For a long while we have noticed an annoying trend in many restaurants. An increasing number have a no-water policy: They do not serve free water to diners even when requested. Instead, we have to buy their bottled water. Not only is the bottled water overpriced, the bottles are eco-unfriendly as well. We find this practice highly unacceptable.
Therefore, we are compiling a list of restaurants that refuse to serve free water. If you have come across any, please let us know in the comments and it would be added to the list.
Please do not submit hawker stalls, coffee shops, fast food restaurants, food kiosks/carts. Please also state the outlet location and indicate if there is no service charge.
Updates:
August 19, 2010: Removed Lenas (Bugis Junction)

- Acacia (Bishan Park) – source
- Ajisen Classic Ramen (Changi Airport T3) – reader’s contribution
- Alley Bar (Orchard Road) – reader’s contribution on Facebook
- Aloy Thai (Shaw Tower) – reader’s contribution
- Astons Specialties (all outlets) – readers’ contributions 1 | 2
- Bali Thai (Novena Square & Tampines Mall) – personal experience & reader’s contribution
- Bao Luo Wan Xiang (Plaza Singapura) – reader’s contribution
- Bar Bar Black Sheep (Robertson Quay) (no service charge) – reader’s contribution
- Barcelos (VivoCity) (no service charge) – reader’s contribution
- BBQ Chicken (Cathay Cineleisure Orchard) – reader’s contribution
- Beary Food (Republic Plaza) – reader’s contribution
- Blu (Shangri-La Hotel) – reader’s contribution
- Café Le Caire (Arab Street) – reader’s contribution
Restaurant’s response in news article - Canopy Cafe (Marina Bay Golf Course) – reader’s contribution
- Canton-i (Ion Orchard) – reader’s contribution
- The Cathay Restaurant (The Cathay) – reader’s contribution
- Casa do Churrasco Brazil (Katong Village) – source
- Central Restaurant (all outlets) – reader’s contribution
- Check In (Robertson Quay) – reader’s contribution
- Chen Fu Ji Grains (The Central) – reader’s contribution
- Coffee Club (Orchard Fountain Corner) – reader’s contribution
- Crystal Jade Hong Kong Café (Orchard Central & Liang Seah Street) – readers’ contributions 1 | 2
- Crystal Jade Kitchen (Causeway Point, Ngee Ann City & Suntec City Mall) – readers’ contributions 1 | 2 | 3
- Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao (Bugis Junction, Holland Avenue, Ngee Ann City & Suntec City Mall) – readers’ contributions 1 | 2 | 3
Our reviews 1 | 2 - Diandin Leluk Thai Restaurant (Serangoon Garden) – reader’s contribution
- Different Taste Café and Restaurant (Frankel Avenue & Jalan Mas Puteh) (no service charge) – sources 1 | 2
- Ebisboshi Shotengai (Iluma) – reader’s contribution
- Esmirada (Chijmes) – reader’s contribution
- First Thai Food (Purvis Street) – reader’s contribution
- Fou de Fafa (Capital Tower) – reader’s contribution
- Gelare Café (Hougang Mall) – reader’s contribution
- Giraffe Restaurant and Bar (Istana Park) – reader’s contribution
Our review - Haato (Ridgewood Close) – reader’s contribution
- Heaven’s Loft (Orchard Central) – reader’s contribution
- The Highlander Bar & Restaurant (Clarke Quay) – reader’s contribution
- Hong Kong Kim Gary Restaurant (VivoCity) – reader’s contribution
Our review - Hot Tomato Express (Plaza Singapura) – reader’s contribution
- Hotpot Culture (Marina Square) – reader’s contribution
- Imperial Herbal Restaurant & Tcafe (VivoCity) – reader’s contribution
- Insomnia (Chijmes) – reader’s contribution
- Jalapeno’s Pepper (Singapore Flyer) – sources 1 | 2 | 3
- Joaquim Buffet Restaurant (Suntec City Mall) – reader’s contribution
- Kartini Restaurant (Parkway Parade) – reader’s contribution
- Kebab Station (East Coast Park & Parkway Parade) (no service charge) – personal experience
Our review - Kenny Rogers Roasters (Great World City, Marina Square & Suntec City Mall) – reader’s contributions 1 | 2
- Kim Choo Kueh Chang (East Coast) (no service charge) – sources 1 | 2 | 3
- Kintamani Indonesian Restaurant (Furama Riverfront Hotel) – personal experience
- La Forketta (Dempsey) – sources 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8
Restaurant’s response in news article & here - Lai Lai Casual Dining (Jurong Point) – reader’s contribution
- Le Baroque (Chijmes) – reader’s contribution
- Lerk Thai (Singapore Expo & Woodlands Civic Centre) – readers’ contributions 1 | 2
- Little Bali (Gillman’s Village) – readers’ contributions 1 | 2
Restaurant’s response - Liquid Kitchen (all outlets) – reader’s contribution
- Lush Cafe (313 @ Somerset) – reader’s contribution
- Mad Jack Café (all outlets) (no service charge) – personal experience
Restaurant’s response in news article - Midsummer Nite Breeze (Pasir Ris Park) – sources 1 | 2
- Mimolette Restaurant & Bar (Fairways Drive) – reader’s contribution
