As Singapore emerges from over a month long Covid-19 lockdown, many will find the dining scene in the city quite changed. From cosy neighborhoods to busy downtown, small cafes and big restaurants alike have been forced to close for good. As restaurants come back this June, we're remembering these 5 beloved eateries, old and new: 

1. Breko Café at Holland Village: Closed

Photo: Breko Cafe

Nestled among the rows of restaurants and bars that come alive with the buzz of revelers every night, Breko Café, that opened in 1999, was a peaceful haven in contrast to its rowdy neighbors. Its high ceilings, warm lights and generally light colored settings made it an inviting space to dine in and work from on most days, while slurping up comforting western fusion dishes like Tomato Chicken Stew and Chili Crab Pasta. The long-standing bistro saw many families and after-school teenagers for over 20 years, starting at time when Holland Village was truly hipster. They shut their doors on 31 March, as the owners wrote on their Facebook, that they endured “too many difficult periods” in the past decade. We will definitely miss having a hearty Sunday brunch on their breezy patio.

2. Salt Grill & Sky Bar at Orchard: Temporary closure till further notice

Photo: Salt Grill & Sky Bar 

The journey up to Salt Grill & Sky Bar is a truly unforgettable one. Soar above the twinkling city skyline at dusk and emerge in a elegant fine dining setting. Towering glass windows offer a glimpse of the bustling metropolis from the heart of the shopping district, while fine wood paneling and flooring keep guests grounded in warm familiarity. Enjoy the sweeping panorama as you tuck into authentic upscale Australian fare, from juicy tenderloin steaks to decadent chocolate delicacies. Head Chef Jake Kowalewski “lets the ingredients speak for themselves and is focused on serving only the best Australian produce in a clean and simple manner”. In their latest Instagram post, they announced that “we have decided to close down our business temporarily due to some maintenance until further notice.” Perhaps there is still hope yet as they re-evaluate their strategy in these trying circumstances.

3. 7th Mile Seafood at Toh Yi Drive: Closed

Photo: 7th Mile Seafood

As one satisfied customer puts it, “not only is the seafood fresh and delicious, it is also good value for money.” This popular seafood hangout serves up huge portions of seafood in a coffee shop setting, including crowd favorites like Crab with Bee Hoon, Hae Zhor and Fish Maw soup. Their kitchen was formerly headed by the ex-Head Chef from Ming Kee Seafood – no wonder their Cze Char fare hit the spot all the time! Sadly, Bukit Timah residents had to bid goodbye to this well-loved hangout all too soon – 7th Mile Seafood shuttered on 7 April as there were too many "operational problems and it was the only way for them”.

4. SG Pho House at North Bridge Road: Closed

Photo: SG Pho House

Even though they were a new kid in the block, SG Pho House never failed to deliver a piping hot and aromatic bowl of Beef Pho, a classic Vietnamese dish. Their broth was brewed for a staggering 12 hours and their sliced beef was always cooked to the right doneness, retaining their tender and juicy centers. Helmed by a born and raised in Vietnam lady boss, this little restaurant has kept its menu simple to retain quality in their dishes. We will definitely miss their nourishing bowls, crunchy spring rolls and strong Vietnamese drip coffee. While they have shut their doors since 12 April, fans can still support their snack business on Facebook. Who knows – with our support, they might open a new restaurant in the near future.

5. Parallel at Raffles Place: Closed - moved online

Photo: Parallel

This trendy café dished out colorful Acai bowls alongside their signature Espresso coffees, attracting students and office worker alike to their classy joint at Raffles city. Fans love its decently priced offerings, with one of them praising Parallel for serving “a really good cup of coffee at one of most competitive prices in the Raffles City/Suntec area”. We relish their Superstar bowl, which comes with bananas, blueberries and granola on top. Their physical outlet may be temporarily closed, but all is not lost for this cafe as they are still taking orders for their yummylicious coffees at their online store.

Many more eateries in Singapore have closed because of the virus. For those surviving, some have found new ways of expanding their business, such as making delivery services permanent and offering DIY meal kits. For others, particularly hawkers, online avenues such as Hawkers United 2020 and the FoodLeh? App have been lifelines in helping them ride out this period. Here, you can show your support by checking out a list of small eateries in Singapore that are not available on major delivery platforms. 

Have your favourite eateries closed? Or, how have they changed in the post-pandemic dining scene? Let us know in the comments below and we might feature it in our next story.