Dining

100+ Restaurants in Singapore That Do Not Serve Free Water

By Veron Ang

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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...

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About the Author

Veron Ang is the founder and chief editor of Sparklette. She lives in Singapore and has dined and traveled across the world. She also runs Sparklette Studio, a web design and WordPress development firm. If you'd like to connect with her, head on over to the contact page or follow her personal updates on Twitter: @VeronSG.

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473 responses

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Kalika
July 12, 2009

Lai Lai Casual Dining (来来红烧牛肉面) at the basement of Jurong Point does not serve water too. Not that we didn’t order drinks, but they were so slow in coming that my mom asked for water first, for which they replied they don’t serve. Never again!

And kudos to this list!
Reply
- Veron
  July 12, 2009
  
  Thanks. Added!
  Reply
mangolady
July 12, 2009

Searched ur blog when i read today’s Sunday Times.
Mimolette doesn’t serve ice water as well. I remembered we had to pay about 80 bucks for Fiji water for 10 person.
Eeeks!
Reply
- Veron
  July 12, 2009
  
  8 bucks for water??? This must be another “upmarket” restaurant that refuses to serve tap water, although the tap water in Singapore is perfectly drinkable.
  
  The place has, of course, been added to the list.
  Reply
Kenneth
July 12, 2009

start a group in facebook! like this one
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=83346629872

we will all join…

Two sentence really infuriates me in that article is
” I don’t think customers will boycott us just because of water.” Cafe Le Claire
“People who complain are not educated about business cost.” Mad Jack

We must teach them a lesson. Make their restaurants lose money!
Reply
- Veron
  July 12, 2009
  
  Pretty much all the comments that came from the restaurants sounded snobbish. You know what? I just might start the group!
  Reply
ryn
July 12, 2009

You are right! The comments by the restaurant owners are funny…high labour costs for serving water?! Btw, I have heard of several stories of unethical employers mistreating staff during this economic downturn (experienced one myself too)…let me know if u decide to blog on that ok?
Reply
- Veron
  July 12, 2009
  
  Just another poor excuse! The high labor costs should already be offset by the service charges.
  
  Haha I don’t know if I should start blogging on another list this soon. Would Sparklette turn into a blog of blacklists?
  Reply
  - ryn
    July 13, 2009
    
    Hmm guess it depends on how one looks at it and perhaps which side of wall one is on…e.g. the restauranteurs and the customers. Nevertheless, I think you did an excellent job in highlighting this long-time peeve to the ‘corporates’ and some are hearing our consumer voice loud and clear and starting to make changes in their ‘water policy’. Hooray!
    Reply
Jean
July 12, 2009

I suggest that customers be given a choice, they can order drinks, or request for water. No need to pour water automatically to reduce waste, some people don’t drink tap water or plain water from restaurant in case they are not boiled water. But as a food and service establishment in hot and humid weather of SG, must at least hv this FREE when requested. I understand why at Pubs and Bars where beverage is main business for them not to serve free water, but at a food / resatuarant set up, they should serve. Actually if these places marked up like 5 cents or 10 cents into their food bill and serve ” free” water, most customers will not notice or care, but will instead appreciate this “free” service.
Reply
- char
  July 14, 2009
  
  all the more pubs should offer free iced water as alcohol can be dehydrating too!
  Reply
nst
July 12, 2009

Tapas Tree’s threat to sue must be taken seriously – All of us should stop going there until they improve their attitude. Any business that threatens legal action instead of contacting a blog owner to get an entry corrected deserves to be boycotted.
Reply
shoyun
July 12, 2009

You also need to be extra careful when you dine in the restaurants of certain 5-star hotels. I once had occasion to dine with a friend and after ordering the food I asked for a glass of water. The waiter came back with a small bottle of Evian. I told the waiter I just wanted plain water and he said we do not serve other water except this and he quickly proceeded to open the bottle. Guess what, I was charged $12+++ for this water.
Reply
- Veron
  July 12, 2009
  
  Oh yeah! I had a similar experience, though not water-related.
  
  I was at a hotel buffet and asked the waitress if there’s orange juice. I took it for granted that she understood I meant if orange juice was included in the buffet. She came back with it, and I was charged $10++ for it in my bill.
  Reply
Daniel
July 12, 2009

Thanks Veron,

You’re doing great with this article.

I totally disagree with Ms. Gracie Vitale of La Forketta when she says in the Sunday Times article “it’s the customer with a budget who insist on tap water”. Wrong. Anybody with a thought for the environment knows that bottled water causes a great deal of wastage and damage to the environment.

I can well afford anything in your menu, Ms Vitale, but you’ll never know because I’ll never go to your establishment now. After all I get great Italian food at Basilico in Regent Hotel where they serve me tap water with a smile.
Reply
- Selwyn
  July 12, 2009
  
  her comment set me off
  Reply
- Veron
  July 12, 2009
  
  That’s one snobbish and downright stupid remark she made. I’m glad they named her and the restaurant in our mainstream newspaper :)
  Reply
Tripnotic
July 12, 2009

Wan Chai Hong Kong Tea Room (Sembawang Shopping Centre) – We walked out immediately and have since boycott the restaurant.

