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 19, 2009
1
That’s a good idea! Restaurants which don’t serve water deserve to be boycotted!
Jun 20, 2009
3472
Thrilled to get the French vote!
Jun 20, 2009
1
I’ve been to Lerk Thai @ Pasir Ris alot of times and they do serve plain water without our asking. So I guess it does not apply to all outlets bah. Nevertheless, great listing. Am surprised by those ‘branded’ restaurants yet they don’t serve the basic need of water. Hmm. :)
Jun 20, 2009
3472
I used to be a frequent diner at Lerk Thai (weekly) and yes, they used to serve plain water freely. But on my last visits to the Marina Square and Changi Airport T3 branches within the last month, the waitstaff said that they no longer do that.
But over the past couple of days I heard that they reverted after a popular artiste complained of their no-water policy. Not sure how true it is, but it would be good news because I would no longer have to boycott my favourite restaurant :)
Jun 20, 2009
1
I’d suggest that you check with Mamma Lucia Churrascaria for an update. I’ve been eating there for years and it didn’t serve free water for years. However it seems that that has changed since sometime in the second half of 2008.
Jun 20, 2009
3472
Would someone verify this please?
Jun 20, 2009
1
hey Timbre serves water.. u just have them to ask for it… but i dont think they refill ur water… that’s all :)
Coffeeclub at Orchard Fountain does not serve water too… the other outlets all do! :)
Jun 21, 2009
3472
I heard that they don’t serve water at Timbre after 10:30pm, but I can’t be sure.
Added Coffee Club. How strange that they don’t serve water at this particular outlet, considering its outdoor location where people would feel even more thirsty.
Dec 21, 2009
2
Timbre does serve free (tap) water when requested. Refills, too, if you ask for it. However, after 10.30pm, customers who want water or refills will have to help themselves at the bar counter; waiters don’t carry jugs of water around after 10.30.
My last visit at Timbre (Substation) was a week or two ago.
Dec 21, 2009
3472
Got it. The Timbre management clarifies this point on their website, too, and it’s exactly like you said. They are not on the list.
Jun 20, 2009
3
re: Old Town White Coffee – I complained to the manager at the Toa Payoh outlet about charging for water, particularly after I/any patron has ordered a meal and a coffee. He admitted that he had received similar complaints, but I see that this has not changed their policy.
Jun 21, 2009
3472
It’s funny that the manager would actually admit in front of another customer that they have received such complaints, and just haven’t done anything about it.
Jun 21, 2009
1
Old Hong Kong Kitchen at Square 2 (Novena) wants to charge us 80 cents for a glass of tap water. We left without ordering anything and vowed never to return. It’s not that we can’t afford it, but 80 cents for tap water?!
Jun 21, 2009
3472
I have heard restaurants charging $0.20, $0.30, $0.50 for tap water. $0.80 is the most expensive yet!
Aug 14, 2009
1
I am a regular customer of Old Hong Kong Kitchen. I like the food and prices. Comparing with the other Cantonese restaurant, the prices that they charge are low. For the charging of plain water, for what I know is, if you have order other drinks, they won’t charge you any water price and even refillable. I think it is very reasonable.
Jun 21, 2009
1
Hi, I just went to Tapas Tree at Clarke Quay last weekend and the waitress quite willingly served us iced water when i asked.. my husband did order a beer beforehand.. so i don’t know if that kind of justified the ‘free’ ice water.
Crystal Jade Xiao Long Bao at Great World City serves water when you request it.. I like the service there.. the staff are like these middle aged aunties and uncles and are quite friendly and chatty.
Jun 21, 2009
1
No Signboard seafood restaurant charges $1.50/pax for iced water.
Shouldn’t it be provided FOC when customers would already be paying a huge sum considering that it’s seafood?
Jun 21, 2009
3472
They probably assume that people who go there are big spenders and wouldn’t mind forking out extra for water.
Added!
Jun 22, 2009
1
It is not only about profiting from selling you a glass of tap water. It is also about profiting by depriving you of a drink so that you are forced to buy a glass ridiculously priced of coke.
Jun 24, 2009
1
Erm, I went spizza @ club street recently, and they served iced water / ‘free water’. I not sure about other outlets though.
