The best oyster bars in Singapore

This vibey seafood restaurant along Bukit Pasoh Road was the backdrop for one of the scenes in Crazy Rich Asians. Take your pick between Summerstone, Blue Pool, Hammersley Inlet and Eld Inlet oysters ($8 per piece). And if $8 a pop’s too much of a splurge, the oyster happy hour runs all day on Mondays and public holidays, and till 7pm from Wednesday to Sunday, where one piece goes at $4. Besides oysters, the restaurant is also known for its seafood-forward plates, like the applewood-smoked hamachi pastrami tostada ($14) with pickled mustard sour cream; or house-cured swordfish belly bacon ($32) tossed with ricotta cavatelli. Make sure to head down with friends – the menu is specially designed to be shared.

European chop houses are known for their premium cuts of meat, and it’s no different at Luke’s Oyster Bar & Chop House. And while the USDA prime ribeye ($125) is a must-try, the pièce de résistance is unquestionably the oyster bar, which sees oysters from the eastern coast of America that are personally sourced by the team. Those who prefer a fresh but balanced sweetness should go for the Barnstable, while those who enjoy a brinier taste should opt for the Powder Point. Half a dozen oysters goes at $57 while a dozen goes at $114. For a full experience, order the Shellfish Plateau (from $170) which comes with lobster, shrimps, crab and tuna tartare sitting on a two-tiered silver tower. And of course, one tier is entirely dedicated to a variety of fresh oysters.

Greenwood Fish Market has been known as a mainstay joint for fresh seafood since it opened in 2003. Its two outlets – at Bukit Timah and Quayside Isle – boast comprehensive oyster menus that showcase the best of Australian, Ireland, Canada, France and the US. Try the Australian Coffin Bay ($5.95 per piece) for clean, crisp and sweet flavours, or the French Fine de Claire ($4.95 per piece) for a more delicate profile. You can also order the cold seafood platter ($109.95) to share – freshly shucked oysters make an appearance along with a range of other cold seafood. With half a boston lobster, clams, mussels, prawns, cold smoked salmon and swordfish with furikake, this easily feeds up to four diners.

When fresh oysters are affordably priced at $2 per pop, it’s little wonder that the Oyster Bank is always packed. Make the most of this deal at the restaurant’s Happy Shucking Hour, which runs from its opening till 8pm on weekdays and all day on the weekends. Thankfully, the two branches at Funana and Great World City help to spread out the $2 oyster frenzy. You’ll find an array of five unique flavours here that range from raw oysters with yuzu ponzu sauce or Tosazu kombu sauce. While the naked oysters start at $3.95 per piece, those with an extra dash of flavour start at $4.75. For a fun twist, try the oyster shooters ($9.90) – downing oysters by the shot. Choose between the Bloody Mary for a classic blend of tomato juice, vodka and worcestershire, or the Yuzu Foam for a splash of yuzu and dill oil.

Since Angie’s Oyster Bar & Grill hauled themselves to Tan Boon Liat Building, a furniture mecca of sorts, they’ve revamped their entire menu. But oysters are still the star of the show here – they come freshly shucked upon order and there’s a daily selection ranging from classic to rare and seasonal. Come during their oyster happy hour on Mondays to Thursdays from 5pm till 6.30pm to enjoy oysters at $2 per piece. The Angie’s Ocean Platter ($148) is a grand, two-tier platter ideal for sharing if you’re coming in a group of three or four. It’s loaded with a medley of oysters, snow crab legs, prawns, scallops, and shellfish – all flown in fresh daily.

This modern French bistro in the CBD draws in a healthy crowd on weekdays, but you won’t find it empty on the weekends either thanks to the free flow cocktails and oysters brunch option ($42 per person). For an hour and a half on Saturday, you’ll get to enjoy endless rounds of Fine de Claire N04 oysters, alongside bottomless drinks like Mimosa, Bellini and Prosecco. Other menu highlights include snails from Burgundy ($20) which come garnished with parsley and garlic butter; pan seared foie gras ($38) paired with honey and toasted sourdough; as well as the highly-raved creamy spinach that comes alongside mains like the eggs florentine ($14) and the pan-seared sea bass ($28). Round off with a classic favourite – a homey apple tarte fine ($14) with decadent vanilla ice cream.

Opened by the same folks behind Joséphine, Loulou brings homely cuisine from the South of France to the menu, with slightly more emphasis on fish and seafood items. On weekends, you’ll get to eat your fill of Fine de Claire N04 oysters and sip on free flow pours of Mimosa, Bellini and Prosecco. The joint also runs a $1-per-oyster deal every Thursday night for their dinner service. And if you happen to miss it, pop by any other time for the large seafood tower ($75) that feeds up to two, where you’ll be treated with a bounty of oysters, shelled scallops, mussels, tiger prawns and marinated octopus.

Tanuki Raw first opened in Singapore in 2012 and gained popularity for its iconic truffle yakiniku donburi and daily happy hour deals. More than a decade later, you can still get freshly shucked oysters at $3 per pop from 5pm to 8pm when you order a cocktail (from $12). Else, pop by for lunch or dinner to order fresh oysters at $5 per piece, as well as try out other flavours like the truffle oyster ($7) drizzled with Tanuki Raw’s signature truffle soy sauce, chives and shio konbu; or the Chinmi chilli oyster ($7) which is topped with house-made green Chinmi chilli sauce for a fiery kick. And to leave without wolfing down one of the signature bowls would be a crime – stick with the regular truffle yakiniku don ($22.90) or add on pan-seared foie gras to the bowl for an added touch of luxe ($28.90).

This hidden izakaya in the midst of Orchard Plaza is a cosy joint that prides itself in serving the freshest of oysters, flown in from around the world. The assorted oyster platters ($24 for half a dozen) come in different styles – you can opt to have them grilled with sake or garlic butter, sauteed in butter shoyu or smoked in oil. Or, of course, enjoy them fresh to savour the subtle brine of New Zealand oysters or the creamy plumpness of Canadian oysters. Though it’s the oysters that you’ll be flocking over for, the menu also consists of interesting teppanyaki dishes like Hokkaido beef tendon ($20), beef tongue ($19), chicken gizzard ($10), liver ($10) and soft-bone ($11). And like all izakayas, the usual suspects of sake, shochu and highballs are aplenty.

The panoramic views of the Singapore River, Parliament buildings and Marina Bay Sands are what earned Southbridge a spot in our list of the best rooftop bars in Singapore. The half-dozen platters of freshly shucked oysters ($23) come either au naturale with lemon and Tabasco sauce, or in special renditions like Nikkei, with bulldog sauce and tograshi; Mignonette, with banana shallot and sherry vinegar; or Umami, with a ponzu and yuzu dressing. Or get the Southbridge’s Signatures platter ($78) to share – it includes half a dozen oysters along with octopus tacos, edamame, tortilla chips.