The ultimate guide to Dempsey Hill

Modern Peruvian cuisine, colourful interiors, upbeat salsa music and the vibrant energy of Latin American culture is what makes dining at Canchita unique. Named after the large corn kernels behind the popular Peruvian popcorn snack, Canchita is founded and helmed by Peruvian husband-Mexican wife duo Daniel & Tamara Chavez, who have a mission of showcasing the wide diversity of Latin American flavours, colours and ingredients to the world.

Canchita has a gorgeous 80-seat main dining room Amazonas, the 30-seat ceviche bar Inca, and the green outdoor terrace, each of which are inspired by the lush Amazonian landscapes. Come for the sublime ceviches (from $24) and hearty Peruvian anticuchos skewers (from $24) and arroz rice dishes ($36), and stay for Tamara’s mean tacos (from $20) and Mexican street food (from $14). Also, don’t miss out on the Canchita Experience, the daily curated five-course ‘A True Journey To Latino Flavours’ tasting menu ($128). 

It's notoriously difficult to get a seat at Burnt Ends. And why? There's just something incredibly satisfying about a solid slab of meat cooked to charred yet tender perfection. At Burnt Ends, this is done with the help of well-insulated cement-walled ovens and a series of impressive grills that churn out the likes of Wagyu onglet ($140/kg), suckling pig served simply with fresh fennel salad ($65 for two) and a 45-day aged OP rib cap ($150/kg). But there's something for light eaters and vegetarians too. Snacks and appetisers include smoked quails eggs ($6), courgettes topped with heirloom tomatoes ($17) and simple grilled asparagus ($15). The menu is rotational though, so every day is a surprise. 

Morsels is a quaint barnyard-style restaurant that exudes an undeniable rustic charm. Helmed by chef-owner Petrina Loh for the past 10 years, the restaurant has a new a la carte menu that showcases Petrina's passion for Asian produce, peppered with inspiration from her extensive travels. The daily a la carte menu features an assortment of snacks starting from $6.50 and heartier mains priced from $16. Menu highlights include seasonal oysters ($6.50) dressed in tamarillo shrub and pear cucumber vinaigrette, Hokkaido scallops with petai miso beurre blanc ($24), an aromatic wild mushroom truffle porridge ($28), and the impeccably prepared Magra lamb rack ($48). If the plethora of choices leaves you feeling undecided, the Feed Me menu ($98) or Feed Me Nibbles menu ($48) is a curated experience with an array of expertly selected wines available from $20 per glass.

Here’s the thing about food: you don’t actually have to travel to different countries to enjoy a well-travelled palate. At COMO Cuisine, the restaurant brings together the best dishes from the luxury hotel’s various properties. So while you might be dining at COMO’s hip Dempsey enclave, your tastebuds will be taking a journey across the globe, sampling Bhutanese momo or dumplings ($12) with a side of essay chilli, or digging into the same aromatic lobster biryani (from $32) that’s served at its Cocoa Island property. 

The menu leans healthy, thanks in part to a series of signatures from COMO Shambala, the brand’s wellness arm. Try the popular tandoor cauliflower ($28), which is marinated in an aromatic spice bath of yoghurt, turmeric, garlic, ginger, and coriander before going into a tandoor oven to earn a smoky char. But beyond vegetable-forward dishes like the spicy papaya "pok pok" salad ($22), the menu also caters to those feeling indulgent too. If you’re here for dinner, get the Kurobuta pork ribs ($45) that comes with a side of Asian slaw that should really be a dish on its own, or the freshly made rigatoni ($32) with duck ragout.

Ever wondered what it'd be like to dine in a luxurious condo owned by Bangkok's super rich? Siri House give you a taste of that experience without leaving Singapore. The 42-seat is an intimate space that houses an eclectic range of furniture from mid-century antiques and dazzling chandeliers to plush lounge sets dressed in bright handwoven Jim Thompson silks. The food manages to stand out even against all this glitz and glamour. Available a la carte or as two and three-course set menus, the items take familiar dishes and gives them a surprising twist. Take the burrata ($28), which comes with red chilli salsa, garlic chive crumbs, tomato honey and papadam. On the mains, the unagi risotto ($39) is a masterclass in balance – pickled daikon cuts through the creaminess of the risotto and the unagi's subtle smokiness perfumes the dish.