As a matter of fact, being a ‘Hong Kong Cafe’-style food lover, I don’t remember any of those chains that serve water at all.

More boycotts coming my way!
Reply
- Veron
  July 12, 2009
  
  Added. There are indeed a number of Hong Kong cafés listed. I wonder why!
  Reply
Alvin Tan
July 12, 2009

Seems like there are so many issues regarding this ice water thingy…
Points i wonder after reading so many comments:
1. Is restaurant charge service charge then water should be free? If no service charge also must serve ice water free?
2. Kopitiam becos low price and high turnover should charge ice water?
3. If no free ice water dun go? funny to me….go restaurant enjoy food or enjoy ice water? Lousy food but free ice water so should go? good food but no free ice water so should boycott?
4. What is fair or reasonable? free? 20 cents? 30cents? 50cents? 80 cents?
5. i think there should be categories for regarding the list of restaurants to boycott..e.g, high class, middle class, low class, got service charge or no service charge etc.
6. everyone like to say its not about the money but the principle but when restaurant charge u 20 cents u will start to make noise…..better still everything free u eat already then want to pay how much u decide..i think like this no one will complain except the restaurant owners.

I kinda see restaurants that charge ice water as flying normal airline like SQ, Thai compared to budget airlines. U can decide what u want then u pay and what u don’t want u don’t pay.

i think for me the key is having the freedom to make the choice.

The more pressing issue to me should be “customers must have the right to decide if they want to pay service charge.” Forced to pay service charge of 10% when clearly service standards is not up to par. 10% is much more substantial than example 50cents for ice water. Isn’t this issue more pressing for citizens to debate over and give their opinions and maybe one day the Government hears about it and make some new regulations?

Just my 20cents worth of ice water….

Food Lover,
Alvin
Reply
- Jeff
  July 14, 2009
  
  Alvin,
  
  your statement “I kinda see restaurants that charge ice water as flying normal airline like SQ, Thai compared to budget airlines. U can decide what u want then u pay and what u don’t want u don’t pay.” doesn’t make much sense.
  
  You do realise that when you pay for full-fared flights, all drinks served on the plane are free and unlimited? You can pretty much ask the stewardesses to keep pouring whiskey for you and they would (if you can handle it). You can drink all their water if you want too. Just have to ask.
  In your argument, those places that charge for water should be the budget airlines. It is precisely this reason that I don’t fly budget. I’d rather pay more for better service. In this case, when I’m paying service charges and top $$$ for fine dining, I would expect the minimum of a glass of iced-water on my table.
  Reply
  - Alvin Tan
    July 15, 2009
    
    Hey Jeff,
    
    This statement is more geared towards those restaurants that don’t charge service charge, reasonably priced restaurants not referring to those high class fine dining ones which i also feel water should be free as well. The service charge and premium dollar u pay for the food and ambience and service should be enough to cover the costs of water as well as manpower needed in providing free water to the customers. like those restaurants where u have a choice if u want water, wet towels, pickles if u don’t want then u will not be charged. this kinda feels to me like budget airlines if u just need to fly and not want the drinks n food onboard. u don’t have to pay for the higher fares with better service and food and drinks etc.
    Hope this clarifies my statement.
    
    I hate it when everything is compulsory irregardless whether u consume it or not.
    E.g, peanuts, pickles, chinese tea, rice, towels, poor service rendered.
    Reply
alan
July 12, 2009

Another one that deserves mention…Heaven’s Loft in Orchard Central. Some comments are located here: http://www.hungrygowhere.com/reviews/comments/26049/ and here http://jmax.wordpress.com/2009/06/07/
Reply
alan
July 12, 2009

Do a Google search on Heaven’s Loft at Orchard Central. You will find at least two blog posts about not serving tap water
Reply
- Veron
  July 12, 2009
  
  Added. That’s one of the newest F&B establishments in town.
  Reply
Selwyn
July 12, 2009

What’s worst is that some drinking establishments too refuse to serve tap water. That’s just plain irresponsible. It’s a required law in certain Australian states to serve free tap water if you serve up alcohol as well.

And that comment made by Gracie Vitale of La Forketta.

“Our patrons are serious diners and come for our food, not taste water. It’s the customer with the budget that insists on tap water”

That’s just downright elitist. And La Forketta aren’t even that posh to begin with.
Reply
- Stephen T
  July 12, 2009
  
  I also find the response from the director of La Forketta to be rude. Her response is adding fuel to fire and offensive. Not only is she unresponsive to comments about her water policy, she insults patrons who request for water as “budget” conscious.
  
