Colbar

Colbar is an old-style eating house on Whitchurch Road, in the leafy Wessex Estate in the west of Singapore. It serves Hainanese-Western food: British-style plates such as steak, chips and pork chops, given a local twist. There are also simple local dishes and cold beer.

The name is short for Colonial Bar. It opened in 1953 as a canteen for British Army personnel at the nearby barracks. Its first home was on Jalan Hang Jebat. In the early 2000s, that site was needed for a new road. Instead of losing it, the building was moved and rebuilt here. Much of the old building was saved and put back, including its clay roof tiles and wooden doors.

What to order

The menu reads like an old British café menu with Singapore touches. Popular plates include:

• Hainanese pork chop: crispy pork in a tangy tomato sauce with peas and potato, served with rice
• Chicken Merry Land: a chicken cutlet with a banana fritter, chips and a fried egg
• Sirloin steak with egg, chips and beans
• Fish and chips, served with calamansi, a small local lime
• Sausages, eggs and chips for a simple fry-up

If you would rather eat local food, there is fried rice and chicken curry rice. To drink, choose from iced tea, fresh lime juice or a cold beer.

The setting

Colbar feels like a step back in time. There is no air-conditioning, only ceiling fans, and the room has bold touches of blue and red. Old photos hang on the walls, including some of the Colbar Football Club. Vintage odds and ends add to the old-time feel. The space seats around 80 to 90 people. Many diners sit outside under the shelter, looking out over the trees.

Good to know before you go

• Bring cash, as reviewers describe Colbar as cash only. Staff write orders by hand.
• With no air-conditioning, it can feel warm on hot days, so dress lightly.
• The menu includes pork and beef dishes.

Getting there

Colbar is at 9A Whitchurch Road, inside Wessex Estate. The nearest MRT station is one-north, about 15 minutes away on foot. The estate is known for its black-and-white colonial houses, so the walk in is part of the fun.

Nearby

For a French bistro meal in the same part of town, try Les Bouchons (Rochester). Nature lovers can walk the trails of Kent Ridge Park. On a rainy day, the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum is a good indoor option in the area.

See more restaurants in West Coast and Buona Vista, or browse our list of burgers, Mexican food and more. Colbar is often described as a Western-style kopitiam. Our guide explains what a kopitiam is.