Holland Village has gone from one of the most popular expat hangouts in the early 2000s to a destination for all of Singapore to enjoy. With easy access by MRT, bus connections and plenty of parking in and around the precinct.
If it's been awhile between visits, maybe it's time to revisit your old stomping ground or better still introduce one of your newbie friends to this vibrant shopping and dining enclave. Image Credit: Martin Zwerts SG Facebook Page
JOMO
Open 7-days a week, JOMO offers dine in and take-away options. The family-friendly menu has a wide selection of dishes including aged Aussie angus burgers, deep-fried pork belly, and homemade pies all from master butchers Sidecar Handcrafted. Other highlights include a 1.2 kg meat platter with fries and coleslaw, enough for 5 people and priced at only $88 nett. JOMO has over 250 wines and spirits, including 40 gins by the bottle, and 50 wines at $50 nett per bottle. JOMO’s super-dry low-carb lager beer is available together with four beers on tap at $8 nett per pint ($6 nett during Happy Hour). Take-away 2.5L beer pouches are also on offer at $28 nett, and there is no surcharge for take-away or in-house dining.
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Additional Info: Nearest MRT is Holland Village
Wala Wala
Image Credit: Wala Wala Cafe Bar Facebook Page
One of the best places in Holland Village to sit back after work with a glass of chilled beer and sumptuous bar bites is Wala Wala. The vibe here is amazing and what we love is the extensive beer and spirit choices they have. To melt all your worries away, we recommend trying their signature cocktail, Gin Soho, a mix of gin, elderflower liqueur, ginger ale, muddled ginger and lemongrass. Pair these with breaded deep-fried jalapenos stuffed with cream cheese, Wala Wala Buffalo Wings or Pizza Wala. If you’re famished go straightaway for their Chargrilled Ribeye with sauteed mushrooms.
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Fosters
Image Credit: Fosters Restaurant Facebook Page
Nothing can satiate the craving for a juicy steak quite like the Fosters Steakhouse, one of the oldest ones in Singapore and famous for their Fillet Fantastique - a prime fillet grilled to perfection and served with crispy fried onions and button mushrooms for the added oomph. We also love their Carpetbag steak, a tenderloin stuffed with fresh oysters and Minute Steak Beef Sandwich. Their Lobster Bisque is flavourful and their farmhouse fare like the Oxtail Stew, Grilled Lamb Racks and BBQ Pork Spare Ribs are definitely worth a try.
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Da Paolo Pizza Bar
Image Credit: Da Paolo Pizza Bar Facebook Page
Bake a pizza in a stone oven and you get a crust like no other - thin, crunchy and totally letting the toppings sing on your tastebuds. Relish such kickass pizzas at Da Paolo and to get a taste of their best go for their Four Way Pizza featuring fried pizza filled with mozzarella and tomato, folded pizza with salami and ricotta, red pizza with parma ham and wild rocket and white pizza with mushroom and truffle. Their bruschetta, goat cheese fritters, truffle fries and fresh salads are amazing and you should pair all of this grub with a glass of wine.
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Project Acai
Image Credit: Project Açaí Facebook Page
It might get overwhelming for those of us looking for a simple, healthy meal amidst the high on fat and fiery grub around Holland Village. Enter Project Acai making the most out of nutritious acai berry and packing up dairy-free, vegetarian, vegan-friendly and gluten-free bowls. We already know how delicious acai berry is and after pairing it with other fresh fruits, granola, nut butter, the bowls here taste amazing. You can also ask them to whip up a delicious, thick smoothie for you or you can even sit back and enjoy a cup of tea, coffee or kombucha.
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The Pit Restaurant & Bar
Image Credit: The Pit Restaurant & Bar Facebook Page
The Pit holds true to its name and offers you the right kind of a place when all you want is multiple rounds of chilled beer with your buddies and fuss-free food. The menu is simple but the food is top notch and extremely tasty. Their cheeseburger is made of hand-ground beef patty, melted cheese and a special in-house sauce making it worth every bite. Even their nachos come fully loaded with tortilla, seasoned ground beef, gooey cheese, kidney beans, black olives, jalapeno, sour cream and salsa. Yum!
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d’Good Cafe
Image Credit: d' Good Café Facebook Page
The perfect place to unwind with a cup of freshly brewed coffee sitting in a gorgeous lawn or a beautiful balcony is a dream come true thanks to d’Good Cafe. They’re quite passionate about tea and coffee and have their own blends too. Pair your hot cuppa with some delicious breakfast options like Egg Upon Egg on Toast, Croque Madame, English Muffins and Portobello Eggs Benedict or simply pair it with a slice of Little Nyonya or a Deutsch Skillet Pancake. They’ve also got some serious eats like Bacon Carbonara, Lobster Roll, Seafood Risotto and Fresh Sea Prawn Aglio Olio.
