Quick answer: The Dempsey Cookhouse Bar is your go-to for a long, lazy brunch in a breezy colonial house. Candlenut is the one for Michelin-starred Peranakan that still tastes like a home kitchen. Burnt Ends draws the barbecue crowd with its counter seats and bone marrow bun. Blu Kouzina keeps things relaxed with Greek sharing plates, Violet Oon and Claudine bring heritage and romance, and Min Jiang handles dim sum and Peking duck with quiet polish.
Best Food in Central Singapore & the City is the parent list here, with 70 guides covering everything in this area.
The Dempsey Cookhouse Bar
It sits inside a whitewashed colonial house at the COMO Dempsey estate, and the moment you step onto the verandah, you know you are in for a proper meal. Michelin-starred chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten runs the show, blending European techniques with Asian ingredients in a way that feels effortless, not try-hard.
The egg caviar is the one you see on every table – scrambled eggs so soft they barely hold their shape, topped with a generous spoonful of caviar. The black truffle and fontina cheese pizza is another big-hitter, the kind of dish that makes you close your eyes on the first bite. Portions are sharing-sized, and the dining room buzzes with groups doing exactly that.
Address: 17D Dempsey Road, Singapore 249676
Hours: Lunch Mon–Fri 12pm–2:30pm; Brunch Sat, Sun & PH 11:30am–3:30pm; Dinner Sun–Thu 6pm–11:30pm, Fri, Sat & Eve of PH 6pm–12am
Phone: 1800 304 5588 (takeaway +65 8121 6122)
Price: $$$$
The Dempsey Cookhouse Bar
Book this when you have a birthday to celebrate or out-of-town guests you want to impress without going full fine-dining. The high ceilings and greenery make it feel like a mini getaway, and the brunch hours stretch long enough that nobody rushes you.
Candlenut
The world’s only Michelin-starred Peranakan restaurant, and it wears that honour lightly. Tucked inside the same COMO Dempsey complex, Candlenut takes the robust, rempah-heavy dishes your grandmother might have made and gives them a sharper, more elegant frame. The room is airy and modern, with high ceilings and warm wood tones that keep things from feeling stiff.
The Westholme wagyu beef rib rendang is a bit of a flex – tender, deeply spiced, with a richness that lingers. Aunt Caroline’s babi buah keluak is the real soul of the menu, a family recipe that balances the earthy, bittersweet notes of the buah keluak nut with pork that falls apart under your fork. The blue swimmer crab curry is a mess worth making; order extra rice. They do set lunches that are a good way to sample the range without overcommitting.
Address: 17A Dempsey Road, Singapore 249676
Hours: Daily lunch 12pm–3pm, dinner 6pm–10pm
Phone: 1800 304 2288 (takeaway +65 8121 0176)
Price: $$$$
Candlenut
This is the spot you book when the in-laws are in town and you need to show you have taste, or when you want a Peranakan meal that feels like a proper occasion. It walks the line between tradition and refinement without losing the heart of the food. If you’re into exploring more of Singapore’s dining pockets, we’ve also put together a list of restaurants on Amoy Street that might catch your eye.
We put this list together ourselves – nobody paid to be on it. If you run something that belongs here, tell us about it.
Burnt Ends
Now firmly settled in its Dempsey home, Burnt Ends is where meat goes to meet fire in the most deliberate way. The kitchen is built around a row of custom wood-burning ovens and grills, and the counter seats put you right in front of the action. It’s modern Australian barbecue with a Singaporean sense of urgency – everything comes out hot, smoky, and meant to be eaten immediately.
The bone marrow bun is the one people talk about: a split bone loaded with unctuous marrow, topped with a sharp parsley salad, and served with toasted brioche. The Cubano pork belly tacos and the pulled pork brioche sandwich are equally indulgent, the kind of handheld food that requires a stack of napkins and zero shame. The wine list is taken seriously, and the staff know how to pair a glass with whatever just came off the grill.
Address: 7 Dempsey Road, #01-04, Singapore 249671
Hours: Lunch Thu–Sat 12pm–2:30pm; Dinner Tue–Sat 6pm–11pm
Phone: +65 6224 3933
Price: $$$$
Burnt Ends
Book the counter for a date where you both care about food more than romance, or grab a table with a few friends who don’t mind sharing. It’s lively, a little loud, and the sort of place where you leave smelling faintly of woodsmoke. If you’re chasing a similar energy in a different part of town, our guide to restaurants in Clarke Quay has a few spots that match that buzz.
