Best beach-side eats in Singapore

Singapore is an island, but because it’s also a busy harbor, not much of its coastal areas are idyllic tropical beaches. Fortunately, there are still sandy seaside places where sun seekers frolic, and you’ll find some interesting eateries to check out as well. 

The Mango Tree's seafood platter.

The Mango Tree 

A mango tree grows right out of the beach-facing patio of this casual yet elegant Indian restaurant at Marine Cove. It serves some of the best coastal Indian cuisine (Goa and Kerala) in Singapore. Enjoy the food and wine al fresco as you watch the beach-goers, or dine inside in cool air-conditioned comfort. 

Kick off with some mushroom pepper fry, mussels masala or a spicy soup. Their signature dish is the garlic crab but there are many options for seafood, mutton and chicken. The erachi ularthiyathu (S$14) is tender mutton in a rich complex of heady spices and coconut. The huge Malabar seafood platter (S$55) -- a luxurious array of tiger prawn, fish, squid, lobster and soft shell crab, pan seared with Kerala marinade -- is enough for three or four people to share. Mop up the curries with fluffy naans or pristine white basmati rice.

Finish off with a dessert like coconut or mango kulfi (ice cream) and payasam (a warm, milky vermicelli porridge with nuts and dried fruit), and you’re ready for a stroll on the beach.

1000 East Coast Parkway, B23 Marine Cove, Singapore 449876; tel: +65 6442 8655 or +65 6442 1655

East Coast Seafood Centre's jumbo black pepper crab.

East Coast Seafood Centre

This is possibly the mecca for seafood lovers in Singapore. There are eight Chinese or Thai seafood restaurants to choose from, all grandly ensconced in two rows of double-story buildings facing the sea. It used to be known as the UDMC Seafood Centre, and some may still refer to it as such.

Most people come here for iconic national favorites like chili crab and black pepper crab using huge Sri Lankan crabs. Other popular dishes include drunken prawns, youtiao (crullers) stuffed with squid paste, yam-wrapped scallops, crispy cereal prawns, steamed fish, and mee goreng (Indian-Muslim style fried noodles given a Chinese treatment). You can pick your seafood fresh from the tank -- many of these tanks will be proudly displayed on the ground floor as a testament to how fresh the seafood is.

Some of the restaurants changed after the renovation in 2005, but the major names have been here a long time -- Jumbo Seafood (tel: +65 6442 3435, www.jumboseafood.com.sg), Long Beach Seafood Restaurant (tel: +65 6448 3636, www.longbeachseafood.com.sg), and Red House (tel: +65 6442 3112, www.redhouseseafood.com). Others here (as of July 2010) include No Signboard Seafood Restaurant (tel: +65 6448 9959, www.nosignboardseafood.com), Tawandang Microbrewery (tel: +65 6243 2291), Seafood Kitchen (tel: +65 6448 3068) and Crystal Jade Seafood BBQ (tel: +65 6448 3622).

Locals tend to seek respite in air-conditioning upstairs, but visitors love sitting outdoors, enjoying the balmy sea breeze with local beers. Come early especially on weekends, as it’s usually packed to the gills.

Block 1201-1206 East Coast Parkway, Singapore 449881

Wave House's chicken tulips.

Wave House Sentosa

Singapore has no natural waves for surfers, but surf-lovers can still enjoy a 10-foot barrel wave right on the sandy beaches of Sentosa. The Wave House brings jet-pumped simulated waves for surfers, flowboarders and bodyboarders alike. This is the fourth in a chain of Wave Houses, following Durban in South Africa, San Diego in California and Santiago in Chile. 

The Wave House Bar and Restaurant serves hungry surfers New Californian Asian cuisine. The menu features items like cured salmon with cilantro and ginger, linguini aglio olio with lap cheong (chinese sausage), pan-seared honeyed cod, regular and wagyu ribeye steaks. There is a chili chocolate lava cake and a “berrymisu” topped with white chocolate shavings.

Spectators can enjoy the flowboarding action vicariously on the upper deck extension of the Wave House restaurant called the Terrace Lounge.

The Rider and Barrel beach bars are also great places to fuel up on snacks (tapas, pizzas, burgers or salads) before riding the waves, or simply to chill with a margarita. The party continues late into the night with international DJs stopping by to spin the latest sounds.

Come by Wednesdays and get one-for-one offers on both food and rides.

36 Siloso Beach Walk, Sentosa, Singapore 099007

1-TwentySix's seafood platter.

1-TwentySix

Beachfront restaurant and bar 1-TwentySix at The Playground has the sun, sand and sea right at its doorstep. It’s recently been enhanced to bring the sea and greenery closer to diners. Lush gardens surround al fresco dining areas, and a patio lounge houses the main bar. Live music and entertainment in the evenings encourage patrons to dance under the stars in the balmy sea breeze. 

They recently launched COAST, a home-style communal dining concept fashioned after coastal dining in picturesque destinations like the Almafi Coast and Hamptons at Long Island.

The S$70 per person menu (minimum two people) starts with the gigantic nibble platter, meant for sharing. It has potato skins with sour cream and ocean trout caviar; radish, anchoiade and crudites served with homemade cod brandade with grilled bruschetta, steamed vongole clams with garlic and herb crumbs; and crispy soft-shelled crab with chili mayo. If that’s not hearty enough, upgrade it to include prawns, crab, oysters, mussels, clams and sashimi. 

You’ll also get a main (choose from items such as seared king scallops with smoked sea urchin risotto, classic fish pie, or char-grilled baby chicken), salads and fries, and a choice of artisanal cheeses or petit-sized desserts to share.

902 East Coast Parkway, Block E #01-26, Playground @ Big Splash, Singapore

East Coast Lagoon Food Village's barbecue stringray.

East Coast Lagoon Food Village

One of Singapore’s most popular hawker centers is also located at the East Coast beach. There’s lots of affordable fare here, including a wide choice of satay (Malay-style grilled skewers of meat served with spicy peanut dip). Of the dozen or so satay stalls, Haron’s (stall no.55) is regarded as one of the best. Chicken, mutton, and beef satay are regular meats used, but try the “babat” or tripe too -- it’s surprisingly the most tender of them all.

If you like grilled goodies, grab some Teddy Bear BBQ chicken wings (stall no.44) and Leng Heng Seafood BBQ sambal stingray (stall no.6). 

Cheok Kee (stall no.29) always sees a long queue for its braised duck rice. They also have a stall (no.27) selling delicious curry chicken noodles and Chinese style assam fish head curry. 

Don’t forget to cool down with a refreshing bowl of icy “cheng tng” (clear sweet soup with dried fruit, beans and nuts) from Hot & Cold Cheng Tng (stall no.41).

1220 East Coast Parkway, Singapore 468960