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Black Marble by Otto
Image Credit: Black Marble Singapore Facebook Page
With a sheer genius like Chef Otto Weibel helming the restaurant there comes no ounce of doubt about the excellent food served at the tables of Black Marble. The grilled specialties here are the showstoppers be it the Wagyu Striploin, Grain-fed Lamb Rack or the Norwegian Salmon served with a choice of tasty homemade sauces. Amongst the sides we love their Creamy Cheese Baby Spinach, 24-hour Brine Hand-cut Fries and Balsamic Roasted Carrots. Do try the signatures like Lobster and Scallop Saffron Risotto and Wagyu Beef Burger made with toasted brioche buns.
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a. Raffles Holland V Mall, 118 Holland Ave, Singapore 278997, #02-01
Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao
Image Credit: Crystal Jade
The fun of biting into a Xiao Long Bao is the flavour-packed soup which oozes out and enhances the taste of the tender pork dumpling. Try this Shanghainese specialty at Crystal Jade, a restaurant famous for their soup dumplings and hand-pulled noodles. Their spicy chilli crab bao is our favourite and the Signature Szechuan Dan Dan La Mian is a must try. While the limelight is taken by the baos, their dim sum is top notch too and we recommend the Sauteed Japanese Cucumber with Minced Meat & Dried Chilli and the Wuxi Deep-fried White Bait.
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a. 241 Holland Ave, Singapore 278976
Kinara
Image Credit: Kinara Group of Restaurants Facebook Page
Craving for some Malai Kofta, Naan and Chaas? Kinara is all set to wow you with its North Indian delights. Start off with a soothing Crab Soup, Hara Bhara Kebab and Subz Punjabi Samosas. Starters like Fish Amritsari, Kebab Tashtari and Chicken Tikka are a must have if you’re planning to have a round of cocktails. Their menu is extensive and they make sure all their patrons, be it a biryani lover to a rasmalai junkie, no one is disappointed. Our staple order is Adraki Chop, Dal Kinara, Lucknowi Biryani and a round or two of Kulfi.
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El Patio
Image Credit: El Patio Mexican Restaurant & Wine Bar Facebook Page
We’d never say no to meaty tacos and the potent, El Patio’s Mango Margarita. The vibe of the bar is great for hanging out with your friends and catching up over beer, wine, assorted spirits and of course their lip smacking cocktails. Tuck into their Burrito if you need a quick pick-me-up or invest your time relishing their Beef Enchiladas with guajillo adobo or Marinated Lamb Fajita. Their Ranchero Buffalo Wings served with spicy chipotle adobo is perfect with a round of drinks and you can always go for the classics like Nachos and Loaded Fries.
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Baden
Image Credit: Baden Restaurant & Pub Facebook Page
Sip on a chilled Erdinger Weissbier, Heineken or Guinness and chow down on delicious bar bites at Baden, your soon-to-be go-to bar in Holland Village. They are experts in all things fried and we recommend going for the Volle Servierplatte if you’re going with a bunch of friends as it features fries, wedges, onion rings, samosas, nuggets, calamari rings, cuttlefish balls, breaded prawns chicken wings and deep-fried mini squid. They’ve got an entire menu section dedicated to sausages and we recommend going for the Kalbfleisch Wurste, a pair of veal-pork sausages.
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2am: dessertbar
Image Credit: 2am: dessertbar Facebook Page
Intimate dinners were never this sweet nor were gourmet desserts this pleasant on the taste buds; but Janice Wong has worked her magic at the amazing, 2am: dessertbar and we’re just loving every bit of it. Enjoy innovative delights like Popcorn Malt Potato, TWIX, Cacao Forest with Earl Grey Cherry Cotton Candy, Strawberry Caprese and Chocolate H2O. You can also get comfortable with the classics like churros, chocolate brownie, hot chocolate, tiramisu, madeleines or a toffee pudding with sea salt caramel ice cream.
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a. 21A Lor Liput, Singapore 277733
#WTF at Holland Village (Siem Reap Cafe)
Image Credit: IndoChine Group Facebook Page
A standout amidst the bustling bar scene at Holland Village, #WTF will make you feel the good weekend vibes every time you visit. Bring friends along or make some new ones as you bond over wine and tapas. They’ve got plenty of beers, ales and cocktails for those who’re not big on wine. Relish delicious Asian delights like Deep-fried Spring Rolls, Fresh Rice Paper Rolls, Larb Chicken and Crispy Tofu. We are particularly in love with their Papaya Salad and signatures like Crabmeat & Pineapple Fried Rice, Viet Garlic & Pepper Prime Beef and Fish & Chips.