Jun 24, 2009
3472
Alright. To be fair I’ll remove Spizza for now until someone complains about any specific outlet(s).
Jun 24, 2009
2
Seoul Garden also don’t serve water!
Jun 25, 2009
3472
Are the drinks included in the buffet?
Jun 25, 2009
2
Nope. U have to pay an extra $3 for the drinks at the buffet, or order the mineral water from them.
Jun 26, 2009
3472
Ooh… Now that you mention it, I vaguely remember having to pay extra for drinks. I can’t believe they won’t even serve water at a barbecue buffet. Added!
Jun 25, 2009
1
pizza de donato
ghim moh & 6th avenue
Jun 26, 2009
3472
Added both outlets. Thanks!
Jun 29, 2009
3
Bakerzin does not serve water!
I am so happy you are compiling this list. Not only is it unacceptable for them to force customers to pay extra, but it is also harming the environment!
Bottled water is one of the worst worst worst things we can do to the environment– ESPECIALLY in Singapore where the PUB gaurantees that all water from ANY TAP (even the one garden hoses connect to) is within international standards for potable, drinkable, safe, clean (how many more ways can I put it?!) water!
Jun 29, 2009
3472
You bring up a very good point about the bottles. Oh, I heard Bakerzin serves free water now, from some of my readers’ comments. That’s good news!
Jun 30, 2009
3
that’s great news! last time i went, only people with babies had access to free water! because they can just drink from the baby bottles kekeke ^__^
Jun 30, 2009
3472
That sounds somewhat cute. Haha! But anyways I’m glad that you no longer have to be a baby to get the free water at Bakerzin!
Jun 29, 2009
24
Why don’t u number yr list as well? That way, we see at a glance how many n thus how common the practice (if possible put yr total upon the total no. of restaurants in s’pore — or if that’s too massive a job to compile, why not break up the restaurants which don’t supply water into high, mid and low price?) thanks!
Jun 29, 2009
3472
You got your wish — the list is now numbered!
Given that most of the restaurants listed are reader contributions, I’m not exactly the ideal person to break them down into their respective price ranges.
Jul 6, 2009
24
Thank you Veron… numbering is helpful… since most are visitors’ contribution, mayb u shld have some disclaimer somewhere to say that u r not responsible for the reliability of the info but that users shld check for themselves. That way, u can avoid wronged restaurants/low priced dining fm coming after u! Yes, u do have a beautifully designed blog… n love all yr travel pieces which make the places come alive!
Jul 7, 2009
3472
I have added a little disclaimer that I hope helps. Thanks gal for your suggestions. You always provide such constructive ones!
Jun 30, 2009
1
Maybe you could provide contact details in your list so we could start to complain? I think these restaurants are clueless.
Jun 30, 2009
3472
I think they know, but are taking their chances anyway.
Jul 2, 2009
1
Found a restaurant that doesn’t serve tap water, TOTALLY ridiculous we came and spent hundreds of dollars here and they refused to serve tap water and I don’t buy bottled water so we ended up ordering their crappy sugared-up “teas”: Cafe Le Caire at 39 Arab St. Pls add them to the list so ppl know!!
Jul 2, 2009
3472
That’s indeed ridiculous. Well it’s deserving that they have now lost a high-spending customer, and many potential more!
Added!
Jul 8, 2009
1
Yes seriously, Singaporean restaurants should serve water.
I frequent Japan alot and they even give free flow of Japanese tea/water in most of their eateries. Even food courts and stufff.
Isn’t that such a nice culture.
Jul 10, 2009
3472
Yes, I don’t think I have ever encountered poor service in Japan. But to serve free water even in food courts is really going the extra mile!
Jul 8, 2009
24
Great2 that u take feedback so positively. Yr disclaimer is also well written n complete…
Here’s to more such useable lists! Palms 2gther!
Jul 8, 2009
1
I have a question though; why do we not question restaurants that do not serve tap water overseas? When we travel, especially to Europe, we take it for granted that no tap water is served and that mineral/bottled water is the norm?
Would this be a case of double standards?
Jul 10, 2009
3472
Hmm… do we not? I have seen a number of bloggers based in Europe and America complaining about the exact same issue as we are now. If you’re asking why we don’t question foreign restaurants on this blog, that’s because this blog has a focus on Singapore restaurants.