365days2playThis is an updated article to the previous What to eat at the Singapore Botanic Gardens that I wrote quite some years back. A lot has changed since then. Not only has our beloved Singapore Botanic Gardens been inscribed as a World Heritage Site on 4th July 2015, it has also seen a number of significant expansions in the form of the new Learning Forest, the new Gallop Extension, newly redeveloped Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden and National Orchid Garden. If you’ve not visited the Singapore Botanic Gardens in recent years, you really should! In fact, I think it would take several days to fully cover every single aspect of the Gardens, as the area is so vast!
So, the question is, what is there to eat at the Singapore Botanic Gardens? There are quite a number of F&B options at the Gardens suiting all budgets, ranging from a Michelin-starred fine-dining restaurant, to casual restaurants and cafes, takeaway kiosks and even a food court. As the Botanic Gardens is so huge, I will segment the F&B outlets by location:
– Bukit Timah Gate (nearest Botanic Gardens MRT Station)
– Nassim Gate
– Tyersall Gate
– Tanglin Gate (nearest to Gleneagles Hospital and bus stop with buses to Orchard Road)
These are also where the car parks are located. If you refer to the Singapore Botanic Gardens map, the Bukit Timah Gate is on the far right, followed by Nassim Gate and Tyersall Gate in the middle of the Gardens, and Tanglin Gate on the far left.
Bukit Timah Gate (nearest Botanic Gardens MRT Station)
Bee’s Knees at The Garage (Cafe)
Photo Credit: National Parks Board
Sister cafe to Botanico and located on the ground floor of The Garage, the Bee’s Knees is a garden cafe by day and a casual night hangout spot come dusk. It is the nearest cafe to the Botanic Garden MRT Station and is pet friendly.
Bee’s Knees offers a breakfast menu of eggs, waffles, house-made fruit bowls, and cakes, a Pizza and Pasta menu, as well as an extensive Salad and Sandwich menu, making it a convenient stop should you be walking your dog or coming from the MRT station. Picnic baskets for 2 pax are also available at $35 nett.
Address: 50 Cluny Park Road, Level 1, Cluny Park Gate (Singapore 257488)
Contact details: 9815 3213 | beesknees@thegarage.sg
Social Media: http://www.thegarage.sg/bees-knees/ | http://www.facebook.com/beeskneessg | https://www.instagram.com/beeskneessg/
Opening Hours: 8am to 10pm
Menu: http://www.thegarage.sg/bees-knees/
Food Review: https://365days2play.com/2017/06/11/bees-knees-cafe-amidst-lush-greenery-at-the-singapore-botanic-gardens/
Botanico at The Garage (Restaurant)
Photo Credit: National Parks Board
Sister restaurant to the Bee’s Knees and located on the upper floor of The Garage, Botanico is a garden restaurant and bar. Botanico offers a seasonality-driven menu featuring contemporary European cuisine with Asian inflection. Equipped with a blooming indoor dining hall and a verdant outdoor terrace and bar, the restaurant and bar is also an enchanting destination for weddings, corporate and social events.
Brunch favourites include Iberico "Chee Cheong Fun" and Smashed avo on Toast while mains feature dishes like Truffle Carbonara, slow cooked Kurobuta pork belly and Wagyu Rump Cap.
Address: 50 Cluny Park Road, Level 2, Cluny Park Gate (Singapore 257 488)
Contact details: 9831 1106 | enquiry@thegarage.sg
Social Media: http://thegarage.sg/botanico | http://www.facebook.com/botanicosg | https://www.instagram.com/botanicosg/
Opening Hours: Closed Monday & Tuesday | Wed to Fri 6pm – 10.30pm | Sat & Sun 11am – 3pm & 6pm – 10.30pm
Menu: http://www.thegarage.sg/botanico/
Food Review: https://365days2play.com/2017/10/16/halia-at-singapore-botanic-gardens-is-now-certified-halal/
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Food For Tots (Cafe)
Photo Credit: Food For Tots
Food For Tots is a kid-friendly café which hopes to instill an appreciation for the environment in children.The 40-seater eco-conscious café features an upcycled colander light installation, themed recycling bins and a potted herb wall — all to instill a love for nature in its visitors. There is an interactive play area complete with a little reading nook.
Under whimsical fairy lights, the little ones can sip on a babyccino and indulge in Food For Tots’ all-day brunch items. The extensive kids menu includes Chocolate Banana Pancakes, Blueberry Smoothie Pancake, Yoghurt bowls and DIY Beef Burger. Pricing ranges between $6.50 – $10.50. The Adult menu includes all-day breakfast favourites like scrambled eggs, brioche toast, burgers and fish and chips.
