9 Best Dim Sum Spots In Bugis | From $2.90 Baskets to Buffets
Dim sum, to me, is the sound of Sunday mornings.
Bamboo lids clattering. Tea being poured. Somebody’s grandmother insisting that everyone eat one more har gow. The table slowly filling with little steamers until there is no space left for your elbows.
I grew up with dim sum as a family ritual. We would squeeze around a round table, argue about who would get the last custard bun, and stay for hours. Even now, when life feels too busy, a slow dim sum meal is how I remind myself to sit down, slow down, and enjoy the people around me.
Dim sum means “to touch the heart”. I cannot think of a better name for food that is always meant to be shared.
Bugis is a wonderful place for it. In just a few streets, you will find elegant hotel restaurants, a halal dim sum spot that stays open late, an old-school teahouse with $2.90 baskets, and some of Singapore’s most famous supper dim sum just a short walk away.
Here are my 10 favourite places for dim sum in and around Bugis. Every place on this list was checked as open in October 2026.
Dim Sum in Bugis, in a Nutshell
- Best halal dim sum: The Dim Sum Place, North Bridge Road
- Best budget dim sum: Little Teahouse, Bugis Village
- Best weekend buffet: Man Fu Yuan, Frasers House
- Best classic Cantonese dim sum: Wah Lok, Carlton Hotel
- Best view: 5 ON 25, Andaz Singapore
- Best late-night dim sum: Swee Choon, Jalan Besar
- Best salted egg lava bun: Victor’s Kitchen, Sunshine Plaza
- Best free-flow dim sum splurge: Hai Tien Lo, Pan Pacific Singapore
Quick Guide: Dim Sum in Bugis at a Glance
| # | Restaurant | Where | Style | Price Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Dim Sum Place | 791 North Bridge Road | Halal, casual, late night | $ |
| 2 | Little Teahouse | 229 Victoria Street, Bugis Village | Casual teahouse | $ (from $2.90) |
| 3 | Man Fu Yuan | Frasers House, 80 Middle Road | Hotel Cantonese, weekend buffet | $$$ |
| 4 | Song Garden | Mercure Bugis, 122 Middle Road | Hotel Cantonese | $$ |
| 5 | 5 ON 25 | Andaz Singapore, Level 25 | Modern Cantonese with a view | $$$ |
| 6 | Wah Lok | Carlton Hotel, 76 Bras Basah Road | Classic Cantonese | $$$ |
| 7 | Victor’s Kitchen | Sunshine Plaza, 91 Bencoolen Street | Hong Kong-style casual | $ |
| 8 | Swee Choon | 183–193 Jalan Besar | Supper dim sum, since 1962 | $ |
| 9 | Dim Sum Haus | 57 Jalan Besar | Affordable Hong Kong-style | $ |
| 10 | Hai Tien Lo | Pan Pacific Singapore, Marina Square | Luxury, unlimited dim sum brunch | $$$$ |
Dim Sum in the Heart of Bugis
1. The Dim Sum Place, North Bridge Road
If you are looking for halal dim sum in Bugis, start here. The Dim Sum Place on North Bridge Road serves halal-certified Cantonese dim sum and soups, so everyone at the table can share the steamers. It is casual, busy and open late, until 2am on Friday and Saturday nights.
The first time I came was after a late movie, with a group of friends who do not all eat the same things. It was such a joy to order without worrying, pile the table with baskets, and share everything.
- Must-try: Molten Salted Egg Custard Bun, Baked Bun with Roasted Duck, Vermicelli Roll with Roasted Duck Char Siew, Peking Duck Wraps
- Price: casual, affordable prices
- Hours: Sun–Thu 11am to 11pm, Fri–Sat 11am to 2am
- Halal: yes, halal-certified
- Address: 791 North Bridge Road
My tip: reservations come with a maximum dining time of 1 hour 15 minutes, so order everything you want early.
2. Man Fu Yuan, Frasers House
Man Fu Yuan is an elegant Cantonese restaurant on Level 2 of Frasers House, the hotel that was InterContinental Singapore until it was renamed at the start of 2026. It sits right next to Bugis Junction.
On weekends and public holidays, Man Fu Yuan serves a dim sum buffet where everything is cooked to order and brought to your table, rather than wheeled around on pushcarts. Expect refined classics alongside creative dishes like Truffle Crystal Dumplings, Crispy Lychee Prawn and Steamed Otak Otak Siew Mai, a very Singaporean twist.
I brought my parents here for my father’s birthday. He is a man of few words, but he ordered the otak siew mai three times. That said everything.
