Tired of your old haunts and longing for a new restaurant with entertainment for the little people beforehand? Start with a pony ride at Horse City, followed by the perfect brunch at Tin Hill Social...
UPDATE: Sadly, Tin Hill Social has permanently closed, but if you’re looking for a great kid-friendly restaurant or cafe in Singapore, we’ve got the definitive guide!
We’re always on the hunt for kid-friendly restaurants in Singapore that have that perfect blend of delish food, great vibe and the chops to keep the kids entertained while we enjoy a tipple or two. Let’s face it, no-one has a good time if the kids aren’t on cloud nine. Enter Tin Hill Social at Turf City. Before you even set foot on this expansive, green property, you can raise the bar on fun by treating the kids to a pony ride next door at Horse City! It’s a genius combination for a day out that’s guaranteed to bring a smile to their little dials (and at a super-cheap $10 a pop, you’ll be happy too). Ride on this high, straight to a table at mod-European Tin Hill Social. While we’re all fans of a fancy Sunday family brunch, most weekends we we’d love something a little more low-key. Let the good times roll…
First things first: the pony rides!
The riding enclosure at Horse City is shaded by lovely leafy trees, and the pony ride set-up is best suited to the under-10 age category. Pay your $10 fee in the small adjacent office, whack on a helmet, and your budding jockeys will be trotting around the arena in no time. The smiley guide immediately sets the kiddos at ease (and if not, it’s only three times around the ring, so you won’t have to bear the screaming for long).
Extend the experience by shelling out $2 for a bag of carrots to feed the resident donkey and horse. If your little horse-rider is nervous about having their fingers chomped, make use of the small spades. Once they’re feeling more adventurous, encourage them to ditch the spade so they can feel a horse’s lips tickling their skin – cue the giggles! There are also some cute bunnies just begging for a pat.
Horse City, 100 Turf Club Road, Singapore 287992; www.horsecity.com.sg
And now for a spot of brunch
Tin Hill Social occupies the refurbished stables that were once home to another of our fave dining spots, Picotin (they’ve moved to nearby Fairways Drive, which also incidentally has a brunch and pony set up with Rider’s café and the Bukit Timah Saddle Club). It’s a truly fabulous space, offering five separate areas including indoor dining with industrial-chic styling, a huge alfresco deck, a cocktail bar, sports bar and pool table. You can let your kids run around without fear of them being mowed down (as it’s a pedestrians-only area).
The food deserves a special mention, as too often at a place great for kids the adults must suffer culinary insult (think groan-worthy mall restos). Not at Tin Hill Social. Notable dishes include the sophisticated seafood and charcuterie platters (they had us at gravlax with pumpernickel bread), the succulent beef T-bone for two and the fall-off-the-bone, hay smoked-pork ribs. You owe it to yourself to return sans kids to really soak up the relaxed evening atmosphere.
Awesome kids’ food
Are you held ransom by a fussy eater flip-flopping from feast to hunger strike on a whim? Relax, you’re at Tin Hill Social. The kids’ menu hands creative freedom to your mini-master chefs, with them designing their own pizza or pasta dish. There are also sure winners like mac and cheese, bangers and mash and fish and chips. Add on a drink and ice cream and that’s their meal sorted for $15.
Psst! While we were there over the weekend, Tin Hill’s neighbours where renovating to create a golf putt putt. We’re seeing some happy hubbies on the horizon…
Tin Hill Social, 100 Turf Club Road, Horse City, Singapore 287992, p. 6466 0966, open Tues-Fri 10am ‘til midnight, Sat & Sun 9am ‘til midnight; www.tinhillsocial.com.