Blu Kouzina
Blu Kouzina brings a big, sun-drenched Greek personality to the Dempsey row. The dining room is simple and whitewashed, with the smell of grilled meat and oregano hitting you before you even sit down. It’s the kind of place where the meal feels like a holiday, even if you’re just on a lunch break.
The pita is a must – either grilled or crispy, both are perfect for scooping through the hummus. The meat platter is a sight to behold: lamb and chicken, charred on the outside, juicy within, enough for a small army. Almost everything is built around olive oil, lemon, and fresh herbs, so the food feels generous without being heavy. Service is warm and a little old-school, the way you’d want it in a family-run taverna.
Address: 10 Dempsey Road, #01-20, Singapore 247700
Hours: Daily lunch 11:30am–2:30pm, dinner 5:30pm–9:30pm
Phone: +65 9728 7514
Price: $$$
Blu Kouzina
Gather a group of friends who like to share, order a few starters, the meat platter, and a couple of bottles of Greek wine. It’s relaxed enough for a weeknight, and the portions mean nobody leaves hungry. If you’re curious about other cuisines that handle big flavours well, our Sichuan food restaurants in Singapore roundup is worth a look.
Violet Oon Dempsey
Violet Oon’s Dempsey outpost is a love letter to Peranakan cooking, dressed in jewel tones and heritage tiles. It feels like walking into a well-to-do nyonya’s home, and the food follows suit – familiar dishes polished to restaurant standard without losing their soul.
The hati babi bungkus is a parcel of spiced pork belly wrapped in banana leaf, and it arrives with a fragrance that makes the table next to you crane their necks. Daging panggang sambal hijau brings a slow, green-chilli heat that builds gently, and the udang goreng chilli gives you crispy prawns in a sauce you’ll want to mop up with rice. Save room for the gula melaka tea cake with coconut ice cream – it’s the kind of dessert that makes you consider a second order.
Address: 7 Dempsey Rd, #01-05, Singapore 249671
Hours: Daily lunch 12pm–3pm, dinner 6pm–11pm
Phone: +65 9834 9935
Price: $$$
Violet Oon Dempsey
Bring the extended family for a weekend lunch, or book it when you want to show a visitor what Singaporean food can be when it dresses up. The space is warm and the service is genuine, so it never feels too precious.
Claudine Restaurant
Claudine occupies a former chapel on Harding Road, and the setting alone is worth the trip. Stained glass, soaring ceilings, and a soft, reverent hush that makes you want to speak a little quieter. It’s a neo-brasserie from the people behind Odette, so the French cooking is serious but not stiff – the menu reads like a home cook’s repertoire, executed with Michelin-level precision.
The roasted chicken is a signature, simple and golden-skinned, the kind of dish that quietly proves a point. Zucchini flowers are stuffed and fried to a delicate crunch, and the wine list is deep enough to reward a conversation with the sommelier. The MICHELIN Guide has taken note, and it’s easy to see why.
Address: 39C Harding Road, Singapore 249541
Hours: Daily lunch 11:45am–3pm, dinner 6pm–10pm
Phone: +65 8031 9935
Price: $$$$
Claudine Restaurant
This is the one for a quiet anniversary dinner or a date where you actually want to hear each other. The chapel architecture makes the room feel special without any effort, and the food matches the setting. We put this list together ourselves – nobody paid to be on it. If you run something that belongs here, tell us about it.
Min Jiang at Dempsey
Min Jiang is the Goodwood Park Hotel’s standalone Chinese restaurant tucked into a quiet Dempsey corner, and it does Sichuan and Cantonese with the kind of consistency you expect from a hotel group. The dining room is calm and carpeted, with large windows looking out onto greenery, and the private rooms are a boon for family gatherings where you need a bit of space.
Dim sum is the midday draw – har gow, siew mai, and xiao long bao all steamed to order. The Peking duck is the headliner, with skin that shatters on contact and a proper tableside carving. Sichuan dishes like mapo tofu and la zi ji bring the heat, balanced by cooler Cantonese plates. Service is attentive and unfussy.
Address: 7A & 7B Dempsey Road, Singapore 249684
Hours: Daily lunch 11:30am–2:30pm, dinner 6:30pm–10:30pm
Phone: +65 6774 0122
Price: $$$
Min Jiang at Dempsey
Book a round table for Sunday lunch with the grandparents, or reserve a private room when you have a birthday that needs a proper Chinese feast. It’s a safe pair of hands, and the Dempsey setting means you can take a walk afterwards to walk off the duck.
How to choose
Dempsey Hill restaurants all share a certain leafy, away-from-the-city feel, but they differ sharply in what they put on the plate and the mood they create. Start by deciding what kind of occasion you’re planning.