Address: 1H Cluny Road, Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden, #01-K, Singapore 259569 (Inside Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden next to entrance)
Contact details: 6338 4848 | jb@foodforthought.com.sg
Social Media: http://www.foodforthought.com.sg/
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 9am – 5pm |Closed every Monday unless PH.
Menu: https://foodforthought.com.sg/s/Food-for-Tots-Menu_18-June-2020.pdf
JUJU (Takeaway Kiosk)
Photo Credit: JUJU Instagram
JUJU is a smoothie and bowl bar serving up frozen treats. The smoothie bowls are free of refined sugars and are handcrafted in small batches using only natural whole food ingredients. JUJU Bowls include acai, red dragon fruit, chocolate oats as well as other options. Grilled sandwiches as well as beverages such as cold brews, matcha lattes, nut milks and slow-pressed juices are available. Prices range from $6.50 for a sandwich, to $8.50 for a JUJU Bowl and $6+ for beverages.
Address: Visitor Services @ Bukit Timah Gate
Contact details: 93892042
Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/thejujubar/
Opening Hours: Mondays to Fridays: 11am – 7pm | Saturdays & Sundays: 9am – 7pm | Public Holidays: 9am – 6pm
Menu: JUJU Menu
Nassim Gate
Corner House (Restaurant)
Photo Credit: Corner House website
Located in a Black and White bungalow designated as a Conserved Building that was once the residence of E J H Corner, the assistant director of the Singapore Botanic Gardens, Corner House the restaurant is steeped in a bygone elegance. Since opening in 2014, the restaurant has gone on to achieve a Michelin Star as well as numerous accolades including Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants for the past few years. Bordeaux, France born and raised Executive Chef David Thein recently took over in March 2020 from previous Chef-Owner Jason Tan.
The food at Corner House features a combination of French and Asian cuisines, offered in an omakase style dining experience. Lunch ranges from $78 – $218 (3 – 7 courses) while dinner ranges from $168 – $268 ( 5, 7 course or Chef’s Menu)
Address: Nassim Gate (Visitor Centre), 1 Cluny Road, E J H Corner House, Singapore 259569
Contact details: 6469 1000 | enquiries@cornerhouse.com.sg
Social Media: https://cornerhouse.com.sg/space/ | https://www.instagram.com/cornerhousesg/ | https://www.facebook.com/cornerhouseSG
Opening Hours: Tuesday to Friday 12pm – 3pm, 6.30pm – 11pm | Saturday, Sunday 11.30am – 3pm. 6.30pm – 11pm | Closed every Monday
Menu: Omakase style / Degustation
Food Review: https://365days2play.com/2014/07/28/corner-house-at-the-singapore-botanic-gardens/
Casa Verde (Cafe / Restaurant)
Casa Verde has been around at the Singapore Botanic Gardens for more than a decade. Before having brunch at third wave cafes became a thing in Singapore, all day breakfasts were already available here. It is particularly popular for brunch on the weekends. Due to its centralised location in the Gardens, and huge car park nearby, Casa Verde is almost always bustling all day long.
Brunch items include Cinnamon Brioche French Toast, Waffles, Eggs Benedict and Gourmet Breakfast, price ranging from $14 – $20. The wood-fired pizzas here are good too, starting from $19. Local delights such as Bak Kut Teh, Laksa, Seafood Hor Fun are also available for approx $15.
Address: Visitor Centre, Nassim Gate, 1 Cluny Road, Singapore 259569
Contact details: 6467 7326 | casaverde@lesamis.com.sg
Social Media: http://www.casaverde.com.sg/
Opening Hours: Daily 7.30am – 10pm (Last order at 9.30pm)
Menu: https://www.casaverde.com.sg/menu
Food Review: https://365days2play.com/2017/06/27/singapore-botanic-gardens-heritage-festival-lots-to-eat-see-and-do/
Cluny Food Hall
Photo Credit: National Parks Board Facebook
The only food court at the Botanic Gardens, and possibly the only food court in Singapore with such greenery, Cluny Food Hall offers Singapore local delights just like any other food court in Singapore. Nasi Lemak, Mixed Rice (Cai Png) Noodles and even toast bread with eggs and kopi / teh are available at average food court pricing. Tucked amongst these stalls is Di Wei Teochew Restaurant, which offers Teochew Cold Crab and Fried Kuay Teow with preserved radish.