- Ming Kee Live Seafood (Macpherson Road) – reader’s contribution
- MOF (Ministry of Food) (Suntec City Mall & West Coast Plaza) – readers’ contributions 1 | 2
- The Mussel Guys (VivoCity) – personal experience
Our review - My Mum’s Cuisine (Paragon) – reader’s contribution
- Nan Xiang (Novena Square 2) – reader’s contribution
- Nando’s (Bugis Junction) – reader’s contribution
- Nectarie le’Dessert Patisserie (Clarke Quay) – sources 1 | 2
- New Harbour Café & Bar (Tanjong Pagar) – reader’s contribution
- No Signboard Seafood Restaurant (all outlets) – reader’s contribution
- Novus (National Museum) – readers’ contributions 1 | 2
- OK Shabu Shabu (East Coast Road) – reader’s contribution
- Old Hong Kong Kitchen (Square 2) – reader’s contribution
- Old Town White Coffee (all outlets) – personal experience & readers’ contributions 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
Our review - Oosters Belgian Brasserie (Suntec City Mall) – reader’s contribution
- Pacific Allied Cafe (URA Centre) – reader’s contribution
- Palm Beach Seafood Restaurant (One Fullerton) – reader’s contribution
- Pasta Fresca Da Salvatore (Siglap) – reader’s contribution
- Pasta Stylo (City Square Mall) – personal experience
Our review - Pizza Bar da Donato (Ghim Moh) – reader’s contribution
- Pizza da Donato (Sixth Avenue) – reader’s contribution
- Prince Taiwan Porridge (Upper Bukit Timah) – reader’s contribution
- Pu Tien (Tampines Mall) – reader’s contribution
- The Pump Room (Clarke Quay) – reader’s contribution
- Ramen Ten (all outlets) – reader’s contribution
- Red Lacquer Authentic Penang Peranakan (Jurong Point) – personal experience
- Renaldo’s (Eastwood Centre) – reader’s contribution
- Renn Thai (Clarke Quay) – reader’s contribution
- Royal Café (Siglap) – reader’s contribution
- Secret Recipe (all outlets) – readers’ contributions 1 | 2 | 3
- Seoul Garden (all outlets) – reader’s contribution
- The Shack (Sentosa’s Tanjong Beach) – reader’s contribution
- Skinny Pizza (Suntec City Mall) – reader’s contribution
- Soup Spoon (all outlets) (no service charge) – reader’s contribution
- Suanthai (Killiney Road) – readers’ contributions 1 | 2
- Sweet Spring (AMK Hub) – reader’s contribution
- Table 108 (Chijmes) – reader’s contribution
- The Tapas Tree (Clarke Quay) – personal experience & source
Restaurant’s response in news article - Tawandang Micro Brewery (Dempsey Road) – readers’ contributions 1 | 2
- Tori-Tama (Robertson Walk) – reader’s contribution
- Uncle’s Kitchen (Bugis Junction) – reader’s contribution
- Va Va Voom (Seah Street) – sources 1 | 2
- Wan Chai Hong Kong Tea Room (Sembawang Shopping Centre) – reader’s contribution
- Ximending (VivoCity) – reader’s contribution
- Xin Wang Hong Kong Café (all outlets) – readers’ contributions 1 | 2 | 3
Our review - Xing Hua Family Restaurant (Towner Road) – reader’s contribution
Disclaimer: This list is compiled based on reader contributions and our own dining experiences. All comments and sources are linked for your reference. While we have taken steps to ensure the information presented is current, you may still wish to double-check with the restaurants if they have updated their no-water policy. If you notice any discrepancy, please let us know and we would gladly make the amendments.
To restaurateurs that do not serve free water: Wouldn’t you want your customers to keep coming back? If giving them water, even tap is fine, would improve their dining experience, why wouldn’t you do it? Isn’t that better than pissing off potential customers that would never return? Just how much is a glass of tap water gonna cost you anyway?
Let us exercise our right as a customer and not give in to such practices that exist only to milk more money out of us. Should you encounter such a restaurant, feel free to
- Walk out of the restaurant.
- Blacklist and stop patronising the place.
- Tell your friends about it.
- Leave a comment here and we would add it to the list.
Hopefully in some small way, it would prompt restaurateurs to stop this penny-wise, pound-foolish practice.
Spread the word!
In the press
July 12, 2009
The Sunday Times has published an article based on this list. We have made it available here for your reading (in PDF format):
Much of the article has been written from the perspective of these restaurants, along with several comments from the stakeholders. We would love to hear your views.
We do like the quote by Mr. Aun Koh that sums up this no-water policy perfectly:
Mr Aun Koh, director of media and lifestyle consultancy Ate Media which published Asia’s first restaurant guide The Miele Guide, said: ‘In Singapore, there is no excuse other than snobbish vanity to drink bottled water and no reason other than an attempt to increase revenues for restaurateurs to refuse to offer tap water to their patrons.’
