Quick answer: Looking for a meal in Dempsey that feels like a mini escape? This green pocket near Botanic Gardens packs in everything from Peranakan feasts (Candlenut, Violet Oon) to wood-fired magic (Burnt Ends) and classic chilli crab (Jumbo). Whether you’re celebrating something big or just treating yourself after a long week, here are seven spots that make the trip up the hill worth it.
Once a British barracks, Dempsey Hill last time was off-limits. Now its whitewashed buildings hold restaurants, but the quiet lanes and old trees still carry that slower Singapore. This list is for anyone who wants a meal that comes with a side of history—choose between colonial chapels, black-and-white bungalows, or airy gardens while you eat.
Browsing rather than buying today? Best Food in Central Singapore & the City lays out all 70 guides in one place.
Claudine Restaurant
Tucked into a restored colonial chapel off Harding Road, Claudine is a French neo-brasserie by Chef Julien Royer that manages to feel both grand and down-to-earth at the same time.
The menu reads like a love letter to French home cooking – seabream carpaccio that disappears in seconds, steak tartare done properly, a mushroom ravioli that’ll make you close your eyes. Set menus and à la carte let you build a shareable feast, and the wine list wanders through European vintages and cocktails that taste like Provence in a glass.
It’s the kind of place you book when your parents are in town and you want to impress without being stuffy. Stained-glass windows, plush banquettes, warm service – all that, and the food actually delivers. Prices are splurge territory, perfect for an anniversary or a long-overdue catch-up.
- Phone: +65 8031 9935
- Address: 39C Harding Road, Singapore 249541
- Hours: Lunch Mon–Fri 11:45 AM–3 PM, Sat–Sun 11:30 AM–3 PM; Dinner daily 6 PM–11 PM
Book a table for two just before sunset. The chapel’s wooden beams and soft light turn dinner into an occasion without any stiffness. It suits the kind of quiet celebration where the food speaks softly—try the mushroom ravioli and let the room do the rest.
Candlenut
The world’s first Michelin-starred Peranakan restaurant sits right in COMO Dempsey, and Chef Malcolm Lee turns family recipes into something that feels both deeply familiar and completely fresh.
You’re here for the Ah-ma-kase tasting menu – a monthly changing affair that might include wagyu beef rib rendang, babi buah keluak, or ikan assam pedas. The buah keluak is intense, polarising, and utterly worth it even if you’re not sure at first bite. Set lunches and dinners offer their own twists, paired with wines that can handle the bold, aromatic spices.
If you’ve never tried Peranakan food beyond your grandmother’s kitchen, this is the deep dive. It’s celebratory without being stiff, and the staff will walk you through the stories behind each dish. Book ahead for weekends – this one fills up.
- Phone: +65 6486 1051 (Local calls: 1800 304 2288)
- Address: 17A Dempsey Road, Singapore 249676
- Hours: Daily: Lunch 12 PM–3 PM, Dinner 6 PM–10 PM
If Peranakan flavours are your thing, our guide to Fusion Restaurants in Singapore has more spots where tradition gets a modern twist.
None of these are sponsored placements. If you belong on this list, tell us what you do.
Come with an open mind and a dining companion who doesn’t shy from bold flavours. The buah keluak will divide the table, but that’s the point. The room at COMO Dempsey is calm and uncluttered, letting the heritage recipes hold your full attention.
Burnt Ends
You’ll smell the wood smoke before you see the door. Burnt Ends moved to Dempsey with its custom kiln and Chef Dave Pynt’s single-minded focus on flame, and it’s still one of the toughest reservations in town for good reason.
The omakase is the way to go – bone marrow buns, quail egg and caviar, king crab with garlic brown butter, and Hida wagyu flatiron all kissed by the grill. Australian wines and crisp cocktails round out a menu that’s as much about the show as the bite.
Bring someone you really like, because you’ll be fighting over the last piece of lamb harissa. It’s rustic precision on a plate, counter seats and all. Perfect for a milestone birthday or just because you want to see what a wood fire can do to a piece of beef. Prices are firmly in the treat-yourself zone.
- Phone: +65 6224 3933
- Address: 7 Dempsey Road, #01-04, Singapore 249671
- Hours: Lunch Thu–Sat 12 PM–2:30 PM; Dinner Tue–Sat 6 PM–11 PM
For more fine dining across the island, check out our Fine Dining Restaurants in Singapore guide.
Sitting at the counter, watching the fire dance in the open kitchen, is the real show. It’s a dinner for someone who loves the smell of woodsmoke and doesn’t mind planning weeks ahead. The late seating, after the first rush, lets you settle in and enjoy the slow burn of the meal.
