Ann Siang Hill
Photograph: Christian Chen/Unsplash
Photograph: Christian Chen/Unsplash

The ultimate guide to Ann Siang Hill and Club Street

Tranquil by day, buzzy by night – these two spots are home to some of the best restaurants and bars in Singapore

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For starters, Ann Siang Hill and Ann Siang Road are named after wealthy businessman Chia Ann Siang, while Club Street comes from the Chinese clubs that used to line the stretch. Low-key versions of Clarke Quay, the enclaves are known to swap their tranquil stripes for livelier ones come sunset when some of the best bars in Singapore open their doors for business.

Besides award-winning watering holes and hidden drinking dens, the popular hangout spots are also home to restored shophouses that house clan associations, innovative restaurants, trendy shops, fitness studios and more. There are also eye-catching murals as well as a hidden green space behind rows of shophouses.

Whether it's for a refreshing stroll in the morning, a relaxing lunch at mid-day, or after-work drinks in the evening, Ann Siang Hill and Club Street have plenty to offer.

RECOMMENDED: Ultimate guide to Singapore's neighbourhoods and the ultimate guide to Chinatown

Do

  • Things to do
  • Tanjong Pagar

The Ann Siang Hill area is known for its great restaurants and heritage shophouses that warrant a picture for the 'gram but stick around a little and take a little detour from the street and you'll find a lush spot of respite. Who knew that between buildings and offices, there's enough space for a pretty park as well as different tree species, in particular the tamarind, cinnamon, nutmeg and breadfruit trees – all of them useful and handy in the kitchen.

  • Things to do
  • Tanjong Pagar

One may be convinced that Truefitt And Hill is the headquarters of the fictitious spy organisation from 2014’s film Kingsmen: The Secret Service. And it’s no wonder why. With its British identity at the core some 200 years ago, the high-end barbershop is reminiscent of old English refinery, indicated by the leather-clad furniture, dark wooden cabinets lined with premium men’s grooming products, and on-duty barbers armed with shears and the King’s manners. A myriad of services is offered at the barbershop, including a classic haircut ($75), and a beard trim ($50). For it is never too early to cultivate a gentleman, you may bring your little man for a haircut (from $50) as well.

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  • Shopping
  • Tanjong Pagar
Lorna Jane
Lorna Jane

The Australian activewear brand for women comes to Singapore, having launched in over 45 countries. Founder Lorna Jane Clarkson is a former aerobics instructor who branched out into women’s sportswear after noting the gap in the market. Years later, the brand has expanded beyond its Aussie shores into the US and Asia. Check out Lorna Jane’s gear made with its trademark LJ Excel fabric, which melds form and function. 

  • Shopping
  • Bookshops
  • Raffles Place

Further down Ann Siang Hill Road, past the electric blue Ann Siang House, sits Huggs-Epigram Coffee Bookshop. Formed in 2011, Epigram Books is Singapore’s largest independent publisher with titles like The Art Of Charlie Chan Hock Chye by Sonny Liew, Ministry Of Moral Panic by Amanda Lee Koe, and State Of Emergency by Jeremy Tiang under its belt. Now, you can find all your favourite local books by Epigram at their first physical store on Maxwell Road. Spend the afternoon browsing over 400 books in the store (90 percent of the books are by local authors) while you sip on a latte.

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  • Hotels
  • Tanjong Pagar

This venue is temporarily closed.

With its electric blue and gold facade, the Ann Siang House is hard to miss. The hotel’s apartment-style rooms (from $260) are decorated with bespoke furniture – think lavish leathers, geometrical tables, contemporary chairs and avant-garde artworks. Squeeze in a bit of #fitspo at The Active Studio, which comes with an in-room stationary bike. For a little R&R, opt for The Wellbeing Studio that has a massage chair, bath salts, electric burner and essential oils. The best bit? Each room is equipped with the world’s most comfy bed, the Hypnos Firenze, for the ultimate snooze.

Eat

  • Rochor

When a restaurant still draws in daily queues despite charging $14.80 for a dish people typically pay $2 for, you know it's doing something right. The nasi lemak at The Coconut Club is a faultless example of the classic Malay dish. Rice comes flavoured with coconut milk from a single plantation in Sabak Bernam, Malaysia. Oh, and don’t leave without trying its kueh platter, or the refreshing coconut jelly.

  • Chinatown

8ASH, the latest concept by the Ebb and Flow Group, is a multi-concept space located at 8 Ann Siang Hill. Inside, you’ll find American-Japanese inspired Mirai Burgers, vegan brand Love Handle Burgers, and Japanese eatery Hoshi Hill.

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  • Fusion
  • Tanjong Pagar

This new natural wine bar by The Lo & Behold Group sees chef-owner and Burnt Ends alumnus, Keirin Buck, team up with head sommelier Josée Yeomans to bring "fine casual" to the local bar scene. Bottles from boutique natural producers are paired with elegant yet approachable plates such as vegetable crudités with whipped roe ($22), heritage chicken ($68) and a stellar beef tongue sandwich ($24).

