The best business lunch sets in the CBD

Bacata's lunch set menu starts from $48.

Set in the heart of the CBD, the stylish restaurant is conveniently located on the verdant rooftop of the Fraser Tower. Here, chef Fernando Arévalo plates up modern Colombian dishes that are inspired by quintessential Colombian culture and favourite foods he enjoyed growing up until today. For lunch, the three-course set menu includes some of his elevated works; there is Arroz Caldoso, made up of kombu-tinged Arborio rice, bejewelled with chunks of smoked eel, richness of uni cream and a ribbon of brine from caviar; or the gently torched Pulpo (octopus), swimming in a spicy moat of nduja and salted egg topped with herbaceous chimichurri.

Skai's lunch set menu starts from $50.

The odds of clinching the deal are in your favour. After all, you're lavishing your guests with jaw-dropping views of the civic district in the penthouse living room of dreams, 70 floors up the Swissotel the Stamford. And it won't break the bank either – a two-course lunch set starts from $50 while a three-course goes for $60. To start, the contemporary grill offers seafood plates that reflect subtle Japanese sensibilities with the delicate use of the binchotan grill. In the mains, a selection of meats, poultry, fish or vegetable will feature the use of the signature Josper grill. Dessert isn’t an afterthought, either. The dainty creations will tempt even after the fulfilling mains. And if you're celebrating, know that cocktails and wine by the glass all go for just $15.

Crafted by Peter Zwiener’s lunch set menu starts at $14.

Finding quality Western cuisine in an upscale locale that won’t break the bank isn't easy – and that’s where Crafted by Peter Zwiener stands out as an affordable gem. This farm-to-table establishment has a new lunch set menu starting from $14, which comes with a main and daily cold-pressed juice. Available on weekdays from 11.30am to 4pm, the set offers six dishes for diners to choose from. As the eatery prides itself on its premium quality beef, you can’t go wrong with the USDA prime ribeye salad ($18), and for the vegetarians in the house, there’s the mushroom arabiata rigatoni ($14). Meanwhile, bold flavour enthusiasts can try the Hokkaido pork belly burnt ends plate ($16) with its 48-hour spice-marinated meat. Find out more here.

Beurre@23’s lunch set menu starts from $39.

This casual yet intimate venue is a great place for a lunch break away from a hectic work day or for business meetings and corporate discussions. Located on the quiet street of Bukit Pasoh, Beurre@23 serves up a lunch deal you’d want to indulge in. When you step into this modern European-Japanese fusion restaurant, you’re greeted with an ambience of warm lighting, calming aromas and soft music. Setting the stage for a reasonable two- ($39) or three-course ($45) menu for lunch, pick between a tangy Hotaru-ika squid salad or refreshing cold somen noodles with fresh scallops. Indulge in the tender and juicy Iberian pork and end off with a passionfruit ice cream dish served with meringue and brown butter sauce – a perfect combination of sweet, sour and salty.

Artemis Grill's lunch set menu starts from $52.

Head to Artemis Grill for a business lunch with some serious views. Perched 40 floors up at CapitaGreen, this luxurious spot offers panoramic views of the Marina Bay skyline. Somehow, that doesn't distract from the excellent food, which are sustainably-sourced creations with Mediterranean accents. The business set lunch starts at $52 for two courses, giving plenty of opportunity for you to sample starters such as scallop and hamachi tartare and Fremantle octopus, and mains like black cod and Iberico pork chop. For another $8, you can end it off sweet with dulce de leche flan or a dark chocolate and caramel torte.

OSO Ristorante's lunch set menu starts from $38.

This Italian fine-dining restaurant sits on the 27th floor of the iconic vertical garden Oasia Hotel Downtown. At night, its ultra-romantic ambience attracts a flock of lovebirds. But come daytime, the space is filled with suits on a buzzy work lunch affair – all because of its extremely value-for-money business lunch set priced at $38. You'll get to customise your starters, mains and desserts with the option to enjoy a little boozy pairing starting from a $10 top-up. Savour poached veal carpaccio or burrata cheese mousse to start, angel hair pasta or slow-cooked Japanese beef cheeks for mains, and sweet endings that showcase either chocolate or cheese.

Shikar’s lunch set menu starts from $53.

