7 Buzzy New Restaurants & Cafés to Try in Singapore Right Now (August 2026)

A few stand out for families. NiKU iKU at Our Tampines Hub does affordable, halal-certified Japanese grilled-meat bentos (from $7.80), so the whole family — including Muslim friends — can eat, and Our Tampines Hub has plenty for kids. Casa Vostra at Tampines Mall is easy crowd-pleasing pizza and pasta. And for a special-occasion treat, SKAI's 'Tea with a Little Hunny' Winnie-the-Pooh high tea has a dedicated child price ($39++ weekdays, $44++ weekends) and very photogenic, kid-delighting plating — though it's a premium experience and runs only till 31 August 2026.

Yes — NiKU iKU at Our Tampines Hub is halal-certified, serving Japanese yakiniku-style grilled-meat bentos, which is still relatively rare for this cuisine. Planet Melmac Chick 'N Chips on Haji Lane has been reported as having its halal certification pending, so if that matters for your group, check the current status with the outlet before going rather than assuming. The other spots on this list (Korean BBQ, Italian, Hangzhou Chinese, gelato, hotel high tea) are not halal-certified as far as we know — always verify directly if it's important to you.

Depends what you're after. For a fun, shareable group meal, Obongzip's viral XL Grilled Tteok ($28) at The Star Vista is the talking point. For everyday value, NiKU iKU's halal Japanese grilled-meat bentos start at just $7.80. And for a one-off treat, SKAI's 'Tea with a Little Hunny' Winnie-the-Pooh high tea (70 floors up) is the most memorable — but it's premium ($78++ weekdays, $88++ weekends) and time-limited, running only until 31 August 2026, so book ahead if that's on your list.

The east is especially well-served: NiKU iKU and Casa Vostra are both in Tampines (Our Tampines Hub and Tampines Mall), and Nai Nai Flavor is at i12 Katong. Elsewhere, Obongzip is at The Star Vista in Buona Vista, Planet Melmac is on Haji Lane near Bugis, Freshio Gelato is at KADA Maxwell in the CBD, and SKAI's high tea is on Level 70 of Swissôtel The Stamford in the city centre.

Yes — we re-checked all seven in August 2026 and every one is still trading. Two timing notes, though. SKAI's 'Tea with a Little Hunny' high tea is the only genuinely time-limited item: it ends on 31 August 2026, so if it's on your list, book now rather than later. And Planet Melmac is closed on Mondays, which catches people out. Everything else runs daily. Menus, prices and hours are set by the venues and do change, so it's still worth a quick check on their official channels before you head down.

For under $15 a head, NiKU iKU's halal iKU-ben boxes start at $7.80, Nai Nai Flavor's Dongpo Pork starts from $8.80+, Planet Melmac's meals run $9.90–$15.90, and a scoop at Freshio Gelato is $5.80–$6.80. Mid-range: Casa Vostra's Luciano carbonara is $21++ and Obongzip's XL Grilled Tteok is $28, with the sharing platter at $108++ for a group. SKAI's high tea is the splurge at $78++–$88++ per adult. On booking: SKAI genuinely requires a reservation (seatings are fixed and there's a 2-hour limit), and Obongzip and Casa Vostra are worth booking for weekend dinner. The rest are walk-in — though Planet Melmac has limited seating, so go off-peak.