There’s a particular kind of Singapore weekend that starts around noon and has no clearly defined end point. You sit down for lunch, someone orders “just one” drink, and three hours later you’re still there, arguing about dessert. If that sounds appealing, you’re in the right place — this is a guide to the best lunch Singapore has to offer for people who have nowhere else to be.
A proper long lunch is different from a quick weekday set menu. It’s less about efficiency and more about atmosphere: a table you don’t feel rushed off, a pace that allows for a second (or third) round, and ideally a view or a vibe worth lingering over. Whether you’re planning a lunch date in Singapore, a weekend catch-up with friends, or just looking for things to do in Singapore this weekend that don’t involve a 9pm dinner reservation, here’s where to post up.
1. For Rooftop Day Drinking: CÉ LA VI
If your idea of a long lunch involves free-flow cocktails and a skyline, CÉ LA VI’s Liquid Brunch is the reference point most people default to. Held on Sundays from 12pm to 4pm, it pours free-flow Champagne, Mimosas, Bloody Marys, Aperol Spritz and beer, all against Marina Bay’s rooftop backdrop. It’s a fully committed bottomless cocktail experience — loud, social, and built for groups rather than quiet conversation. Worth booking ahead; Sundays fill up fast.
Explore CÉ LA VI’s Sunday sessions →
2. For Riverside Aperitivo: Publico Ristorante
For something with a slower build, Publico Ristorante at Robertson Quay leans into the Italian aperitivo tradition rather than the full brunch-party format. Lunch runs until 5pm daily, with Aperitivo Hour from 3pm to 5.30pm — a genuinely useful window if you want your afternoon drinks Singapore-style to blur straight from lunch into early evening without a hard stop. Free-flow alcohol packages are available during weekend brunches, with two hours of bottomless prosecco, house wines and martinis. The riverside terrace is pet-friendly, which matters more than it should on a lazy Saturday.
See Publico’s brunch and aperitivo menu →
3. For a Slower, Scented Afternoon: Lunì’s Slow Ritual Weekends
Not every long lunch needs to be loud. On Lavender Street, Lunì – Scent, Bar & Kitchen runs a weekend programme called Slow Ritual Weekends, held Saturdays and Sundays from 1pm to 5pm. It’s a free-flow format, but a deliberately unhurried one — the drinks list draws from Lunì’s low-ABV signature menu alongside classic cocktails, paired with curated bites, and the whole thing is built around actually slowing down rather than speed-drinking your way through an afternoon. It’s a useful option if you want the free-flow cocktails Singapore format without the club-brunch energy — somewhere between a proper sit-down lunch and an afternoon spent nursing something interesting.
Learn more about Lunì’s weekend hours →
4. For a Party Disguised as Lunch: SUSHISAMBA
If Liquid Brunch and Slow Ritual sit at opposite ends of the energy spectrum, SUSHISAMBA at Capital Tower is somewhere further along the “party” end entirely. Its Saturday brunch runs from 12pm to 3pm, with free-flow food and non-alcoholic drinks included, plus a top-up for free-flow champagne, wines, spirits, cocktails and beer, alongside live SAMBA performances and DJs. Fifty-two floors up, it’s less a lunch and more an event — book it for a birthday or a milestone rather than a casual Tuesday-off.
Check SUSHISAMBA’s brunch details →
5. For a Quieter, Cheaper Long Lunch: CBD Set Lunches
Not every long lunch needs alcohol at all. If you’re after something closer to an actual meal — say, a lunch date in Singapore that doesn’t require a nap afterwards — the CBD’s set lunch scene has quietly gotten better than its reputation suggests. Restaurants around Raffles Place, Tanjong Pagar and Telok Ayer now run proper multi-course lunch deals in Singapore, from Korean steakhouses to rooftop Italian, often priced well below what the same kitchens charge at dinner. It’s a good option if you want the “long” part of long lunch without the “loud.”
Browse Time Out’s CBD set lunch picks →
The Bottom Line
Singapore’s long-lunch scene splits fairly cleanly into two camps: the bottomless-brunch format built for groups and big appetites (CÉ LA VI, SUSHISAMBA), and a quieter register built for pacing yourself — whether that’s Publico’s aperitivo hour, Lunì’s Slow Ritual Weekends, or a well-chosen CBD set menu. Which one you want probably depends on whether Monday feels far away or uncomfortably close.
A few notes on planning: weekend brunch slots at the venues above (especially CÉ LA VI and SUSHISAMBA) tend to book out days in advance — reserve ahead if you’re set on a specific Saturday or Sunday. Pricing and free-flow inclusions for hotel and rooftop brunches change fairly often, so it’s worth confirming current rates directly with each venue before booking. Lunì’s Slow Ritual Weekends run Saturdays and Sundays only, 1–5pm; worth checking their site or socials for any seasonal changes to hours.
