MANAM

About MANAM

Manam is an Indian restaurant at 15 Upper Circular Road, #01-01, in Singapore's CBD — a spot diners describe as a bit hidden until they step inside and find a serene, elegant dining room. The team says the name MANAM 'represents emotions far beyond words, capturing the sheer joy of food,' and the kitchen pursues that by combining the warmth of home-style Indian cooking with a refined, fine-dining setting.

The menu draws from across India rather than a single region: aromatic coastal seafood curries and Chettinad-style specialities alongside tandoori, flavourful biryanis and rich North Indian gravies. Three pillars are highlighted — North Indian Specialties, South Indian Classics, and Seafood Delicacies — spanning soups like Kozhi Milagu Saaru and Nalli Elumbu Rasam, starters such as Karuveppilai Eral Varuval and Murgh Malai Kebab, curries from Meen Moilee to Mutton Rogan Josh, dum biryanis, fresh naans and desserts like Elaneer Payasam.

The kitchen sets clear standards: only fresh meat, never frozen; manually chosen spices; no artificial colours or MSG; perfectly balanced spice levels; and time-honoured cooking methods. The seafood programme follows the same rules, with fresh, high-quality catch seasoned boldly but in balance, cooked to coastal recipes passed down through generations.

There is a full bar and lounge with mocktails, signature cocktails and white wines, plus private dining rooms for gatherings. Beyond dine-in, Manam offers home delivery across Singapore, Indian bento boxes for daily meals, and corporate food orders. Diners consistently mention warm, unobtrusive service, consistent quality, and — a pleasant surprise to many — no GST or service charge.

Manam Singapore: North & South Indian Cuisine and Coastal Seafood at Upper Circular Road

Tucked along Upper Circular Road in Singapore's CBD — a spot diners describe as "a bit hidden" — Manam greets guests with a serene, elegantly appointed dining room that surprises many first-time visitors. The restaurant's name, the team explains, "represents emotions far beyond words, capturing the sheer joy of food," and the kitchen pursues that idea by pairing the warmth of home-style Indian cooking with the polish of a fine-dining setting.

Where North Meets South — and the Coast

Manam's kitchen draws from across India rather than one region. Three specialities anchor the menu: North Indian Specialties, built on rich curries and tandoori flavours from classic northern recipes; South Indian Classics, homestyle dishes with aromatic spices that reflect the true taste of the South; and Seafood Delicacies, fresh coastal catch cooked with bold, vibrant spices.

That range plays out across a long menu. Soups like Kozhi Milagu Saaru, a pepper-forward chicken soup, and Nalli Elumbu Rasam open the meal. Starters include Tandoori Chicken grilled in the clay oven, Murgh Malai Kebab, crispy Palak Gobi and the Karuveppilai Eral Varuval — prawns pan-fried with curry leaves and bold masalas.

The curry list stretches from Kerala-style Meen Moilee, fish gently cooked in coconut milk, to Maangai Meen Kuzhambu, a tangy raw-mango fish curry, alongside Malabar Chemmeen Gravy, Butter Chicken, Paneer Butter Masala and a rich Mutton Rogan Josh. Biryani fans get both Chicken and Mutton Dum Biryani; one diner praised chicken so soft it fell off the bone atop warm, fluffy basmati. Freshly baked naans — including a much-praised garlic cheese naan — and flaky parotta round out the plates, before desserts such as Elaneer Payasam, a chilled tender-coconut pudding.

Freshness as a House Rule

Manam is explicit about how it cooks: only fresh meat, never frozen; manually chosen spices; no artificial colours or MSG; perfectly balanced spice levels; and time-honoured cooking methods. The seafood programme follows the same rules — fresh, high-quality catch seasoned with bold but balanced spices and cooked to coastal recipes the kitchen says were passed down through generations.

Reviewers taste the difference. Spices are "perfectly balanced," dishes come across as "aromatic and full of flavour," and plates arrive "straight from the kitchen, hot and fresh," made just for you.

The Room, the Bar and the Occasion

The dining room is air-conditioned, well-maintained and quietly upscale, with private dining rooms available. Diners suggest it suits a polished business lunch, a date or a family gathering — a calmer alternative to the usual crowded CBD lunch spots, with service described as warm, polite and unobtrusive.

There is a lounge side too: mocktails such as the Virgin Mojito and Cinderella, a signature cocktail list running from Margarita to Old Fashioned, and white wines like Jacob's Creek Chardonnay to pair with spicier dishes. Several reviewers also flag that Manam charges no GST or service charge, which they say makes the quality-to-price ratio stand out.

Lunch, Dinner and Everything Delivered

Lunch runs Tuesday to Sunday from 11am to 3pm, with dinner from 6pm — until 10pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, and an hour later, until 11pm, on Fridays and Saturdays. The kitchen rests on Mondays.

If you cannot make it in, Manam delivers Indian food across Singapore, packs Indian bento boxes for daily and office meals, and handles corporate food orders featuring its non-veg specials. Tables can be booked online through Chope or by phone at +65 9824 9000 — worth doing for Friday and Saturday evenings, when this hidden gem is least hidden.

Signature items

• Mutton Dum Biryani
• Karuveppilai Eral Varuval
• Maangai Meen Kuzhambu
• Tandoori Chicken
• Salmon Kal Varuval
• Garlic Cheese Naan

Menu

Soups

• Kozhi Milagu Saaru — Comforting South Indian chicken soup with rich pepper spice.
• Dal Shorba — Warm lentil soup with gentle, aromatic spices.
• Nalli Elumbu Rasam — Tangy, peppery South Indian rasam simmered with mutton bones.
• Nelli Elumbu Rasam — Tangy rasam prepared with gooseberry and traditional spices.

