Kopi Tiam

ABOUT

Several floors high above the hawker stands (and several degrees lower in temperature), Kopi Tiam in Swissotel The Stamford consistently draws crowds for their true-to-form Singaporean cuisine. And we’re not talking just hotel guests and tourists. This City Hall area eatery has stolen many a local ...More

Several floors high above the hawker stands (and several degrees lower in temperature), Kopi Tiam in Swissotel The Stamford consistently draws crowds for their true-to-form Singaporean cuisine. And we’re not talking just hotel guests and tourists. This City Hall area eatery has stolen many a local’s hearts (and stomach) from the local hawker!

It takes a lot to sway local palates from hawker fare (and hawker prices), but Kopi Tiam rises to the challenge. With no-frills yet refined décor, the restaurant channels the humble hawker with notes of nostalgia: stacked cups and coffee pots, antique-treated furnishings and a complete lack of white tablecloths and chandeliers that are often hotel staples. The ambience is chatty and breezy, somewhat helped along by the air con that does wonders for the dining experience.

Nonetheless, the cuisine is resolutely authentic, including Fried Oyster Omelette and a lip-smackingly good Chicken Rice. There’s little to no “fusion” or “interpretation” going on here, but rather honest-to-goodness local gastronomy. It’s an ideal spot to introduce out of towners to our multicultural melting pot of a cuisine, but it’s also great when you crave local dishes but need a bit more ambience for the occasion. Prices, though not hawker-esque, are certainly reasonable for the quality of ingredients used in the cooking. In all, Kopi Tiam will make us think twice before scoffing at hotel versions of beloved local cuisine. (Jun 2018)

THE BUZZ

"After all these years, this place still manages to pack them in, especially at the weekend. All this without any fancy decor, though we’re rather fond of the tree-lined views of the bay through the windows that curve along the restaurant." -Time Out Singapore

DISHES WE LOVE

Salted Egg Yolk Crispy Calamari, Fish Head Curry, Wok-fried Beef Tenderloin, Honey Sauce, Teochew-Style Steamed Whole Seabass, Marmite Prawns