For many professionals employed within the Central Business District (CBD), the availability of dining establishments is abundant, encompassing a broad spectrum from economical eateries to high-end fine dining venues. This variety ensures that individuals with diverse culinary preferences and budgets are well catered to during lunch hours and after-work engagements.
However, while hawker centres offer affordable and convenient options, they may not always provide the most nutritious meals. Recognising the importance of maintaining a balanced diet amidst demanding work schedules, we have curated several recommendations that fall within a moderate price range. These selected establishments place an emphasis on healthier ingredients and preparation methods, thereby offering more nutritious alternatives to typical hawker fare.
The following suggestions are intended to assist CBD workers in making informed decisions regarding their daily meal choices, prioritising both nutritional value and reasonable cost.
1. Little Ribbons Pasta Co.
Ambience:
- Beautiful, cosy Italian restaurant atmosphere
- Focus on comfort dining for pasta lovers
- Friendly, excellent customer service environment
Menu & Pricing:
- Aglio Olio: $9.90+
- Smoked Duck Breast pasta: $12.90+
- Carbonara: $11.90+
- Bolognese: $10.90+
- Pesto varieties: $10.90+
Cooking Style:
- Traditional pasta recipes with modern ingredients
- Fresh, hand-made pasta techniques
- Italian culinary methods
Location & Services:
- Address: 107 North Bridge Road, B2, K11 Funan, Singapore 179105
- Services: Dine-in, Take-out, Delivery
2. Sonny’s Pizza
Ambience:
- Authentic New York atmosphere with neon and retro fonts
- Warm, welcoming, family-friendly environment
- Big Apple vibes with American music
Menu & Pricing:
- Individual pizza slices: $4.50-6.50
- Whole pizzas (personal): $12-18
- Pepperoni pizza: $15.90
- Four Cheese Pizza: $16.90
- GM Pizza (speciality): $17.90
Location & Services:
- Address: 17 Circular Rd, Singapore 049373
- Contact: +65 9822 4825
- Services: Dine-in, Take-out, Delivery
3. Swissbake Cafe
Ambience:
- Quaint, charming cafe atmosphere
- Perfect for leisurely meals or catch-ups
Menu & Pricing:
- Avocado Cheese Sandwich: $8.50
- Mushroom Truffle Pizza: $14.90
- Salmon Pizza: $16.90
- Croissants: $3.50-4.50
- Coffee/Latte: $4.50-5.50
Location & Services:
- Address: 6 Eu Tong Sen St, #01-53 Clarke Quay Central, Singapore 059817
- Contact: +65 6221 2856
- Services: Dine-in, Take-out, Delivery
4. Pokomi
Ambience:
- Hawaiian-themed, fresh and vibrant setting
- Health-focused, colourful presentation
Menu & Pricing:
- Standard Poke Bowl: $8.90
- Premium Poke Bowl: $12.90
- Large Bowl: $14.90
- Add-ons: $1.50-3.00 each
- Drinks: $2.50-4.00
Location & Services:
- Address: 9 Raffles Pl, #B1-02 Republic Plaza, Singapore 048619
- Contact: +65 9782 7745
- Services: Dine-in, Take-out, Delivery
5. Rokus
Ambience:
- Korean-American fusion atmosphere
- Modern, trendy setting
Menu & Pricing:
- Gochujang Burger: $12.90
- Tteokbokki Burger: $13.90
- Mentaiko Fries: $8.90
- Korean Corn Dogs: $6.90-8.90
- Combo meals: $15.90-18.90
Location & Services:
- Address: 18 Raffles Quay, #22 Lau Pa Sat Stall, Singapore 048582
- Contact: +65 8448 0707
- Services: Dine-in, Take-out, Delivery, Pick-up
6. Dumpling Darling
Ambience:
- Cosy dumpling house atmosphere
- Quick service with efficient queue management
Menu & Pricing:
- 5-piece dumpling sets: $8.90-12.90
- Pork noodles: $9.90
- Vegetarian dumplings: $7.90
- Soup dumplings: $10.90
- Noodle soups: $11.90-13.90
Location & Services:
- Address: 86 Circular Rd, Singapore 049438
- Contact: +65 8889 9973
- Services: Dine-in, Take-out, Delivery
7. Arcade Fish Soup
Ambience:
- Hidden gem atmosphere
- Authentic Teochew dining experience
Menu & Pricing:
- Sliced Fish Soup (small): $6.50
- Sliced Fish Soup (large): $8.50
- Mixed Fish Soup: $9.50
- Fish Bee Hoon: $7.50
- Add rice: $1.00
Location & Services:
- Address: 5A Straits View, #B2-40 The Heart, Marina One, Singapore 018935
- Contact: +65 8566 9077
- Services: Dine-in, Take-out, Delivery
Top Additional CBD Meal Spots with Pricing
Hawker Centres & Food Courts
Lau Pa Sat (Telok Ayer Market) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Location: 18 Raffles Quay, Singapore 048582 Operating Hours: Daily 24 hours (most stalls 10 AM – 10 PM) Atmosphere: Historic national monument with outdoor Satay Street section
Popular Stalls & Pricing:
- Satay (outdoor): $0.70-1.00 per stick
- Chicken Rice: $3.50-5.50
- Char Kuey Teow: $4.00-6.00
- Laksa: $4.50-6.50
- Rojak: $4.00-5.50
- Fresh coconut water: $3.00-4.00
- Average meal cost: $4-6 per dish