Curries

• Maangai Meen Kuzhambu — Fish curry balanced with tangy raw mango and rich spices.
• Varutharaicha Kari Kuzhambu — South Indian curry made with slow-roasted traditional spices.
• Mutton Rogan Josh — Classic slow-cooked mutton rogan josh, rich and flavourful.
• Butter Chicken — Creamy but not too sweet, with soft, well-cooked chicken.
• Paneer Butter Masala — Light and smooth paneer in butter-tomato gravy.
• Mango Prawn Curry — Sweet-tangy prawn curry diners praise with garlic naan.
• Meen Moilee — Kerala-style fish gently cooked in coconut milk, mild spices.
• Malabar Chemmeen Gravy — Malabar-style prawn gravy prepared with coconut spices.

Liquors

• Jacob's Creek Chardonnay — White wine poured to pair with Indian cuisine.
• Giesen Estate Sauvignon Blanc — Crisp sauvignon blanc from the white wine list.
• Diez Siglos Sauvignon Blanc — Bright sauvignon blanc from the lounge's wine list.

Desserts

• Elaneer Payasam — Tender coconut payasam, naturally sweet and served chilled.
• Ras Malai — Classic milk-based Indian sweet from the dessert list.
• Dark Chocolate Ice Cream — Cool, rich chocolate finish to the meal.

Starters

• Palak Gobi — Crispy, fragrant spinach and cauliflower — a reviewer favourite.
• Karuveppilai Eral Varuval — Spicy prawns pan-fried with curry leaves and bold masalas.
• Murgh Malai Kebab — Creamy-marinated chicken kebab, mild and succulent.
• Tandoori Chicken — Chicken marinated with Indian spices, grilled in the clay oven.
• Chicken Tikka — Aromatic spiced chicken tikka served sizzling off the grill.
• Crispy Okra Fry — Light, addictive okra fry that surprised first-time diners.
• Salmon Kal Varuval — Salmon pan-fried with South Indian spices for a crispy finish.
• Prawn Fry — Crispy prawns tossed in bold, restaurant-style spices.

Mocktails

• Virgin Mojito — Cool, refreshing mint mocktail to pair with spicy dishes.
• Cinderella — Fruity, family-friendly mocktail from the lounge list.
• Tropic Shappire — Tropical mocktail served fresh at the bar.
• Twisted — House mocktail with a playful twist.
• Lagoon Mocktail — Chilled refresher served alongside spicy Indian meals.

Dosa & Breads

• Plain Naan — Soft, freshly baked naan served warm from the tandoor.
• Tandoori Paratha — Tandoor-baked paratha, a hearty curry companion.
• Cheese Naan — Cheese-stuffed naan with good pull and crispiness.
• Garlic Cheese Naan — Garlicky cheese naan diners call a must-try.
• Parotta — Soft, flaky South Indian parotta served hot with curries.

Biryani & Rice

• Chicken Dum Biryani — Dum-layered biryani with tender chicken and fluffy basmati.
• Mutton Dum Biryani — Slow-cooked mutton layered with fragrant basmati and spices.
• Steamed Rice — Plain steamed rice to accompany the curries.

Signature Cocktails

• Cosmopolitan — Handcrafted classic from the signature cocktail list.
• Cuba Libre — Rum-and-cola classic served at the lounge.
• Long Island — Spirited long-pour favourite from the signature list.
• Margarita — Handcrafted margarita mixed at the Manam bar.
• Old Fashioned — Stirred whisky classic at the lounge.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Manam located?

15 Upper Circular Road, #01-01, Singapore 058413 — in the CBD, near the Clarke Quay area.

What are Manam's opening hours?

Lunch runs Tue–Sun, 11am–3pm. Dinner is 6–10pm on Tue, Wed, Thu and Sun, and 6–11pm on Fri and Sat. Closed on Mondays.

Can I book a table or a private dining room?

Yes. Book online via Chope or call +65 9824 9000. Private dining rooms are available for gatherings.

Does Manam offer delivery, bento boxes or corporate catering?

Yes — Indian food home delivery across Singapore, Indian bento boxes for daily and office meals, and corporate food orders with non-veg specials.

Are there vegetarian options?

Yes. The kitchen serves veg and non-veg dishes — Palak Gobi, Paneer Butter Masala and Dal Shorba among them — with no artificial colours or MSG used.

Is there a bar at Manam?

Yes. The Signature Drink Lounge pours mocktails (Virgin Mojito, Cinderella), classic cocktails (Margarita, Old Fashioned) and white wines such as Jacob's Creek Chardonnay.

Is there GST or a service charge?

Diners report that Manam charges no GST or service charge, which they highlight as great value for the quality.

Tips

• {"body":"Lunch ends at 3pm and dinner starts at 6pm, so plan around the afternoon gap — and note the kitchen is closed on Mondays.","title":"Mind the split service"}
• {"body":"Friday and Saturday dinner runs until 11pm, an hour later than other dinner nights.","title":"Late dinner on weekends"}
• {"body":"Reserve via Chope or call +65 9824 9000, especially for Fri–Sat dinner or a private dining room.","title":"Book ahead for evenings"}
• {"body":"A chilled lime soda or a mocktail from the lounge is a smart match for the bolder varuval and curry dishes.","title":"Pair spice with something cold"}
• {"body":"Manam packs Indian bento boxes and takes corporate orders — handy for CBD lunches.","title":"Bento for the office"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Private dining rooms; a reviewer favourite for family and in-law gatherings.","dietary":"Vegetarian dishes available; no artificial colours or MSG."}