If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if your favourite luxury fashion house opened a restaurant, Coach has the answer – and it’s surprisingly delicious. The ‘Original American House of Leather’ has just opened doors to The Coach Restaurant Singapore at Jewel Changi Airport, only the second in the world after Jakarta, Indonesia. It joins The Coach Bar and The Coach Coffee Shop, both of which opened earlier this year, cementing the brand’s growing lifestyle empire.
Located on the first floor – fittingly right next to the Coach retail store – this 56-seater modern steakhouse overlooks the Rain Vortex, serving up one of Jewel’s most dazzling dinner views. But it’s what’s inside that really steals the show.
The space is a love letter to New York City, from the full-sized yellow cab suspended overhead to the menus celebrating the Big Apple's most iconic eats, reimagined by head chef Kurt Sombero, formerly of Burnt Ends and Meatsmith Little India. Plush leather booths, bronze mirrors, and terrazzo floors complete the scene, wrapping it all in that unmistakable Coach sheen of luxury. It’s the sort of place where you half-expect to spot a martini-sipping Carrie Bradshaw.
For the best seat in the house, park yourself at the chef’s counter. It offers front-row views of the open kitchen, where elevated woodfire grills take centre stage and the theatre of cooking unfolds in real time.
Kick things off with the classic mozzarella pizza ($9). With just the right stretch and a kiss of char, it's is an opening act worthy of its Broadway billing. Then there’s the beef tartare ($28), topped with a golden egg yolk that melts into the finely chopped raw beef like butter on toast.
But the showstoppers are the Maryland-style crab cake ($30) that’s refreshingly heavy on actual crab meat – a rarity these days – and the fried chicken ($28). Hear me out: served in a custom leather bucket stitched with a story patch, the fried chicken is perfectly crisp thanks to the chef’s secret “bread, pat, and fry immediately” method, which he proudly shares. Three house-made sauces accompany it – hot honey, tangy hot sauce, and creamy ranch – though my favourite combo is hot honey mixed with hot sauce for that addictive sweet-spicy kick.
The jalapeño sweet corn ($12) was an unexpected hit – buttery, sweet and just spicy enough to wake up your palate. It’s the ideal supporting act for the steak (from $40) and Maine lobster (from $95), both grilled over open fire. The steak, juicy and tender, tastes like it's intentionally under-seasoned so you can tweak it to taste with the chef’s pick of condiments, including A1, béarnaise, three-pepper spice, and your choice of unsalted, garlic or jalapeño butter. From my front-row seat, I can't help but watch the chefs letting each cut rest before plating, topping it with a signature C-shaped butter pat to lock in flavour, a small but telling sign of precision.
The desserts are unapologetically rich and nostalgic. The flaming PG&J bombe Alaska ($18) layers thick peanut butter over a thin Victoria sponge, evoking childhood lunchbox memories but in designer form. Meanwhile, the New York-style cheesecake ($16) is a hefty slice of creamy decadence served with a seasonal berry compote. I find myself struggling to finish a slice, so sharing is recommended, but no one will judge you if you don’t.
It's not all about the food either. Coach Restaurant’s drinks menu is as playful as the space itself. There are sweet options like the Waffled Up with Grey Goose vodka, waffle milk, dill, lemon, verjus, maple, blueberry, as well as the Jakarta-crafted Manhattan Cheesecake, which blends Bacardi and Santa Teresa rums, cream cheese, strawberry vanilla, and Lustau fino sherry. Plus, savoury creations such as the Turkey and Liberty and Smokin Burger, both bourbon-based twists with bold flavours. A 100-bottle all-American wine list cocktail programme completes the experience, making every sip feel like a true taste of the Big Apple.
The vibe: A luxe New York-inspired steakhouse with plush leather booths, terrazzo floors, and a full-sized yellow cab overhead, perfect for stylish layovers or refuels in between all that shopping at Jewel.
The food: Elevated comfort classics, from Maryland-style crab cakes and crispy fried chicken to juicy woodfire-grilled steaks and indulgent desserts like the New York cheesecake.
The drink: Playful cocktails with a dash of NYC attitude, and a 100-bottle all-American wine list to bring out the flavours.
Time Out tip: Grab a seat at the chef’s counter for a front-row view of the open kitchen and cooking theatre.
The Coach Restaurant Singapore is open for lunch and dinner from 11.30am to 10pm daily at Jewel Changi Airport, 78 Airport Boulevard, #01-207, Singapore 819666.