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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

hitomi
1 comment

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
Posted September 11, 2009 at 10:59 am
- Veron
  3439 comments
  
  Someone else complained about Little Bali/Villa Bali, too. I have linked your comment from my list. Thanks for sharing :)
  Reply
  Posted September 11, 2009 at 9:45 pm
Mohd Hisham
6 comments

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
Posted September 11, 2009 at 11:07 am
- Veron
  3439 comments
  
  and this after they charge 10% for service, too.
  Reply
  Posted September 11, 2009 at 9:50 pm
RT
1 comment

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
Posted September 17, 2009 at 10:39 pm
- Veron
  3439 comments
  
  Glad they refunded the money in the end. But still…
  … Added. Thanks :)
  Reply
  Posted September 17, 2009 at 11:25 pm
auntie lucia
24 comments

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
Posted September 18, 2009 at 3:41 pm
- Veron
  3439 comments
  
  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
  Posted September 18, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Hui Ping
3 comments

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
Posted September 24, 2009 at 3:07 am
- Veron
  3439 comments
  
  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
  Posted September 25, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Foodeology
6 comments

Ebisboshi Shotengai @ Iluma doesn’t serve free water as well. =D
Reply
Posted September 27, 2009 at 3:21 pm
- Veron
  3439 comments
  
  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
  Posted September 27, 2009 at 9:53 pm
  - Foodeology
    6 comments
    
    hmm yep. If I didn’t remember wrongly, there’s still service charge. Well, at least the waiters do serve you. unlike Marché.
    Reply
    Posted September 27, 2009 at 10:18 pm
    - Veron
      3439 comments
      
      Thanks for sharing!
      Reply
      Posted September 29, 2009 at 12:15 pm
anon
1 comment

Liquid Kitchen does not serve water unless you order alcohol. So if you order coffee, you will not get any water.
Reply
Posted October 5, 2009 at 2:54 pm
- Veron
  3439 comments
  
  Got it. Added Liquid Kitchen. Thank you.
  Reply
  Posted October 5, 2009 at 4:58 pm
auntie lucia
24 comments

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
Posted October 15, 2009 at 8:56 pm
- Veron
  3439 comments
  
  So much for 5-star service. Added.
  Reply
  Posted October 17, 2009 at 11:14 am
JG
1 comment

You can add esmirada at Chijmes, didnt see it on the list…..
Reply
Posted October 17, 2009 at 6:14 pm
- Veron
  3439 comments
  
  Esmirada is one of my favourite restaurants! I never realised they don’t serve free water. Thanks for contributing. Added.
  Reply
  Posted October 17, 2009 at 6:28 pm
Mats
2 comments

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
Posted October 19, 2009 at 9:51 am
- Veron
  3439 comments
  
  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
  Posted October 19, 2009 at 10:50 am
Canton Pixie
1 comment

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
Posted October 19, 2009 at 11:26 pm
- Veron
  3439 comments
  
  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
  Posted October 20, 2009 at 10:13 am
Ju
1 comment

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
Posted November 13, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Tom
1 comment

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
Posted November 14, 2009 at 11:58 pm
- Veron
  3439 comments
  
  That’s rather amusing :)
  Reply
  Posted November 16, 2009 at 3:10 am
Sparklette
195 tweets

Added Kintamani to my list. Beware the bottled water on table. Staff doesn’t tell u it’s $9 ’til u open it http://sparklette.net/food/restaurants-t...
Reply
Tweeted November 26, 2009 at 1:13 pm
ketsugi
1 tweet

@sparklette Only time I’ve willingly paid for water was at Secret Recipe in Melaka, 50 sen per cup. Service was excellent so I didn’t mind.
Reply
Tweeted November 26, 2009 at 1:24 pm
alwynloh2
1 tweet

@sparklette hey, boon tong kee also doesn’t serve free water! once, i asked for a glass of water after the bill… and they redid the bill!
Reply
Tweeted November 26, 2009 at 3:20 pm
P. Chong
6 comments

L’Estaminet / Peperoni – lists ice water at $150 a glass during happy hour…see copy of menu in pic:
Reply
Posted December 3, 2009 at 2:15 pm
- Veron
  3439 comments
  
  Is that $1.50 a glass at both places?
  Reply
  Posted December 5, 2009 at 2:22 am
P. Chong
6 comments

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
Posted December 5, 2009 at 7:13 am
Mohd Hisham
6 comments

Crystal Jade Hong Kong Cafe @ Orchard Central charges 50 cents for iced water :)
Reply
Posted December 9, 2009 at 12:06 pm
LISA KERSHAW
1 comment

YO SUSHI- NO FREE WATER
Reply
Posted December 10, 2009 at 1:30 am
- Veron
  3439 comments
  
  Is this in Singapore?
  Reply
  Posted December 12, 2009 at 2:56 am