- Must-try: Truffle Crystal Dumpling, Steamed Otak Otak Siew Mai, Crispy Filo Pastry Prawn, Crispy Lychee Prawn
- Weekend Dim Sum Buffet: around $78++ per person, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, in two seatings (11:30am to 1pm and 1:30pm to 3pm)
- Hours: Mon–Fri 12pm to 3pm and 6pm to 10pm, Sat–Sun 11:30am to 3pm and 6pm to 10pm
- Address: Level 2, Frasers House, 80 Middle Road
My tip: the buffet seatings are short, so arrive on time and order your favourites in the first round.
3. Song Garden, Mercure Singapore Bugis
Song Garden is a quieter, more affordable hotel Cantonese restaurant on Level 2 of Mercure Singapore Bugis, on Middle Road. It is popular with families for weekend dim sum lunches, and it opens a little earlier on weekends (10am), which is perfect for an unhurried brunch.
I like Song Garden because it never feels rushed. On my last visit, the table next to us was celebrating a grandmother’s 80th birthday, with three generations passing baskets around and laughing. That is exactly the kind of place it is: calm, warm and made for family.
- Look out for: egg tarts and otah siew mai, which the restaurant has long been known for, plus Cantonese seafood dishes
- Hours: Mon–Fri 11:30am to 3pm and 6pm to 10pm, Sat–Sun 10am to 3pm and 6pm to 10pm
- Address: Level 2, Mercure Singapore Bugis, 122 Middle Road
My tip: book ahead for weekend lunch. It is a favourite for family gatherings.
4. 5 ON 25, Andaz Singapore
5 ON 25 is a modern Cantonese restaurant on Level 25 of Andaz Singapore, at DUO in Bugis. Dim sum is served at lunch alongside signature dishes, and the city views through the big windows make it feel special without being stuffy.
I came here on a rainy weekday with an old school friend. We watched the clouds roll over the city while we shared plates of dim sum and talked for hours. Somehow, the view made every bite taste a little more special.
- Best for: a special lunch with a view
- Hours: daily, lunch 11:30am to 2:30pm, dinner 6pm to 10pm
- Address: Level 25, Andaz Singapore, 5 Fraser Street
My tip: ask for a window table when you book.
Dim Sum a Short Walk From Bugis
5. Wah Lok Cantonese Restaurant, Carlton Hotel
Wah Lok, inside Carlton Hotel on Bras Basah Road, is one of Singapore’s most respected classic Cantonese restaurants, and its dim sum lunch has loyal fans who have been coming for years. It is about a 10-minute walk from Bugis.
This is where I go when I want dim sum done the traditional way, with no gimmicks. Just beautifully made classics, served by staff who have clearly done this for a very long time.
- Must-try: Baked Barbecued Pork Buns, Baked Egg Tarts, Steamed Carrot Cake, Steamed Glutinous Rice Dumplings
- Hours: Mon–Fri 11:30am to 2:30pm and 6:30pm to 10pm, Sat 11:30am to 2:30pm and 6:30pm to 9:30pm, Sun 11am to 2:30pm and 6:30pm to 9:30pm
- Address: Carlton Hotel Singapore, 76 Bras Basah Road
My tip: the baked barbecued pork buns are the dish everyone talks about. Order them first, because they can sell out.
6. Victor’s Kitchen, Sunshine Plaza
Victor’s Kitchen is a small, casual Hong Kong-style dim sum eatery tucked into Sunshine Plaza on Bencoolen Street, a short walk from Bugis. It is famous for one thing above all: its golden egg yolk lava bun, often called one of the best in Singapore.
Break it open slowly. The salted egg custard flows out, warm and golden. Then eat it fast before it drips everywhere. Trust me.
- Must-try: Golden Egg Yolk Lava Bun ($5.90 for three), Queen Size Siew Mai ($5.70 for four), King Prawn Dumplings ($5.90 for three), Hong Kong iced milk tea ($3.50)
- Hours: Sun–Thu 10:30am to 8pm, Fri–Sat 10:30am to 9pm
- Address: Sunshine Plaza, 91 Bencoolen Street, #01-49
My tip: queues can be long at lunch. Go mid-afternoon for a calmer visit.
7. Swee Choon Tim Sum, Jalan Besar
Swee Choon has been serving dim sum on Jalan Besar since 1962, and it is a Singapore institution, especially for supper. About a 10 to 15-minute walk from Bugis, it is where friends, families and night owls gather for steaming baskets long after midnight.
And here is some big news: from January 2026, the Jalan Besar flagship is open every day for the first time in its 64-year history. It used to close on Tuesdays.
- Must-try: salted egg yolk custard bao ($4.80), xiao long bao ($6.20 for eight), steamed har gow ($4.80)
- Price: baskets from about $3.50 to $6.50, around $22 per person
- Hours: Sun–Thu 7am to 2am, Fri, Sat and eve of public holidays 7am to 4am
- Address: 183–193 Jalan Besar
My tip: there are no reservations, only a walk-in queue. Late at night on weekends, the queue moves fast, and the atmosphere is half the fun.