The Dempsey Cookhouse Bar
Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s Dempsey outpost at COMO is all high ceilings, checkered floors, and the kind of brunch that makes you linger way past your second espresso martini.
The black truffle fontina pizza has a bit of a cult following – thin, crispy, just enough truffle to not feel like a gimmick. Crispy salmon sushi and warm chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream round out a menu that borrows from Asia and Europe without overcomplicating things.
Go with a group on a lazy Sunday and order a few plates to share. The portions are generous and the vibe is effortlessly put-together, whether you’re in the airy dining room or tucked into a corner for a date. Mid-range to splurge, depending on how far you go with the drinks.
- Phone: +65 6486 1054 (Local calls: 1800 304 5588)
- Address: 17D Dempsey Road, Singapore 249676
- Hours: Lunch Mon–Fri 12 PM–2:30 PM; Brunch Sat, Sun & PH 11:30 AM–3:30 PM; Dinner Sun–Thu 6 PM–11:30 PM, Fri–Sat & Eve of PH 6 PM–12 AM
Visit The Dempsey Cookhouse Bar
Gather a group for a languorous weekend brunch. The high ceilings soak up the noise of laughter and clinking glasses, and no one rushes you off the chequered floor. It’s the place to lepak until the afternoon turns to evening, extra rounds of coffee or cocktails entirely optional.
Violet Oon Singapore
Housed in a colonial bungalow on Dempsey Road, Violet Oon feels like stepping into your Peranakan grandmother’s house – if your grandmother had a sharp eye for detail, a proper bar, and a recipe book guarded for decades.
The menu is a roll call of Nyonya classics: hati babi bungkus, ayam buah keluak slow-cooked until the meat falls apart, daging panggang sambal hijau, and a modern assam nanas barramundi that cuts through the richness. And then there’s the warm gula melaka tea cake with coconut ice cream – the kind of dessert that makes you lean back and say “shiok.
It’s the sort of place you bring overseas guests to show off what Singapore food can be, or your own family when you want a meal that feels like a celebration without leaving the island. Splurge-worthy, and worth every cent.
- Phone: +65 9834 9935
- Address: 7 Dempsey Road, #01-05, Singapore 249671
- Hours: Daily: Lunch 12 PM–3 PM, Dinner 6 PM–11 PM
Step into the verandah on a Sunday afternoon and you’ll catch the scent of rempah drifting from the kitchen. The space feels like a family home preserved in amber—tiles, framed photos, heavy wooden furniture. It’s where you take your parents when they’re feeling sentimental about the old days.
Jumbo Seafood
You can’t say you’ve done Singapore until you’ve got chilli crab sauce on your shirt. Jumbo’s Dempsey branch gives you that same messy, delicious East Coast experience but with air-con and less sand.
The award-winning chilli crab is the main event – that egg-laced, tangy-sweet gravy deserves every order of mantou you can spare. Black pepper crab, cereal prawns, and mocha pork ribs round out the table for a proper family feast. Live tanks mean the seafood is as fresh as it gets.
Perfect for a birthday dinner where nobody minds getting their hands dirty, or a casual celebration with a big group. The vibe is lively, the portions are generous, and the bill is friendlier than most Dempsey spots, though crab is never exactly cheap. Mid-range, especially if you share.
- Phone: +65 6479 3435
- Address: Block 11 Dempsey Road, #01-16, Singapore 249673
- Hours: Daily: Lunch 11:30 AM–2:30 PM, Dinner 5:30 PM–10 PM
And if your meal runs late and you’re still hungry, our Supper Spots in Singapore list has you covered.
For relatives visiting from overseas, the Dempsey branch delivers the full chilli crab ritual minus the beachside sand. You’ll feel extra shiok tucking into the crustacean with both hands while the mantou soaks up every last drop of gravy—still messy, just a little easier on the grandparents.
Open Farm Community
Over on Minden Road, just a short wander from the main Dempsey cluster, Open Farm Community is the one for the friend who always wants to know where the vegetables came from. They grow a lot of their own produce right there on the grounds.
The menu leans eclectic and genuinely seasonal: OFM eggplant with jackfruit, cauliflower wings that even meat lovers go back for, and farm feast sets that showcase whatever is best from the garden. Gluten-free and vegan options are built into the thinking, not an afterthought. There are even garden tours and events if you’re curious.
It’s a good break from the rich, heavy fine dining elsewhere on the hill – the food is bright, fresh, and satisfying without making you feel like you need a nap. There’s actual space for kids to run around outside while you finish your coffee. Mid-range, and worth it for a long, relaxed weekend brunch.
