Smith Marine Floating Restaurant: Singapore's Only Kelong For A Fresh Seafood Meal

Where can you get the freshest seafood in Singapore? Right from the sea of course! And there is no better place to do so than from a kelong itself at Smith Marine Floating Restaurant. Just a 15-minute boat ride away from Changi, this modern fish farm serves up favourite local seafood dishes.  

Don’t worry for those who might get a little seasick, the main restaurant is a huge steel pontoon structure that is relatively stable. But that said, if you plan to explore a little more, we do recommend you pop a pill before heading over. It’ll be a pity not to be able to enjoy the delicious food! 

We made a visit here recently and here’s what we found out! It’s the ideal place to end an adventure at Pulau Ubin if you can squeeze in the time!

Many may not know this, but Smith Marine Floating Restaurant is actually only a small part of the Smith Marine Fish Farm. The fish farm is made up of a few different floating structures that cover almost 5,000 sqm. In them, they rear around 30 tonnes of fishes per year, including the popular seabass, red snapper, and grouper. Depending on the species, it typically takes up to 10 months for a fish to be ready to make it to a dining table near you.

So do take a walk around and even talk to the staff to better understand what it takes to have a fish end up on the dining table. It’s going to be especially educational for the little ones!

One of the main highlights of your trip to Smith Marine Floating Restaurant is having a go at their “Sure Catch” Pond filled with fishes like groupers and snappers. You’ll be provided with a fishing rod with bait to catch your own fish. It only takes a couple of minutes, but it sure is a thrill! 

Your fish won’t get any fresher than this because the staff will be preparing it right after you have documented the moment on Instagram, and it will be served right to your dining table soon. We say it’s best steamed Hong Kong or Teochew style!

If you liked what you ate, you can have another try at the “Sure Catch” Pond to bring home your catch at $18 each.

Besides the freshest fish you can find, Smith Marine Floating Restaurant’s menu boasts a full range of fresh seafood. We definitely recommend you try their mussels that are grown right on the farm itself. You can also enjoy a dish or two of squids and flower crabs that are caught by local fishermen and neighbouring kelongs. If the season is right, they do also offer mud crabs and lobsters that are fattened at their own fish farm.

When in doubt, simply ask the chef for his recommendations for the day as no day is similar out on the open sea! Smith Marine Floating Restaurant is also a Halal-certified restaurant.

Besides enjoying the meal, we recommend you find a spot to settle down and enjoy the sea breeze. It’ll really help to slow things down and reconnect with your family and friends. There are spots for you to even play some cards or board games. 

We highly recommend you cater time for that by coming earlier in the day as the last boat ride out for the day is at 7pm. With beautiful views unlike any other in Singapore, you sure don’t want to rush through it!

The only way to get to Smith Marine Floating Restaurant is by a 15-minute bumboat ride from the Changi Point Ferry Terminal, the same place you will get a boat ride to Pulau Ubin. You’ll be charged a flat rate of $100 for a return trip on the boat that takes up to 10 pax. The last boat leaves at 4:30pm each day.

This boat ride is included in all Smith Marine Floating Restaurant packages on Klook. Do note that customers are to contact the restaurant directly after booking to confirm the timing and coordinate for the boat ride.

If you’re looking for a full day out with family and friends, we’ve got just the recommendations for you. Join in a guided boat tour that will bring you new insights of the waters off the North-Eastern coast of Singapore and around Pulau Ubin. You’ll also have a brief stop at Smith Marine Floating Restaurant to have a drink and learn more about fish farming from your guide.

You can also join in the Kelongs and Pulau Ubin Adventure Tour that’ll bring you around Ubin and also the kelongs with a stop here, or even go on a full-day cycling tour to Chek Jawa that comes complete with a 6-course meal at Smith Marine Floating Restaurant to reward yourself!

Best of all? These tours are all eligible for the SingapoRediscovers Vouchers!