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.’
Jun 24, 2010
1
Crystal Jade Hong Kong Cafe – (Liang Seah Street) the stretch opp Bugis Junction.
They do serve free water intially .. towards end of 2009 they stop serving anymore .. u will be given free water unless u or your friend order a drink from the cafe. Else it will cost you 0.50 cents for a glass of water..
Jun 26, 2010
6
Boon Tong Kee Hainanees Chicken Rice Restaurant at East Coast Road charges water at $0.40 per person.
Jun 27, 2010
1
I went to this Red Lacquer restaurant at jp2 today with my family,we have order curryfish,and realised that the fish is not fresh,we finish our food and let the staff over thr to know the fish is not fresh,she asked “do we want her to change a new one?”,we said “it’s okie”,and she went to tell her colleagues,then we heard they said “not fresh still finish the fish”,we are so pissed off with this kind of attitude,especially the girl with short hair standing at the drinks counter,she keep staring at us,even say out so loud lik specially for us to hear,what kind of attitude isit?We spend $19 over for the curryfish,why can’t we finish it?Even they could change a new one,will they confirm it will be fresh?We are just commenting,isit that they don’t allow comment even though their food are nt fresh?This is seriously ridiculous,staff over thr don’t deserve the job,they don’t even know the basic of service,customers is right,we didn’t expect anything,just wanted them to improve on their food,is that wrong?
Jun 27, 2010
3472
We had a nasty experience at Red Lacquer in Jurong Point, too. The food was good, but the service was abysmal. In fact, it was our bad experience at this very restaurant that prompted us to start this list. The rest is history :)
Jul 26, 2010
1
Just read this web of yours.very helpful.Now I know where to go or not for my anniversary dinner next month..certain outlets’ owners comments sound so arrogant-its like “if u want come if not dont!what the heck!
Oct 11, 2010
1
Bliss Restaurant @ Punggol Park
Oct 26, 2010
6
Hi Veron.
Please add Fiesta Brasilia located at the basement of United Square. They charge $4.90 per bottled water.
Not only do they not serve water, the waiters kept asking if you would like to order more drinks.
Best regards
James
Nov 1, 2010
24
Not sure if this cafe’s on your list. Creative Organics at Fortune Centre (2nd floor) charges 20 cents per cup of water.
Nov 13, 2010
1
Intro Bar at Swissotel Stamford. Tiger beer costs $21. No free water LAH.
Nov 24, 2010
24
Pse add to your Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao no free water list: outlet at Great World City.
Dec 3, 2010
1
I went to Nandos at Tanglin Mall. No free water is served. No idea if there is a service charge, walked out after placing order and finding out there will be no free water served. Pity, was going to try out the palce since it was new.
Dec 12, 2010
1
Lao Beijing @ Novena Square
$0.30 for hot water
$1.00 for their bottled water (Crystal Jade brand)
Spent $80+ and upon checking my bill discovered that the boiling hot water served to my 4 year old (after we politely refused their $1.00 bottled water) was chargeable. It’s not the cost but the explanation was quite laughable .. “Its not tap water … ”
Drive for profits is really going mad .. Guess which restaurants I will not be patronizing for all future eat-outs ..
Dec 19, 2010
1
Lerk Thai is listed above but let it be know that the outlet at Changi T3 charges S$1.00 for bottled water and refuses to serve tap water.
Dec 25, 2010
1
Fiesta Brasilia, United Square. Despite ordering a bottle of wine to go with the meal, they refused to serve water. I used to like this place, but too bad I won’t be going back.
Jan 24, 2011
1
About a year ago I went into a restaurant with my in-laws and extended family recently.. ..about 16 of us. It was a quiet Saturday afternoon, and we were the only patrons.
When the waiter approached to distribute the menus, my mother-in-law asked for a glass of water. She was clearly hot and suffering slighting from the outside heat. The waiter informed her that she needed to order a bottle water. My father-in-law interrupted and pointed out that there was 16 of us and that surely the boss wouldn’t deny his wife a glass of water. The waiter apologised and said it was the restaurants policy.
The Manager was summonsed – who, incidentally, had been watching and listening to the whole affair. He too, armed with a patronising smile, confirmed the policy. Again, my father-in-law protested and clarified that it was just a single glass of water that was request… The answer was no.