  We should also highlight restaurants who have a good water policy. Coastes Bar in Sentosa is an example. They have a large insulated container of iced water, and anyone can just go fill up cups of iced water, and they cheerfully top up the container when it is empty. Kudoes for the great attitude at Coastes Bar!
  Reply
  - Veron
    July 13, 2009
    
    That remark from her was totally uncalled for. From reading the comments here, including yours, it seems to have backfired on her.
    
    And they sure have done a great job at Coastes Bar!
    Reply
- Veron
  July 12, 2009
  
  By making that kind of comment, I think she has already turned off dozens of potential customers. Not a terribly smart or business-minded move.
  Reply
stardropx
July 12, 2009

i so dislike the comments by the managing director of La Forketta.

“our patrons are serious diners and come for our food, not to taste water” sounds like a childish response. yea, of course patrons are there to eat, not to taste water! what kind of comment is this?! the issue here now is about diners demanding water to be served f.o.c. because they need it to enjoy their food (yes, we did patronize for the food huh), not because they want to taste it!

and the description “customer with a budget who insists on tap water” sounded really demeaning. it seemed to bring across the idea that she finds those customers cheapskate huh. i guessed she doesn’t really get the point. it’s not that customers want to scrimp on it but because they feel that water should be a right, not a mean for the restaurant to exploit more money from!

lastly, she mentioned that outside singapore, “nobody really asks for tap water”. i think she might have overlooked the point that singapore is one of the rare countries with clean drinkable tap water whereas most other countries do not have such a privilege, which is why foreigners do not really ask for tap water? how could she have made a comparison like this?!

in short, i find this lady rather shallow and unreasonable and was rather put off by it.
Reply
Annoyed
July 12, 2009

Would like to add to the list:

Kenny Rogers – no free water @ Suntec City and Marina Square branches
Reply
- Veron
  July 13, 2009
  
  Kenny Rogers is already on the list. Plus, with that earlier cockroach incident, they sure don’t look good!
  Reply
  - Edwin
    October 21, 2009
    
    Hi Veron, many thanks for starting this blog. Please add the Kenny Rogers’ branch at Great World City to your list. Thanks
    Reply
    - Veron
      October 21, 2009
      
      You are most welcome, and thank you for your contribution, too. Added the Great World City outlet.
      Reply
James Lim
July 12, 2009

Hi Veron.

I am glad that you have compiled a list of restaurants that do not serve water or charges a fee for water.

You’re right about Secret Recipe, Central Restaurant and Crystal Jade. Here’re 2 more:

Royal Cafe at East Coast Road, Siglap (Charges S$0.20 for a glass of warm water)
Imperial Herbal Restaurant, Vivo City (Charges S$1.00 for a glass of warm water. They also charge S$1.00 per person for tea.

Best regards
James
Reply
- Veron
  July 13, 2009
  
  Added Imperial Herbal Restaurant.
  
  A quick question about Royal Café in Siglap: Are they more popularly known as The Pie Factory? I hope to get the name right before publishing it on my list :)
  Reply
- cass
  September 14, 2009
  
  Yr right about secret recipe. $0.50 for water. Never going to patronise it again. Nor any of those restaurant that charge
  Reply
Ew
July 12, 2009

Hong Kong Kim Gary, where cactus distilled water is the only cheap-er alternative at 1.50SGD
Reply
- Veron
  July 13, 2009
  
  I added their VivoCity outlet. Can you verify if their other outlet at Tampines 1 has the same policy?
  
  Wonder if their Malaysian outlets are the same too.
  Reply
auden
July 12, 2009

Palm Beach Seafood Restaurant at One Fullerton.

When I asked for iced water, the waiter snobbishly replied “We don’t serve water here”.

I am not coming back!
Reply
- Veron
  July 13, 2009
  
  Added! I wonder why the waitstaff themselves have to be snobbish about it. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to drink water. It’s what the doctors recommend!
  Reply
Stephen T
July 12, 2009

You should do a petition online addressed to these restaurants and get signatures from people who will boycott them if they do not change their policy. Serving water is a basic service which should not be negotiable. Especially if it is for critical things like taking medicine or for mixing baby formula.
Reply
- Veron
  July 13, 2009
  
  Actually that’s not really the point of this list in the first place. I want to highlight to customers all the restaurants that refuse to serve free water. Bringing this awareness to the masses is my objective. I call for a boycott, fully knowing that people would still ultimately make their own choice as to whether to patronise these restaurants.
  
  Getting the restaurants to change their policy is secondary, although that would be great as an end result :)
  Reply
su yen chia
July 12, 2009

Dear Veron,

Thank you so much for doing this. It is galling how in these times when we need to be environmentally concious restaurants refuse to serve water. I think it is commendable that you are publishing this list of recalcitrant restaurants who are helping to devastate our environment by insisting we buy bottled water. I will continue to keep you posted on any restaurants which refuse to serve water in glasses. BTW, the latest trend in NYC is to serve water because serving bottled water is not PC, this is in spite of higher rents in NYC so Singaporean restaurants have no excuse.
Su Yen
Reply