Among the latest casualties are café and bar Lou Shang that ceased operations on July 14.
Industry insiders said since tourism rebounded after the Covid-19 pandemic and the Singapore dollar strengthened, more Singaporeans have chosen to spend school holidays and long weekends overseas rather than dining and shopping locally.
Co-founder Matthias Phua of Pantler, known for its Japanese-French desserts, said the restaurant had faced the same challenges confronting many independent F&B operators, including rising operating costs and high rents, The Straits Times reported.
Commercial rents in the Kampong Glam area, home to food stalls and coffee shops, have climbed sharply in recent years, with several Haji Lane tenants reporting increases from around S$3,000 (US$2,340) to nearly S$10,000 a month, Channel News Asia reported.
However, many other restaurants continue to open. According to data from the ACRA, 2,594 new F&B businesses were registered in the first seven months.
Recent openings include several Japanese brands, such as hamburger steak restaurant Hikiniku To Come and yakitori chain Torikizoku, as well as Korean eateries Jiho Samgyetang SBCD and Bibim Deli.
According to official statistics, 3,148 food businesses ceased operations in Singapore in 2025, up from 3,047 in 2024.