15 Best Restaurants in Civic District, Singapore

With creations like Heart Attack Fried Rice (rice stir-fried in beef drippings and served with U.S. Angus beef cubes on the side) and foie-gras satay, this Michelin Bib Gourmand listee specializing in creative Singaporean food is decidedly not for those on a diet. This sleek city outlet is the fanciest of the restaurant’s three locations (the other two stay true to its heartland roots), but the ability of its delicious and creative zi chars (Chinese "cook-and-fry" dishes) to induce food comas is consistent.

Locally sourced ingredients, including produce from head chef and restaurateur Beppe de Vito’s family farm, take center stage at this ritzy Michelin-starred Italian fine-dining restaurant. With artfully prepared dishes made with exotic ingredients like fennel pollen, ancient wheat from Puglia, and water from the Dolomites, your meal will be one to remember. You can end it on the National Gallery's rooftop, where Dessert & Cocktail Bar by Art has another cozy venue with stunning views of Marina Bay. 

Take your taste buds on a tantalizing tour of Italy with chef de cuisine Natalino Ambra. The classy eatery, located in the iconic Raffles Hotel, is complete with an open kitchen retrofitted with a wood-fired rotisserie and pizza oven and serves up bold food, including a flavorful octopus with white beans and pancetta ham; prime charcuterie; and pizzas spruced with 36-month aged Parmesan. Their "Tentazioni" tasting menus allow you to taste a wide range of delicacies, from vitello tonnatto to beef tenderloin to a delicious hazelnut chocolate mousse.

Frangipani perfumes the air as you ascend the steps to this former colonial house among the well-manicured gardens of Fort Canning. The menu, which changes with the season, includes homemade breads and a hearty selection of international dishes, such as seared scallops, pan-fried foie gras, rack of lamb, and lobster. Opt for a seat on the balcony, where you can admire the garden, which twinkles with soft lights at night. The easiest way to get here is to enter the park through the Singapore Philatelic Museum's parking lot.

Both the exceptional views and cuisine at JAAN, proud holder of two Michelin stars, are a perfect option to splash some cash in style. The highly curated and choreographed three-hour-long dining experience showcases Chef Kirk Westaway's take on contemporary British dining from the vantage of Raffles City's 70th floor. Choices of three- or five-course menus can pair with flights of three or five wines. 

Acclaimed French chef Anne-Sophie Pic’s first foray into Asia is a sensory delight with its soft, pastel space and delicate creations imbued with Asian flavors. The food includes the restaurant’s iconic berlingots (pyramid-shaped pasta parcels) filled with cheese fondue and complemented by red Kampot peppers native to Cambodia.

Located within the Civic District's historic Chijmes building, Singapore's branch of Hong Kong's Lei Garden is known for having one of the best dim sum spreads in the city (prixe-fixe and à la carte menus are also available). It's packed with lunching office workers on weekdays and with families on weekends, but the jostle is worth it to savor such standout dishes as Peking duck, grilled rib-eye beef, and scallops with bean curd in black bean sauce.

Any self-proclaimed gourmand needs to add this classy restaurant, often considered one of Asia's best (and certainly one of Singapore's top tables), to their culinary bucket list. The dishes in its four- to six-course (called "acts") lunches and seven-course dinners vary seasonally but maintain the same respect for great artisanal produce, brought to life by French culinary arts and a touch of Japanese flair. Reservations are necessary and encouraged at least one month in advance, with a S$200 deposit per person. Children under 7 are not allowed.

Ideally located between the National Museum and Fort Canning Park, Onalu is a popular and pit stop for freshly rolled, boiled, and baked bagels and cups of tea and coffee. The classic bacon, egg, and cheese (stuffed full of creamy scrambled eggs and bacon strips) and smoked salmon bagels (with thinly sliced smoked salmon and cream cheese) are highly recommended.

Teak tables, gold-plated chairs, Indian artifacts, and live Nepalese music combine for a regal experience at this lavish North Indian restaurant, where each dish is categorized as mild, spicy, or very spicy (though the chef can turn the heat up or down based on your preference). You can't go wrong with any of the biryani (rice casserole) or tandoori meals, and the well-chosen wine list, which includes labels from many of the world's top wine-producing regions, runs surprisingly deep.

For some of the best sushi outside of Japan, make your way to this spartan Edo-style restaurant by lauded chef Shinji Kanesaka inside the Carlton Hotel, where you’ll be served sublime nigiri sushi across a counter carved from a single, 220-year-old, Japanese cypress tree. Here, simplicity takes precedence so that the cultural and culinary traditions can shine.

This contemporary restaurant and Rosé bar on the 70th floor of the Swissôtel The Stamford hotel doesn’t just serve up beautifully plated sharing dishes, it also doles out fabulous views of Singapore (and, on a clear day, Malaysia and Indonesia). The staff’s quiet, attentive service contributes to the elegance, as does the warm, modern decor. The two or three-course lunch sets are varied and good value.

The extensive menu at this contemporary Szechuan and Cantonese restaurant includes dishes designed to be xian (salty), tian (sweet), suan (sour), la (hot), xin (pungent), and ku (bitter). Specialties include thinly sliced beef rolls with garlic sauce, spare ribs in honey sauce, and spicy rice noodles with diced chicken; dim sum and six- to eight-course prix-fixe menus are also available.