Situated right across Raffles Hotel Shopping Arcade is an eclectic playful rooftop bar, Loof which is opened by The Lo & Behold Group.

Loof is one of Singapore’s first rooftop bars and takes pride in its quirky local selection of Southeast Asian inspired cocktails and bar food that features local flavours.

Their time at Odeon Towers will draw to a close due to upcoming building renovations and the last day of service at Odeon Towers will be 27 Feb 2022 after being around for 17 years.

There is a certain exclusivity about the place, especially at night when neighbouring office buildings close by turn off their lights and the only thing illuminating the night sky is their iconic neon sign. Beautiful, casual and a fun place to hang out, Loof easily tops our list.

Fans of Loof will be happy to hear that it is set to return as soon as they find themselves a new home.

In Loof’s words: “this isn’t a Goodbye, it’s a TTYL.”

Loof
331 North Bridge Road,
#03-07 Odeon Towers Extension Rooftop,
Singapore 188720

We all know that in every foodie’s Instagram feed, it’s incomplete without one amazing shot of a cheese pull. There’s just something about melty, gooey, stretchy cheese that stirs a fire within the bellies of even the lactose intolerant, compelling everyone to test our limits of just how much we can consume till we break.

In the spirit of breaking our limits of cheese-consumption, here’s a guide to 10 ultra cheesy dishes that will make you melt (or test your level of lactose intolerance)!

Photo Credit: Burpple

#1 CHEESE STORY MOOKATA BUFFET – CHEESE DIP

Looking for that Instagram-worthy cheese pull shot? Look no further than Cheese Story Mookata’s Buffet. They offer a creamy cheese dip that is a mix of nacho cheese and mozzarella for that maximum stretch factor. It goes perfectly with their plethora of juicy meats and sweet seafood, giving it a richer and more satisfying taste. Did we mention they serve free flow oysters?

5001 Beach Road
Golden Mile Complex, #02-01
Singapore 199588
Tel: +65 86787876
Daily: Open 24 Hours
Nearest Station: Nicoll Highway

Photo Credit: Facebook

#2 LOOF – BCM GRILLED CHEESE

Where fusion meets bar grub – Loof is the place to be. Loof is an up-and-coming rooftop watering hole but you probably know them from their large Chinese lettering neon lights plastered all over Instagram feeds. Loof is also home to a special sandwich – their Bak Chor Mee Grilled Cheese, made with sourdough bread, saucy mushrooms, pork mince and ooey gooey cheese. You can definitely toast to the weekend with this cheesy dish.

331 North Bridge Rd
Odeon Towers, Roof Top #03-07
Singapore 188720
Tel: +65 6337 9416
Sun to Thu: 5pm – 1am
Fri & Sat: 5pm – 2am
Nearest Station: Bras Basah/Esplanade

Photo Credit: Instagram

#3 MERCI MARCEL – RAVIOLES DE ROYANS

Tucked away in the streets of Tiong Bahru is Merci Marcel, a Parisian-inspired al fresco diner with a spacious, tropical-themed interior. Overshadowed by some of their popular mains is their Ravioles de Royans. Bite-sized spinach ravioli pasta is filled with Tete de Moine cheese and drenched in a creamy white sauce and topped with even more Tete de Moine. These little pockets of pasta are cheesy, creamy and fresh in the most decadent way possible. They also have a second branch at Club Street, boasting similar tropical vibes.

56 Eng Hoon Street #01-68
Singapore 160056
Tel: +65 6224 0113
Mon: 8am – 11pm
Tue to Sat: 8am – 11.30pm
Sun: 8am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Tiong Bahru

7-9 Club Street
Singapore 069403
Tel: +65 6438 3913
Mon to Sat: 9am – 12am
Sun: 9am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Telok Ayer

Photo Credit: Facebook

#4 SEOUL SHIOK – ARMY STEW WITH CHEESE

If you’re craving something with a bit of a slight spicy kick but still want that melty cheese goodness, Seoul Shiok’s got you covered with their Army Stew with Cheese. The spicy stew is chocked full of ingredients familiar to budaejjigae fans – pork belly, rice cakes, assorted mushrooms, spam, instant ramen and baked beans. They even top their stew with a slice of cheese. Hungry souls will be glad to know they also provide free soup refills should you run out!

