Cliff(y) Goes Dining

Yummy 'adobo' at breakfast! After a good night's sleep at Savoy Hotel Manila (4*), I was more than ready to kickstart the day with a hearty breakfast, The breakfast buffet featured an extensive selection of dishes, ranging from Filipino favourites to a variety of international options. Alas, dining alone meant I couldn't sample as many items as I couldn't share them with anyone.

Meatless KFC: Korean Fried Cauliflower! Having had enjoyable modern Asian dishes at Chin Chin in Melbourne, Australia. I was keen to find a similar dining experience in Auckland, New Zealand. Eventually, my travel buddy and I stumbled upon Hello Beasty, which serves contemporary dishes that take culinary cues primarily from East Asia.

Such a hearty chicken and beef burger for lunch! Te Puia is one of Rotorua's must-visit attractions, renowned for its spectacular geothermal landscapes and the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute. Before exploring everything the site had to offer, my travel buddy and I stopped for a quick lunch at Hiakai Café, a casual open-air courtyard eatery located within Te Puia itself.

Savouring seasonal flavours in the heart of Cornwall Park~ Located within the picturesque Cornwall Park is a café that offers the perfect excuse to slow down amid one of Auckland's most beloved green spaces.  Before exploring the park and eventually tackling the hike up One Tree Hill , my travel buddy and I decided to stop by for a quick lunch to fuel up.

Auckland's oldest continuously operating steakhouse! It's no secret that I love beef, so I definitely had to check out a legendary Auckland restaurant that's been around since 1963. Stepping inside the restaurant with more than six decades of history felt like taking a trip back in time. The warm timber furnishings, vintage décor and cosy lighting certainly give the restaurant an old-school charm.

Not so sensational, but good enough! Tucked away on Mount Street in the heart of the university precinct of Auckland, Sensational Chicken has built a loyal following among students and locals alike seeking an affordable and filling meal. With such a name, my expectations naturally ran high. While the menu also features burgers and the likes, my travel buddy and I only tried their fried chicken and waffle fries.

The most I’ve ever spent on McDonald’s anywhere in the world! It feels like it wasn't too long ago when I was watching the FIFA World Cup series, yet the tournament has already rolled around again in 2026. After catching a glimpse of one of the matches in downtown Vaduz, my travel buddy and I walked to Liechtenstein's only McDonald's outlet to satisfy our curiosity about the menu, and of course, how much a meal would cost us.

An oyster bar worth shell-ebrating at the historic Ferry Terminal! Occupying a cosy spot along the bustling waterfront of Auckland, The Shucker Brothers is a compact eatery that's quietly built a strong reputation among seafood lovers. My travel buddy and I sat outside on a wooden table, soaking up the afternoon sunshine as the gentle hum of the harbour created an effortlessly relaxing backdrop for lunch.

Those juicy  sautéed mushrooms put me in a 'fungi' good mood! Located right in the heart of the Central Business District, President Hotel Auckland (3*) was my hotel of choice for my inaugural trip to the city, and New Zealand as a whole. The breakfast spread offered at the hotel might be very limited, but having a selection of hot items to start the day certainly made the stay feel worthwhile.

Grab some barista-made coffee before flying off! Given the number of posts I've shared over the past few weeks, you could probably tell that it was a short first trip ever to Melbourne, Australia. Before flying out, my travel buddy and I had a quick breakfast at Air New Zealand Lounge, a sanctuary tucked away downstairs after passing through the duty-free area.

Virgin experience with Australia's Blue Heaven milkshake! A trip to Victoria, Australia wouldn’t be complete without a scenic drive along the Great Ocean Road , they say. After soaking in the coastal views, our group tour made a pit stop at Apollo Bay for lunch. While exploring the options around Apollo Bay Hotel, my travel buddy and I decided on George's Restaurant for a fried seafood meal.

Eating ants... The same swarm that usually makes me cringe! Situated at Fed Square along the banks of Yarra River, Big Esso offers a dining experience that's both rooted in culture and refreshingly modern at the same time. Focusing on the use of native Australian ingredients, it's the kind of place where the menu sparks curiosity. With that in mind, let's dig into crocodile, emu and even ants.

A chance to try Vegemite again... Located just a short walk from Southern Cross railway station in the Central Business District of Melbourne, Ibis Styles Kingsgate (3*) makes for a convenient base for exploring the city. The room that my travel buddy and I booked came with continental buffet breakfast to start each day of our short adventure in the state of Victoria.

Unhinged jaw required to tackle the Kavorka! It was certainly a memorable first trip to Down Under right from the start. After not just one or two, but three flights from Singapore to Melbourne, Australia, I finally found myself unwinding over a burger dinner at Royal Stacks. The brand prides itself in using 100% pasture-fed Australian beef, never frozen and free from antibiotics.

Homemade citrusy iced tea: a perfect thirst quencher! I chanced upon Refuel Café while looking for an air-conditioned lunch spot after walking around Bedok Reservoir to escape from the afternoon heat. Established in 2014, Refuel Café serves all-day brunch menu among others. What began as a humble neighbourhood spot has since grown with additional outlets at Bukit Merah and Yishun.

Free-flowing Vietnamese sticky rice, anyone? Without having done any prior research, I couldn’t help but find it amusing that the hotel I stayed at happened to share a similar name with the lounge I visited at Tan Son Nhat International Airport before flying back to Singapore. With such a tasteful ambience, I was curious to see if the food and beverages would be just as delightful.

Vietnamese sticky rice for breakfast! I had a quick stopover in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam before flying home with Singapore Airlines the next day. For the night, I stayed at Le Saigon Hotel (3*), which is located not too far from Tan Son Nhat International Airport. The stay came with a buffet breakfast that offered quite a good spread for a simple hotel.

How much do you like ANA's signature curry? I arrived at Narita International Airport early before my flight to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, giving myself enough time to stop by one of ANA's bigger flagship lounges for Business Class passengers. Besides the buffet spread, guests can also enjoy freshly prepared dishes from the noodle bar.

"Cheese Meat Mania!" While searching for a restaurant in Gifu City to satisfy my gyukatsu  (lit. beef cutlet) craving, I stumbled upon KU-DETA. Just a few minutes' walk away from JR Gifu station, this cozy eatery caters to not only meat lovers, but also fans of rich, cheesy dishes. Though I didn't drink during my afternoon visit, the restaurant also boasts a curated selection of wines and cocktails.

Free-flowing 'unagi' for breakfast! Nagoya is the largest producer of  unagi  (Japanese freshwater eel) in Japan. For two mornings at the cozy Smile Hotel Nagoya Shinkansenguchi (3*), my BFF and I enjoyed unlimited servings of unagi . When else could we enjoy such an indulgent experience without burning a hole in our pockets?