Upmarket Cafe-Grocer Curly’s At Dempsey To Be Replaced By New Eatery After 7 Months

The new eatery will involve chef Antonio Miscellaneo, co-owner of Casa Vostra and also the founder of Italian restaurant La Bottega. But more on that later.

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Curly's announces closure

The grocer-cafe announced the surprising news on Instagram on June 10.

Deep discounts on retail items

As part of the transition, Curly's is offering 40 per cent off storewide on its retail selection until its final day of operations on June 21.

The discount applies to products sold in Curly's market, including fresh produce, condiments, oils and other retail items. Prices of dishes at the cafe remain unchanged.

Opened to great fanfare last year

When Curly's opened at Dempsey Hill in November 2025, it brought together a specialty grocer, bakery and cafe under one roof. It boasted casual-luxe vibes and gorgeous views of greenery.

Curly's took over the ground-floor space previously occupied by French restaurant Atout, which continues to operate on the building's upper floors.

Customers could browse imported produce like fruits and meats, artisanal pantry staples, wellness products and specialty ingredients sourced from around the world.

After shopping, they could hop over to Curly’s cafe, which offers breakfast and lunch daily, with dinner service on selected evenings. While some of the items here are hit or miss (skip the woefully undersized grilled fish burger), our food editor adores the wonderfully moist, fruit and nut-packed Hummingbird Cake ($14) and hopes they’ll bring it back to the revamped space. It is currently unavailable at press time.

She’ll also miss the short-lived Curry Chicken Noodles ($28), one of the best versions of the dish she’s had with its rich, punchy gravy.

Sometimes compared to LA’s Erewhon

Curly’s opening last year generated considerable buzz, with some observers describing Curly's as Singapore's mini equivalent to Erewhon, the celebrity-favourite atas supermarket chain in Los Angeles known for its premium groceries and wellness-focused offerings. For instance, a bottle of olive oil at Curly’s ranged from $50, all the way up to a whopping $120.

Why change concepts after just 7 months?

Industry insiders tell 8days.sg that Curly's has not performed as well as hoped.

The cafe drew crowds on weekends, but struggled to maintain the same level of footfall on weekdays.

When contacted by 8days.sg, a representative for Ebb & Flow Group said the team is "still working through the [new] concept" and is not ready to share details.

Casa Vostra co-owner involved in new eatery

Does Antonio Miscellaneo’s involvement in the revamped concept mean another Italian joint in Dempsey? Surprisingly, no.

He tells 8days.sg that the project will have nothing to do with Casa Vostra, La Bottega or Italian cuisine.

"We are still working on the details, so I can't share much," says Antonio.

He does, however, reveal that the upcoming venture is expected to have a Mediterranean slant. There will likely also be wood-fired cooking involved. 

The Italian chef first built a loyal following through his private diner Casa Nostra, before opening La Bottega Enoteca in Joo Chiat in 2021. The restaurant quickly became known for its Italian fare and Roman-style pizzas.

He later partnered Ebb & Flow Group to launch casual pizzeria Casa Vostra, whose pizzas have since attracted long queues and a devoted following.

Curly's remains open until June 21, if you want to enjoy one more meal there with a spot of food shopping. While the exact reopening date of its replacement eatery has yet to be announced, you can expect something very different from the cafe-grocer that first launched less than a year ago.

Curly's Market & Dining is located at 40C Harding Rd, Level 1, S249548. Its last day of operations is on June 21. More info via website and Instagram.