Gliding over the water for an escape from the busy city, large clouds puffing away over the skyline, the air fresh from the afternoon rains.
Comfortably sitting on the back of a bumboat, the horizon started to fill with small structures floating about in the ocean between Changi and Pulau Ubin. As you approach, the shapes become more distinct, and you notice movement – people on these formations. These floating structures out in the ocean are fish farms, known as kelongs, traditional fish farms. And Singapore’s own floating restaurant.
Kelong
Singapore is one of a few southeast Asian countries that still have Kelongs, along with Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. These Kelongs are slowly disappearing as urbanisation is setting in.
Kelong is a Malay word for these offshore platforms, usually made of wood and anchored to the sea bed. Built as fish farms with dwellings for the fishermen to live on board. These wooden structures have nets suspended between them with fish. The fish stays here and grow till they are ready to be sold. Smith Marine is a more modern kelong, where they used a steel pontoon.
*I read they breed about 30 tonnes of fish a year.
So what did I do when I found out you could actually lunch on one? Well, I of course made reservations. It is a one of a kind experience, different from your usual dining experience in Singapore, and I need to try it at least once? Plus, you can’t get seafood fresher than this, straight from the source.
We visited Smith Marine Floating restaurant back in March for a friend’s farewell.
Also see > Walk among ruins in Singapore – Thomson Nature Park
Singapore’s floating restaurant – Smith Marine Restaurant
After a short bumboat ride, with slightly wobbly sea legs we boarded Smith Marine, a halal-certified seafood restaurant. After being shown to our table, we had to catch our lunch.
Yes, we had to catch our fish. You have to work for your food. Just kidding.
Still becoming accustomed to the feeling of buoyancy, basically walking on water, we moved outside, to the kelong. Staring down inside the structure, we could observe the fish swimming around in the ocean but kept within a massive net.
* A tradition that has been around in Singapore for many years.
*Catching your meal
You are guaranteed to catch something, as Snapper and Sea Bass fill up these ponds. The fish you caught will then be cooked for your lunch. You can’t return the fish to try again, as this is not a catch and release pond.
If you are worried that you have never before even held a fishing rod, don’t fret, they are so helpful, and as mentioned, you are guaranteed to catch a fish. (pssst, you are fishing in their catchment pod, and you don’t even need to cast your line, they assist with attaching the bait, you only need to slightly throw it over the rail.)
*TAKE NOTE : As stated on their Facebook, with effect from mid September 2021, you are not allowed to catch your own fish anymore, they will catch one for you.
Also see > 5 things to know before visiting Jurassic Mile at Changi
Exploring around the kelong
After the ‘very challenging’ task of catching our fish (not), we wandered around to take some pictures and admire the openness of being out on the ocean, feeling a world apart from the busy Singapore centre. The sky felt so big, and you could see so far. Attached to ropes and the bottom of Smith Marine, we spotted green mussels and other barnacles, with beautiful compositions and hues.
Lunch is served
After some time, they kindly informed us our lunch was ready, and we may take a seat. The food just kept on coming and coming.
First, to arrive, a beautiful platter of steamed prawns, followed by rice, enormous mussels cooked with garlic and greens. A beautiful crayfish, a Singapore classic and their signature Chilli Crab with ManTou and lastly, our lovely self caught fish.
After documenting our meal, as would be expected, (yup that’s me with the camera), we dug in. Oh my goodness, the best seafood I have had outside of South Africa. It brought back memories of South Africa, visiting Kalk Bay harbour cafe and enjoying Snoek, caught only a short while before you arrived. Or Strandloper with their 10-course seafood lunch set on the rustic beach huts on the beach.
Read more : A fabulous 10-course seafood meal on the beach in South Africa.
Need to know
- As they are a halal-certified seafood restaurant, strictly no alcoholic beverages are allowed.
- Payment options are Cash, Paylah or Paynow as well as Bank Transfer at the time of our visit.
- As they do set lunch, we had to pre-ordered (menus can change from time to time, so do check). They offer from 2pax up to 8pax set menus. Drinks are not included and have to be bought separately.
(Do check current local restrictions and regulations)
How to get there?
Contact them through their website or WhatsApp. Arrange your preferred date and time of your visit, and they will assist in booking a chartered bumboat to the kelong and back, at a fee. They are open daily from 10 am to 7 pm. (do check with them as things might change regarding restrictions and guidelines)
The overall experience took about 3 hours at Singapore’s floating restaurant Smith Marine. After our lovely seafood feast, we said goodbye to a slice of paradise and headed back to the mainland. So if you’re looking for the freshest seafood and an experience like none other, I would recommend taking a break from the city to the open ocean on Singapore’s own floating restaurant and sea farm, as they call it.
Enjoy you lunch!
xxx
*Opinions expressed here are my own.
Make sure to follow current (always check as they may change) guidelines and restrictions.
*As noted before, currently you can’t catch your own fish, during the time we went in March we were able too, this article is a recap of our experience.
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