2 Best Restaurants in Civic District, Singapore

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.

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.