From Prive to Eggslut: the F&B closures in 2025

[SINGAPORE] From private members’ clubs and Michelin-starred restaurants to decades-old heritage institutions, the closures in the food and beverage (F&B) industry have spanned every segment of the market this year.

Operators are grappling with the unrelenting pressures of soaring rental costs, persistent manpower shortages and evolving consumer tastes, as the brutal trend from 2024 continues. Last year saw 3,047 closures. The result has been a painful culling of both new and deeply established names from Singapore’s vibrant dining landscape.

Here is a list of some notable F&B players that have bade farewell this year.

International dining chains

• Burger & Lobster: The London-based surf-and-turf chain ceased operations in Singapore, closing its final outlets at Raffles Hotel and Jewel Changi Airport.
• Eggslut: The trendy Los Angeles sandwich chain shuttered its last outlet in Scotts Road, marking its full exit from the Singapore market.
• The Manhattan Fish Market: After nearly two decades and a slow dwindling of the 10 outlets located around Singapore, the casual-dining chain sailed off into the sunset, closing its last remaining outlet in Northpoint, reported AsiaOne.

Local heritage and neighbourhood stalwarts

• Ka-Soh Restaurant: After an 86-year run, the heritage Cantonese zi char eatery, famed for its fish soup, closed its doors in September, a CNA article reported, marking the end of a multi-generational family legacy. Ka-Soh could trace its roots to a 1939 fish noodle pushcart, run by Tang Kwong See, the grandfather of third-generation owner Cedric Tang.
• Dong Fang Hong Sotong Ball Seafood Soup: A fixture at Hong Lim Market and Food Centre, this stall shuttered after 45 years due to a lack of successors and the owner’s health issues, said food blog Seth Lui.
• Very Lucky Turtle Soup: This traditional turtle soup stall in Jalan Besar served its last bowl in August. A Seth Lui article cited the owners’ retirement and the lack of successors as the reason. The business started out as a roadside stall in 1960, before moving to Berseh Food Centre and operating from there for 40 years.
• Burp Kitchen & Bar: The family-run bistro operated for 11 years in total and was a neighbourhood favourite in Bishan Park for three years. As the bistro announced its closure on Instagram, it highlighted the immense pressure on independent operators.

Casual dining spots

• Kanada-ya: The award-winning tonkotsu ramen specialist completely exited Singapore in June, closing all three of its outlets at Paya Lebar Quarter, Marina Square and Jem, The Straits Times reported.
• Hokkaido Ramen Santouka: Santouka closed its sole outlet at Clarke Quay in May after a 17-year run. It posted its farewell on Facebook, apologising for the sudden announcement.
• Black Cow: The upscale Japanese shabu-shabu and sukiyaki restaurant in Beach Road, known for its premium wagyu, ceased operations in June after nine years. It was announced through Instagram, with a caption that read: “This isn’t goodbye. It’s a reset.”

Brunch, bakery and beverage brands

• Flor Patisserie: Known for its delicate Japanese-style cakes, the home-grown brand in Siglap closed its last outlet after 13 years in business, ST reported.
• Fluff Stack: The once-viral souffle pancake cafe ceased all operations, closing all five of its outlets in May. It announced the abrupt closure over Instagram, citing the challenging F&B climate in Singapore.
• The Social Outcast: The Halal-certified brunch cafe in the Katong area closed down, unable to cope with rising rental costs and the lack of manpower. In an Instagram post, the owners announced the planned closure. They had noted in an ST interview that finding and retaining talent was especially difficult for the business.
• Prive: The local group closed its doors in August, shutting down all its Prive cafe outlets.

Fine dining and nightlife

• 1880: The private members’ club at Robertson Quay announced a sudden closure in June after nearly eight years of operation, pointing to financial challenges.
• Wine RVLT: The wine bar on Carpenter Street, a pioneer in Singapore’s natural wine scene, poured its last glass in July after nine years, citing rising operational costs in an Instagram announcement.
• Restaurant Poise: The one-Michelin-starred modern European restaurant in Teck Lim Road closed its doors just two years after winning its coveted star in 2023.
• Imbue: The Keong Saik modern Asian restaurant, once described by The Business Times as trying to “dazzle with execution”, closed its doors in May, ST reported.