July 14, 2009
Following the Sunday Times article, waves of comments came pouring in, starting with this one. If you are following the highly active discussion, that would be a good place to start.
In response to the article, Sunday Times reader Mr. Cassell R. Meyers has written in to the forum to share his own personal views and experience.
August 13, 2009
The Today newspaper published an article on the harmful impact of bottled water, primarily from the discarding of plastic bottles. Here’s a quote from the article:
Dr Seetharam Kallidaikurichi, director of the Institute of Water Policy at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, said: ‘the public should be made aware of the “unnecessary” buying of bottled water for drinking, especially in places where tap water is safe to drink, such as in houses and restaurants. This is because such a practice can turn into a habit and this will lead to even more plastic bottles being used — and discarded.’
Readers who read this, also read:
473 responses -
xin wang hong kong cafe (Marina Square) 20cents charge for warm water, 40cents charge for ice water. :( whats the point
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penny wise, pound foolish. glad to finally meet someone in singapore who knows that such a concept exists!
on another matter. i recall there was some law in the uk that forced restaurants to give water free of charge if a customer asked for it. that was a long long time ago in a galaxy far far away though.
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Great list!
Bakerzin @ Tampines 1 do serve free water :) I second Xin Wang HK Cafe (Marina Sq) too! Can’t remember the rest. I’ve encountered lots! Will contribute if I managed to recall :)
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its quite annoying. we paid almost $100 plus for a few bowls of ramen n plates of sushi but the service sucks..not only abt not serving us ice water, but there is no small bowls for the dips and plates for the kids to enjoy their sushi…crap…its ramen ten, where else…thank god u highlighted it here!
btw can we have more stories abt Snowy?
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Yes! I fully agree with you…not serving water while charging high food prices and service charge is just money grubbing. Here’s one more for your list…Beary Cafe at Republic Plaza
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To add to Jia’s comment, all Xin Wang Cafes (Hong Kong and Taiwan) don’t serve water. You’ll have to pay or get some drink to not feel thirsty. *frowns*
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Restaurants who don’t serve tap water are stupid. Force your regular customers to buy bottled water for a few cents of profit is not worth it. They forget that Singapore consumers aren’t Europeans or living in countries where tap water is not safe to drink. If my favourite restaurant does this, I won’t patronize their restaurant again. Here in France, tap water is free by law.
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hi,
are you sure about Petite Cuisine at Serene Centre? I can’t remember exactly, but I think there’s self-service plain water
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I think all Bakerzin outlets have since changed their policy & started serving water.
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Wht abt Astons! they charge 30Cents for plain water )):
I nvr realise bakerzin doesnt serve water! I just went to the one at suntec, and they have free flow of water! paragon too!!
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Nice article! I like that someone bitches about these things, while most ppl don’t rly care that much. It’s absolutely ridiculous that one has to pay for water, or that one cannot get tap water for that matter. It’s not as if there’s a shortage on water in the world… (third world countries are an exception ofc)
Good job!
Greets from the Netherlands.
Bor.
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From what i remember, many places in the US also make it mandatory to serve water where alcohol is served. In restaurants, it’s just good practice to serve even if you don’t serve alcohol to the customer. I think this is great cos it covers all the bases.
On a more relevant note, what about “conditional” water service? I went to coffee club at clarke quay and asked for water and the waiter said “we only serve water with food orders.” I had to argue till i was blue in the face that the dessert i ordered was “food” before i got served free water.
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In Arizona (USA) a business is required by law to provide water to any who ask. The perks of living in the middle of a desert, courtesy become ley.
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can someone with some clout get straits times or sunday times to do a story on this.?
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Alp’s Cafe on Prinsep Street
The Pump Room (Clarke Quay)I also never return to locations with no water. I am frustrated when they charge 30 cents for tap water too. To me this is just poor customer service and I never return.
–Leon
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I can’t stand places that don’t serve free water. I especially hate it when they try to make up an excuse like, “It’s for sanitary reasons we can’t provide free water.” I’ll take my chances!
I’m opening a new restaurant, so I can see it from the proprietor’s point-of-view. Charging for water adds up to an additional few thousand dollars of income each year. Up to the owner whether that profit is worth alienating a segment of customers over.
I’ll never charge for water! (Well, unless someone specifically orders bottled water…)
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MOF.
I’m not sure about the one at suntec.. but the one at west coast plaza doesn’t not.
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Every Bakerz Inn I’ve ever visited. They have lost my business.
Also, Highlander pub at Clarker Quay. Twats. Not going there again.
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Gelare, at least the one at Hougang Mall does not serve free water either.
I was aware of this, but I really wanted a waffle. So I decided to buy a bottle of water and asked the waitress for one.
“Can I have a bottle of water please?”
“I’m sorry but we don’t serve water.”
“I understand. Can I have a bottle of water please?”
“I’m sorry but we don’t serve water for free.”
“Yes, I know. Can I have a bottle of water please?”
“We do not serve free water.”
“But you sell bottles of water, yes?”
“Oh!”*facepalm
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great list! I dun support such eateries too; I wun go back again if I encounter such a thing.
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
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