10 Sengkang Square, Kopitiam Square
Singapore 544829
Daily: 11.30am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Sengkang

#5 SHAKE SHACK – SHROOM BURGER

Probably one of the most highly raved openings in Singapore in 2019 so far was the opening of Shake Shack’s very first outlet at Jewel Changi in April. While they serve up some seriously sinful beef burgers and local-inspired creations, their Shroom Burger is unbeatable in terms both of cheese and wow factor. Just a bite into the deep-fried Portobello mushroom patty will reveal the piping-hot liquid gold inside. They were definitely hyped for good reason.

78 Airport Blvd #02-256
Jewel, Changi Airport Singapore
Singapore 819666
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Changi Airport

#6 THE BIG CHEESE – CUSTOM MAC & CHEESE

If you’re tired of overpriced and small portions of mac and cheese, you’ll brie happy to know The Big Cheese at Sunshine Plaza allows you to customize your own box of mac and cheese – down to the cheese sauce base. They have a wide variety of toppings so everyone can definitely find something to enjoy – from beef bacon, mussels and mushrooms to parmesan crumbs, truffle oil and dorito chips. They’re Halal certified too!

91 Bencoolen Street #01-59
Sunshine Plaza
Singapore 189652
Tel: +65 9326 7306
Mon to Sat: 12pm – 9pm
(Closed Sundays)
Nearest Station: Bencoolen

Photo Credit: Instagram

#7 POTATO HEAD FOLK – TRUFFLE CHEESE FRIES

You haven’t tried loaded fries until you’ve had these Truffle Cheese Fries. Located in a four-storey heritage building is Potato Head Folk – home to Studio 1939 cocktail bar and Three Buns Burgers & Cocktails. Sporting tropical-themed old-style décor and ambient lights, the place is a hipster haven. They’re well-known for their burgers and their signature Naughty Fries, a fusion of fries and chilli crab, but their sister dish – Truffle Cheese Fries – is also a stunner with creamy cheese sauce, shaved truffles, chives and even more truffle aioli on the side. Regular cheese fries won’t look the same after having this.

36 Keong Saik Road
Potato Head Folk
Singapore 089143
Tel: +65 6327 1939
Daily: 11am – 12am
Nearest Station: Outram Park

Photo Credit: Facebook

#8 TOBY’S THE DESSERT ASYLUM – LAVA CHEESE BURGER

Goodbye regular cheese slices in burgers and say hello to oozing lava in the form of nacho cheese. TOBY’s has recently added a unique twist to a seemingly normal-looking burger and it comes in a syringe. Thick nacho cheese is injected into the burger, creating a waterfall of gooey cheesy mess. The burger itself contains a juicy meat patty and comes with a bed of crispy spiced fries. The cheese goes well with them too! A burger can’t possibly get any cheesier than this.

8 Boon Lay Way #01-35
Tradehub21
Singapore 609964
Tel: +65 6316 2422
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Jurong East

#9 TONKICHI – CHEESE KASANE KATSU

When Tonkichi comes to mind, quality comes with. Insanely juicy pork loin has melted cheese sandwiched in between, making it an umami bomb with a crunch. Though fried to an inviting golden brown, Tonkichi’s cheese katsu is not overly greasy when you bite into it. What’s not to love when there’s both savoury cheese and tender meat in one dish?

391 Orchard Road, Ngee Ann City, #04-24
Takashimaya Shopping Center
Singapore 238872
Tel: +65 6735 7522
Mon to Thu: 11am – 3pm, 5pm – 10pm
Fri to Sun: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

350 Orchard Road, Shaw House
Isetan Scotts, Level 4
Singapore 238868
Tel: +65 6835 4648
Mon to Thu: 11am – 3pm, 5pm – 9.30pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 10pm
Sun: 11am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

#10 CHIR CHIR CHICKEN

Chir Chir is known for their deliciously golden chicken tenders, authentic to how it’s done in Korea. However, one of their highly underrated side dishes include an ooey-gooey Mac & Cheese that is absolutely indulgent, creamy and loaded with cheese! It’s also the perfect side to crispy Korean fried chicken.

Chir Chir has several outlets. Check out the full list here.

So when Friday rolls around, you’re dying to meet your pals or gals for a good night out. Run-of-the-mill bars and pubs aren’t good enough and you want something a little more fun and a little more special to celebrate the end of a tiring week of work.

Here is a list of 12 Watering Holes Perfect For Your TGIF Celebrations.

#1 1925 BREWERY CO.

