Bugis food guide: 13 best restaurants, from Japanese to Singaporean fare
To dismiss Bugis as merely a shopping enclave would be to overlook its remarkable culinary credentials. This vibrant district has quietly asserted itself as a destination for discerning diners, offering an impressive spectrum that spans beloved hawker institutions to refined fine dining. While the likes of Marina Bay and Tanjong Pagar often steal the spotlight, Bugis holds its own with an eclectic mix of Japanese and European establishments—each promising something unique. For those with a penchant for Chinese cuisine, Liang Seah Street stands out, its stretch lined with eateries celebrating the diversity of regional Chinese flavours. In short, Bugis is where Singapore's dining scene comes alive in all its variety—inviting, unpretentious, and always worth exploring.
Read more: 8 best dessert shops in Bugis to beat the heat
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Tatler Asia
3 days ago
- Tatler Asia
Bugis food guide: 13 best restaurants, from Japanese to Singaporean fare
The ultimate guide to the best food in Bugis, from popular Japanese and European restaurants to modern Asian gems, for every gourmand in Singapore To dismiss Bugis as merely a shopping enclave would be to overlook its remarkable culinary credentials. This vibrant district has quietly asserted itself as a destination for discerning diners, offering an impressive spectrum that spans beloved hawker institutions to refined fine dining. While the likes of Marina Bay and Tanjong Pagar often steal the spotlight, Bugis holds its own with an eclectic mix of Japanese and European establishments—each promising something unique. For those with a penchant for Chinese cuisine, Liang Seah Street stands out, its stretch lined with eateries celebrating the diversity of regional Chinese flavours. In short, Bugis is where Singapore's dining scene comes alive in all its variety—inviting, unpretentious, and always worth exploring. Read more: 8 best dessert shops in Bugis to beat the heat
Tatler Asia
3 days ago
- Tatler Asia
8 Under-the-radar Southeast Asian night markets worth staying up for
2. Kampung Baru Night Market (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) A cultural stronghold in KL since 1899, Kampung Baru is a rare Malay enclave that has largely resisted gentrification. While Petaling Street evolved into a tourist-centric Chinatown, Kampung Baru's Saturday night market remains unapologetically traditional. Expect banana leaf-wrapped nasi lemak, smoky satay, kuih in vibrant hues and, during durian season, the pungent fruit in all its glory. Development pressure persists, but locals and heritage groups are fiercely protective of the area's identity. 3. Kampot Night Market (Kampot, Cambodia) Unlike Siem Reap's increasingly tourist-oriented Pub Street, Kampot's modest night market retains a distinctively local feel. Launched in the mid-2010s as part of a small-town revitalisation plan, it blends community fairground with street food haven. Mini amusement rides and live music lend it a family-friendly charm, while the food—especially the pepper crab, a nod to Kampot's spice-farming roots—remains the real draw. 4. Son Tra Night Market (Da Nang, Vietnam) Located at the intersection of Mai Hắc Đế and Lý Nam Đế streets, right beside the iconic Dragon Bridge, Son Trà Night Market is Da Nang's most vibrant and family-friendly night stroll. Open daily from early evening until around 11 pm, this street market—one of several in this coastal town—draws a mix of locals and domestic travellers, offering a warm, authentic alternative to more tourist-centric markets. Set in a neighbourhood where locals gather to eat and socialise after work, Son Trà has retained a genuine community vibe, without the polish meant for tourists. 5. Bugis Street (Singapore) Above Bugis Street in Singapore has undergone a Gen-Z evolution in recent years (Photo: Singapore Stock Photos/Unsplash) Bugis Street's roots trace back to its heyday in the mid-20th century, when it was famed for its nightlife and street hawkers. Sanitised in the late '90s into a commercial arcade, its edge seemed long lost. Today, however, a new subculture is taking root: think indie sneaker sellers, obscure snack vendors and thrift fashion pop-ups. It's not a throwback, but a Gen Z-fuelled evolution. Read more: Bugis food guide: 13 best restaurants, from Japanese to Singaporean fare 6. Pasar Malam Taman Connaught (Cheras, Kuala Lumpur) Once a suburban curiosity in the '90s, Taman Connaught's Thursday night market now stretches over two kilometres, making it one of Malaysia's longest markets. Locals still flock here for Taiwanese-style street snacks, Ramly burgers, oyster omelettes and bargain clothing. While Petaling Street tilts increasingly touristy, Connaught holds on to its neighbourhood-night-out charm. In case you missed it: 8 must-visit night markets in Taipei 7. Pasar Malam Bintulu / Bintulu Night Market (Sarawak, Malaysia) Far from the crowds of Kota Kinabalu's Filipino Market or Kuching's Waterfront Bazaar, Bintulu's night market is a lesser-known gem on Borneo's northern coast. It's a showcase of Sarawakian street food—think raw fish umai, sago worms, jungle produce—and is largely run by vendors from rural longhouses and fishing villages. Unpolished, unpretentious and deeply local, it's one of the remaining night markets that still feel like a true community gathering. 