Esquina : Recommended Spanish Restaurant

Esquina

Written by Sarah Ong | September 27, 2024

Image: Esquine

Best for

The finest tapas

Prices

S$75++ per pax

Address

16 Jiak Chuan Road, Singapore 089267

Phone

+65 6222 1616

Opening hours

Tue to Sat lunch 12:00 - 14:30
Tue to Thu dinner 18:00 - 22:30
Fri & Sat dinner 18:00 - 23:00

Website

Esquina

If you judge a Spanish restaurant by your tapas dining experience, then Esquina could be considered one of the best Spanish restaurants in Singapore.

Founded by Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton, Esquina is known for its upmarket version of a tapas bar, which combines modern Iberian-inspired dishes with Asian spices, accompanied by a good selection of wines.

Highlights:

Haute-cuisine tapas: At Esquina, the tapas look exceptionally creative with the way the chefs have prepared them. You can clearly see the high level of cooking done to those bite-size tapas dishes, and this alone is the remarkable highlight that sets Esquina apart from other tapas bars in the country.
Bespoke set lunch and dinner menus: As Esquina does have a variety of dinner and lunch set menus, you will have lots of options to explore. In fact, you could have a taste of certain dishes that are not available on a la carte or other pre-fixed menus. For example, a bunch of canapes is only made ready upon the arrival of supperclub diners. With this, you could say that each menu at Esquina is custom-made in accordance with the appetite of its customers.
Watch the chefs in action: Marvel at the chefs and cooks from the open-kitchen bar as they work wonders on your food. At the bar, there is enough space between the chefs and the diners to encourage interaction and camaraderie, especially if ever you are curious to know their secrets to make exceptional tapas dishes. The chefs would also cater to special requests like creating a vegetarian version of the Spanish breakfast.
Private, quiet, and elegant dining room upstairs: Esquina 2.0, that is. Located upstairs of the restaurant, you can get a hold of this lovely place and try its bespoke tasting menus by reserving a private dinner. It is capable of seating 25 persons and is arranged with a long dining table, which definitely calls for a cozy feast.

MENU: Esquina features a small seasonal menu with a selection of

snacks (over 10 options) – S$7 to S$22
from soil – S$16 to S$20
from sea – S$12 to S$45
from land – S$34 to S$108
and desserts – S$16 to S$18

RECOMMENDED DISHES

Iberico Pork & Foie Gras Burger
George Bank Seared Scallops with Duck Green Curry
Ox Cheek and Tongue
Confit Squid and Chorizo Paella
Roasted Landes Duck Breast
Basil Sorbet with Black Pepper Meringue

AMBIANCE: Nestled at the corner of a quaint neighborhood in Chinatown, Esquina has a historic vibe to it. Inside is a narrow array of bar tools right in front of an open kitchen where guests can have traditional tapas style of eating. Two main chefs are spearheading the front whom you could have a meaningful discussion about food with. As Esquina is a small tapas bar, fast-paced moments tend to get very rowdy but perhaps dining upstairs might provide a more private space.

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