (Mon to Sat, 6pm – 8pm) with S$5 half pints of Kronenbourg Blanc, S$7 cocktails and S$6 Suntory Premium Malt Pilsners. PARTY TIME, GUYS!

Remember to quote “ladyironchef” when you are dining at The Wagon to get a surprise dish from the chef.

The Wagon
55 Tras St
Singapore 078994
Tel: +65 6221 6369
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 12am
Sat: 6pm – 12am
Closed: Sun
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

This post was brought to you by The Wagon.