Lunch was once treated as a regal socialising affair by the Indian royals and the rich and famous. Get a taste of the pomp and pageantry at Shikar – and on a dime. The thematic setting is all summed up in a beautifully decorated dining room adorned with storied wall murals and plush seats. From Tuesday to Friday, the restaurant offers a lunch thali set ($58) that refreshes every month due to the use of seasonal ingredients. Expect the likes of curried black tiger prawns, silky creamed daal, tomato-saffron tandoor roasted chicken and millet roti served on an extravagant gold plate. Full-board vegetarian thali option is also available at $53.

Cenzo's lunch set menu starts from $35.

Australian chef Drew Nocente – the mastermind of now-defunct Salted & Hung – returns to the gastronomic scene with Cenzo on Club Street. The cuisine is a stellar mix of Italian and Australian where he presents them as comforting plates headlined by mouth-watering starters and handmade pasta. The three-course lunch is affordably priced at $35, and gives a good glimpse of what's featured in the dinner menu. And if you miss the old Drew, the famed house-cured beef pastrami sandwich ($22) still has its place somewhere on the menu. 

Gemma's lunch set menu starts from $48.

Equal parts buzzy, sophisticated and classy, this modern steakhouse helps take the pressure off meeting for the first time. Located on the fifth floor of the National Gallery, the restaurant offers an attractive four-course set lunch ($48) that runs from Tuesday to Saturday. There will be salmon tartare and handmade turbot ravioli with grilled artichoke to start, followed by mains that allow you to choose between the Australian grass-fed striploin, Iberico pork jowl, or coral fish. Dessert is as satisfying as it gets with lemon financiers complemented by Silician pistachio gelato.

Kulto’s lunch set menu starts from $32.

At Kulto, the restaurant comes dressed less like a restaurant, and more like a cosy dining space. Wooden shutters, a common sight in Madrid households, flank the walls of the dining space. The menu here is neither high-end nor casual, but instead, Kulto seeks to present largely authentic plates at a mid-tier price point. Their two-course set lunch ($32) is worth a try, with entrees like cheese terrine drizzled with truffle oil, and mains like seafood paella for sharing.

Sol & Luna’s lunch set menu starts at $35.

As a new Latin-European restaurant in the 51-storey CapitaSpring Building, it overlooks the entire CBD: sprawling sunset views and a glimpse of the Marina Bay waterfront included. The food here is inspired by Latin-European cuisine. They use locally sourced produce, showcasing our country’s prawn and fish farms and so-called “ugly vegetables” from Edible Garden City. In terms of the menu’s inspiration, think Italy, France, Portugal, and Spain. While it’s a prime spot for a casual business meeting, with lunch sets starting from $35/person for a two-course meal, they’re also open throughout the day.

Aapon’s lunch set menu starts from $17.

Aapon, as a three-storey space along Robinson Road, has a certain sense of regality – but feels more homely than anticipated. In Singapore where most of us are familiar with both North and South Indian cuisines, we’re willing to bet that for most, East Indian cuisine is as foreign as it comes. They’ve got affordable lunch sets starting from just $17 – mains like chicken stew, roasted chilli lime sea bass, and rice berry salad. Full-board vegan options are also made available where a three-course vegan set lunch will only set you back $30.

Kinki Restaurant + Bar’s lunch set menu starts from $30.

It is clear from the name – Kinki – that this isn’t your typical Japanese eatery. For over a decade, this waterfront restaurant and bar has rebelled against the norm, serving up unconventional flavours in an eclectic setting. Try their weekday lunch set (from $30): you can choose from the likes of a chirashi don, A4 wagyu don, or even a sashimi and sushi platter. Each lunch set comes with a side garden salad, miso soup, and mochi dessert too.

Level33’s lunch set menu starts from $42.

Level33 might be the world’s highest microbrewery, but there’s more to this sky-high bar than just cold pints with a view. During weekdays, take advantage of Level33’s executive set lunch ($42) that features a plated buffet selection of seafood appetisers, cold cuts, and salads, along with a selection of fruits and cheeses. Choice of mains includes beer-battered fish and chips, a fillet of halibut poached in pilsner butter, and a classic wagyu burger made using brioche topped with crispy beer malt. Celebrating a successful deal? A little toast never hurt anybody.

The Spot at Marina One’s lunch set menu starts from $32.

The Spot is an all-day dining café, restaurant, bar and cigar lounge in one right in the heart of Singapore’s Downtown district. A three-course lunch set will set you back just $32, and it comes with the likes of hand-chopped beef tartare, an Angus beef striploin, and a warm Valrhona chocolate tart.