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.
- 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
- Arteastiq (Mandarin Gallery) – 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
- Bliss Waterfront Dining & Bar (Punggol Park) – reader’s contribution
- Blu (Shangri-La Hotel) – reader’s contribution
- Boon Tong Kee Chicken Rice (Bukit Timah) – personal experience
Our review - 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
- Creative Organics (Fortune Centre) – 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, Great World City, Holland Avenue, Ngee Ann City & Suntec City Mall) – readers’ contributions 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
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
- Five Izakaya Bar (Hitachi Tower) – reader’s contribution
- Fou de Fafa (Capital Tower) – reader’s contribution
- Fiesta Brasilia (United Square) – readers’ contributions 1 | 2
- 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
- Huber’s Butchery & Bistro (Dempsey Hill) – reader’s contribution
- Imperial Herbal Restaurant & Tcafe (VivoCity) – reader’s contribution
- Insomnia (CHIJMES) – reader’s contribution
- Introbar (Swissotel The Stamford) – 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
- Lao Beijing (Novena Square) – 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 & Tanglin Mall) – readers’ contributions 1 | 2
- 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
- Serenity Spanish Bar & Restaurant (VivoCity) – 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) – readers’ contributions 1 | 2
- 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.’
Mar 26, 2010
1
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”…..
Mar 26, 2010
3472
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.
Mar 27, 2010
1
Table 108 restaurant at Chijmes does not serve tap water
Mar 29, 2010
1
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.
Apr 2, 2010
1
Please add Joaquim Buffet Restaurant at Suntec City to the list.
Apr 11, 2010
1
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!
Apr 16, 2010
1
-Pacific Allied Cafe in URA Centre charges for tap water
-Lerk Thai in Woodlands Civic Centre doesn’t serve tap water
Apr 18, 2010
6
Funan Wen Ipoh Horfun at Maxwell Chambers, Maxwell Road does not serve water. They charge for water.
Apr 23, 2010
1
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?
Apr 26, 2010
3472
I have removed them from the list. They don’t look like they belong here. Thanks for sharing!
May 6, 2010
1
I paid my taxes. Doesn’t this mean I’ve prepaid for my glass of water?
May 24, 2010
2
Streats at Downtown East offers tap water at 50cents. Does that goes to your list?
May 25, 2010
3472
Is that Streets Cafe?
May 26, 2010
2
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.
May 24, 2010
1
Nando’s at Bugis. Only bottled water for sale, at crazy prices.
Remember, this is the place that sells spicy hot chicken.
May 25, 2010
3472
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.
May 29, 2010
2
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 …
Nov 28, 2010
6
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.
Jun 7, 2010
2
Diandin Leluk Thai Restaurant (Serangoon Garden Central)
– charges s$0.30 for each cup of water
– 10% service charge applied to total bill
Jun 7, 2010
2
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.
Jun 7, 2010
1
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.
Jun 8, 2010
4
Bar Bar Black Sheep at Robertson Blue doesn’t offer free ice water unless you purchase a beverage from them. It’s as if purchasing their food isn’t enough! The only plus point is that there’s no service charge.
Jun 11, 2010
2
Bar Bar Black Sheep is a Coffee Shop, and altho the ambience is upmarket, the bar (drinks stall) doesn’t make a single cent from the food… and as you rightly mention, there is no service charge, plus GST is absorbed.
I don’t think they deserve to be featured here; in fact, think of it as them making it easier for people like us to order everything from one centralized source.
Feb 15, 2014
1
Bar bar black sheep is a bar and should provide tap water.
Jun 22, 2010
1
Renn Thai Restaurant at Clarke Quay.
Was told they don’t serve plain water there and had to order their bottled water for 1 for $4.50 or a larger one at $7.50 for 2.
Jun 23, 2010
1
paragon’s bakerzin DO serve water. actually most of the outlets serves water, sometimes you gotta ask.
Jun 23, 2010
3472
Bakerzin only started serving water recently. In any case, they aren’t on this list.
Jun 23, 2010
3
soup spoon only sells bottled water… might as well punch mother nature in the face