In an age where diners are perpetually chasing the next big thing, Coda reminds us that staying power counts. Tucked in a laneway basement, it remains a magnet for the after-work crowd, with good reason. A gin fizz refreshed by green tea and sparkling wine cuts beautifully through a betel leaf-wrapped prawn, hot and crunchy from the fryer.

Green chilli and citrusy makrut lime lift the sweet seafood within. Slips of tea-smoked duck breast lay beneath tight curls of pickled daikon. Its mala dressing ensures each bite hits you hot, sour, earthy and numbing. Stir-fried morning glory and shimeji mushrooms sing with quiet brilliance thanks to complex preserved tofu sauce.

Just as bold and bright, charred pavlova mingles with zippy mandarin curd and bitter-edged jasmine tea ice-cream. Knowing you have a booking at Coda, you’ll be watching the clock all afternoon.

Best for: After-work cocktails backed by bites that sweep Asia.

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