8. Dim Sum Haus, Jalan Besar
Also on Jalan Besar, Dim Sum Haus is a smaller, affordable Hong Kong-style dim sum shop with thin-skinned dumplings and excellent pan-fried carrot cake. When food writers put it head to head with its neighbours, it often comes out on top.
It is a no-frills place, the kind where you sit down, tick a few boxes on the order sheet, and your baskets arrive quickly. Sometimes that is exactly what you want: honest, tasty dim sum without the fuss.
- Must-try: xiao long bao (around $5), pan-fried carrot cake (around $4.70), siew mai, har gow
- Price: very affordable
- Address: 57 Jalan Besar
My tip: combine it with a walk around the old Jalan Besar shophouses, which are some of the prettiest in the area.
9. Hai Tien Lo, Pan Pacific Singapore
When I want to celebrate properly, I think of Hai Tien Lo. This elegant Cantonese restaurant on Level 3 of Pan Pacific Singapore, at Marina Square, offers an unlimited dim sum brunch. It is about a 15-minute walk from Bugis, or a short ride to Promenade or Esplanade MRT.
This is the place for anniversaries and big birthdays. Everything feels polished, from the linen to the tea service, and the unlimited format means you can keep ordering your favourites without counting baskets. Just remember to save room for the desserts.
- Must-try: deep-fried scallop dumplings, truffle siew mai, egg yolk custard bao
- Unlimited Dim Sum Brunch: weekday $72++ per adult ($36++ for children aged 6 to 12), weekend $82++ per adult ($41++ per child)
- Hours: lunch 11:30am to 2:30pm (last order 2pm), dinner 6pm to 10:30pm. The dim sum brunch is at lunch only.
- Address: Level 3, Pan Pacific Singapore, 7 Raffles Boulevard
My tip: book early. Weekday tables usually need 5 to 10 days’ notice, and weekends can need two weeks or more.
A Little Dim Sum Guide for First-Timers
If you are new to dim sum, the menu can feel overwhelming. Here are the classics I always order, and what they are.
| Dish | What It Is |
|---|---|
| Har Gow | Steamed prawn dumplings in a thin, translucent wrapper. The test of any dim sum chef. |
| Siew Mai | Open-topped pork and prawn dumplings, often topped with roe |
| Char Siew Bao | Fluffy steamed buns filled with sweet barbecued pork (baked versions are also popular) |
| Cheong Fun | Silky rice noodle rolls, filled with prawn, char siew or crispy dough |
| Lo Mai Gai | Glutinous rice with chicken, wrapped in a lotus leaf and steamed |
| Lor Bak Go | Carrot cake, which is actually radish cake, pan-fried or steamed |
| Liu Sha Bao | Steamed buns with a flowing salted egg yolk custard centre |
| Egg Tart | Flaky pastry with a smooth, sweet egg custard |
| Xiao Long Bao | Soup dumplings filled with pork and hot broth. Eat carefully. |
| Chicken Feet | Braised in a savoury black bean sauce. Try it once. You might love it. |
Dim Sum Etiquette I Learned From My Grandmother
- Pour tea for others first: fill your neighbours’ cups before your own.
- Tap the table to say thank you: when someone pours tea for you, tap two fingers lightly on the table. It is a quiet, old-fashioned way of saying thanks.
- Lift the teapot lid for a refill: leave the lid slightly open or tilted, and staff will know to top up the hot water.
- Share everything: dim sum is meant to be shared. Order several baskets for the table, not one each.
- Order in waves: start with steamed dishes, then fried, then desserts, so everything arrives hot.
- Leave the last piece: someone will always pretend they do not want it. Offer it anyway.
Which Tea Should You Order?
Tea is half of dim sum. In fact, the Cantonese phrase for going out for dim sum, “yum cha”, literally means “drink tea”. Here are the teas you will see most often, and when I order them.
| Tea | What It Tastes Like | Best With |
|---|---|---|
| Pu-erh (Bo Lei) | Earthy, dark and smooth | Rich, fried and fatty dim sum. It is said to help digestion. |
| Jasmine | Light and floral | Steamed dumplings and a gentle lunch |
| Oolong (Tie Guan Yin) | Fragrant, with a slightly sweet finish | A mix of everything |
| Chrysanthemum | Light, sweet and cooling | Hot days and spicy dishes |
My grandmother always ordered pu-erh, and now I do too. It reminds me of her every time.
Dim Sum With Kids in Bugis
Dim sum is wonderful for children: small portions, lots of variety, and plenty to share. A few tips:
- Little Teahouse: the animal-shaped buns are a guaranteed hit with little ones.
