Flanked by towering skyscrapers, Singapore’s Central Business District aka CBD is not just a place for work. It’s also home to popular cafes, swanky restaurants and amazing local food. So say goodbye to sad desk lunches in your stuffy, freezing office as we give you the full lowdown on the best lunch spots in Singapore’s CBD
Where to get a good lunch in Singapore’s CBD
1. Chuan Hung The Noodle Place
This unassuming noodle place is a burst of Sichuan flavours. Hidden at a quaint spot in China Square, it offers Sichuan rice noodles with the choice of clear, red (spicy) or mixed (less spicy) soup options. If you can’t handle the heat, the less spicy option has just the right amount of kick. Go for the signature braised beef with a side of ox tongue.
Chuan Hung The Noodle Place, #01-01, 51 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 048441
2. Moosehead Kitchen Bar
Nestled in a shop that’s endured since pre-war times, Moosehead features an array of palate-teasing Mediterranean food in a fun and laidback ambience. But during lunchtime, there’s the namesake burger which is all sorts of tasty. The burger contains caramelised onions, pickles and a hearty beef patty that is cooked to your preference. Get your daily dose of greens by getting “the works” added to your burger (tomato and lettuce) – we highly recommend it.
Moosehead Kitchen Bar, 110 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068579
3. Nusantara
Using recipes from his grandmother and mother, chef Firdauz Nasir dishes up authentic Nusantara cuisine sans preservatives and MSG. The menu is pretty straightforward. All you have to do is take your pick from mouth-watering rice bowls like beef rendang and ayam kicap buah keluak. Then, pair your meal with a choice of sides such as sayur lodeh and sambal goreng. Don’t forget to bag some curry puffs and fried banana fritters, together with the coffee kelapa for an afternoon pick-me-up.
Nusantara, #02-16/17, Frasers Tower, 182 Cecil Street, Singapore 069547
4. Shake Farm
If your body’s screaming for a detox from the indulgent and not-so-diet-friendly grub around the area, you’re in luck. Healthy cafe Shake Farm will save your diet with shakes, breakfast bowls, protein bowls, acai bowls and super toasts. For instance, the Beef Bros is packed with a whopping 35g of protein and the Mighty Mexican is well under 350 calories.
Shake Farm, 126 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068595
5. Gold Ocean Curry Fish Head
Combining cai png (Chinese mixed rice) faves and its authentic fish head curry under one roof, this eatery has a loyal following amongst locals. Fill up your plate with squid, sweet and sour pork and kang kong, and drench your rice with the creamy fish curry. You won’t regret it. Heads up: the queues can get pretty insane, so go for an early (or late) lunch!
Gold Ocean Curry Fish Head, 181 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068629
6. Common Man Stan
Breakfast for lunch? Say no more. Common Man Stan slings out plates like eggs benedict, brioche french toast, fluffy pancakes and egg white scramble with sauteed kale, all day every day. Coffee is a must at this cafe; just take your pick from fast, cold and slow brew. Our fave? Hands down, the nitro honey oat latte.
Common Man Stan, 11-12 Stanley Street, Singapore 068730
7. Pagi Sore
A popular lunch spot for the CBD crowd, Pagi Sore offers satisfying meal packages, so you can get the most out of the Indonesian dishes it offers. These include tahu telor (tofu omlette), ikan asam pedas (fish in tangy asam sauce), ayam goreng Java (Javanese-style fried chicken) and more.
Pagi Sore, Far East Square, 88 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 048470
8. Chico Loco
One bite and you’ll go absolutely loco for Chico Loco. This Mexican joint serves up guilt-free comfort food where you’re encouraged to drop the cutlery, use your hands and get gloriously messy. Its menu encompasses a mix of breakfast items as well as salads and sandwiches. But the piece de resistance has to be its flavour-packed spit-roasted chicken. And if it’s Friday, live a little and pair your dishes with a frozen Chico margarita.
Chico Loco, 102 Amoy Street, Singapore 069922
9. My Awesome Cafe
With its Chinese medicinal store facade and charming interior made up of random bits and bobs, My Awesome Cafe is absolutely endearing. The great range of salads and sammies makes for a satiating, healthy lunch. We can’t go past My Awesome Salad, a generous portion of mesclun with smoked salmon, herbed chicken breast, duck rillettes, avocado and tomatoes.
My Awesome Cafe, 202 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068639
10. Fat Prince
In the mood for Middle Eastern? Stop by Fat Prince for its mezze and kebab offerings like pit-roasted lamb kebab, kale tabbouleh and cashew hummus. For the full experience, go for the royal lunch set which includes a choice of dip, mezze, main and dessert. Round off your meal with a cup of Turkish coffee.
Fat Prince, 48 Peck Seah Street, Singapore 079317
11. Park Bench Deli
Temporarily closed for renovations.
If indulgent, messy and substantial sandwiches are more your speed, Park Bench Deli hits the spot. A departure from your ordinary sandwich, PBD knows just how to please any sammie snob by sandwiching spicy fried chicken thigh, hot honey, tex-mex coleslaw and chilli aioli between a sesame potato bun (it could give a certain popular fast food burger a run for its money). Plus, the crowd-pleasing pastrami reuben stuffs sourdough with pastrami brisket, sauerkraut, cheese and yellow mustard. So good, we almost shed a tear every time we bite into one.
Park Bench Deli, 179 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068627
12. Pasta e Formaggio
Pasta e Formaggio is one of those blink-and-you’ll-miss-it places. Crammed in a nook at Oxley Tower, the tiny Italian spot has rotating value-for-money weekday lunch sets. From penne bacon alfredo to linguine vongole to spaghetti arabitta with smoked salmon, you can always expect something different every day. Plus, it comes with a drink and a choice of soup or salad.
Pasta e Formaggio, #01-08, Oxley Tower, 138 Robinson Road, Singapore 068906
13. Amoy Street Food Centre
If you’re working at Tanjong Pagar, there is no way you haven’t had anything here. With two storeys of diverse hawker choices, Amoy Street Food Centre is a good lunch spot in Singapore’s CBD. We’ve had our share of great Thai food, decent pasta, hearty congee, assorted noodle dishes (including the Michelin-approved A Noodle Story) and more – it’s all about discovery!
Amoy Street Food Centre, 7 Maxwell Road, Singapore 069111
14. Maxwell Food Centre
This massive dining enclave is home to over 100 food stalls, all with a focus on different specialities. There’s chicken rice from Tian Tian (the late, great Anthony Bourdain was a fan), wholesome congee from Zhen Zhen Porridge, roasted meats from Fu Shun Shao La Mian Jia and others. Just be prepared to chope your seats before ordering as the place tends to get packed during lunchtime.
Maxwell Food Centre, 1 Kadayanallur Street, Singapore 069184
15. Market Street Interim Hawker Centre
With its former site under redevelopment, Market Street Food Centre, or more fondly known as Golden Shoe, has moved right next to Telok Ayer MRT. You can be sure to get your usual cheap fix of its well-known nasi lemak, chicken rice and hor fun from the new digs.
Market Street Interim Hawker Centre, 5 Cross Street, Singapore 048418
And there you have it, our fave lunch spots in Singapore’s CBD.
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