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100+ Restaurants in Singapore That Do Not Serve Free Water

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 [...]

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About the Editor

Veron Ang is the Founder and Chief Editor of Sparklette, a Singapore restaurants guide, lifestyle and travel blog. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in computer science from the National University of Singapore and runs a web design firm at Sparklette Studio. To get in touch, head on over to the contact page or follow @Sparklette and @VeronSG on Twitter.

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Responses Leave a comment

Fran9ipani
3 comments

Lush cafe at 313 somerset also charge for water, 50 cents in a plastic cup. Food is not that great, nothing much to attract customers to return.
Reply
Posted March 20, 2010 at 5:56 am
nickpan
2 comments

What if no toilet?
Reply
Posted March 24, 2010 at 10:41 pm
- Veron
  3439 comments
  
  That’s okay. Most restaurants, especially those in shopping complexes, don’t have toilets anyway.
  Reply
  Posted March 25, 2010 at 2:51 pm
Animesh
1 comment

Waan Waan – The Thai restaurant at Food Republic in Wisma Atria
Reply
Posted March 25, 2010 at 11:26 am
- Veron
  3439 comments
  
  This is a stall at the food court? If so, it won’t be added to the list. We don’t take issue with stalls at food courts or hawker centres not serving free water.
  Reply
  Posted March 25, 2010 at 3:06 pm
Roy
1 comment

Lerk Thai at Singapore Expo doesn’t serve free water.
Reply
Posted March 25, 2010 at 12:12 pm
- Veron
  3439 comments
  
  Added this particular outlet at the Expo. We are regulars at Lerk Thai Marina Square. They used to serve free water, then stopped, and recently started serving free water again. They may do it soon at the Expo, too.
  Reply
  Posted March 25, 2010 at 3:04 pm
Jen
1 comment

I had lunch at The Bark Cafe @ upper changi road north and they do serve plain iced water and warm water for free. The service is excellent at lunch time.
Reply
Posted March 26, 2010 at 11:29 am
- Veron
  3439 comments
  
  That’s good news! Thanks for the update. I have taken out the Bark Cafe from the list.
  Reply
  Posted March 26, 2010 at 2:22 pm
Kent Grogin
1 comment

Ok, After having lived in Singapore for many years, I now live in the USA. I have a trip to SE Asia planned for this Summer. Should I try and smuggle my own bottled water into the country. I can get cartons of this pricey beverage at Sam’s Club or Costco for next to nothing….or is that illegal now too in Singapore…My God…this borders on the really rediculous Singapore. “This is my Home…these are my friends…we serve no water here….we’re Singaporeans”…..
Reply
Posted March 26, 2010 at 12:40 pm
- Veron
  3439 comments
  
  Let’s look at the positive side. Most restaurants here do serve water for free. It is the minority that doesn’t and end up on this list.
  Reply
  Posted March 26, 2010 at 2:25 pm
AS
1 comment

Table 108 restaurant at Chijmes does not serve tap water
Reply
Posted March 27, 2010 at 12:08 am
rebecca furnisss
1 comment

We are now boycotting Canopy cafe at Marina bay golf course after being refused a glass of tap water for a group of 4 having a sit down meal. We had just completed a hard afternoon’s round of golf in the hot sun and were in need of refreshment. Such a shame as it is a beautiful setting and serves fine food. We won’t go back until they serve tap water.
Reply
Posted March 29, 2010 at 12:36 pm
Angela
1 comment

Please add Joaquim Buffet Restaurant at Suntec City to the list.
Reply
Posted April 2, 2010 at 10:28 pm
Ben
1 comment

Ajisen Classic Ramen at Changi Airport T3 refused to serve iced water. Even when I offered to pay for it they’d still only sell bottled water. I got up and walked out which felt great!
Reply
Posted April 11, 2010 at 1:04 pm
AP
1 comment

-Pacific Allied Cafe in URA Centre charges for tap water
-Lerk Thai in Woodlands Civic Centre doesn’t serve tap water
Reply
Posted April 16, 2010 at 2:22 pm
James
6 comments

Funan Wen Ipoh Horfun at Maxwell Chambers, Maxwell Road does not serve water. They charge for water.
Reply
Posted April 18, 2010 at 4:39 pm
Isobellies
1 comment

I was served water at Funan Weng Ipoh Hor Fun the 2 times I went there, but perhaps because it was in the evening and less crowded?
Reply
Posted April 23, 2010 at 4:38 pm
- Veron
  3439 comments
  
  I have removed them from the list. They don’t look like they belong here. Thanks for sharing!
  Reply
  Posted April 26, 2010 at 6:34 pm
ET
1 comment

I paid my taxes. Doesn’t this mean I’ve prepaid for my glass of water?
Reply
Posted May 6, 2010 at 4:47 am
Agnes
2 comments

Streats at Downtown East offers tap water at 50cents. Does that goes to your list?
Reply
Posted May 24, 2010 at 6:02 pm
- Veron
  3439 comments
  
  Is that Streets Cafe?
  Reply
  Posted May 25, 2010 at 1:52 pm
  - Agnes
    2 comments
    
    Nope, its Streats. In fact, I thought it was Streets when I chose to eat there. Both Streets & Streats are located in Downtown East. Streats is located in E! Hub. The design & outlook of Streats is almost similar to that of Streets.
    Reply
    Posted May 26, 2010 at 8:54 am
Jadyte
1 comment

Nando’s at Bugis. Only bottled water for sale, at crazy prices.
Remember, this is the place that sells spicy hot chicken.
Reply
Posted May 24, 2010 at 10:23 pm
- Veron
  3439 comments
  
  That’s too bad! Nando’s (Singapore) is on my shortlist of places to visit. The last time I visited their restaurants in Malaysia, I realised they don’t provide water, too.
  Reply
  Posted May 25, 2010 at 1:53 pm
Tracy Oon
2 comments

XiMenDing @ Vivo – the newly open restuarant also doesn’t serve water which i think its a basic courtesy … No matter wat – 过门都是客 …
Reply
Posted May 29, 2010 at 11:32 pm
- James Lim
  6 comments
  
  Ximending Vivo City not only doesn’t serve free water but they charge S$10.00 for a pot of hot tea. Service was poor as we waited 20 minutes for our bill. We asked for our bill four times. Food was good but not outstanding for the prices.
  Reply
  Posted November 28, 2010 at 11:47 am
Violet
2 comments

Diandin Leluk Thai Restaurant (Serangoon Garden Central)
- charges s$0.30 for each cup of water
- 10% service charge applied to total bill
Reply
Posted June 7, 2010 at 4:40 pm
Violet
2 comments

Pl consider to remove MOF listing (No. 60 on list) or add “(except MOF – AMK outlet)”. I had dined there 3 times in the past 2 months. They now provide 2 jugs of water (1 warm and 1 iced) with lemon slices in them on site. Customers may help themselves to the water. Plastic cups are placed next to the jugs.
Reply
Posted June 7, 2010 at 5:21 pm
Peter Macinnis
1 comment

I travel the world quite a bit, and in fact I will be arriving in Singapore tomorrow for a stop-over on my way to Europe. If Gracie Vitale says that it is only in Singapore that people ask for tap water, she must be ignorant or a liar. I will be in Italy in July, so I plan to observe and report back. Meanwhile, clowns who engage in petty rip-offs will not feature on our dining-list, either coming or going.
Reply
Posted June 7, 2010 at 6:03 pm