Singapore’s central business district may be best known as a bustling financial hub, but its renown as a food haven is a close second.
Both delicious and healthy food options abound, so a lunch break in the Raffles Place precinct is an epicurean delight to look forward to.
If you are in a hurry, here are some quick hit joints in the vicinity to pick up or tuck into a satisfying lunch.
Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, please abide by each outlet’s seating quota and always maintain a safe distance from others.
The Sandwich Shop (Income@Raffles)
Image credit: The Sandwich Shop Facebook
The food is fresh and covers a wide selection of sandwiches, salads, and wraps.
Besides reliable favourites like smoked turkey and ploughman’s sandwiches, The Sandwich Shop also offers hot pots which are an artful combination of the ingredients from a sandwich layered onto a soup base.
End your meal with something sweet, like a lemon cheesecake before returning to the corporate grind.
Image credit: The Sandwich Shop Facebook
Address:
Income@Raffles
16 Collyer Quay #01-04
Singapore 049318
+65 6536 5141
Hours:
Monday to Friday 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Closed on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays
Website: https://thesandwichshop.com.sg/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/i.love.the.sandwich.shop
Instagram: instagram.com/thesandwichshopsg
Aussie Roll (Republic Plaza)
For rockstar sushi rolls, this would be their stage.
With a medley of 30 stunning combinations, Aussie Roll’s sushi packs a succulent and savoury bite. Imagine biting down on sweet chilli calamari and smoked salmon cream cheese in the same meal.
One roll is hardly enough, and because their recipes are low in calories, you can afford to order a whole roll more.
Address:
9 Raffles Place,
Republic Plaza #B1-05,
Singapore 048619
+65 6746 3077
Hours:
Monday to Friday 8.00 AM to 8.00 PM
Closed on Saturday and Sunday
Website: http://www.aussieroll.com
Instagram: instagram.com/aussie_roll
Bowlfull (Republic Plaza)
Image credit: Bowlfull Facebook
For a generous serving of home-cooked goodness in the middle of your workday, Bowlfull has you covered.
Their nutritious rice and noodle bowls run the gamut from braised pork to multigrain nasi lemak. It is a healthy spin on local staples and bound to bowl you over.
If something western is more your speed, try the rosemary chicken or carbonara pasta bowls.
Image credit: Bowlfull Facebook
Address:
Republic Plaza
9 Raffles Place #B1-17
Singapore 048619
+65 6226 2087
Hours:
Monday to Friday 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Closed on Saturday and Sunday
Facebook: facebook.com/bowlfull.sg
Instagram: instagram.com/bowlfullsg
The Herbal Bar (Republic Plaza)
Image credit: The Herbal Bar
If work is leaving you drained, a bowl of herbal soup might just be what you need.
Traditional Chinese soups like ginseng chicken, mini buddha jumps over the wall, and watercress pork ribs are all double-boiled in porcelain pots.
Main courses like ginger chicken stew, fermented pork ribs, and sliced fish rice are also available.
It almost feels as if, mum herself, dropped by the office with a lunch time pick-me-up.
Image credit: The Herbal Bar
Address:
Republic Plaza
9 Raffles Place #B1-22
Singapore 048619
+65 9185 2835
Hours:
Monday to Friday 10:30 AM to 7:30 PM
Closed on Saturday and Sunday
Website: theherbalbar.getz.co
Facebook: facebook.com/theherbalbar
Instagram: instagram.com/the.herbal.bar
Guzman y Gomez (Ocean Financial Centre)
Image credit: Guzman y Gomez Singapore HQ Facebook
This taqueria (taco joint) technically hails from down under. Imagine piquant Mexican fare made with ingredients from Australia and you have Guzman y Gomez.
Feast on fresh burritos, tacos and quesadillas, with fillings like grilled chicken, pulled pork, slow-cooked beef, and sauteed vegetables with guacamole.
Abuela would be proud.
Image credit: Guzman y Gomez Singapore HQ Facebook
Address:
Ocean Financial Centre
10 Collyer Quay #B1-06
Singapore 049315
+65 6509 4401
Hours:
Monday to Friday 8:00 AM to 9:30 PM
Closed on Saturday and Sunday
Website: https://gyg.com.sg/
Facebook: facebook.com/guzmanygomezsingapore
Instagram: instagram.com/guzmanygomezsg
Salmon Samurai (Ocean Financial Centre)
Image credit: Salmon Samurai Facebook
If you are a fan of alliterative shop names and salmon-based dishes, a trip to Salmon Samurai is in order.
