Ann Siang Hill is a highly sought-after district amongst expatriates and we attribute its popularity to the enclave of bars and restaurants housed in colonial shop houses. The dining establishments in this neighbourhood are predominantly western, but a new tenant is shaking things up a little.

Lo and behold, The Coconut Club! Do not let its name fool you – this place is neither a Tiki-themed cocktail bar nor a nightclub. Instead, it is a speciality Nasi Lemak restaurant. The owners have spent two years sourcing for the best coconuts and refining their nasi lemak recipe before opening this eatery.

It’s easy to mistake The Coconut Club for yet another pretentious café opening. But the reality is far from it. The Coconut Club keeps things incredibly simple: They open till 3pm daily (closed on Mondays and Sundays) and Nasi Lemak is the only main course sold here.

We know there is a lot to digest. Firstly, a Singaporean hawker food is now being served in a Melburnian-style café as the only main course. Next, the operation hours are totally Australian, but the food served is inherently Singaporean. Welcome to year 2016!

Each plate of Nasi Lemak costs S$12.80, hence making it one of the priciest Nasi Lemak we have ever come across.

However, judging from the crowd at The Coconut Club on a Saturday afternoon, it seems like many Singaporeans – even the elderly – are actually more than willing to fork that amount.

The Coconut Club’s MSG-free Nasi Lemak entails a generous portion of fragrant coconut rice, cucumber slices, peanuts, dried anchovies, succulent chicken leg, a fried egg and sambal sauce. We have to admit that we were pleasantly surprised by how much we enjoyed it.

The entire dish—besides the sambal—is gluten-free. But if you would like, you could also request for gluten-free sambal chilli sauce.

Frankly speaking, S$12.80 for a Nasi Lemak isn’t too far-fetched. After all, we are sure you are willing to splurge at least S$20 on a plate of eggs benedict. It’s all a matter of perspective.

The Coconut Club
6 Ann Siang Hill
Singapore 069787
Tel: +65 6635 2999
Closed on Mondays and Sundays
Tue to Sat: 11am – 3pm
Nearest Station: Telok Ayer

About the writer:
Hui Jun Ng is a staff writer for ladyironchef. She previously worked in the food and marketing industry. She loves traveling and enjoys exploring underrated destinations. In her free time, you will find her indulging in coffee and her all time favourite local dish – bak chor mee.