39 Best Restaurants in Singapore

Background Illustration for Restaurants

Welcome to Singapore, one of the world’s great food destinations, where eating—and eating well—is a time-honored national pastime.

Here you can splurge on haute cuisine from Michelin-starred chefs in some of the best fine-dining restaurants in Asia, or dig into fragrant bowls oflaksa (a spicy noodle soup) and heaping plates of char kway teow (stir-fried rice noodle strips) at one of the island’s famous hawker centers. The wide range of food and restaurants is what brings many travelers to Singapore in the first place, and few leave disappointed. In most cities the plan of attack is to map out must-see sights to pack in as much as possible; in Singapore it's often more about maximizing your meals and eating until it hurts—and then trying to fit in some more.

You hardly ever have to go far to find one of Singapore’s casual eating houses and hawker centers, which are fun, budget-friendly places to taste as many local specialties as your stomach can handle. The city-state’s indomitable megamalls are loaded with mid-range restaurants, sprawling food courts, and snack stands. Many of the island’s more upscale restaurants are tucked away in posh hotels, and many of the newer and trendier places are inside restored Chinese shophouses and once-abandoned colonial buildings. Note that upscale restaurants often close in the afternoon between lunch and dinner—from 2:30 to 6:30, for instance.

ABC Brickworks Food Centre

$ | Alexandra Fodor's choice

Tucked behind an imposing IKEA building, one of the island's oldest food centers is particularly popular with locals in the Alexandra area; expect lines on weekend mornings to snake across the hall. But the wait is worth it, as you’ll find some of Singapore’s best hawkers here. Some of the longest lines will probably be at Bao Zai, where buns are filled with their legendary chae siew (barbecue pork), or Jin Jin Dessert, an ABC institution serving signature chendol (coconut milk and rice flour dessert) and ice kachang (shaved ice with sweet beans). If you’re feeling a little homesick, indulge in western dishes with a local twist (and huge portions) at Wow Wow West.

Bacha Coffee

$ | Orchard Fodor's choice

The historic Moroccan coffee brand has a beautiful café/dining room on ION Orchard’s first floor. No visit is a quick one though: you may come for a coffee and pastry, but you’ll soon find yourself whiling away the time exploring the vast array of 100% arabica coffee beans housed in large sunset orange tins.

Birds of Paradise

$ | Tanjong Pagar Fodor's choice

Cool down with some gelato at at this shop where the flavors are unique and the portions enormous. The makers incorporate culinary influences of southeast Asia when creating their gelato, using natural and botanical local ingredients like basil and blue ginger.

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Hellu Coffee

$ | CBD Fodor's choice

Grab a quick coffee at this hole-in-the-wall joint, one of the few independent coffee shops in the CBD. The space is definitely small—so you’ll want to take your perfectly-roasted flat white to go—but don’t forget to check out the pastry and waffle options.

137 Amoy St., Singapore, 049965, Singapore
Known For
  • Cute hole-in-the-wall spot
  • Iced lattes as well as hot coffee
  • Tasty pastries and waffles
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.

Le Café Confectionary and Pastry

$ | Little India Fodor's choice

The trademark shortbread-like crust, which has a light almond flavor, puts this bakery's pastries in a class above those made elsewhere; it's also why the take-out shop's buttery, golf ball–sized pineapple tarts and silky smooth bean curd tarts are often sold out. Luckily, Le Café sells a bunch of other goodies, including traditional moon-pie pastries filled with lotus-seed paste, prawn-roll snacks, and mao shan wang–filled durian puffs that are downright addictive. Pretty gift boxes are available if you're planning on bringing home food gifts. Order ahead from the website to avoid being disappointed as things can get busy, especially during the Chinese New Year period.

Blk 637 Veerasamy Rd., Singapore, 200637, Singapore
6294–8813
Known For
  • Arguably the best pineapple tarts in Singapore
  • Traditional moon pies
  • Silky smooth bean-curd tarts
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner

National Kitchen by Violet Oon

$$ | Civic District Fodor's choice
Get a taste of Singapore’s culinary heritage at this luxurious, colonial-style dining destination helmed by veteran local chef Violet Oon. It's known for serving elevated local and Peranakan classics like fish head curry and mee siam (thin rice vermicelli noodles), as well as modern reinventions like pasta tossed with spicy buah keluak (a bitter and earthy nut labelled the "truffle of the east") sauce.

Olla Specialty Coffee

$$ | Clementi Fodor's choice

Grab a caffeine fix at this premier coffee roastery in sleepy Sunset Way. Founded by a champion barista, Olla is a leading player in Singapore’s burgeoning artisan roasting scene. There’s a menu with great options for brunch, which is when things tend to get a little busier. If you’re still hungry, try Burnt Cones ice cream across the way.