Serving up handcrafted beers and beer-inspired grub, 1925 Brewery Co. is the perfect place to unwind at after a tough day at the office. All their craft beers have an interesting tale to tell and their friendly staff are always willing to share.

Their signature beer – the Yellow Van – is worth a try. It’s a pale ale with a light and refreshing mouthfeel. They also offer stronger brews for those who prefer something with more robust flavours; their Jewel of Africa Smoky Porter has an interesting coffee flavour and resembles a deep stout.

While you’re at it, try their boozy Tiramisu made with Patron Cafe XO, an espresso-based liquor. It’s the perfect sweet ending to your work week!

261 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore 427515
Tel: +65 6909 1425
Tue to Sun: 4pm – 12am
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: Dakota/Eunos

#2 BAR BAR BLACK SHEEP

Sporting over 150 food items from a wide variety of cuisines, Bar Bar Black Sheep will satisfy all tongues. Western, Indian, Thai, Japanese – you name it, they have it.

While enjoying live soccer with your pals, you can dig into their unique Laksa Potato Chips or a bar-grub-classic Battered Fish & Chips; they go so well with an ice cold pint of beer. It’s the perfect way to relax and let off some steam, considering that the soccer clubs you support wins, of course!

501 Bukit Timah
#01-05C Cluny Court
Tel: +65 67634757
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 11pm
Fri: 12pm – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 1am
Sat: 12pm – 1am
Sun: 12pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Botanic Gardens

#3 BARKING IRONS

Barking Irons is a new steampunk-themed speakeasy bistro bar in Lavender serving up an interesting innovation: local-inspired cocktails! They wanted to adopt the “coffee-shop style” with drinks that reminded others of their throw-back childhood generation.

Try their famous alcoholic Bandung – pretty in pink but packs quite a punch!

78 Horne Road, #01-01
Singapore 209078
Tel: +65 6909 0349
Tues to Sun: 4pm – 12am
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: Lavender

#4 DON’T TELL MAMA

Despite it’s name, you would definitely want to tell your mama about this Korean-Mexican fusion bar. Don’t Tell Mama boasts a rustic wooden-industrial interior with a whimsical twist, having galaxy-printed umbrellas hanging from the ceiling and an indoor tree.

Of their plethora of drinks, including fruity soju and cocktails, they have their Beeritas and Sojuritas. They are slushy margaritas topped with a whole bottle of beer or soju. Food-wise, try their Bulgogi Quesadilla to really get to know what Korean-Mexican fusion is all about!

52 Tanjong Pagar Road
Singapore 088473
Tel: +65 6221 2007
Mon to Thu: 5.30pm – 2am
Fri & Sat: 5.30pm – 3am
(Closed on Sundays)
Nearest Station: Outram Park/Tanjong Pagar

#5 HOPHEADS

If you and your friends aren’t the kind to sit and chill at a bar, Hopheads might be the place for you. Think beer pong, giant Jenga and even table tennis – you’ll never get bored at Hopheads.

With no minimum spend and affordable happy hour prices, you and your buds don’t have to break the bank to enjoy yourselves.

78 Clemenceau Ave
Haw Par Glass Tower #B1-00
Singapore 239926
Tel: +65 6904 4019
Mon to Thu: 11.30am – 11.45pm
Fri: 11.30am – 1.45am
Sat: 5pm – 1.45am
(Closed on Sundays except for private events)
Nearest Station: Dhoby Ghaut

#6 HOLEY MOLEY GOLF CLUB

Have you ever played mini golf when you’re tipsy? You may not get that hole-in-one, but you’re sure to have a ball of a time either way. Holey Moley Golf Club has several themed mini golf stations where you and your friends can have your hand at golf, even if you’ve never touched a golf club in your life.

Their menu boasts affordable beer towers and classic bar comfort food such as tater-tots and truffle fries but their biggest highlight would be their metre-long pizzas. If you’re planning a big group gathering, their gigantic pizzas are perfect for sharing.

3B River Valley Road
Singapore 179024
Tel: 800 492 2410
Mon: 12pm – 10pm
Tue: 12pm – 12am
Wed & Thu: 12pm – 1am
Fri: 12pm – 2am
Sat: 10am – 2am
Sun: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay

#7 LEVEL UP

Level Up, Singapore’s first-ever arcade bar, will take your Friday game nights to a whole new level. Stepping into Level Up seeing all the various game machines and flashing neon lights will definitely make  you reminisce the old days where you played air hockey with your friends at arcades such as TimeZone.

