The CBD lunch hour is a quiet gift: for one weekday window, some of the city’s smartest kitchens serve two- and three-course sets at a fraction of the dinner bill. From an $18++ handroll set to a $65++ tandoor spread, here are the CBD set lunches worth booking — verified for September 2026. Most run weekdays around 12–2.30pm and fill fast, so reserve ahead.
The set lunches at a glance
| Restaurant | Set price | Cuisine & courses | Area | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rappu | $18++ | Japanese handroll set | Duxton Rd | Tue–Sun |
| Quay House | $24++ | Modern 3-course | Circular Rd | Mon–Sat |
| Ellenborough Market Café | $24.90++ | 3-course themed (Western/Asian/Peranakan/veg) | Clarke Quay | Mon–Fri |
| Fat Prince | $29++ | Middle Eastern, dip–mezze–bowl/kebab–dessert | Peck Seah St | Mon–Fri |
| Bochinche | $35++ | Argentinian steak with chimichurri | Club St | Mon–Fri |
| Wooloomooloo | $38++ | Steakhouse 3-course | Swissôtel, Stamford Rd | Sun–Thu |
| Cenzo | $39++ | Italian 2-course | Club St | Daily |
| Sol & Luna | $42–48++ | 2–3 course, pasta & pork | CapitaSpring L17 | Daily |
| Oumi | $55++ | Japanese kappo 3-course | CapitaSpring L51 | Mon–Fri |
| SKAI | $62++ | Modern grill, seafood & BBQ pork | Swissôtel L70 | Daily |
| Shikar | $65++ | North Indian, tandoor chicken & kadhai gosht | Maxwell Reserve | Mon–Sat |
Verified September 2026 against multiple listings. Prices exclude service charge and GST where marked “++”. Menus change — confirm with the restaurant.
Pick by budget
Under $25 — the everyday sets: Rappu ($18++ handrolls) is the value pick; Quay House ($24++) and Ellenborough Market Café ($24.90++) give you a full three courses for the price of a hawker plate-and-a-bit.
$29–42 — the client lunch: Fat Prince, Bochinche and Cenzo around Club Street hit the sweet spot for a proper sit-down that still lands under $40.
$55 and up — the view lunch: Oumi and SKAI high up in CapitaSpring and Swissôtel turn a set lunch into an occasion — book a window table.
Make it work: CBD set lunches run a tight weekday 12–2.30pm window and sell out, so reserve ahead and ask for the set-lunch menu (it’s often not on the table by default). A few — Cenzo, Sol & Luna, SKAI — also run daily if you want the deal on a weekend.
Frequently asked questions
- When are CBD set lunches served?
- Almost all run on weekdays, roughly 12–2.30pm, to catch the office crowd. A handful (Cenzo, Sol & Luna, SKAI) serve the set daily.
- Which is the cheapest CBD set lunch?
- Rappu at $18++ for a Japanese handroll set, followed by the three-course sets at Quay House ($24++) and Ellenborough Market Café ($24.90++).
- Do I need to book?
- Strongly recommended — the good-value sets sell out fast in the lunch window. Reserve and mention you want the set-lunch menu.
- Are there set lunches with a view?
- Yes — Oumi ($55++, CapitaSpring L51) and SKAI ($62++, Swissôtel L70) pair the set with some of the highest dining rooms in the CBD.
Last verified: September 2026. Set-lunch menus and prices change without notice and can pause on public holidays — confirm with the restaurant before you go. Compiled from publicly listed menus; independent and not sponsored.