For a big celebration or a romantic evening: Claudine’s chapel setting is hard to beat. The Dempsey Cookhouse Bar also works well for birthdays and anniversaries, especially at brunch when the light floods the verandah. Both are on the higher end, so expect to spend around $100 or more per person with drinks.
For Peranakan food: You have two strong choices. Candlenut is the more refined, Michelin-starred experience, with set menus that take the thinking out of ordering. Violet Oon feels closer to a heritage home, and the à la carte format lets you build your own spread. Both are worth your time; the difference is mainly in atmosphere and price point (Candlenut tends to be pricier).
For a group that wants to share: Blu Kouzina is the most casual and budget-friendly option here, with platters designed for a crowd. The Greek food is hearty and forgiving, and the outdoor terrace is a nice spot when the weather cooperates. Min Jiang also excels at group dining, especially if you book a private room and order the Peking duck for the table.
For the barbecue lover: Burnt Ends is the obvious pick. The counter seats are the best way to experience it, but tables are available. Lunch is only three days a week, so plan ahead. Prices are up there with the fine-dining spots, but the portion sizes and the sheer quality of the meat justify the expense.
Most places here will run you $60–100 per person for a full meal without alcohol. Burnt Ends, The Dempsey Cookhouse Bar, Claudine, and Candlenut can tip past $100 easily once you add wine. Blu Kouzina and Violet Oon are more moderate, while Min Jiang sits somewhere in the middle. Reservations are a must for dinner, especially on weekends – some of these spots book out weeks in advance.
| Restaurant | Cuisine | Best for | Price guide | Standout dish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Dempsey Cookhouse Bar | Asian-inspired European | Brunch, celebrations | $$$$ | Egg Caviar |
| Candlenut | Peranakan | Refined heritage dining | $$$$ | Wagyu Beef Rib Rendang |
| Burnt Ends | Modern Australian barbecue | Casual-expensive, meat lovers | $$$$ | Bone Marrow Bun |
| Blu Kouzina | Greek | Group sharing, relaxed meals | $$$ | Meat Platter |
| Violet Oon Dempsey | Peranakan | Family lunches, visitor showcase | $$$ | Hati Babi Bungkus |
| Claudine Restaurant | French neo-brasserie | Date nights, quiet celebrations | $$$$ | Roasted Chicken |
| Min Jiang at Dempsey | Sichuan & Cantonese | Family gatherings, dim sum | $$$ | Peking Duck |
Summary
Dempsey Hill packs a lot of variety into a small, leafy corner. Whether it’s a special occasion or just a Tuesday night you want to make feel a bit more special, these seven restaurants give you a solid reason to drive up the winding road. Pick the one that matches your mood, book ahead, and enjoy the rare combination of good food and actual fresh air.
Disclaimer: All information was correct at the time of writing. Details like opening hours and menu items can change, so do confirm with the restaurant before heading down.
We put this list together ourselves – nobody paid to be on it. If you run something that belongs here, tell us about it.
Frequently asked questions
Which Dempsey restaurant is best for a romantic dinner?
Claudine Restaurant, set in a converted chapel, has the most naturally romantic setting with its stained glass and soft lighting. The Dempsey Cookhouse Bar is a close second if you prefer a verandah brunch that stretches into the evening.
Do I need to make a reservation?
Yes, especially for dinner on weekends. Burnt Ends and Candlenut can book out weeks ahead, so plan early. For weekday lunches, you might get away with a walk-in, but calling ahead is still safer.
Is there parking available at these restaurants?
Dempsey Hill has ample open-air parking lots scattered around the area. Most restaurants are within a short walk of a carpark, and parking is generally free or very affordable.
Are these restaurants kid-friendly?
Blu Kouzina and Min Jiang are the most naturally kid-friendly, with relaxed atmospheres and sharing plates that work for families. The higher-end spots like Candlenut and Claudine are welcoming but may feel a bit formal for very young children, especially at dinner.
What’s the dress code?
Smart casual works for almost all of them. Burnt Ends is the most laid-back; you can come in jeans and a tee. Claudine and The Dempsey Cookhouse Bar lean a little dressier – think collared shirts and dresses, but nothing too stiff.
Which restaurant has the best vegetarian options?
Blu Kouzina has the most obvious vegetarian-friendly dishes, with spreads like hummus, grilled vegetables, and salads. The Dempsey Cookhouse Bar and Min Jiang also have good choices, but it’s best to check the current menu or call ahead with specific dietary needs.
