Experience a slice of Singapore’s colonial past when you dine at Seletar Aerospace Park (SAP). In 1923, the British developed this area to house a Royal Air Force (RAF) station that served Singapore from 1928 to 1971. 

To house RAF personnel and their families, numerous black and white bungalows were built with the help of Samsui women (female Chinese immigrants who took on construction jobs), who were also known to the British as “Concrete Lizzies”.

Today, Seletar Airport operates as a general aviation airport for chartered flights and training purposes. Of the former colonial houses, 32 have been slated for conservation and redevelopment as part of The Oval at Seletar Aerospace Park. 

This lifestyle enclave plays host to bazaars and carnivals, with conserved bungalows housing restaurants, spas and shops. Hampstead Wetlands Park—a rustic haven of flora and fauna located in the middle of the enclave— makes for a great spot to explore after a satisfying meal.

Take a stroll around this beautiful locale, and discover a range of iconic restaurants, selling everything from European fare to traditional Teochew dishes.

Interior of dining area in The Oval at Seletar Aerospace Park.

The Summerhouse
One of The Summerhouse’s farm-to-table dishes.

Farm-to-table dining

The Summerhouse is one of those places you’ll have no problem spending the entire day at. The space is home to both Wildseed— a casual café and bar— and The Summerhouse Dining Room, the main restaurant perched on the second floor of the conserved colonial bungalow.

The dishes at The Summerhouse follow a farm-to-table approach: produce is sourced from Singaporean and Malaysian farms, and garnishes are plucked from the on-site garden. For a taste of everything The Summerhouse has to offer, order sharing plates for you and your party to enjoy together.


Interior of The Wildseed café and bar.

If it’s brunch you are looking for, hit Wildseed for hearty gourmet sandwiches and cakes with a local twist. The blue pea flower coconut muffin, a naturally dyed muffin with a desiccated coconut centre, is another must-have for its nod to local flavours.

Alternatively, partake in dinner under the stars at the Garden Domes, which boasts enclosures set amidst lush greenery and romantic fairy lights.

The Summerhouse. 3 Park Lane, Singapore 798387. +65 8809 5840.

The Summerhouse Dining Room. Wed-Fri 6-10pm; Sat-Sun 11.30am-3pm, 6-10pm.

Wildseed Cafe. Mon-Thu & Sun 9am-11pm; Fri & Sat 8.30am-midnight.


Wheeler’s Estate
A silver camper van outside Wheeler’s Yard.

Laid-back café experience

Its sister outlet in Balestier, Wheeler’s Yard, is popular among local Instagrammers for its décor, but this branch is not to be outdone. Snap a picture next to the cute silver camper van or under the fairy lights in the evenings.

With firewood lining the exterior of the two-storey colonial bungalow, Wheeler’s Estate feels like a luxe campsite in the middle of the great outdoors. On the first floor is The Lawn, a café where diners can grab mats and a basket of snacks for a picnic out on the field, and the Grill House, a separate spot for charcoal-grilled meats and burgers.


Interior of the dining area of The Verandah.

Head upstairs to The Verandah and be treated to Australian fare in a gorgeous minimalist setting. A nine-metre-long bar dominates one end of the room, with bottles of whisky glowing behind the counter. Try the Tequila and Lime Pork Spare Ribs, which are slow-cooked for 18 hours and basted in zestful tequila sauce.

Wheeler’s Estate. 2 Park Lane, Singapore 798386. +65 6262 0001.

The Lawn at Wheeler’s Estate. Tue-Fri 3-11pm; Sat & Sun 9am-11pm.

The Verandah at Wheeler’s Estate. Tue-Fri 11.30am-3pm, 6-10.30pm; Sat & Sun 11am-3pm, 6-10.30pm.


YOUNGS Bar and Restaurant
Interior of dining area of YOUNGS Bar and Restaurant. Photo by YOUNGS Bar and Restaurant

Modern European cuisine

Let the verdant surroundings of Seletar paint a scenic backdrop to your meal at YOUNGS Bar and Restaurant. Despite being one of the smaller bungalows in The Oval, YOUNGS can accommodate up to 56 diners indoors and 126 diners at its alfresco area. The interiors reflect old-world European charm, with plush sofas and wood accents that create a cosy dining space—perfect for a romantic night away from the city.


A mussel pot from YOUNGS Bar and Restaurant. Photo by YOUNGS Bar and Restaurant

YOUNGS offers brunch, lunch sets, afternoon tea and dinner to satisfy all cravings. The menu is inspired by the owner’s trips to the colourful cities of Europe, featuring dishes like French-style mussel pots, lobster alfredo and buttermilk chicken schnitzel.

Other signatures include a flank steak served on a bed of mashed potatoes, and a snapper and clam dish reminiscent of something you would find in a Spanish coastal town.

YOUNGS Bar and Restaurant. 3 Hyde Park Gate, Singapore 799531. +65 6734 2850.
Mon-Fri 11.30am-11pm; Sat & Sun 8.30am-11pm.


Di Wei Teo Chew Restaurant
Cold crab dish from Di Wei Teochew Restaurant. Photo by Di Wei Teochew Restaurant

Teochew classics

For the uninitiated, Teochew food originates from the Chaoshan region of China, east of the Guangdong province. As the region is located by the sea, a typical Teochew meal tends to include dishes like cold crab , braised abalone and sea cucumber.

Di Wei Teo Chew Restaurant serves these classics and more, relying on the expertise of head chef Khoo Tai Guan, who ran the restaurant’s first outlet in the Singapore Botanic Gardens. It has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a small food court kiosk; the outlet at The Oval houses 13 tables, making it ideal for family gatherings over authentic Teochew delicacies.


A dish from Di Wei Teochew Restaurant. Photo by Di Wei Teochew Restaurant

Chef Khoo’s 30-odd years of experience in cooking Teochew cuisine is evident in his renditions of iconic dishes, such as braised duck and beancurd, prawn balls, and Teochew-style steamed pomfret. The variety here is certainly in no short supply, so brace yourself for a gastronomic treat.

Di Wei Teo Chew Restaurant. 1 The Oval, Singapore 797859. +65 6262 5946.
Daily 11.30am-2.30pm, 5.30-10pm.


More spots to eat and drink your fill
Interior of Seok Seng 1954 Bicycle Café. Photo by JTC

Near The Oval, you’ll find even more cafés and watering holes. With bicycles, art and other cycling paraphernalia decorating its walls, Soek Seng 1954 Bicycle Cafè serves a mix of Western, Japanese and local food like sirloin steak and katsu don, a Japanese dish of deep fried pork cutlet on rice. The café is also a great vantage point for watching planes take off from Seletar Airport in the distance.

Alternatively, head to Georges’ Hideout @ Seletar, a casual pub that serves unpretentious nosh and nibbles alongside affordable pints of beer. With new food and beverage concepts shaking up the scene, you can bet that the long drive here won’t go to waste.

Soek Seng 1954 Bicycle Cafè. 80 Seletar Aerospace View, MAJ Aviation Building #01-01, Singapore 797563. +65 6659 6124.
Tue-Thu & Sun 10am-10pm; Fri & Sat 10am-11pm.

Georges’ Hideout @ Seletar. 690 West Camp Road #02-02, Singapore 797523. +65 6694 1159.
Mon-Fri 11am-2pm, 5-10.30pm.