  • Contemporary European
  • Tanjong Pagar

The casual restaurant on the buzzy stretch of Ann Siang Road serves up seasonal Mediterranean cuisine in small plates for sharing. Watch the chefs prepare your food right in front of you at a dining bar, or opt for the communal table one floor below to pass the plates around. Dishes of hand-torn pasta and grilled octopus will keep everyone at the dinner table happy. However, it's most famous for its sea urchin pudding, which you’ll end up licking clean – trust us, it’s that good.

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  • Pizza
  • Tanjong Pagar

Set up by American chef Travis Masiero, the brains behind Luke’s Oyster Bar and Chop House, Blue Label follows that same NYC to SG formula for success. Follow the flickering “pizza and wine” neon sign and you’ll find the restaurant in B28’s old digs. For pizza, there’s the J-Dog ($35) an upgrade on the meat lovers packed with pork sausage, bacon, pepperoni and a tinge of spice from finely cubed jalapeños. Plus The Travis Supreme ($33) – if you’ve ever wondered what a McDonald’s cheeseburger pizza would taste like, here’s your answer.

  • Clubs
  • Tanjong Pagar

Formerly the site of a renowned sauna, the long dark wooden banquette and chequered floor give this space a sophisticated, Prohibition-era look. But if you're looking to dine under the stars, it's got you covered with a gorgeous alfresco space. Instead of its savoury comfort food, its desserts are the main stars here. Satisfy your sweet tooth with its decadent double chocolate blackout cake or sticky date pudding.

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  • Steakhouse
  • Buona Vista

Steak, wine and free-flow duck fat fries. Need we say more? Les Bouchons is our favourite French-style steakhouse in Singapore, and it's not just because each slab of glistening meat comes topped in herbed butter. Its steak frites are affordably priced at $39.80, regardless if you opt for sirloin or rib-eye and each order also comes with four types of sauces, a tangy side salad and all the French breads your little heart desires. Have a voracious appetite? Order the giant cote de boeuf, which comes in a minimum size of one-kilogram and can be shared between two very hungry people.

  • Chinatown
My Little Tapas Bar
My Little Tapas Bar

An offshoot of My Little Spanish Place in Bukit Timah, My Little Tapas Bar serves up tapas from across diverse regions in Spain. Graze late into the night on Spanish cheeses and homemade sardines, and get a taste of jamon from four famed locales – Guijuelo, Jabugo, Salamanca, and La Aberca – at the Jamon Bar. On the drinks front, this Club Street joint offers one of the most extensive menus in town for Spanish wines.

 

Drink

  • Cocktail bars
  • Tanjong Pagar

Just like how The Other Room redefined speakeasies in Singapore, The Other Roof is out to raise the bar of rooftop bars. Take the lift up to the top of Ann Siang House and be greeted by the massive space that seats 75 (or even 150 upon request) – a far cry from The Other Room's tiny space. Lounge al fresco while sipping on tea-infused spirits such as Stairway to Heaven ($22), a love-it-or-hate-it concoction of pineapple, coriander, celery, and vanity tea rum, and snacking on light but tasty bites.

  • Cocktail bars
  • Tanjong Pagar

This second-floor sanctum on bustling Amoy Street is dedicated to all things regional. Once there, let the knowledgeable bar team led by Vijay Mudaliar educate you on spirits from Thailand, the Phillippines, India, and beyond, paired with foraged ingredients to give you a taste of Southeast Asia in a cocktail. While doing so, snack on the shoyu-roasted nuts. Waste from Native's pineapple arrack cocktail is fermented into a paste, then used to coat roasted cashews to create a novel, eco-friendly bar snack.

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  • Cocktail bars
  • Tanjong Pagar

Every few months, this cosy bar switches things up with a different cocktail concept. The inspiration for the cocktails is varied and colourful. First, there was Noma, a showcase of mezcal and tequila, and the second, Magnolia, highlighted New Orleans as the birthplace of cocktails. Now, at its bigger, swankier location, Junior is serving up Washi, inspired by the Japanese cocktail culture. There’s also small section dedicated to mainstays. Order the kombucha, with seasonal flavours that can be enjoyed as is, or spiked with a dash of Campari.

  • Craft beer pubs
  • Chinatown
Little Creatures
Little Creatures

The OG Aussie craft beer brewers have opened an outlet on our shores – complete with an in-house micro-brewery. The industrial-chic space is home to the brand's full line-up of craft beers including its flagship pale ale (from $12) alongside a selection of other brews exclusive to Singapore like the Club Street IPA (from $11). Pair your beers with bar snacks and Meditteranean-style bites.

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  • Tanjong Pagar
Gem Bar
Gem Bar

Hidden in Ann Siang Hill, this modern watering hole stands as a stark contrast to the district’s old shophouses and narrow alleys. But don’t let its digs fool you. Gem Bar is as unpretentious as they come – the beer is cold, service prompt and food simple. If you're a fan of refreshing fruity concoctions, order up specialty cocktails such as The Fruits of Heaven or Flower Song Served In A Teapot.

  • Tanjong Pagar

This venue is temporarily closed.

Cider-turned-craft-beer distributors The Mad Tapper is responsible for this outlet, which runs the gamut from crisp pilsners to funky Berliner weisses, and dishes out Asian grub. Find a nook in the room and settle in – it's pretty cosy up here. 

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