Top 5 Oysters in Singapore

Oysters. Love them or hate them. They seem to conjure strong feelings in people. Eat them fresh, Mornay, Kilpatrick or baked. Personally, I love them fresh. No better way to eat them methinks. I’ve savoured my way around Singapore’s best oyster joints and here’s my list of Top 5.

1. Tanuki Raw

This is my favourite oyster joint because of the awesome value and endless flow of oysters and martinis. From 5-8pm daily, savour the fresh oysters here for $2 a pop (limited to 6 per drink). Squeeze some fresh lemon, add a dash of tobasco or red wine vinegar and slurp them down! Plus, there are a wide array of snacks to accompany these light entrees including the $7 salmon sashimi (Orchard Central only), beef gyoza (Kapok only), crispy fried popcorn chicken and truffle sweet potato fries. A good pairing to this is the vodka martini with lemon twist for $10 to wash down the yummy goodness.

2. The Black Swan

Tucked away in the CBD in an art deco building along Cecil street is the elegant and posh Black Swan. Just like the name, this venue has an elusive and star quality that makes it quite special. Touted as “The Best Happy Hour in the CBD”, you can dine indoors or alfresco, but make sure you book ahead to avoid disappointment. From Mondays to Fridays, 5-8pm, $2 oysters await. Freshly shucked, served with Champagne mignonette, these are pretty generous sizes limited to 6 oysters per drink. $9 house pours, house wines and draught beers add to the cheer whilst the freshly shaved truffle hand cut chips complete the menu.

3. The Secret Mermaid

My go to after work oyster joint is the Secret Mermaid. Japanese salad takeaway joint by day and uber cool cocktail / whiskey / craft beer bar by night, this tiny container-like bar is easy to miss if you walk too quickly past it. Oyster hour is from 7-10pm daily where you can order $2 oysters with every regular-priced alcoholic drink (limited to 6 per drink). I recommend you try their old fashioned whiskey cocktail and truffle mushroom poutine fries (for a taste of Canada).

4. Southbridge

This rooftop bar in Boat Quay is classy and cool with breathtaking views of the Singapore River. Their signature oysters come in half a dozen for $24 and you can choose from 3 flavours - umami with ponzu and yuzu sauce, tropical with chilli, garlic and calamansi, or habana with mint, cucumber and vermouth sauce. If you prefer hot oysters, go for the unifeller with cheese and uni, pearls with aruga caviar or smoky casino with smoked bacon and cheese. Happy hour starts from 5-8pm daily with $8 beers and $10 mixers. The lobster rolls are also a must-have bar snack.

5. Bruno’s Bistrot

French-owned bistro Bruno’s combines Italian and French flavours in their cooking from pizzas and pastas to escargots and oysters. Their delightful flavours and strong classics are a hit with the east-siders in Singapore. I myself was tentalised by their fresh seasonal oysters in their specials menu. Changing every so often, Bruno the friendly chef-owner introduces the specials on his menu to his loyal regulars and gives tips and recommendations to suit your taste.