The White Rabbit

$$$$ Fodor's choice

This former church's compelling interior—soaring ceilings, ample arched windows, stained glass, and rows of chandeliers hanging over curved banquettes—has helped draw many faithful diners to this European restaurant. The kitchen takes an artsy, nouveau approach to a menu of dishes designed to "transport you down the rabbit hole," from classic bouillabaisse to lobster and kombu linguine. The outdoor patio, a gin and wine garden with whimsical topiaries, has also garnered quite a following as a place to sip on elegant cocktails while listening to the laid-back house DJ.

Tiong Bahru Bakery

$ | Tiong Bahru Fodor's choice

Sandwiches, freshly baked breads, quiches, and a variety of sweet and savory pastries make up the menu at this popular café, the perfect spot to grab a quick bite and caffeinate while shopping the area's boutiques. The lighting mounted in wooden boards suspended from the ceiling by rope, the exposed brick and white-washed walls, and the soft, down-tempo beats all make for a relaxing interior. There are also a few shaded tables outside. As the name would suggest, Tiong Bahru Bakery started in this area, but there are now multiple branches across Singapore.

Tiong Bahru Food Center

$ | Tiong Bahru Fodor's choice

This large, airy upstairs hawker center is busy from morning to night. Highlights include Loo’s Hainanese Curry Rice (#02–67/68, look for the snaking queue), which serves pork, chicken, prawns, and chap chye (cabbage) smothered in traditional Hainanese curry sauce. Jian Bo Shui Kueh (#02–05) is another local favorite, serving chwee kueh (steamed rice cake topped with preserved radish) to especially long lines at the weekend. There’s also a popular wet market downstairs, with stalls selling meat, fish, fruit, vegetables, and fresh flowers.

Violet Oon Singapore at Jewel

$$ | Changi Fodor's choice
Violet Oon is one of Singapore’s most celebrated Peranakan chefs, and her eponymous restaurant inside Changi International Airport is the only one with a terrace that offers a direct view of the airport’s Rain Vortex, the world’s tallest indoor waterfall. In addition to treats like her signature (and delightfully tangy) dry laksa, the restaurant has an open grill, a long bar, and a retail area where you can stock up on Oon’s beautifully packaged pineapple tarts and Peranakan cookies.

Woodlands Sourdough

$ Fodor's choice

This hole-in-the-wall bakery serves some of the best baked goods in Singapore. Despite the name, it’s not quite as out in the sticks as Woodlands, but you’ll need to go a little farther north than usual to reach these goodies. Bakes change depending on the season, but not much beats a cup of their filter coffee and a fudgy, rich brownie. It’s the perfect place to load up on picnic treats for a hike around MacRitchie Reservoir.

Zion Riverside Food Centre

$ | River Valley Fodor's choice

Standing on the Singapore River with waterside views, this breezy food center is well-known for the quality of its hawker stalls. Famous stalls include No. 18 Zion Road Fried Kway Teow (#01–17), serving smoky noodles with cockles, fish cake, and Chinese sausage; and Michelin-rated Zion Road Big Prawn Noodle (#01–17), serving spicy noodles with large prawns, pork rib, and fried onions. As always there’s a huge range of choices, with everything from xiao long bao (steamed Chinese dumplings) to cheng tng (a "healthy" sweet soup dessert with dried fruit, nuts, and mushrooms). Evenings and weekends are the busiest times, so come early to get one of the tables facing the river.

Adam Food Centre

$ | Bukit Timah

A bustling, palm-lined hawker center on the edge of the Botanic Gardens, Adam Food Center has a high hit rate of great stalls to choose from. Highlights include Warong Pak Sapari (stand 9) for fragrant mee soto (Indonesian noodles in chicken broth); and Noo Cheng Adam Road Big Prawn Noodles (stand 27) for juicy prawns served with pork ribs and noodles. There’s everything from rich mutton curry to refreshing ice kacang (shaved ice with sweet topping), so "chope" your table and get ordering.

Al-Azhar

$ | Bukit Timah

This hugely popular Muslim eatery serves a dizzying array of dishes and cuisines, including Thai, Indian, Malay, Western, and Mediterranean. Despite the ambitious menu, the quality is unmatched for a place this size, with quick, friendly service and a great selection of (non-alcoholic) drinks.

Bukit Timah Food Centre

$ | Bukit Timah

This bustling food center is a true local's haunt, with more than 80 hawker stalls selling everything from succulent Hainanese chicken rice to tangy satay. When it comes to picking where to eat, use the golden rule of every hawker center in Singapore: choose the stalls with the longest lines. Leng Kee Fish Soup (#02–192) is always popular for its light broth and large portions, as is Terry Katong Laksa (#02–194) for its warming coconut flavors. For a stall that is rather unique, visit Go Pasta (#02–199)—it's rare to find (fairly) authentic Italian dishes at a local hawker center.

Canopy HortPark

$$ | Bukit Merah

This bright, airy café in HortPark has a large outdoor space, a pet-friendly area, and an abundance of greenery hanging from the ceilings. There’s an all-day dining menu for larger bites, but the chilled, green space is a great place to grab a coffee and take a break from exploring the city.