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Sanpoutei Ramen
Image Credit: Sanpoutei Ramen Facebook Page
We believe in the healing powers of a spicy ramen when the day hasn’t gone quite right and Sanpoutei Ramen is one of the best places to savour this hearty delicacy. We love their Nikumori Spicy Rich Miso Ramen topped with stewed pork belly slices, Kotteri Se Abura Ramen made with dried small sardines, soy sauce and pork backfat. All their ramens are topped with a flavoured soft-boiled egg, enhancing the overall experience. The staff would be happy to recommend a Japanese rice wine or sake to go with your flavour-packed bowl of ramen.
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Fatboy’s The Burger Bar
Image Credit: Fatboy's The Burger Bar Holland Village Facebook Page
Indulge in American favourites at Fatboy’s The Burger Bar as you bite into a juicy Classic Cheese Burger, a side of Beef Chilli Cheese Fries and pair it with a thick chocolate or strawberry milkshake. For a breakfast experience packed in a burger go for The Elvis - bacon stuffed pork patty with bacon, grilled bananas and creamy peanut butter on a honey oat bun or amp up the spice levels with The Burgatory. You can also indulge in other American delights like The Stiffee Foot Long, Waffle Fried Chicken, Philly Cheese Steak and Steak & Onion Sandwich.
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Martin Zwerts
Image Credit: Martin Zwerts SG Facebook Page
Crispy frites made with Dutch potatoes and paired with irresistible sauces at Martin Zwerts is a treat you deserve. This award-winning restaurant is the “potato daddy” in Holland Village and you can pair your fries with tasty Dutch snacks - frikandel, kroket, bitterballen and even hotdogs. We love tucking into their Triple Cheese Hotdog or MZ Special Hotdog and making it a combo. They’ve got 19 sauces to go with their amazing frites and snacks and we really love their Kerrie Sauce, Cheese Special Sauce, Garlic Frite Sauce and Oorlog Sauce.
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The Daily Scoop
Image Credit: The Daily Scoop Ice Cream Cafe Facebook Page
Churning creamy yet light ice-creams every day and scooping them in cones baked in-house, The Daily Scoop loves to play with seasonal ingredients. This is why you’ll find flavours changing every week and we love trying them all. You can find boozy delights here like Baileys Choc Chip, Lychee Martini and Brandied Figs & Honey. We like the fruity ones including Lemon Sherbet, Surprising Coconut and Strawberry Shortcake and their Fun-Kryeations - Fun! Fetti, Rosy Cloud and Thai Chai. You can order your favourite flavours to be home-delivered or take a date to their cutesy parlour and share a scoop or two!
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363 Katong Laksa
Image Credit: 328 Katong Laksa Facebook Page
Craving a quick, tasty meal in Holland Village? Satiate your hunger pangs with a bowl of slurp worthy laksa at 363 Katong Laksa. This laksa shop is popular in the area and has a simple menu. The place is perfect for a filling lunch of Nasi Lemak with chicken or fish, Otak Mackerel Fish or some deep-fried fish, chicken wings or chicken thigh. The laksa itself is delicious and comes with a flavourful broth topped with fish cake, cockles and dried tofu. They have canned soda drinks to pair with your food and they don’t serve pork or lard.
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a. 1 Lor Mambong, Singapore 277700, #01-15
Cha Cha Cha
Image Credit: Cha Cha Cha Mexican Restaurant Facebook Page
Dance your way in and out of Cha Cha Cha because this amazing Mexican restaurant has completed 30 whole years and is so worth visiting. While it has a family-friendly vibe, you’ll find a lot of youth hanging out here and once we tasted their potent cocktails like Mexico Sling, Singapore Sling and Long Island Iced Tea, we became regulars too. Their menu has all the Mexican favourites including chimichangas nachos, burritos, burrito bowls, tacos, enchiladas and quesadillas. Get your preferred fillings in each of these or indulge in some delicious mains. We recommend getting empanadas or churros for dessert!
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Original Sin
Image Credit: Original Sin Restaurant Facebook Page
Tuck into sinfully delicious Mediterranean and Italian food at Original Sin and surprise your taste buds because the food here is meat-free. One bite into their creamy burrata, roasted cauliflower, fried feta or falafel and you’ll find yourself ordering the mains - moussaka, spanakopita, tandoori skewer, vegan bolognese, cannelloni and lasagna. You can also come here for their crispy pizzas topped with freshest vegetables and a generous helping of mozzarella. Do ask the server for wine recommendations to go with your food and end your meal with either the lava cake or the delicious vegan brownie.
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a. Chip Bee Garden, Holland Village, Block 43 Jalan Merah Saga 278115