Without a word, the entire family immediate stood up in unison and calmly walked out.
Every restaurant I eat at now, I immediately ask for a glass of water before ordering to see their response. It’s not about the water… it simple reflects to me an attitude and the standards of the establishment. Consequently, I have walked out an many places BUT I have also enjoyed my dining experience so much more knowing that the establishment appreciates my business and understands the concept of dining experience.
Jan 24, 2011
1
Hubers butchery cafe, dempsey.
Feb 7, 2011
1
Thanks for the list! I only came across it after I was curious about policy in Singapore (I live in the US, visiting family here) when we were denied plain water at Nandos in Bugis Junction the other day. This article is a great resource, and has spurred a wonderful conversation online.
Personally, while I think charging for plain water would be silly, I don’t really object that much if a restaurant wants to do that, and the charge is reasonable ($150 is not reasonable :) http://people.timezone.com/pchong/pepperino/menu.jpg ). Fact is, if the restaurant owner feels they need to charge for water, they are going to do it one way or the other, whether explicitly or simply by padding the rest of the menu prices. The precise mechanism and exact charge is less relevant to me than the overall quality and cost of the meal and level of service provided.
What really annoyed me at Nandos was that plain water was not even an option. I neither need nor want water that has been sitting in a bottle that’s leaching BPAs into the water, which required oil to produce and transport, and which has to be disposed of later. Especially in a country where the tap water is safe and free of noxious tastes (there are even places in the US where I would not drink the tap water without an effective filtering first…in those places, it may be safe, but it’s still pretty awful to drink).
Keep up the good work!
Feb 8, 2011
1
I would like to add a note that MacDonalds and KFC DO SERVE plain water if you ask for it. Icy cold to add on. Since the regular customers are youngsters, the icy cold water often cools them down after a game at the nearby basketball court or the unstoppable heat. Adds on to the service experience, right?
If you noticed, KFC has this little tap hanging out from its drinks machine and yes, thats where you get your water. Similar to those water coolers you find in school. Having visit KFC quite a few times, I must say their service isn’t all that bad as a fast-food outlet. There have been a few instances where mothers ask for cups of water for their kids and the workers working at frontline serve them with a smile.
Same goes to MacDonalds, just that the water gets dispensed from the machine itself, like how your coke gets into the cup with a push of a button. Once, my friend was in need of water for her medication but none of us had water with us or finished our bottle of water we brought out with us. She turned to MacDonalds, and was serve a medium-cup sized of water (slightly smaller than those party plastic cups) even though she did not buy anything.
One win for fast-food outlets.
If fast-food chains are willing to give, than why not restaurants? Okay, its their choice anyway, but its also our choice whether we are happy with their service or not. I personally won’t boycott a restaurant if they don’t serve water, but what irks me most is horrible service attidute as well as hidden costs. What’s the point of serving water and then charging it together with the total bill? As what Veron said herself, it’s worse if they still refuse to serve water if its for valid reasons such as medication and kids. How much can a cup of water cost you if you are going to serve water only when customers request? As compared to other restaurants who serve water to every guest that patronise their restaurant, you definately save alot more. Why stinge on that cup of water that may change how a customer looks at your restaurant or even decide whether to return for more visits?
Just one simple regular fare at every restaurant, serving water, reflects on how much the restaurant is willing to give and serve its customers. Nuff’ said.
Mar 24, 2011
1
Just visited Bali Thai at Velocity (Novena Square). Requested warm water and was told there is additional charge for request of warm water because they only serve “standard water”, i.e you have to accept whatever temperature of the water they serves you.
Jun 1, 2011
2
I recently visited MOF in Marina Square and after ordering about $60 worth of food and “drinks” asked for a glass of water. I was told that they did not server ice water, but would “sell” me a glass of warm water for $0.30. I told them that I never eat at restaurants that refuse a glass of tap water or offer to sell it, and promptly left.
It amazes me that these restaurants would rather lose a fair amount of money and customers rather than provide a free glass of tap water.
I heard on the radio that Class 95 DJ Bobby Tonelli had a similar, but much worst experience at MOF also.
Jun 16, 2011
1
Crystal Jade Kitchen (Parkway Parade) charges $0.30 for a glass of warm tap water. the food was mediocre, expensive, and there were many additional hidden charges. never will i return!