All you need to do is buy some drinks to get tokens to play with the machines. Challenge your friends at old-school arcade Basketball, Foosball and Streetfighter while snacking on their pub grub sharing platters.

3A River Valley Road #02-04
Singapore 179020
Tel: +65 6266 2276
Mon to Thu: 5pm – 2am
Fri & Sat: 5pm – 3am
Sun: 4pm – 1am
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay

#8 LOOF

Famed for their instagrammed-to-death neon lights and Asian-fusion bar snacks, Loof is a great spot to enjoy the last day of the week with friends.

Loof sports a modern menu with Asian flavours, offering cocktails with Asian twists and local-flavour-inspired such as their Bak Chor Mee Grilled Cheese or Chilli Crab Fries. Their al-fresco dining concept makes for a chill ambience; perfect for closing off a stressful week.

331 North Bridge Rd
Odeon Towers, Roof Top #03-07
Singapore 188720
Tel: +65 6337 9416
Sun to Thu: 5pm – 1am
Fri & Sat: 5pm – 2am
Nearest Station: Bras Basah/Esplanade

#9 NINETEEN80

Located in the heart of the CBD is retro-arcade bar, Nineteen80; a convenient rendezvous point for an after-work TGIF celebration. Nineteen80 is not just an instagram hotspot – it’s somewhere you can relive your inner child and have a great time with good company.

Combine some nostalgic game machines (think Space Invaders, Puzzle Bobble and Street Fighter 2) with fun drinks such as Vodka Ribena and you’ll get the perfect mix for a great night.

21 Tanjong Pagar Road #01-05
Singapore 088444
Tel: +65 9183 6073
Tue: 6.30pm – 1am
Wed & Fri: 6.30pm – 3am
Thu: 6.30pm – 2am
Sat: 9pm – 4am
(Closed on Sundays & Mondays)
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

#10 OPERATION DAGGER

Like its name, Operation Dagger is a sharp and sleek speakeasy bar, hidden away in Ann Siang Hill. If you’re willing to push a few more pennies for drinks, Operation Dagger will not disappoint you and your crew.

Helmed by culinary flavour-master Luke Whearty, this hidden gem offers a plethora of the most unique drinks with its ever-changing menu. Some of the bars’ past concoctions include The Egg (salted egg yolk, vanilla and caramel) and Kakigori (matcha, vanilla, melon and white chocolate).

7 Ann Siang Hill
Singapore 069791
Tel: +65 6438 4057
Mon to Sat: 6pm – 12am
(Closed on Sundays)
Nearest Station: Telok Ayer

#11 PONG

If you and your friends’ favourite drinking game includes beer and a few ping-pong balls, Pong will be your new favourite after-dark hangout.  With their PongConnect™ technology, they will guarantee you a high-tech and fun-filled evening.

Their array of pizzas, pasta and drinks will keep your tummy satisfied as you battle it out with your friends. You can have a go at their dart machines too if you want to take a break from an intense match of Beer Pong.

3B River Valley Road #01-17,
The Foundry
Singapore 179021
Tel: +65 8808 7664
Sun to Thu: 7pm – 2am
Fri & Sat: 7pm – 3am
Nearest Station: Fort Canning / Clarke Quay

#12 TIPSY PENGUIN

A rare gem in the East, the Tipsy Penguin boasts a wide selection of handmade pasta, donburi rice bowls and even $2 oysters! This spacious sports bar will offer you an array of affordable boozy drinks to play alongside your munchies such as their Charles’ Double Chocolate Stout or some fruity soju.

If you’re up for a sweet treat, check out their Accidental Cheesecake – a burnt cheesecake served with honeycomb ice cream. It will be one of the most satisfying ways to end your week.

300 Tampines Avenue 5, #01-02A
Singapore 529653
Tel: +65 9179 2051
Sun to Thu: 12pm – 1am
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 2am
Nearest Station: Tampines

We are sure that just like us, all you foodies have an all-time favourite eatery that you never fail to recommend and sing high praises for. This is the place that you always turn to when you’re all out of ideas for dinner and the very same spot that has provided you with the comfort food you needed when you badly craved a perk-me-up.

Conceived in 2014, Diners’ Choice is an annual award that’s brought to you by dining app Chope, with the goal of bringing recognition to our favourite restaurants that have satisfied our bellies and left us happy and full.

