A laid-back, casual dining space nestled in serene Quayside Isle, Sabio By The Sea exudes a stylish charm perfect for a date, or a casual dinner by the docks. Their food and array of cocktails lean towards traditional Spanish but are all refreshingly unique and made using high-quality ingredients.

A glass of sangria in one hand and a repertoire of delicious food in another, be prepared for one gastronomic fiesta you won’t forget.

PULPO A LA GALLEGA

Undeniably the highlight of our meal, the Pulpo A La Gallega (S$18++) impressed us with its robust flavours and lovely texture. In this dish, the octopus is cooked simply in a mixture of paprika, olive oil and lemon, bringing out the natural sweetness of the octopus and giving it a charred quality that amped up its flavour tenfold.

CHORIZO AL VINO

As far as quality Spanish sausages go, you won’t go wrong with the Chorizo Al Vino (S$14++). Smoky with a heady aroma of paprika, the sausages were beautifully charred on the outside while remaining soft and sweet in the middle.

CHURROS

A quintessential confectionery at any Spanish restaurant is, of course, Churros (S$11++). Here, their churros are surprisingly light and crispy from edge to edge, making it hard to resist seconds or even thirds. The chocolate sauce served alongside it? Just divine.

Sabio By The Sea
31 Ocean Way #01-02,
Quayside Isle,
Singapore 098375
Tel: +65 6690 7568
(Closed on Tuesdays)
Mon, Wed & Thu: 12pm – 10.30pm
Fri: 12pm – 11pm
Sat: 11.30am – 11pm
Sun: 11.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Harbourfront

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.

//

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

//

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

//

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.

Sabio Tapas Bar & Restaurant is located on the slope of Duxton Hill, alongside Buyan Russian Restaurant and Flor Patisserie.

There’s just something intoxicating about eating in a tapas bar. Maybe it’s the idea of having a glass/(es) of wine with many plates of Spanish appetisers. Maybe it’s the fact that you get to chill out with a group of friends after a long day of work. Or maybe it’s simply because I am a big fan of Spanish cuisine.

Like the Chinese dim sum, Spanish tapas offer you the luxury of having small bites of everything. Then, you also have the pinchos, which are somewhat similar to tapas. It is the name of certain snacks typically eaten at bars in the Basque country. The main difference is that they are usually served in individual portions with a skewer or toothpick, often to a piece of bread.

Gambas pil pil – prawns in olive oil & garlic

Anyway, I digressed, let’s get back to Sabio. The Spanish restaurant was full when we were there on a weekday night, with mostly expats enjoying a drink and some snacks after work.

The menu is broadly divided into four parts: Cold Tapas ($6-19), Jamon & Chorizo ($8-25), Hot Tapas ($8-18) and desserts ($6-8). It took us a while to scan through it.

I was rather attracted by the cold tapas like Boquerones en Vinagre ($9) – Anchovies served in vinegar; Sombrero de Setas – Mushroom hat in olive oil and garlic; or the Chipirones en sa tinta ($16) – Stuffed squid in ink. But my friends were not interested in cold tapas, so we focused on the hot tapas. Some of the options that were waving frantically at us include: Tortilla espanola con chorizo ($12) – traditional Spanish omelette with chorizo; Revuelto de esparragos ($12) – scrambled eggs with asparagus; and Pulpo gallego ($11) – Octopus cooked in olive oil and lemon.

There were over thirty Spanish small plates to choose from, and we were tempted to order everything. We eventually settled for some hot tapas, a paella and a jar of sangria.

I love Spanish food!

The Embutidos Mixtos ($25) – a selection of Spanish ham, sausages, and cheese – arrived before the hot tapas. We ate the fantastic Spanish ham, drank sangria, and ate more ham.

A must-try tapas at Sabio is definitely the Vieras en salsa de cava ($14) – Sea Scallops with sparkling white wine sauce. What a sexy dish! The scallops were kind of openly flirting with each other in a pool of sparkling white wine sauce.

It would be perfect if they were meatier (if there’s such a word), but it didn’t really matter because the sauce was the highlight. The sparkling white wine sauce was divine. In fact, it was so good that we had the other tapas with it. I was actually a little sad when the waiter cleared the pan away.

The Gambas pil pil ($15) – sizzling prawns in olive oil and garlic – was equally good. I also liked the Bacalao al ajo arriero ($18) – salt cod with red capscium, and the Calamares a la plancha ($11) – pan fried calamari.

The Chicken & Seafood Paella ($22), on the other hand, was disappointing. I can’t put my fingers on what’s missing, but it just isn’t something that I’d order again on my next visit to Sabio Tapas Bar.

Sabio Tapas Bar & Restaurant at Duxton Hill is a good place to chill out with a group of friends. If your office is near the Tanjong Pagar/Duxton area, why not drop by Sabio after work? At the same time, you can also check out the other new restaurants in Duxton Hill.

The idea of tapas bar hopping has always been at the back of my mind. I’m going to shortlist a few Spanish Restaurants, and go on a tapas bar hopping adventure!

Singapore Food Blog Review
Sabio Tapas Bar & Restaurant
5 Duxton Hill
Tel: +65 6223 4645
Weekdays 12pm – 12am, Sat 5pm – 12am

For more recommendations, read my list of Spanish Restaurants in Singapore

Featured in

icon-22