First opened in 1982 at Goodwood Park Hotel, Min Jiang has long been a stalwart of Chinese cuisine in Singapore. The brand's second outlet on Dempsey Hill is decked out in rustic touches made modern like weaved wooden panels, rattan chairs and large drop lanterns that emit a warm glow over the dining room. Helming the restaurant is chef Goh Chee Kong, who's spent the past 32 years cooking at Min Jiang.

He specialises in both Cantonese and Sichuan cuisine, producing beautiful plates of dim sum – the steamed Goldfish prawn dumpling ($5.80) is extremely Instagrammable, as is the pretty deluxe platter ($38) of blue pea truffle vegetable dumpling, steamed crabmeat, prawn and vegetable dumpling, fried glutinous rice golden pumpkin, and steamed prawn dumpling with trio caviar. Other highlights on the menu include the braised sea treasure soup in pomegranate egg white parcel ($50), where Australian abalone, bamboo pith and dried scallops are poached and wrapped in an egg white skin. There's also the legendary wood-fired Beijing Duck ($128/ordering one day in advance is recommended) carved tableside with eight different condiments. 

This Baker & Cook outlet off Loewen Road in the lush Dempsey precinct might differ a little from the others. Not only is it located in a bright glasshouse with garden views and even a play area for the kids, but it will be the only branch to have exclusive dishes you can only find in Loewen Road. The outlet is also part of a vibrant cluster which includes other names like Plank Sourdough Pizza, Core Collective and Swish Swimming.

The menu has plenty to offer for the breakfast crowd and some highlights include Peter Gordon's Turkish Eggs ($21.50), a hearty and comforting dish with whipped warm yoghurt, poached eggs, Aleppo chilli butter and sprouted wheat sourdough for dipping. For a sweeter option, the Dutch baby pancake ($24) which is topped with earl grey poached pear, berries, maple yoghurt and lemon curd. Besides the breakfast stuff, you can also order sourdough pizzas from Plank while dining in-house – these come with both savoury and sweet options.

With his three-Michelin-starred namesake in New York and countless other F&B concepts around the world, Jean-Georges Vongerichten is no stranger to wooing diners with his culinary panache and stunning restaurant interiors. The dining room is invitingly intimate, decked out with small marble tables and tall white wicker chairs that create the illusion of privacy. 

If you're dining in for lunch, opt for the three-course ($68) lunch set if you like picking and choosing different dishes. But if you like, you can zone in on some of favourites like the Gruyere cheeseburger with crunchy onion and caramelised onion jus ($38) and bucatini with smoked bacon, tomato, jalapenos, and arugula ($28). For dinner, order the black truffle, three cheese and farm egg pizza ($38) for sharing.

The restaurant’s space departs from the stark decor of its previous digs in Dorsett Residences. Large straw lanterns hang from the ceiling, weaved baskets deck the floors and vintage pieces like an ice kachang machine finish the look. It’s befitting of a Michelin-starred spot while remaining warm and inviting. Dining here is a communal affair. Opt for Malcolm Lee’s signature ‘ahmakase’ menu ($108/lunch, $138/dinner) or order from the à la carte menu. Some must-haves include the kueh pie tee ($12), Blue Swimmer crab curry ($30) and buak keluak fried rice ($30) which comes topped with an egg. Don't skip the desserts though – they might just be the highlight of your meal. Order Candlenut's Chendol ($14) with pandan jelly and coconut custard and for something different, try the buah keluak ice cream ($20) or the Mao Shan Wang durian coconut crepe roll roll ($16) that comes with a refreshing young coconut sorbet.