Market Street Interim Hawker Centre
Location: 3 minutes’ walk from Raffles Place MRT. Highlights: Local crowd, authentic atmosphere
Pricing:
- Wanton Mee: $3.50-4.50
- Economic Rice: $3.00-5.00
- Prawn Noodles: $4.50-6.50
- Curry Rice: $4.00-6.00
Amoy Street Food Centre
Location: 7 Maxwell Road, Singapore 069111 Famous For: Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice
Pricing:
- Chicken Rice: $3.50-5.00
- Char Siu Rice: $4.50-6.00
- Fish Ball Noodles: $4.00-5.50
Mid-Range Restaurants
Ya Kun Kaya Toast (Multiple CBD outlets)
Specialties: Traditional Singaporean breakfast Pricing:
- Kaya Toast Set: $4.50-6.80
- Braised Pork Rice: $7.80
- Prawn Noodles: $8.80
- Curry Noodles: $9.80
The Daily Cut
Location: Various CBD locations Concept: Build-your-own healthy bowls Pricing:
- Build Your Own Bowl: $10.50-14.90
- Protein add-ons: $3.00-6.00
- Premium toppings: $1.50-3.00
Toast Box
Multiple CBD locations Pricing:
- Toast sets: $5.50-8.50
- Noodle dishes: $7.90-11.90
- Local coffee: $2.20-3.50
Quick Lunch Options
Japanese Curry Express (Various Food Courts)
Pricing:
- Japanese Curry Don: $5.90
- Fried Chicken: $1.80
- Katsu Curry: $8.90-12.90
Subway (Multiple CBD outlets)
Pricing:
- 6-inch subs: $6.50-9.90
- Footlong subs: $9.90-14.90
- Meal deals: $10.90-16.90
Old Chang Kee (Multiple outlets)
Pricing:
- Curry puffs: $1.50-2.20
- Sotong balls: $1.80-2.50
- Nasi Lemak burger: $4.90
Premium Lunch Sets (Business Dining)
Aapon (Indian Cuisine)
Business lunch sets: From $17. Full menu: $20-35 per main
Mediterranean/European Lunch Sets
Two-course business meals: From $35 per perso.n Location: Various CBD restaurants
New & Trendy Spots (2025)
Colombian Restaurant (Tras Street)
Opening: 2025 Pricing:
- Snacks from $8
- Appetisers from $12
- Mains from $38
Tapas Bars
Recent openings:
- Tapas from $6
- Wines from $14 per glass
Budget Breakdown by Meal Type
ULTRA BUDGET ($3-5 per meal)
- Hawker centres (Lau Pa Sat, Market Street)
- Roti prata: $1-3 per piece
- Economic rice stalls
- Local kopi/teh: $1.20-2.50
BUDGET ($5-10 per meal)
- Food court meals
- Ya Kun sets
- Pokomi bowls
- Simple noodle dishes
MID-RANGE ($10-20 per meal)
- Little Ribbons Pasta Co.
- Sonny’s Pizza
- Dumpling Darling
- The Daily Cut bowls
BUSINESS LUNCH ($15-35 per meal)
- Business lunch sets
- Japanese restaurants
- European cuisine
Monthly Food Budget Estimates
Ultra Budget Eater: $300-450/month
- Average daily cost: $16.89 for 3 hawker meals
- Breakfast: $3-4, Lunch: $5-7, Dinner: $6-8
Regular Office Worker: $600-900/month
- A mix of hawker centres and restaurants
- Breakfast: $5-7, Lunch: $8-15, Dinner: $12-20
Comfort Diner: $1,200-1,800/month
- Regular restaurant dining
- Business lunches and quality dinners
Best Value Recommendations by Location
Near Raffles Place MRT:
- Lau Pa Sat – $4-6 per dish
- Market Street Hawker Centre – $3.50-6 per dish
- Ya Kun Kaya Toast – $4.50-8.80 per set
Tanjong Pagar Area:
- Dumpling Darling – $8.90-13.90
- Arcade Fish Soup – $6.50-9.50
- Local coffee shops – $3-6 per meal
Marina Bay Financial District:
- The Daily Cut – $10.50-14.90
- Food Republic outlets – $6-12 per meal
- Kopitiam food courts – $4-8 per dish
Robinson Road/Cecil Street:
- Little Ribbons Pasta Co. – $9.90+ per dish
- Swissbake Cafe – $8.50-16.90
- Local zi char stalls – $5-12 per dish
This comprehensive pricing guide covers over 30 dining options across all budget ranges, ensuring you can eat well in Singapore’s CBD regardless of your budget constraints.
SUMMARY ANALYSIS
Pricing Tiers:
- Budget: SG $1-4 (Hawker centers, local coffee shops)
- Mid-range: SG $8-15 (Specialty coffee, casual dining
- Premium: Hotel dining, fine dining restaurants
Food Delivery Options:
- Limited Information: Most establishments appear to be dine-in focused
- Takeaway Available: Several hawker stalls and coffee shops
- No Delivery Mentioned: For most locations
Tourist Accessibility:
- Highest Value: Maxwell Food Centre, Tong Ah Eating House, Original Katong Laksa, Atlas Bar
- Moderate Accessibility: Most hawker centers and established restaurants
- Advance Planning Required: The Ampang Kitchen, Burnt Ends reservations
Cultural Significance:
- Historical: Tong Ah (1939), Singapore Zam Zam (1908), Song Fa (1969)
- Heritage Preservation: Kim Choo Kueh Chang, Tan’s Tu Tu Coconut Cake
- Modern Innovation: Burnt Ends, Cloudstreet, % Arabica
Cooking Techniques Highlighted:
- Traditional: Slow congee cooking, Chinese poaching, wok hei stir-frying
- Modern: Brick kiln cooking, contemporary plating, fusion techniques
- Regional: Peranakan home-style, Malay nasi padang, Indian Muslim preparations
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