Clementi Central Market and Hawker Centre

$ | Clementi

This highly popular local hawker center is packed with stalls serving all kinds of delicious Singapore favorites, from roast duck noodles to succulent chicken and rice. As with almost all hawker centers in Singapore, it's hot and a little messy, but the food is always great—especially if you pick a stall with a long line. Popular stalls include Kian Seng Lor Mee (#01–28), where you can get a bowl of soft noodles, prawns, fish cake, and chilli; and Soon Lee (#01–50) for fragrant bowls of savory porridge (choose from chicken, pork, or fish).

Craftsmen Coffee

$ | Holland Village

At the edge of Holland Village, this independent speciality shop is a rare treat in a country where good coffee can be hard to come by. It sources single-origin beans from around the world, focusing on the aromas and tastes of each variety, and serves its coffee alongside simple snacks and meals, from fresh salads and pastas to sandwiches and croissants.

Creamier

$ | Bukit Merah

Cool down from art gallery hopping in Gilman Barracks with a scoop of some of the Island’s favorite handcrafted ice cream. Alongside classics like strawberry, chocolate, and pistachio, there are interesting local combinations, like blue pea (butterfly pea flower), Thai milk tea, or salted gula melaka (palm sugar).

DOPA

$ | Clarke Quay

This trendy coffee and ice-cream joint may be a little out of the way, but it’s the perfect spot to cool off after a stroll down the river. The nut-based gelato delivers big flavor (the home-roasted pistachio is a rightful crowd-favorite), and single-origin coffee is bold and smooth.

29 South Bridge Rd., Singapore, 058665, Singapore
6535--3539
Known For
  • Cozy space in old shophouse
  • Addictive flavours, like home-roasted pistachio
  • Smooth, nut-based artisanal gelato

Firebake - Woodfired Bakehouse and Restaurant

$$
Alongside the local chicken rice and laksa hawker stalls lining East Coast Road is this gem of a European cafe, which is as faithful to its roots as its neighbors. What you get here are hearty meals and artisanal bread baked in a full-scale, 37-ton wood-fired oven, all made with ingredients that are as natural and sustainable as possible.

Food Opera @ ION Orchard

$ | Orchard

Celebrating Singaporean heritage dishes across 27 different vendors, this basement food court's stalls sell everything from crispy fried carrot cake to spicy prawn noodles and rich chicken satay. The food court takes its design inspiration from the British colonial decor of the early 1890s, with a light blue, ivory, and copper-gold palette, and lush green plants.

Food Republic @ Shaw House

$ | Orchard
In the basement of Shaw House, this vibrant food court has more than 20 colorful stalls selling everything from Thai curries to duck wonton. It's always busy at lunch and dinner, so do as the locals do, and chope (reserve) a space by leaving a packet of tissues or a personal item at the table before you order.

Glyph Supply Co

$ | Orchard

For a serious cup of coffee near Somerset, drop by this pristine-white café that is usually full of coffee aficionados sipping on in-house roasted brews. You can also pick up fresh beans and coffee-making accoutrements to take home.

Konditori

$ | Kampong Glam

This cute Swedish cafe's halal bakes are slightly pricey, but they're favored by local café aficionados. Stick to signature items like the strawberry cream cheese Danish and traditional semla bun, available year round. Other winning menu items include flaky croissants (in flavors like red-velvet cream cheese), kouign amann, and savory quiches for a heartier bite.

Maxi Coffee Bar

$ | Chinatown

This small, blue-decked café on the side of Ann Siang Hill serves some of the best coffee on the island. Grab an iced latte and perch on one of the outside tables for a quick break from the Chinatown sightseeing and shopping. The café often works with local bakers, so make sure to try their pastry and sandwich selections.

6 Ann Siang Hill, Singapore, 069787, Singapore
9776--7400
Known For
  • Seasonal coffee selections
  • Friendly staff
  • Outdoor seating
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.

Old Bibik Peranakan Kitchen

$$ | Joo Chiat

Enter a delectable world of Nonya tastes at this acclaimed Peranakan-style restaurant, housed in the ground floor of a traditional shophouse with tables spilling onto the street. The signature beef rendang, ikan asam pedas (spicy tamarind fish), udang nenas masak (prawn and pineapple coconut curry), grilled sambal barramundi, and chinchalok (fermented shrimp) omelet are all affordable, authentic and flavorsome dishes.

Pantler

$ | River Valley

This quiet café and bakery specializes in Japanese-style cakes and pastries. The cream puff is a must-try, if it hasn’t already sold out.

474 River Valley Rd., Singapore, 248359, Singapore
6221--6223
Known For
  • Delicate, Japanese-inspired pastries
  • Light, indulgent cream puffs
  • Serene café space
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.

Plain Vanilla

$ | Tiong Bahru

Famed for fluffy iced cupcakes, the company's flagship Tiong Bahru store is self-described as a “bakery cum café cum retail store." Alongside signature bakes, there is a daily brunch menu and a wide selection of grocery and homeware items for purchase. The alfresco dining area is a quiet space to spend the afternoon.