8. Sudirman Street Night Market (Bandung, Indonesia) As Jakarta's Tanah Abang and Glodok districts grew increasingly commercialised, Bandung stepped in as the cooler, more creative cousin. Sudirman Street Night Market, which opened in the 2010s, was envisioned as a walkable, hawker-style food destination that brings together Chinese-Indonesian street eats and youthful energy. Here, the focus is all about flavour: steamed fish siomay, pillowy bakpao, crispy tofu and a spectrum of snacks that reflect Bandung's multicultural culinary heritage. Neon signage, bold murals and strings of fairy lights lend the space a lively, street-art-meets-night-bazaar atmosphere. Popular with students, young families and day-trippers from Jakarta, it's a market that feels both local and fresh.
Tatler Asia
12-06-2025
- Tatler Asia
David Rockwell on 40 years of global restaurant design: From Nobu to W Hotels and beyond
Above The outdoor dining terrace at Nobu Bangkok offers guests uninterrupted views of the skyline (Photo: Owen Raggatt) How does the design of Nobu Bangkok showcase your long-term partnership with Nobu and the city's cultural identity? Nobu enabled us to move away from literal scenographic space into the exploration of abstraction. We were able to develop a more sophisticated and rich architectural language that related to the food and helped redefine what the fine dining and hospitality experience could be. Since 1994, we have designed over 40 Nobu restaurants and hotels across the globe. For the first location in New York, we created a space that was heavily narrative driven, from the river rock walls to the cherry blossom floor stencil that referred to Madame Butterfly. It was a very rich, multiple-layered interior with a very strong narrative inspired by the chef 's unique approach to cooking. At the time, it was the first of its kind, and best represented our idea that a visit to a restaurant could be thought of as a mini-vacation. Don't miss: 10 beautiful Michelin-starred restaurants by acclaimed designers worldwide Above The main dining room at Nobu Bangkok features a site-specific installation of gold swirling sumi-e ink that floats beneath a mirrored ceiling (Photo: Owen Raggatt) Nobu Bangkok is the brand's first location in Thailand and the largest Nobu restaurant to date. The restaurant is situated on level 57, 58 and 61 rooftop of the Empire Tower in Sathon, the city's financial centre. Nobu Bangkok's multiple areas for dining, socialising, large gatherings and celebrations offer a distinct F&B programme unique to Bangkok and Thai culture, such as a private tearoom and flexible event spaces. The experience culminates with the open-sky bar atop the building. There, low banquettes and lounge seating allow guests to take in the 360-degree views of the Bangkok skyline and Chao Phraya River. Throughout the project, materials and textures meld Thailand's rich artisanal techniques, such as hand-woven textiles and wood carving, with traditional Japanese arts, such as kintsugi as well as calligraphy. Read more: 7 designer dining chairs that you'll recognise from restaurants and dining rooms Above The whiskey bar at Nobu Bangkok draws inspiration from traditional Thai architecture, featuring tiered ceiling elements that mirror the country's iconic roof structures (Photo: Owen Raggatt) How has your background in theatrical design influenced your approach to hospitality spaces? For me, the theatre was, and is, a microcosm for so many of my emerging interests that became focused on practising design. That is, design as a social experience, a means of communication, and as a collaborative process to create an aesthetic universe. Theatre introduced me to the power of ideas and the multiple ways those ideas could be expressed: a single script, screenplay or libretto, all driven by a narrative, can be expressed in infinite ways. There are so many rich architectural elements that can be abstracted from architecture—the sense of an entrance, moments of surprise and discovery, and the celebration of ephemerality. We generally look at the design of a building as a whole, and not as a sequence of moments and experiences, but that is actually how architecture and interiors are typically experienced. For that reason, the design of Nobu Bangkok—as well as most of our projects—pays particularly close attention to the entrance, what guests can see from particular vantage points, how it feels to walk to their table or the rooftop, the scenographic stepped ceiling in the dining room, and so on. See also: Inside the world's most extraordinary art homes: 5 residences where architecture serves priceless collections Above The first Nobu opened in Tribeca and featured signature birch tree columns and textured stone walls that established the brand's distinctive narrative-driven