Diners can start voting from 21 October 2019 till 24 November 2019 across 8 different categories, and the winners will be announced on 2 December 2019.

To make the entire experience even more exciting, voters will get to enjoy a number of partner perks as well. Look forward to snagging attractive rewards such as 100 KrisFlyer miles when you vote under the Restaurant of the Year category!

Voters can head on over to the dinerschoice.chope.co where you will be presented with a curated list of recommended restaurants for each category. If you don’t see the restaurant you want to vote for on the list, you can also search for other eligible restaurants under each category. Each voter is allowed 1 vote per category and can choose to vote in more than 1 category.

If you vote in at least 3 categories, you can unlock 2 partner perks of your choice. This is subject to availability. Some perks that are up for grabs are:

• 30 mins off your next 2 GrabWheels rides (worth $6)
• 10% off Love, Bonito (no min. spend)
• $5 promo code for new PayLah! Users
• $5 Lazada promo code (min. spend $25)
• $7 Shopee promo code (min. spend $15) for new users
• $5 Zalora promo code (min. spend $25)
• $8 off ChopeDeals (min. spend $30) for new users
• 100 Chope-Dollars for your next reservation (min. party size of 4 diners)

Do remember to submit your votes along with your email address in order to receive the partner promo codes!

Here are the restaurants that we are rooting for this year!

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR – FAT COW

There are so many fantastic restaurants out there, but which is the best out of the lot? We are definitely voting for Fat Cow—the winner of Restaurant of The Year in Diners’ Choice 2018.

A place where terrific food, culinary finesse and Japanese hospitality all come together, Fat Cow is one of those restaurants that bears timeless appeal.

MOST ROMANTIC RESTAURANT – THE CLIFFORD PIER

We all need a list of romantic restaurants that are perfect for a date with your partner.

Nestled in The Fullerton Bay Hotel, The Clifford Pier sits on a heritage site and offers a menu that reflects the finest of local favourites and international classics.

NEW RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR – 15 STAMFORD BY ALVIN LEUNG

Out of all the newcomers in the Singapore food scene, we love 15 Stamford by Alvin Leung over at The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore.

The menu features a host of dishes that showcase innovation, gutsy elaboration but above all, a contemporary twist on Asian favourites, all designed by the self-proclaimed “demon chef” himself and inspired by his many travels across Asia.

BEST BOUNTIFUL BUFFET – EDGE

We all love stuffing our faces with a good buffet, but who has the most lavish buffet spread? Edge at Pan Pacific Singapore—one of the best buffet restaurants in Singapore—is one that never fails to take our breath away.

With 7 interactive live food theatres, 16 food stations (at least) and over a hundred dishes to choose from, this is one buffet restaurant that’ll push your appetite to the edge—literally.

DEAL-ICIOUS RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR – DANCING CRAB

Who doesn’t love a good deal? We do, and amongst the list of restaurants under this category, we are supporting Dancing Crab to win Deal-icious Restaurant of the Year.

Upholding its reputation as one of the best Louisiana restaurants in Singapore, one can expect only the best of Louisianan seafood to be served on their dining tables at Dancing Crab by TungLok Group.

BAR OF THE YEAR – SMOKE & MIRRORS

There are many beautiful bars in Singapore, and Smoke & Mirrors is one of the our favourite drinking spots. Perched atop the iconic National Gallery Singapore is the gorgeous destination rooftop lounge Smoke & Mirrors, which boasts panoramic views of the Marina Bay skyline.

CAFÉ OF THE YEAR – THE MARMALADE PANTRY

With its charming ambience, innovative brunch dishes and a wide selection of artisanal teas and cakes, The Marmalade Pantry has remained one of the most popular dining destinations in Singapore throughout the years.

From signature favourites such as their Spicy Crabmeat pasta and Sticky Date & Toffee Pudding, to new Asian section such as Kimchi Fried Rice and Singapore Laksa, there is something for everyone at The Marmalade Pantry.

HOTTEST GROUP DINING – LOKKEE

Do you and your clique love eating out? Then you must have some pretty swell recommendations under your belt! Famed for its contemporary approaches to traditional Chinese food along with its unyielding commitment to theatrics and witty presentation, Lokkee, part of the TungLok Group, is one Chinese restaurant that impresses time and time again.

This post was brought to you by Chope.