Under Der Linden

About Under Der Linden

Under Der Linden is a floral-themed garden restaurant set in a heritage colonial black-and-white bungalow at Wessex Estate, in Singapore's historic Portsdown — an area that was once a British military base and is now known for its iconic black-and-white houses. Surrounded by lush greenery and colonial charm, it serves modern European comfort food with creative Asian influences, from wood-fired grills to pastas, risottos and brunch plates.

The kitchen runs from laid-back brunch (served daily until 3pm) through to refined dinner plates, with highlights such as chilli crab spaghetti, in-house dry aged beef and the char-grill woodfire koji ribeye. From Monday to Thursday evenings, the restaurant turns up the fire with an Unlimited Woodfire Grill Dinner Buffet — 90 minutes of unlimited woodfire-grilled meats, sides, salads and desserts, with limited seats each day.

It is a relaxed escape that welcomes everyone, dogs included: pets are welcome indoors with air-conditioning and out in the alfresco garden. The bungalow also doubles as an intimate wedding and events venue, hosting ROM solemnisations and celebrations for up to 80 guests indoors and 30 in the garden. Practicalities are easy too — free on-site parking, a short walk from One-North MRT, and hours of Mon–Fri 11am–9pm and Sat/Sun/PH 10am–9pm, with last order at 8:30pm daily.

Under Der Linden: Woodfire Grills and Garden Dining in a Heritage Black-and-White Bungalow, Singapore

Under Der Linden occupies one of the historic black-and-white bungalows of Wessex Estate, at 5B Portsdown Road in Singapore's Portsdown area. The neighbourhood was a British military base from the 1950s to the 1970s and is now loved for its colonial black-and-white houses, and the restaurant's home — a bungalow built in the 1930s–40s — wears that heritage proudly. The name translates roughly to under the linden tree, and the whole place runs with the idea: a floral-themed dining room and garden where a meal is meant to feel a little like a love story.

A garden escape with colonial charm

Step through the gate and the city recedes quickly. Lush tropical greenery frames the bungalow, and guests can choose between the indoor dining space and the pet-friendly alfresco garden, both steeped in colonial charm. It is, by the restaurant's own description, a calm floral escape for slow meals, intimate dates and meaningful gatherings — and a picture-perfect backdrop for photos. Ground-floor dining is wheelchair accessible, and there is free parking on-site, its own small luxury in this part of Singapore.

What the kitchen cooks

The food is modern European comfort with creative Asian influences. Brunch is served daily until 3pm — think the Linden's 8 Breakfast with kombu butter and pork sausage, a Croque Madame on sourdough, or the Hen of the Wood with maitake, mild cheddar and scrambled eggs. Come dinner, the à la carte leans into the woodfire grill and some playful local touches: a char-grill woodfire koji ribeye with port wine jus, in-house dry aged beef, chilli crab spaghetti with onsen egg and mini mantou, butter broth spaghetti with red Argentine shrimps, Iberico pork jowl with kumquat cream, and a squid ink risotto topped with chargrilled octopus. For the table, there is a generous seafood board, Iberico spare ribs, and a 1.1kg Woodward OP Rib for those who pre-order.

The unlimited woodfire buffet

From Monday to Thursday evenings, the grill takes centre stage. The Unlimited Woodfire Grill Dinner Buffet runs from 5:30pm to 9:00pm and gives you 90 minutes of all-you-can-eat meats cooked over real woodfire — koji ribeye, honey smoked pork ribs, assorted sausages and marinated chicken, plus seasonal sides, salads and desserts. Last seating is at 7:30pm so everyone gets the full run of the grill. On Fridays, weekends and public holidays the buffet rests and the à la carte menu takes over. Seats are limited daily, so booking ahead is wise.

Weddings, events and four-legged guests

Beyond dinner, the bungalow is also an intimate wedding and events venue. ROM solemnisations, wedding receptions, corporate dinners and private celebrations are all hosted here, with room for up to 80 guests indoors and 30 in the garden, in-house catering, floral decor and a choice of indoor or outdoor ceremony spaces. Just as notably, Under Der Linden is one of Singapore's popular pet-friendly restaurants — dogs are welcome indoors in the air-conditioned space and out in the garden, so nobody has to stay home.

Planning your visit

Hours are Monday to Friday, 11:00am to 9:00pm, and Saturday, Sunday and public holidays, 10:00am to 9:00pm, with last order at 8:30pm daily; because private events can shift timings, the team suggests checking Google for the day's hours before you go. Getting there is straightforward: free on-site parking via Portsdown Road, a 10-minute walk from One-North MRT, about 12 minutes from Buona Vista, or bus 191 along Portsdown Road. Reservations can be made through restaurants.sg or by phone, though walk-ins are welcome subject to availability. Whether it is a slow brunch, a woodfire feast or a wedding under the blooms, the idea is the same — good food, good drinks and time well spent, under the linden tree.

