Restaurant in Rochor, Singapore
Shophouse Trattoria Format
Cicheti on Kandahar Street is a compact, casual Italian-leaning spot in Rochor that earns its place for weekend brunch and relaxed small-plate dining. Easy to book and unpretentious in format, it suits solo diners and pairs better than larger groups. A practical neighbourhood option that does not require advance planning or a special occasion to justify.
Cicheti sits on Kandahar Street in Rochor, and the first thing to correct is the assumption that this is a formal Italian restaurant requiring a booking weeks in advance. It is not. The format is casual, the room is compact, and getting a table is direct enough that you can plan without anxiety. If you are looking for a relaxed Italian-leaning spot in this part of Singapore that works as well for a weekend brunch as it does for an evening, Cicheti earns a visit. For a comparison point: if your priority is a high-concept tasting menu, Zén or Born belong on a different shortlist entirely. Cicheti plays a different, more accessible game.
The address on Kandahar Street puts Cicheti in the Kampong Glam conservation area, a stretch of shophouses that rewards slow walking and unhurried meals. The physical format here is intimate rather than sprawling. Expect the kind of close-set seating that makes the room feel lively when full and immediately social, which works in its favour during weekend brunch when the neighbourhood draws a consistent crowd. It is not a venue where you spread out and take calls. If you are returning after a first visit, the counter or window seats, if available, give you the leading read on the room's rhythm. The spatial character is the draw as much as anything on the menu.
The weekend brunch format is where Cicheti makes the clearest case for itself. The Italian-inflected approach to morning and midday eating, think cicchetti-style small plates rather than a conventional eggs-and-toast menu, makes it a more interesting option than most Rochor neighbourhood options for a Saturday or Sunday sitting. It sits in a different category from the hawker-adjacent options nearby like Fu He Delights, and closer in spirit to the kind of all-day casual dining that has worked well for European-influenced spots across Singapore. For a solo diner or a pair, this format is well-suited. For groups of four or more, confirm in advance whether the layout can accommodate your party comfortably.
Booking difficulty is rated easy. You do not need to plan weeks ahead for most sittings, though weekend brunch slots on Kandahar Street fill faster than weekday lunch, so a few days' notice is sensible during peak weekend hours. Walk-ins are plausible on weekday mornings. For a broader look at what else is open nearby, our full Rochor restaurants guide covers the area in detail. If you want bar options before or after, our Rochor bars guide is a useful follow-on.
Address: 52 Kandahar St, Singapore 198901. The Kampong Glam area is walkable from Bugis MRT. No published dress code, but the neighbourhood and venue format both read as smart-casual at most. Price range is not confirmed in available data, but the casual format and neighbourhood context suggest mid-range rather than high-end. For confirmed pricing, check directly with the venue before visiting. Dietary requirements: contact the venue directly, as no specific information is available in public records. For other dining options at different price points across Singapore, Les Amis and Béni in Orchard represent the fine-dining end of the spectrum if the occasion calls for it. If you are exploring further afield, Locanda is another Rochor option worth considering alongside Cicheti. For experiences beyond dining in the area, our Rochor experiences guide has further suggestions.
Quick ref: 52 Kandahar St, Singapore 198901 — easy booking — smart-casual dress , mid-range pricing estimated.
Small groups of two to three are the natural fit given the compact shophouse format. Parties of four or more should contact the venue ahead of time to confirm layout options. The intimate room size means large groups may find the space tight, and there is no confirmed private dining room in available records. If your group is six or more, have a backup option in the area ready , our Rochor restaurants guide lists alternatives.
No dress code is published. Smart-casual is the right call for Kandahar Street and this type of Italian-leaning casual venue. Trainers and a neat leading work fine. It is not a venue where you need to dress up, and arriving in formal wear would feel out of step with the neighbourhood's character. For reference, the Kampong Glam area generally skews relaxed and creative rather than formal.
Yes, and arguably better for solo diners than for large groups. The compact format and cicchetti-style small plates mean you can eat well without committing to a multi-course meal. Counter or bar seating, if available, makes solo visits comfortable. In Rochor, it is a more interesting solo option than a standard hawker stop , though Ah Ter Teochew Fishball Noodles in nearby Downtown Core is worth knowing if you want something more local and low-cost.
Booking difficulty is rated easy. For weekday visits, walk-ins are likely fine. For weekend brunch, a few days' notice is sensible. This is not a venue where you need to set a diary reminder weeks out, unlike tighter bookings at Burnt Ends or Jaan by Kirk Westaway, which require considerably more lead time. The easy booking profile is one of Cicheti's genuine practical advantages.
No specific dietary policy is available in public records for Cicheti. Contact the venue directly before your visit if you have allergies or dietary requirements that need confirming. Italian-influenced menus typically include options that can be adapted, but do not assume without checking. The venue's address is 52 Kandahar St, Singapore 198901 , reach out via the restaurant directly for current information.
The format is casual and the space is small, so adjust your expectations accordingly. This is not a formal Italian restaurant with extensive tasting menus , it is a neighbourhood spot that does the cicchetti-style sharing format well. Come with one or two people, order a spread, and treat it as a relaxed sit rather than an occasion meal. Weekend brunch is the session that plays most to the venue's strengths. If you want a direct comparison: it occupies the accessible, everyday end of Singapore's Italian dining spectrum, well below the commitment level of Zén or Born, and better positioned alongside casual neighbourhood spots in areas like Etna in Outram.
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Booking Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cicheti | Easy | ||
| Zén | European Contemporary | $$$$ | Unknown |
| Jaan by Kirk Westaway | British Contemporary | $$$ | Unknown |
| Born | Creative Cuisine, Innovative | $$$$ | Unknown |
| Burnt Ends | Australian Barbecue, Barbecue | $$$ | Unknown |
| Iggy's | Modern European, European Contemporary | $$$ | Unknown |
Key differences to consider before you reserve.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
