The Coastal Settlement: Fam-friendly near Changi Beach

Pasir Ris Park has to be one of our favourite Singapore parks (for a full round-up of the best check out our Parks Guide). Not only is it huge, filled with walking and bike paths and with a gorgeous view of the ocean, but it’s also shady and blessed with sea breezes, making it the perfect place to head on a scorcher of a day when you still want to get the littles out and running about. Once you’re ready to cool off and grab some grub though, where to go? Well, The Coastal Settlement is just a five-minute drive or taxi ride away, and it’s got everything a mama could wish for!

TCS has plenty of parking (even if you don’t manage to squish into the parking lot directly by the entrance there’s another one just a two-minute walk further down the road), which they definitely need as this restaurant is absolutely huge inside. An ex-army barracks, it has high ceilings, a bar running down the middle, and character and charm in spades. With a vintage theme to the décor (as evidenced by the collection of VW Beetles outside) there’s a lot for little eyes to look at in the selection of curios and memorabilia decorating the walls and shelves, including an array of little antique toys. It’s not musty and fusty though, low-hanging chandeliers and vases of fresh flowers make sure there’s a sophisticated vibe, and while the inside is quite dark – therefore keeping it cool, you can also choose to dine al fresco on the patio next to the little children’s playground.

The children’s menu isn’t exactly ground-breaking: spag bol, mac ‘n’ cheese, fish and chips and chicken nuggets are the order of the day, served up with a bottle of the kind of fizzy drink that makes mama quickly shake her head at the waitress to shoo it away lest the entire rest of the day be spent in sugar-overload/comedown. For adults, the options are generally on the heavier side (this might not be a place for dieters or veggies) but there’s traditional brunch fare, pizza and some meat dishes. The food is really great quality though – the kids’ spaghetti was nicely al dente with a yummy Bolognese sauce, and mama’s Smoked Salmon and Avocado Bagel could not have been more loaded with smoked salmon; they’re not cheap that’s for sure!

When we visited at Sunday lunchtime they were obviously struggling a little with the sheer volume of customers, and service was pretty patchy, with long waits for some items (though to their credit the kids’ meals came first) and one dish never arriving at all. Despite this though, we’ll definitely be back to try again at a more peaceful time, as the location, vibe and quality of what’s on offer is hard to beat.

The Coastal Settlement, 200 Netheravon Road, Singapore 508529
Tel: (+65) 64750200
Website

Opening Hours: Tuesday – Sunday 10.30am – Midnight (last order for food at 9.45pm)
Closed on Mondays unless it’s a public holiday or the eve of a public holiday