The Cluny Food Court is the place to go for the cheapest food at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. For example an Egg Prata is $1.60, Chicken Rice is $3.50 and Toast, Egg and Coffee set is $4.20. And it’s surprisingly not very crowded especially outside of peak hours due to its slightly hidden spot. It is located 3 minutes walk away from the Nassim Gate Visitor Centre, just "outside" of the Botanic Gardens.
Address: Raffles Building, Nassim Gate, 1 Cluny Road, Singapore 259569
Contact details: 6763 6578 | enquiry@clunyfoodhall.com
Social Media: http://www.clunyfoodhall.com/
Opening Hours: Daily 7am – 8pm
Menu: http://www.clunyfoodhall.com/
Food Review: https://365days2play.com/2013/09/09/what-to-eat-at-the-singapore-botanic-gardens-food-canopy/
Tyersall Gate
Halia Restaurant (Cafe / Restaurant)
Photo Credit: Halia Website
Talk about dining in a garden setting, Halia Restaurant takes the cake as it is ensconced within the Singapore Botanic Garden’s ginger garden. Stretch out your hand from your seat at the alfresco section and you will brush against plants. The only other halal restaurant in the Gardens, Halia is Malay for ginger.
Popular dishes here include the Braised Wagyu "Nasi Lemak" $22, Cauliflower & Shallot Bake $26 and Singapore-style Chilli Crab Spaghettini $26. Breakfast and brunch dishes are also available. Also very popular are their spiced drinks such as Hot Spice Islands Coffee $6 and Hot Cardamom Milk Tea $8. Communal feast platters are also available, although not during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Address: Ginger Garde, Tyersall Gate, 1 Cluny Road, Singapore 259569 (Enter via Tyersall Avenue if driving)
Contact details: 8444 1148 | general.hsbg@thehalia.com
Social Media: http://www.thehalia.com/
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 9am – 9pm | Saturday, Sunday & Public Holidays 10am – 9pm | Last order at 8.30pm
Menu: https://thehalia.com/menu/#all-day-menu
Halal Certification: Halal Certification achieved 1 June 2017
Food Review: https://365days2play.com/2017/10/16/halia-at-singapore-botanic-gardens-is-now-certified-halal/
The Provisions (Takeaway Kiosk) by Halia
The Provisions Store is a "grab & go" air-conditioned kiosk where you can get ready to eat chilled items such as gourmet sandwiches, ice cream and freshly baked pastries. Gourmet gifts and souvenirs such as Chilli Crab Sauce Ginger Pineapple Jam and Ginger Flower Sauce are also available.
Address: Ginger Garden, Tyersall Gate, 1 Cluny Road, Singapore 259569 (Enter via Tyersall Avenue if driving)
Contact details: 6475 6711 / query@provisions-store.com
Social Media: www.provisions-store.com
Opening Hours: Mon to Fri: 8am — 5pm | Sat & Sun: 8am — 7pm
Forest Pavilion (Takeaway Kiosk) by Halia
Photo Credit: National Parks Board
Similar to The Provisions above, the Forest Pavilion also offers a wide array of ready to eat chilled items.
Address: Learning Forest / Keppel Discovery Wetlands, Tyersall Gate, 1 Cluny Road, Singapore 259569 (Enter via Tyersall Avenue if driving)
Contact details: 9653 7775 | info@forestpavilion.com
Social Media: http://fb.com/forestpavilion
Opening Hours: Daily, 8am - 5pm
Menu: http://bit.ly/forestpavmenu
Tanglin Gate
Fusion Spoon
Photo Credit: Fusion Spoon Facebook
Located just beside the Tanglin Gate underground carpark, Fusion Spoon is a spacious casual dining place that is very family friendly. A wide selection of food is available here ranging from Western to Chinese, Japanese and Korean. Local delights such as Nyonya curry with rice, ginger fried beef with rice, mee goreng etc are available at avg pricing of $8. There is even a waffle and Korean bingsu ice kiosk available. Fusion Spoon is halal-certified.
There is an indoor and outdoor play area for kids, however this is closed during the Covid-19 pandemic until further notice.
Address: Singapore Botanic Gardens, 1 Cluny Road, Tanglin Gate, #B1-00, Singapore 259569
Contact details: 6255 5110 | inquiries@fusionspoon.com
Social Media: http://www.facebook.com/fusionspoonatbotanicgardens | http://www.instagram.com/fusionspoonatbotanicgardens
Opening Hours: Daily 7.00am — 10.00pm
Menu: http://fpgrp.com.sg/fusion-spoon-at-botanic-garden/menu-main.html
Halal Certification: Yes since 29 May 2018
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