Signature items

• Char-Grill Woodfire Koji Ribeye
• Unlimited Woodfire Grill Buffet
• Chilli Crab Spaghetti
• Honey Smoked Pork Ribs
• Wagyu Beef Burger
• Seafood Board

Menu

Greens

• Mixed Berries Salad — Variations of berries with a berry vinaigrette
• Baked Golden Cauliflower Florets — Toasted pine nuts, golden raisins and garlic purée
• Burrata Salad — Creamy burrata with mizuna and plum tomatoes
• Crispy Brussels & Bacon Bliss — Roasted Brussels sprouts with pecorino romano and bacon jam

Land & Sea

• Salmon au Beurre Blanc — Seasonal white asparagus, mango salsa, seaweed and beurre blanc
• Char-Grill Woodfire Koji Ribeye — Woodfire-grilled ribeye with garlic shoot purée and port wine jus
• In-House Dry Aged Beef — An à la carte highlight, dry-aged in house
• Cornflake Chicken Strip — With wasabi aioli, spud potato and mesclun salad
• Iberico Pork Jowl — With spice pickled cucumber, kumquat cream and port wine jus
• Wagyu Beef Burger — 200g wagyu patty, miso aioli, onion compote, bacon jam and cheddar

Large To Share

• Seafood Board — Unagi, salmon, grilled octopus, grilled prawns, corn, zucchini and cherry tomatoes
• Iberico Spare Ribs — Half or whole, with spice pickled cucumber, kumquat cream and marmite stout
• Woodward OP Rib 1.1kg — Sharing rib from the grill, available by pre-order

Small To Share

• Spud Potato — Baked spud potato, served whole or half
• Traditional Sourdough — Served with in-house kombu butter
• Crispy Cajun Patatas Bravas — With parmesan, chives and cream cheese dip
• Crispy Calamari Fritters — Golden calamari with garlic chip and dijonnaise sauce
• Char-grilled Broccolini — Grilled broccolini with umami dip
• Togarashi Karaage Crunch (Spicy) — Crispy karaage with a togarashi kick and miso aioli
• Forest Mushroom Soup — Finished with truffle oil and king oyster mushroom
• Truffle Parmesan Fries — Fries topped with parmigiano cheese
• Duet of Bruschetta — Rustic baguette, stracciatella, mini medley tomatoes and honey pearls
• Hyogo Shucked Oysters (3 pcs) — Fresh oysters with granita of mignonette

Pasta & Risotto

• Unagi Wafu Spaghetti — Kabayaki unagi, dehydrated kombu and pepper flakes
• Chilli Crab Spaghetti (Spicy) — Blue swimmer crab, onsen egg and mini mantou
• Butter Broth Spaghetti (Spicy) — Red Argentine shrimps, baby loligo and cherry tomatoes
• Maitake Risotto — With sweet white corn and pecorino romano
• Squid Ink Risotto — Topped with chargrilled octopus leg

Brunch (Daily Until 3pm)

• Hen of the Wood — Maitake, mild cheddar, mozzarella and scrambled eggs with aioli on sourdough
• Croque Madame — Breakfast ham, mild cheddar, mozzarella and scrambled eggs on sourdough
• Linden's 8 Breakfast — Spud potato, mesclun, avocado, pork sausage, scrambled eggs and kombu butter

Unlimited Woodfire Buffet (Mon–Thu Dinner)

• Woodfire Koji Ribeye — Char-grilled over real woodfire
• Honey Smoked Pork Ribs — Smoked ribs straight off the woodfire grill
• Assorted Sausages — Grilled sausages from the buffet spread
• Marinated Chicken — Chicken grilled over real woodfire
• Seasonal Sides & Salads — Rotating accompaniments for the grill
• Desserts — A sweet finish included with the buffet

Frequently asked questions

What is the Unlimited Woodfire Grill Dinner Buffet?

A 90-minute all-you-can-eat dinner of woodfire-grilled meats — koji ribeye, honey smoked pork ribs, sausages and marinated chicken — plus seasonal sides, salads and desserts. It runs Monday to Thursday, 5:30–9:00pm, with last seating at 7:30pm. It is not offered on Fridays, weekends or public holidays, when the à la carte menu is served instead.

What are the opening hours?

Monday to Friday, 11:00am–9:00pm; Saturday, Sunday and public holidays, 10:00am–9:00pm. Last order is 8:30pm daily. As private events can affect timings, check Google for the day's hours before visiting.

Is Under Der Linden pet-friendly?

Yes — dogs are welcome in the outdoor garden and alfresco areas, and also indoors in the air-conditioned space. The greenery of Wessex Estate makes it a favourite for dining with furry companions.

How do I get there and is there parking?

Free on-site parking is available, entering via Portsdown Road. By MRT, it is about a 10-minute walk from One-North (CC23) or 12 minutes from Buona Vista (EW21/CC22); bus 191 stops along Portsdown Road. Taxis and Grab can drop off at the front gate.

Do I need a reservation?

Reservations can be made through restaurants.sg or by calling +65 9838 2977. Walk-ins are welcome subject to availability, and buffet seats are limited daily so booking ahead is recommended.

Can I host a wedding or private event here?

Yes. The bungalow hosts intimate weddings, ROM solemnisations, corporate dinners and private celebrations for up to 80 guests indoors and 30 in the garden, with in-house catering, floral decor and indoor or outdoor ceremony spaces. Enquiries: [email protected].

What kind of food does Under Der Linden serve?

Modern European cuisine with creative Asian influences — brunch until 3pm daily, an à la carte menu featuring dishes like chilli crab spaghetti and in-house dry aged beef, and the unlimited woodfire grill buffet on Monday to Thursday evenings.

Tips

• {"body":"Seats are limited each day and last seating is 7:30pm, so reserve ahead to enjoy the full 90 minutes.","title":"Book the buffet early"}
• {"body":"Free parking on-site, or a 10-minute walk from One-North MRT; bus 191 also stops along Portsdown Road.","title":"Easy by car or MRT"}
• {"body":"Dogs are welcome indoors with air-conditioning and out in the alfresco garden — no need to leave them behind.","title":"Bring your dog"}
• {"body":"The brunch menu runs daily until 3pm, ideal for a slow morning in the garden.","title":"Brunch till 3pm"}
• {"body":"Private events can shift timings; the restaurant recommends checking Google for updated hours before heading over.","title":"Double-check the day's hours"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Children welcome; buffet has kids' pricing for ages 3–12","parking":"Free on-site parking; enter via Portsdown Road","accessibility":"Wheelchair-accessible ground-floor dining"}