aesthetic across 40+ global locations What core design principles remain constant as your firm grew globally, and how do you ensure consistency across diverse projects? I think the key lies in the talent and incredible breadth of expertise of our staff, from architects to interior designers, model makers, set designers, technologists and storytellers—it's sort of a design city. We've broken the city up into neighbourhoods, where smaller groups work together on multiple projects across all types of problems. This organisation enables cross-pollination between types and scales of projects, and averts the atrophy that can happen when project types are repeated. Ultimately, our goal is to create a story about the client and craft a physical expression of that story using every device, including texture, craft, technology and unexpected collisions. Don't miss: Private islands and wealth: How 6 tech and business leaders built their secluded domains Above For Nobu NYC Downtown, Rockwell worked with John Houshmand to realise a monumental ash wood sculpture depicting a swirl of watery sumi-e ink (Photo: Eric Laignel) How has the evolving hospitality industry influenced your approach to restaurant design, and what elements are essential for a memorable dining experience today? Every project we design strives to bring something new into the world — and because we don't have a design signature, there's no single element that equates memorability. Instead, the underlying commonality is creating spaces in which people can connect and indulge their curiosity for life. We try to create duality: moments for both spontaneous and planned events, an atmosphere that is both familiar and refreshing, intimacy within grand spaces. Our design has a point of view and conveys authenticity. Today's guest is seeking authentic connections to the spaces they find themselves in. Read more: Bill Bensley: Eco-luxury hotels' design rebel Above The main dining room in Nobu NYC Downtown features plush banquette seating with Japanese patterns in rich Peruvian colours and a river-rock wall by the staircase (Photo: Eric Laignel) How do you incorporate local architectural traditions into contemporary design while avoiding cliches? We're never adding specific cultural elements or motifs simply to add them. Each design and project is a natural extension of its place. Our deep and rigorous research, extensive collaboration with local artists and craftspeople, and the diverse lives and backgrounds of our exceptional staff all contribute to rich and sensitive projects. See also: Home tour: Grand English-inspired mansion maximises stunning mountain views in Malaysia Above The ceiling of Nobu Barcelona draws inspiration from the Japanese art of kintsugi, featuring live-edge walnut panels intersected by gold-coloured veins (Photo: Ricardo Labougle) What are some of the key projects or moments that have shaped your design philosophy, and what sort of influence do they have on your current work? If there was one moment of strategy in terms of building the studio that I can remember, it was in 1996. We wanted to expand, and so I made a diagram that thought through the things I was interested in: hospitality, performance, storytelling, materiality, craftsmanship and so forth. In terms of hospitality, in addition to Nobu, Rockwell Group designed the first W Hotel, which opened in 1998 in New York City, and we have collaborated with W over the years to help shape the brand. Our redesigns and renovations of the new W New York-Union Square and W Hollywood represent one of the first iterations of the new W brand design concept developed by Rockwell Group for Marriott. Don't miss: Y2K aesthetic revival: Decoding the millennium design trend making a comeback Above The design of Nobu Hotel Manila was inspired by the ocean and Japanese fishing culture (Photo: Ed Reeve) What aspects of design currently excite you most, and what future directions do you envision for hospitality architecture? I'm excited about the ways I see them overlapping in three categories—theatre, hospitality, and the public realm. Additionally, we have responded to crises over the years by initiating and raising funds for public works projects. Our latest is Cork Collective, a non-profit initiative with a mission to transform cork stoppers from restaurants and hospitality venues into valuable resources. We are launching Casa Cork at this year's Milan Design Week. The installation is an immersive cork atelier where the hospitality and design communities will come together with a shared sustainability goal. NOW READ Discover how Johor architect Razin Mahmood is redefining Malaysian architecture with tropical modernism Pacific notions: Inside a family's island getaway in Mindanao, Philippines Inside the Gucci family villa in Rome, now with a reduced selling price of US$13.02 million Best of Tatler Asia video highlights Featured videos from around Tatler Asia: Get exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the interviews we do, the events we attend, the shoots we produce, and the incredibly important people who are part of our community
