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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hitomi
September 11, 2009

Little Bali n Gillman Village.

we asked iced water but not available.

my 2 years old dauger was also rejected to have iced water! I complained but they kept saying ” company Policy”

I’ll never go back there again as service is also questionable.
Reply
- Veron
  September 11, 2009
  
  Someone else complained about Little Bali/Villa Bali, too. I have linked your comment from my list. Thanks for sharing :)
  Reply
Mohd Hisham
September 11, 2009

Yesterday I went to the Old Town Coffee at Toa Payoh branch for some toasts.

just for the fun of it, i asked the waiter, AFTER i have placed the order to get me a glass of iced water. He put my order back on the table, and start to scroll down to the drink section and said to me, “its 50 cents per glass”.

i smiled and said, sure, get me one. :P

and this after i have ordered

ice coffee $2
toast $cant remember (its less than $5)
Soft-boiled eggs $2
assam laksa $5
Reply
- Veron
  September 11, 2009
  
  and this after they charge 10% for service, too.
  Reply
kimkian
September 17, 2009

Just found out that there’s an online list of restaurant that charge for water in Singapore. http://tiny.cc/wjbiL

This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Reply
RT
September 17, 2009

Went to Chen Fu Ji Grains at The Central this evening. When the bill arrived, I found that they had charged $0.50 per glass of water + a 10% service charge. After complaining that the $0.50 charge for the water was never mentioned or written on the menu, they offered to refund the money.
Reply
- Veron
  September 17, 2009
  
  Glad they refunded the money in the end. But still…
  
  … Added. Thanks :)
  Reply
auntie lucia
September 18, 2009

Hi Veron: I notice u’ve put No service charge against the Hot Tomato item which I contributed. I’ve found my bill and there’s a service charge of 10% + 7% GST. Not sure where u got the info re no service charge? Thanks!
Reply
- Veron
  September 18, 2009
  
  I saw someone’s review on the same restaurant and he mentioned there’s no service charge. Looks like the service charge was introduced only later on. Have amended my list.
  Reply
Hui Ping
September 24, 2009

When i went Lerk Thai at Woodlands Civics Centre last year, they did not serve water. However, few months ago, Lerk Thai at Whitesands, Marina Square served me water when i went. They might have changed the policy already.
Reply
- Veron
  September 25, 2009
  
  If so, that is certainly good news! I am a big fan of Lerk Thai. But their water policy seems inconsistent. From my experience, they had served water all along until a few months back. The last time I went to the Marina Square branch was probably in April or May and they didn’t serve water then.
  Reply
Foodeology
September 27, 2009

Ebisboshi Shotengai @ Iluma doesn’t serve free water as well. =D
Reply
- Veron
  September 27, 2009
  
  Added. If I’m not wrong, this place bears a similar concept as Marché and Shokudo right (ie. many eateries/stalls under the same roof)? In that case do they still levy service charges?
  Reply
  - Foodeology
    September 27, 2009
    
    hmm yep. If I didn’t remember wrongly, there’s still service charge. Well, at least the waiters do serve you. unlike Marché.
    Reply
    - Veron
      September 29, 2009
      
      Thanks for sharing!
      Reply
anon
October 5, 2009

Liquid Kitchen does not serve water unless you order alcohol. So if you order coffee, you will not get any water.
Reply
- Veron
  October 5, 2009
  
  Got it. Added Liquid Kitchen. Thank you.
  Reply
auntie lucia
October 15, 2009

Hi Sparklette, u might like to read a post in my blog abt being charged $38 +++ for Evian water at Blu restaurant in Shangri La. And we had actually asked for PUB water!
Reply
- Veron
  October 17, 2009
  
  So much for 5-star service. Added.
  Reply
JG
October 17, 2009

You can add esmirada at Chijmes, didnt see it on the list…..
Reply
- Veron
  October 17, 2009
  
  Esmirada is one of my favorite restaurants! I never realised they don’t serve free water. Thanks for contributing. Added.
  Reply
arrowintheblue
October 18, 2009

@uniquefrequency Restaurants that don’t serve tap water in Singapore: http://bit.ly/SJTIp plus the Facebook Group: http://bit.ly/3shf1M

This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Reply
Mats
October 19, 2009

Found the list through ST today. Great list. Please add comments if restaurants complain to you about being on the list. Those places clearly care more about fluff than their customers.
Reply
- Veron
  October 19, 2009
  
  Welcome Mats! You gave me an idea. Maybe I’ll add a little note next to those restaurants who have responded, and link to their comments.
  Reply
smithankyou
October 19, 2009

RT @sparklette: A PDF copy of the Straits Times article “Food bloggers face legal heat over reviews” http://bit.ly/2X1Hqe

This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Reply
quirkywuirky
October 19, 2009

RT @sparklette A PDF copy of the Straits Times article “Food bloggers face legal heat over reviews” http://bit.ly/2X1Hqe

This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Reply
Canton Pixie
October 19, 2009

hi there,
Hotpot Culture at Marina (www.hotpotculture.com) doesn’t serve free water – you either pay for mineral water or pay $0.50 for a mug of water.
Reply
- Veron
  October 20, 2009
  
  Thanks, added. I used to frequent Rajah Inn, another hot pot eatery by the same people behind Hotpot Culture, but can’t remember if they serve free water there.
  Reply
Ju
November 13, 2009

Hey Veron,
Wondering if you will be interested to try out some Restaurants under my Company’s portfolio and blog about them. Do you have an email address that i can contact you at?

Ju
Reply
Tom
November 14, 2009

Was at Villa Bali yesterday (Lock Rd). No free water. Also it was confusing but we couldn’t buy plain water, only expensive mineral water. However, they would provide both ice, and hot water, so we made our own.
Reply
- Veron
  November 16, 2009
  
  That’s rather amusing :)
  Reply
P. Chong
December 3, 2009

L’Estaminet / Peperoni – lists ice water at $150 a glass during happy hour…see copy of menu in pic:
Reply
- Veron
  December 5, 2009
  
  Is that $1.50 a glass at both places?
  Reply
P. Chong
December 5, 2009

No Veron…its $150 during happy hour, and $200 regular hours…yes, one hundred and fifty dollars and two hundred dollars…

I did attach a pic of the menu…found here: http://people.timezone.com/pchong/pepperino/menu.jpg. Not sure why it did not appear.
Reply
mhisham
December 5, 2009

a contributor for @sparklette blog http://ow.ly/IIaF about outlets not serving water, contributed this gem! http://ow.ly/IIaz GOSH!

This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Reply