Their dishes are based on whole salmon that is filleted in-house. We are also fairly confident no katanas were deployed in the process.
The health-conscious can find handy macronutrient information for every dish listed on their website, so if you are keeping track of your food intake, you know exactly what to key into your food-logging app.
Image credit: Salmon Samurai Facebook
Address:
Ocean Financial Centre
10 Collyer Quay #B1-08
Singapore 049315
+65 6634 8593
Hours:
Monday to Friday 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Closed on Saturday and Sunday
Website: https://www.salmonsamurai.com/
Facebook: facebook.com/salmonsamuraisg
Instagram: instagram.com/salmonsamurai
Healthy Soba IKI (One Raffles Place)
Image credit: Healthy Soba IKI Official Facebook
Japanese artisanal pride is evident at this soba joint.
This restaurant insists on soba made daily in-store with organic buckwheat powder from Japan.
Health nuts will be happy to know that the flavonoids, antioxidants, and plant-based proteins in buckwheat make it a healthy carb.
Dip your chopsticks into soba dishes like avocado kaisen tororo and miso salmon.
This store also offers soba with a local twist, like the laksa soba. At the time of writing, it is unknown if one can request for more ‘hum’ (local lingo for cockles often found in laksa).
Image credit: Healthy Soba IKI Official Facebook
Address:
One Raffles Place Shopping Mall
One Raffles Place #04-47
Singapore 048616
+65 6438 6022
Hours:
Monday to Saturday 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Closed on Sunday
Website: https://ikisoba.com/
Facebook: facebook.com/startover2013/
Instagram: instagram.com/healthysobaiki
Kipos (One Raffles Place)
Image credit: Kipos Collective Facebook
Specialising in bowls and wraps, Kipos Gourmet believes satisfaction, not deprivation, is the key to healthy eating.
Kipos serves both keto and paleo bowls, but also mixes it up with the mentai-licious me, wah mala! and lemak lemak wraps, which pack a flavourful punch without sacrificing nutritional value.
If you are looking for relatively guilt-free – or at least, low-guilt – indulgences, end your meal with rich smoothies like the peppermint chocolate or matcha banana.
Image credit: Kipos Collective Facebook
Address:
One Raffles Place Shopping Mall
One Raffles Place #01-02
Singapore 048616
+65 9232 6073
Hours:
Monday to Friday 8:00 AM to 8:30 PM
Saturday 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Closed Sunday
Website: https://www.kiposcollective.com/
Facebook: facebook.com/kiposcollective
Instagram: instagram.com/kiposgourmet
Greendot (One Raffles Place)
Image credit: Greendot Singapore Facebook
Vegetarian dining gets a contemporary spin at Greendot.
This restaurant serves up interpretations of familiar dishes with a slightly fusion slant.
Dig in. From braised lion’s mane mushroom rendang to potato nyonya curry, their vegetarian dishes are a surprise and delight even to non-vegetarians, who may be hesitant to try out vegetarian dishes.
Image credit: Greendot Singapore Facebook
Address:
One Raffles Place Shopping Mall
One Raffles Place #03-23/24/25
Singapore 048616
+65 6203 4923
Hours:
Monday to Friday 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Closed on Saturday, Sunday, and Public Holidays
Website: https://www.greendot.sg/
Facebook: facebook.com/greendotsg
Instagram: instagram.com/greendotsg
Grain Traders (CapitaGreen)
Image credit: Grain Traders
In truth, a customisable grain bowl is like a swankier take on economic rice. You pick and choose what goes on your plate. The difference is in the premium choice of ingredients and cooking methods which brings out the best flavours out of quality produce, resulting in food that is incredibly tasty yet nutritious – reminiscent of a lovingly home-cooked meal.
If you prefer the choices made for you, go for dishes like the duck rendang and the homemade curry with basil rice.
Interesting fact: though Grain Traders first started in Singapore, it also has an outlet in West Hollywood. This means your favourite celebrity might just have picked the same dish as you, albeit a 14,000 km away.
Image credit: Grain Traders
Address:
CapitaGreen
138 Market Street, Ground Floor
Singapore 048946
+65 6384 6559
Hours:
Monday to Friday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Closed on Saturday and Sunday
Website: https://www.graintraders.com/en-sg/
Facebook: facebook.com/graintraderssg
Instagram: instagram.com/graintraders
This article was published on 12 January 2021.
