At some point in every working professional’s journey lies the business lunch—a decidedly important meal, whether shared with clients, office friends or a top executive you’re hoping to impress. As the name suggests, company and conversation are imperative when it comes to a working lunch. But that’s not to say that flavour and ambience take second place. Rather, choosing the right restaurant is the battle half won. If you’re new to power lunching, you might not be acquainted with the best options in town. Those with a filled-in lunch calendar, however, may feel like they have exhausted all options. Whichever you may be, this Vogue-approved list of restaurants with executive lunch menus is sure to entice.
Conveniently located within the Central Business District are Brasserie Astoria and Fiz, two of Singapore’s best fine-dining openings in recent years. Serving European and Southeast Asian cuisine respectively, look to the former to dine under grandiose chandeliers and neoclassical details. Meanwhile, be spoiled for choice by a three, five or eight-course Southeast Asian feast at Fiz. Michelin-starred Nouri is within the same vicinity, with a weekday lunch special that evolves seasonally, curated carefully by chef Ivan Brehm. The meal here is specifically catered to time-pressed guests, but is nowhere lacking in flavour, with the rich history and fusion of cultures inspiring the creation of each dish.
The list does not end here—escape the bustling city and immerse yourself in nature at Roia, should you be looking for a tranquil midday escape. Below, find the most elegant restaurants to dine at for your next business lunch.
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Brasserie Astoria
At Brasserie Astoria, lunch is a decidedly chic affair. The lofty-ceilinged restaurant has introduced a Plat Du Jour lunch menu, available on weekdays and updated every week to keep things fresh. With an appetiser, main and dessert course packed into a well-paced 90-minute meal, expect to tuck into classical brasserie dishes with a Nordic and French twist—like a crisp Caesar salad, or the famous Toast Astoria, an indulgent assembly of Norwegian king crab, trout roe and ikura on butter fried toast.
This is the power lunch to opt for when you really want to treat yourself (or your guest). Seated in the historical Victoria Concert Hall, the restaurant brings back old school glamour with impeccably appointed interiors complete with romantic booths, opulent furnishings, flambé trolleys, table side service and the full works. Everything is meticulously curated, from the retro tunes that play in the background to the quirky tableware your table is set with.
11 Empress Pl, Singapore 179558
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Restaurant Fiz
Fiz is a proud showcase of its chef-owner’s heritage. Raised in the coastal town of Lumut in Perak, Malaysia, chef Hafizzul Hashim has spent decades spent working in Michelin-starred restaurants in cities like London and Tokyo. Now, he’s on mission to bring the best of Southeast Asian cuisine to the world.
To that end, the restaurant is expanding its offering to lunch, with three-, five- and eight-course menus available to cater to a wide variety of guests. While the shortest of the three will serve you well when you’re looking for a delicious but quick CBD lunch, opt for eight courses to enjoy the full generosity of the Fiz experience. The Shima Aji Pekasam, a fish-based congee, is a special highlight. Don’t let its seeming simplicity fool you—it just might be the most indulgent dish on the menu.
Restaurant Fiz, 21 Tg Pagar Rd, #01-01/02, Singapore 088444
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Roia
Nestled in the flora and fauna of the Singapore Botanic Gardens, the tranquillity of nature sets Roia apart. This chic yet understated two-storey restaurant is charmingly surrounded by lush foliage, and one can opt to dine alfresco, in the company of greenery and natural light.
Masterfully weaving botanical influences into French cuisine, chef Priyam Chatterjee starts the meal off with a Brittany crab tartare kueh pie tee and tamarind gel, alongside a compressed cucumber tart with crème fraîche. Next up, enjoy the contrasting textures presented by Mille Feuille of Braised Leeks, where crisp layers of puff pastry and fresh leeks are refreshingly complemented by dill cream and orange vinaigrette sauce. In terms of mains, we recommend the Iberico Pork Chop on account of the tender and juicy meat paired with seared foie gras, lightly roasted kale, black garlic gel and a pommery mustard sauce. And if you’re not afraid of a little food-induced stupor after lunch, indulge in the pavlova—a fluffy, sorbet-and-fruit-filled meringue adorned in fresh flowers and surrounded by a pool of tangy calamansi honey cream.
1 Cluny Rd, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Singapore 259569
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Nouri
Michelin-starred restaurant Nouri needs no introduction. Chef-owner Ivan Brehm’s unique culinary ethos, ‘Crossroads Thinking’, alludes to his exploration of the interdependence between ingredients, cooking methods and dishes from different parts of the world.
Thankfully, Nouri’s lunch menu is as ideologically-rich—and delicious, of course—as its evening-time offerings. In a concise course menu designed for time-pressed guests, you’ll find an assortment of dishes that are sure to please. Appetisers include the restaurant’s signature vegetable broth, a warm and nourishing sip to recharge you in the middle of the work day, alongside a creamy dip to dunk the house-made sourdough into. Choose between well-portioned protein mains before you decide if you want to indulge in dessert. The chocolate fishball, a spicy-sweet treat spiked with fish sauce, is sure to awaken your senses before you head back to the office.
Nouri, 72 Amoy St, Singapore 069891
