We all know Singapore, and we all know about its incredible economic growth. We know it’s quite a small state, which total population is lower than that of New York City, (but with a higher GDP per capita). We know a lot of things about this amazing city, but today, we’ll tell you what you don’t know about it. Because, while it’s a tougher than ever job nowadays, it’s still possible to keep some secrets from the web.
What are we talking about? We’re talking about the hidden restaurants of Singapore. These hidden gems go from being hidden in plain sight (like gastrobars on rooftops) to true underground yakitori omakase joints.
So whether you like private, elite places or whether you’re just adventurous, these unique dining places are what we really want to try. So get your GPS and Google Maps ready, because we’re about to unveil our top five! Just to show you how actually secluded they are, we’ll also include pictures of each entrance, just so you can see for yourself.
1. Maggie Joan’s
This Mediterranean style restaurant is hidden behind an old, rusty industrial door, with only one entrance on a back alley. Being also a windowless restaurant, you’d never guess that behind that door you could taste food prepared by a UK chef with an impressive curriculum (head chef Oliver Hyde counts in his background also a job in Restaurant Gordon Ramsay). The red-bricked and cozy interior make up for a great hidden spot to enjoy a quiet meal (or also to impress dates and colleagues).
2. Bincho
This is a tough one. This Japanese hole-in-the-wall bar, is completely invisible, the only hint being some subtle lights outside a dark corner of its neighbourhood. It received quite some attention after being included in a local award-winning movie, but still, lots of taxi drivers, when asked to drive there, have no idea of such place.
3. Operation Dagger
Alright, so the name does sound a bit weird, and the only indication at street level are an inverted crown and a rectangle drawn on the wall near the door (not a lot, to be honest). None of us would ever even think about entering that door, let alone at night. But on the inside this (yes, you guessed right) windowless restaurants has a collection of 6.000 tiny light bulbs, making up for the lack of natural light in the place. This cocktail bar is definitely one of the coolest, and if you’re a fan of private and exclusive, well, we found your perfect match.
4. 28 Hong Kong Street
If there ever is a great example for “never judge a book by its cover”, it is definitely this cocktail bar, embodying the true definition of speakeasy, with its 1920s atmosphere and basically non-existing lighting (surprising, isn’t it?). Even with its hidden location and entrance, it still managed to be awarded the 1st place in the 2016 Asia’s Best Bars Award, so that definitely speaks for itself. And while they do have a website, it still doesn’t disclose any of the details of what goes on behind their doors, so that sparks everyone’s curiosity!
5. The Secret Mermaid
Calm Japanese salad store by day, American bar by night, this place has some of the American craft spirits that even Americans don’t know (just kidding). But they import very exclusive products, some of which only can be found in this location, they have everything. And being their philosophy “try it before you buy it”, you’ll have the chance to taste unique products, like handcrafted Bacon Vodka or Smoked Salmon Flavoured Vodka Alaska. And if you’re too undecided, just choose one of their tasting menus options: you’ll definitely live a unique experience!
Experiences like these, are what allows us to truly experiment the underground culture of a city or a country, and we have a great news: they exist everywhere! Yes, also in Italy, so let us know if you ever tried some places like this, and what you thought about it, we’re curious to know.