Aside from the already popular distillery tours that happen over the weekends, Tanglin Gin's location in Dempsey Hill comes with an entirely new experience that is the Gin Jungle – a cosy enclave fitted with leather and wood finishings that exude a rustic charm. Lounge indoors by the custom seven-metre long bar in a relaxed atmosphere or huddle close at the booth seats for a romantic evening soiree. But if you relish in being surrounded by lush greenery, kick back in the laidback al-fresco veranda over a casual mid-afternoon imbibe sesh.

Dubbed as the gin paradise, expect the full range of Tanglin Gin, in-house infusions and clever cocktails created to please all gin-enthusiasts and cocktail lovers alike. There’s also a free flow weekend brunch that happens during noon so you can really unwind and boogie bottomless.

Tuga is a relatively new resident of the Dempsey Hill block. A celebration of all things Portugal, from food and wine to music and art. But let's talk about the wine. Tuga has an impressively extensive collection of wine – you'll see the bottles displayed proudly on shelves that create a maze-like effect in the restaurant. These cover all 14 of Portugal's wine regions and 31 DOCs – if you don't know where to start, ask one of the friendly waiters who can give a recommendation to pair with your food order. 

Hidden away in the new, expanding Western stretch of Dempsey Hill is Jiu Zhuang, a bar that brings a Chinese spin to a night out in the area. Designed with 1920s Shanghai opulence in mind, the concept space delivers premium with its feel, as well as its huge list of drinks that’s clearly aimed at the high-end drinker.

The selection doesn’t middle either – the careful edit of spirits, wines, beers and sakes means you’re not likely to find a beer cheaper than $23 – and it’s just the one Tsingtao Premium. No whiskey younger than 15 years old, or vodka from the usual suspects – just Pravada on the low end starting at $18 a pour, to Beluga Gold peaking at $45 a shot. Japanese sake brewery Iwanmura also stocks their Lady of the Castle (Onnajoshu) labels exclusively here, with their specialty Premium with Gold Flakes Daiginjo ($120) making a glittery option for a celebration.

Most come to Margarita's come here for its Tex-Mex fare, and they definitely have the right idea. But besides the hearty Mexican food, Margarita's also has a great selection of tipples for all-day drinking. If you're swinging by in the day, grab a seat at the alfresco section and beat the heat with a refreshing frozen margarita (by glass or pitcher). The Grand Fruit Margarita with tamarind ($20.50) is a favourite for its tart hint. For those who like a hint of smokiness, ask for a splash of mezcal. 

It seems only fitting that the lush compound of Dempsey is also home to the largest organic and natural food store in Singapore. Terra Madre champions the best that nature has to offer, with an expansive retail store and an adjoining dining space. From its well-stocked shelves, pick up pantry staples, ready-to-consume products, and specialty products like oils, spices and truffles sourced largely from farmers and growers in Australia. Over 1,000 products are available to choose from including superfoods, nutraceuticals, and even a vegan ice cream store. Just don't forget to swing by Terra Madre Restaurant for a hearty, healthy menu after. 

How do you know a neighbourhood is becoming more gentrified? When a gourmet deli/butcher sets up shop. Open since July 2008, Huber’s is more than just a meat seller, they’ve styled this outlet along a more gourmet angle, selling imported dairy products, frozen seafood, salads, fresh breads and even fondue pots. Beyond being the purveyors of prime cuts of meat – popular items include the Australian Stockyard Angus grain-fed beef, lamb chops and sausages – the staff can also attend to any of your portion cutting, marinating, roasting, vacuum packing needs. And as all the butchers are former cooks and chefs, you know your grub is safe in their hands.

Guard your wallets, because Dover Street Market has landed in Singapore. The multi-label store – the fourth in the world after London, Tokyo and New York – stocks 25 designer brands that range from Comme des Garçons and Anti Social Social Club to Céline and The Row. Housed in a converted army barracks with high ceilings, black cage-like grills as racks, and a colourful ‘cashier’ hut, you’d be forgiven if you mistake this for an art gallery.