13 Best Restaurants in Clarke Quay and Riverside

To taste China’s finest in Singapore, you’d have thought a trip to Chinatown would be your best bet. However, Peony Jade at Clarke Quay certainly gives its Chinatown neighbours a run for their money, with their vast selection of fresh Cantonese treats served up in their equally vast, hall-like setting.

Peony Jade have gone for a “food meets art” concept, with works such as their deep-fried prawns in the creamy yolk, slow-cooked, Cantonese pork soups, and Imperial Swiftlet’s nest all impressing our eyes as much as our taste buds. You can find Peony Jade right at the centre of the main Clarke Quay roofed section of bars and restaurants, just a few minutes’ walks from the main MRT.

Coriander Leaf is where you can sit down and enjoy a fine dining experience with selections of traditional and interpreted dishes from the Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Orient. The award-winning restaurant is also popular for its demo cooking classes which it regularly holds in its dedicated cooking studio. 

Besides a main dining room that seats up to 50 and a private dining room for a party of up to 20, there’s a bar serving signature cocktails, including Coriander Leaf’s own Old Fashioned – Nikka From the Barrel whiskey infused with mandarin peel. You can also take-away for when you’re on the run exploring Clarke Quay and the Riverside areas. 

This picturesque riverside spot is located at Robertson Quay, just a short stroll upriver from the main Clarke Quay area. Seafood fans are in for a real treat with this one, as Red House does some of the best about, including crab, lobster, shellfish and a variety of fish dishes.

Their flexible dining options cater for all, with guests able to select individual dishes from the a la carte menu or opt for a set lunch or dinner menu for two or more people. The huge dining room-like space with its big round tables is great for larger parties too, and Red House’s impressive set menus for groups of ten or more start at around S$50 per head.

Hokkaido Santouka Ramen is a noodle chain heralding all the way from the shores of Hokkaido and is one of Singapore’s favourite ramen joints. With a vast portfolio of stores worldwide, Santouka has become synonymous with serving up delicious bowls of those thick yellow noodles in an equally delicious accompanying broth, all at a more than reasonable price.

The Clarke Quay venue is the only one in Singapore and can be conveniently be accessed in Central Mall, meaning there is direct access from Clarke Quay MRT.

Ya Hua Bak Kut Teh is an iconic restaurant that has been around since the 1970s and is one of the most successful due to the peppery yet balanced broth and succulent meat. Pork bone tea is a classic local dish in Singapore, and there are plenty of restaurants specialising in this stewed pork rib dish.

It has been so successful, in fact, that they now have 6 branches, with plans to open more. The best branch to try the Teochew-style dish is Havelock Road, which is accessible from Tiong Bahru or Clarke Quay.

Wings Bar takes its name from both the food it serves and the 1940’s aviation theme which is evident throughout. To find this popular American eatery, head to Clarke Quay and look for the replica plane hanging above its entrance (which is actually the largest P-51 Mustang model in Asia), and then follow the replica runway down into the main restaurant area.

As for the food, you’d can’t come to a place with a name like this and not try their speciality; their tantalising variety of sticky chicken wings (as well as ribs) are certainly not to be missed. Wash all that feel-good American food down with a beer and you’ve got yourself an all-round fun, tasty, (and a little gimmicky) dining experience.

For decades, the Princess Terrace Café at the Copthorne King's Hotel has been serving up one of the best-loved Penang buffets in Singapore. Of course, as with any comprehensive spread of Penang’s finest, you’ll find plenty of Penang laksa, satay chicken, duck mee sua and Penang curries, whilst Nyonya kueh and soya bean curd are served up for afters.

The buffet lunch starts at around S$40 and dinner will cost you about S$10 extra: not bad at all, especially when you consider that you’re dining in a posh hotel at one of the country’s most adored Malaysian feasts.

Kinara is a group of restaurants with several branches spread throughout Singapore. The restaurant on Boat Quay follows a consistent theme, with the decor set in the Haveli style of Northern India.

Enter the beautifully carved doors into a resplendent Rajasthani interior and encounter a world of fine cuisine from the Northwest frontier of India. An elaborate list of specialities from the Tandoor and Tawa waits. It’s an ideal venue for romantic dining as well.

Renn Thai is a restaurant that carries on the tradition of Genghis Khan, where diners in this tented restaurant can choose among a staggering variety of ingredients, condiments, and sauces and take them to the chef to cook. The result is exactly what you have chosen.

Dining on the riverside can be a great idea for romantic date nights out in Singapore – the fun way of ordering your meals at Renn Thai can add a fun aspect to the overall experience. A 2-course set lunch offer includes your choices of soup and mains which range from Phad Woon Sen (Thai fried glass noodles with chicken) to the popular Tom Yum Goong.