Publico Ristorante

Publico Ristorante is an all-day Italian restaurant and bar at InterContinental Singapore Robertson Quay. It sits on the ground floor of the hotel, beside the Singapore River, with a terrace that faces the water. It has been part of the Robertson Quay dining scene since 2017.

The kitchen is led by Executive Chef Simone Loisi, who was born in Puglia in southern Italy. The menu covers Italian cooking from the north to the south. Wood-fired pizza and house-made pasta are at its heart, and most plates are made for sharing.

What to order

Pizza is the natural place to start. The dough is left to ferment for 48 hours before it goes into the wood-fired oven. The pasta is made in house, and fresh seafood plays a big part on the menu.

• Wood-fired pizza: made with the slow-fermented dough and easy to share around the table.
• House-made pasta: a range of shapes and sauces drawn from different Italian regions.
• Tavolo Publico: larger dishes for two or more people, such as whole lobster linguine and grilled Mediterranean sea bream.
• Italian set lunch: a choice of two or three courses, handy for a business lunch.

The bar and aperitivo

Publico also works as a proper Italian bar. The drinks list runs from spritzes and other aperitivo classics to cocktails and wine. Later in the day, a separate bar menu offers lighter bites. Expect cicchetti (small Venetian-style snacks), boards of salumi and cheese, pizzette and schiacciata, a flat Tuscan bread.

Look out for the aperitivo hour on some weekday evenings. Order a drink during this time and a panzerotto, a fried and filled dough pocket from Puglia, comes with it on the house.

The setting

The best seats are on the riverside terrace. It is open-air and gets livelier as the day turns to evening. There is indoor seating too, if you would rather stay out of the heat or the rain. Dogs are welcome on the terrace, so you may share the space with a few pets.

Good to know before you go

• You can book a table online through the restaurant's website, or send a message on WhatsApp.
• Payment is cashless only, so bring a card or a mobile wallet.
• IHG One Rewards members can earn points on their bill.
• Parking is available at the hotel.
• Pizza is also sold for takeaway through Publico To-Go.
• The full menu is on the official Publico website.

Nearby

Robertson Quay is a calmer stretch of the river, with walking paths along both banks. Our guide to Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay covers the area in more detail. For more Italian cooking close by, try Rosso Vino on Merbau Road, or browse other European and Italian restaurants in Singapore. You can also see more restaurants in Orchard and River Valley, or head up to Orchard Road for shopping.