Tong Ah Eating House

Regarded as the national breakfast of Singapore, kaya toast is many Singaporeans’ go-to first meal of the day. Also popular for tea — and even supper — kaya toast is often accompanied by soft-boiled eggs served with a hot drink (typically coffee or tea). Many kopitiams serve this dish, but if you want to immerse yourself in sweet nostalgia while enjoying your breakfast, Tong Ah Eating House is the place to go. 

Tong Ah’s kaya toast is head and shoulders above the rest, thanks to its homemade kaya, which, spread on top of the toast, is a smattering of crunchy sweetness in your mouth. Fortified by a dollop of savoury butter and washed down with traditional kopi (Singapore-styled coffee) or teh (Singapore-styled tea), it powers you up for the challenges of the day. 

Throughout your meal, you can soak in the coconut-and-egg rich aromas of the fragrant kaya and the heritage-rich ambience of the retro-styled eatery.

Get directions to Tong Ah Eating House (1km away from PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering)

Zam Zam Restaurant

Sink your teeth into a burst of umami rich flavours with the popular dish of Murtabak — a Middle-East inspired dish brought to Singapore by Tamil Muslim traders way back in the past. Comprising of stuffed or pan-fried pancakes filled with minced meat and egg, murtabaks are fried to a delectable golden crisp and enjoyed with curry gravy. 

To enjoy one of the best murtabak in Singapore, pay a visit to Zam Zam Restaurant — its mutton murtabak is considered legendary by many locals.  Established in 1908, Zam Zam is one of the oldest restaurants in the country. The two-storey restaurant still stands at its original spot close to the Arab enclave in Singapore. The ground floor houses a kitchen while its second level provides an air-conditioned dining area.

Get directions to the Zam Zam Restaurant (500m away from PARKROYAL on Beach Road, Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Beach Road and PARKROYAL Serviced Suites Singapore)

Ananda Bhavan Restaurant

Vegetarians rejoice! With sizable Hindu and Buddhist communities in Singapore, there are myriad animal-friendly eating places to consider. 

Wish to tantalize your taste-buds with planet-friendly Indian food? Ananda Bhavan Restaurant is the place to try. Opened in 1924, the restaurant is the oldest Indian vegetarian eatery in Singapore offering South Indian cuisine.

While naans (oven-baked flatbreads) or dosas/ thosais (thin rice and lentil pancakes) may be dishes you are familiar with, try the Pav Bhaji instead. This standout dish is exclusive to Ananda Bhavan. Bursting with flavours from its unique blend of spices, Pav Bhaji is served with pillowy toasted buns that add a spot of spongy sweetness to a heavily flavoured dish. Another must-try here is the Vegetarian Biryani Set, which comes with a platter of mini curries, crunchy poppadoms and dahls. 

Get directions to the Ananda Bhavan Restaurant 

Shashlik Restaurant

Most Singaporeans above 40 would have heard of the Shashlik Restaurant — a beloved culinary icon favoured by old-school diners. Opened in 1986, Shashlik serves up Russian cuisine with a Hainanese twist. The restaurant brings back oodles of old-world glamour — well-coiffured waiters don uniforms with smart red vests and bow ties while tables are dressed in the restaurant’s signature yellow cloth. 

If you plan to visit, try signature dishes like the Borsch Soup (a symphony of savoury, sweet and sour tastes), the legendary Oxtail Stew (with meat that melts in your mouth), or the Hainanese Pork Chop (crunchy and toasty). And if your tummy has some room left, go for the Baked Alaska — a sinfully-rich concoction  of ice cream and cake topped with flame-browned meringue. While you dine, regale yourself with the restaurant’s history by gazing at the pictures on its walls. 

Get directions to Shashlik Restaurant (1.2km away from (Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Orchard)

Red Star Restaurant

If bite-sized dim sim is up your alley, head to the Red Star Restaurant at Chin Swee and be magically transported back to  Hong Kong of yesteryear. Opened in the 60s, this is the dim sum restaurant to visit if you prefer the olden days when dim sum was served from a trolley.

Red Star’s decor remained true to its heritage-rich past — vibrant red cushioned steel chairs surround gold-table-cloth covered tables. The restaurant’s cuisine has also stayed unchanged and authentic throughout the decades. Bring your parents and grandparents here to trigger floods of sweet memories of bygone days. 

Get directions to Red Star Restaurant (650m away from PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering)

Beng Thin Hoon Kee Restaurant

Hokkien (Fujian in Mandarin) cuisine is fairly common in Singapore as Hokkiens form the largest Chinese dialect group in the country (40% of the Chinese population). For familiar Hokkien dishes that will draw nostalgia in spades, visit the Beng Thin Hoon Kee Restaurant. 

Opened in 1949 (in a shophouse along what was known as Hokkien Street), the restaurant serves refined Hokkien cuisine with an ambience that matches its food. Formerly a popular gathering place for Hokkien families, friends or Towkays (Chinese bosses), Beng Thin Hoon Kee has cultivated a fanbase of Hokkien food lovers through the ages. Some of the signature dishes here include the oyster omelette, Hokkien noodles and the savoury kong ba pau (braised pork buns).  

Get directions to Beng Thin Hoon Kee Restaurant (350m away from PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering)

The Ship

European cuisine is deeply anchored on Singapore’s shores — the country was a British colony prior to gaining independence in 1965. Serving finely cooked fusion European-Asian dishes since 1977, The Ship restaurant has pleased the palates of generations of Singaporeans at its location at Shaw Centre. The nautical-themed restaurant offers not just delectable western dishes, but a sprinkling of eastern fare.

Like Shashlik, those over 40 would be familiar with the restaurant and its unique sea-faring theme. Most of The Ship’s patrons would have dined here since they were young, brought by their parents. Popular dishes at The Ship include the Ship Steak and Chicken Maryland. 

Interestingly, the other wildly popular dish here is not western, but Singaporean — its Sliced Fish Noodles was listed on CNN as one of "40 Singapore foods we can't live without''. Another hot favourite here is the Hainanese Pork Chop, an east-meets-west dish that will leave you wanting more. 

Get directions to The Ship (1.4km away from Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Orchard)