- Phone: +65 6471 0306
- Address: 130E Minden Road, Singapore 248819
- Hours: Daily: Brunch 11 AM–3:30 PM, Dinner 6 PM–11 PM
None of these are sponsored placements. If you belong on this list, tell us what you do.
How to choose
Dempsey Hill restaurants fall into a few camps, and picking gets easier once you know what kind of meal you’re after.
If it’s a big celebration – milestone anniversary, proposal, impressing the in-laws – Claudine and Burnt Ends bring the wow factor. Both are splurge territory and book out fast. For Peranakan cravings, the head-to-head is Candlenut (tasting menu, Michelin-starred, refined) versus Violet Oon (grandmother-chic bungalow, classic dishes done beautifully). Both are solid; Candlenut leans a little more experimental, Violet Oon more traditional.
Brunch with friends calls for The Dempsey Cookhouse Bar – shareable plates, great drinks, and a space that feels leisurely even when it’s busy. Open Farm Community is the healthier, greener alternative that still feels special, especially if there are kids or gluten-free people in the group.
For a casual, messy, fun group dinner, Jumbo Seafood wins hands down. It’s the only spot where you wear the bib without irony and everyone leaves happy. Prices here are friendlier too, though crab is seasonal and market-priced.
Across the board, expect to pay more than a hawker centre meal – most are solidly mid-range to high-end. Set lunches on weekdays can be gentler on the wallet. Every place on this list needs a booking, especially on weekends. Vegetarians will find the most joy at Open Farm Community, though other kitchens can often adapt with notice.
| Restaurant | Cuisine | Price Signal | Good For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claudine Restaurant | French neo-brasserie | Check with the business | Romantic dinners, impressing guests |
| Candlenut | Michelin-starred Peranakan | Check with the business | Heritage food lovers, tasting menu seekers |
| Burnt Ends | Wood-fired barbecue omakase | Check with the business | Counter dining, meat lovers, special treats |
| The Dempsey Cookhouse Bar | Asian-European | Check with the business | Brunches, group sharing, cocktails with food |
| Violet Oon Singapore | Peranakan | Check with the business | Family celebrations, classic Nyonya comfort |
| Jumbo Seafood | Singaporean seafood | Check with the business | Casual group dinners, chilli crab fans |
| Open Farm Community | Farm-to-table global | Check with the business | Vegans, families with kids, relaxed weekends |
Summary
Dempsey Hill has a way of making every meal feel like a little getaway. Whether you’re celebrating, catching up with friends, or just treating yourself, these seven spots offer something different every time. Just remember to book ahead – the hill fills up fast, and you don’t want to be the one stuck waiting.
Disclaimer: All details were accurate at the time of writing but can change. Confirm opening hours and availability directly with the restaurant before making plans.
Frequently asked questions
It’s the spot to lepak with a bottle of natural wine while the kids chase butterflies on the lawn. Weekends sometimes bring farm tours that trace your salad back to the soil. Go when you want a meal that feels a little closer to the ground, unhurried and full of green.
Which Dempsey Hill restaurants are good for a romantic dinner?
Claudine Restaurant, with its restored chapel setting and soft lighting, feels tailor-made for an intimate evening. Burnt Ends also works if your date appreciates a bit of fire and theatre. Both are splurge-level and worth booking early.
Are there Peranakan food options in Dempsey?
Yes, two strong ones. Candlenut is the world’s only Michelin-starred Peranakan restaurant, and Violet Oon Singapore serves heritage recipes in a beautiful colonial bungalow. Both offer a deep dive into Nyonya flavours.
Which place is best for a group celebration?
Jumbo Seafood is a natural choice for messy, fun group dinners over chilli crab. The Dempsey Cookhouse Bar also handles groups well with shareable plates and a lively brunch scene on weekends.
Is there a family-friendly restaurant in Dempsey Hill?
Open Farm Community has actual outdoor space where kids can roam while you eat, plus a menu that keeps things fresh and healthy. Jumbo Seafood is also accommodating for families, especially if the kids enjoy cracking crab shells.
Do these restaurants cater to vegetarians or vegans?
Open Farm Community has the most thoughtful vegetarian and vegan options, with dishes like cauliflower wings and OFM eggplant. Other restaurants may accommodate with advance notice, but it is best to let them know when booking.
How far in advance should I book?
Tables at Burnt Ends and Claudine can vanish weeks ahead, especially on weekends and during festive periods. For all restaurants on this list, booking at least a week ahead is a safe bet; walk-ins are possible but risky.