- Hotel restaurants: Song Garden and Man Fu Yuan are calm and spacious, which is good for families with prams.
- Hai Tien Lo: its unlimited brunch has a lower price for children aged 6 to 12.
- Kid-friendly picks: char siew bao, egg tarts, cheong fun and fried prawn dumplings are usually safe favourites.
- Be careful with xiao long bao: the soup inside is very hot. Let it cool, or poke a small hole first.
How Much Does Dim Sum Cost in Bugis?
| Budget | What You Get | Where to Go |
|---|---|---|
| Under $20 per person | A casual, filling meal of classic baskets | Little Teahouse, Victor’s Kitchen, Dim Sum Haus, The Dim Sum Place |
| $20 to $40 per person | A relaxed meal with more variety, or late-night supper | Swee Choon, Song Garden |
| $40 to $80 per person | Hotel dim sum lunch or a weekend buffet | Man Fu Yuan, Wah Lok, 5 ON 25 |
| $80+ per person | Luxury unlimited dim sum | Hai Tien Lo |
Hotel restaurants add 10% service charge and 9% GST (shown as “++”), so expect your bill to be about 20% higher than the menu price. Many casual dim sum shops also charge a small fee for tea and condiments.
Best Dim Sum in Bugis, by Mood
| If You Want… | Go To |
|---|---|
| Halal dim sum with friends | The Dim Sum Place |
| Something cheap and cheerful | Little Teahouse, Victor’s Kitchen |
| A family weekend brunch | Song Garden, Man Fu Yuan |
| Classic dim sum, done perfectly | Wah Lok |
| Dim sum with a view | 5 ON 25 |
| Late-night supper | Swee Choon, The Dim Sum Place |
| A big celebration | Hai Tien Lo, Man Fu Yuan buffet |
My Perfect Dim Sum Weekend in Bugis
- Saturday, 11:30am: the weekend dim sum buffet at Man Fu Yuan with family.
- Afternoon: walk it off through Bugis Street and Kampong Glam.
- Saturday, midnight: supper at Swee Choon with friends.
- Sunday, 10am: a slow, lazy brunch at Song Garden, or cheap baskets and an egg tart at Little Teahouse.
Yes, that is a lot of dim sum. No, I do not regret it.
My Tips for Dim Sum in Bugis
- Go early: the best dim sum often sells out by mid-afternoon, especially baked buns and egg tarts.
- Book hotel restaurants: Man Fu Yuan, Wah Lok, 5 ON 25 and Hai Tien Lo are busy on weekends.
- Halal diners: The Dim Sum Place on North Bridge Road is halal-certified. Most other dim sum restaurants on this list are not.
- Bring a group: dim sum is much more fun, and better value, when you can share many dishes.
- Supper plans: Swee Choon is open until 2am, or 4am on Friday and Saturday nights.
For more ideas, see my guide on what to eat at Bugis.
People Also Asked
Where can I find halal dim sum in Bugis?
The Dim Sum Place at 791 North Bridge Road is halal-certified and serves Cantonese dim sum and soups. It is open until 11pm from Sunday to Thursday, and until 2am on Friday and Saturday.
Is there a dim sum buffet in Bugis?
Yes. Man Fu Yuan at Frasers House (80 Middle Road) has a weekend and public holiday dim sum buffet at around $78++ per person. A short walk away, Hai Tien Lo at Pan Pacific Singapore has an unlimited dim sum brunch from $72++ on weekdays.
Where can I get cheap dim sum near Bugis MRT?
Little Teahouse in Bugis Village, across from Bugis+, has handmade dim sum from a few dollars. Victor’s Kitchen at Sunshine Plaza and Dim Sum Haus on Jalan Besar are also very affordable.
Where can I get late-night dim sum near Bugis?
Swee Choon on Jalan Besar is open until 2am from Sunday to Thursday, and until 4am on Fridays, Saturdays and the eve of public holidays. The Dim Sum Place on North Bridge Road is open until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Is Crystal Jade at Bugis Junction still open?
No. Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao at Bugis Junction closed on 6 October 2026, as part of a wider closure of Crystal Jade outlets.
Is Man Fu Yuan still at InterContinental Singapore?
The hotel was renamed Frasers House, a Luxury Collection Hotel, in January 2026. Man Fu Yuan is still there, on Level 2 at 80 Middle Road.
My Final Note
My grandmother passed away years ago, but every time I hear the clatter of bamboo steamers, I think of her. She always ordered too much, always made sure I ate the last siew mai, and always tapped the table when I poured her tea.
That is the magic of dim sum. It is never just a meal. It is a table full of people you love, a pot of tea that never seems to empty, and a reason to stay a little longer.
So gather your family, your friends, or just one person you care about, and go for dim sum in Bugis this weekend. Order too much. Share everything. Take your time.
