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$$$ | Chinatown |
Inspired by the food of the Mediterranean, Lolla’s small plates menu combines flawless technique with seasonal, high-quality ingredients. Perched on Ann Siang Hill, the restaurant belies its status with a lively atmosphere that makes you feel instantly welcome. Chef Johanne Siy has a serious fine-dining pedigree, so it’s no surprise that dishes are exemplary, like the signature sea urchin pudding with squid ink custard. Note that only tasting menus are served on Fridays and Saturdays.
22 Ann Siang Rd., Singapore, Singapore, 069702, Singapore
Known For
- Weekend tasting menus
- Open kitchen countertop
- Refined Mediterranean small plates
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun., Reservations essential
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$$$$ | |
Slow-food champion Sam Wong runs this private dining experience from his vintage-furnished terrace house, at the back of which sits his wildly untamed fruit and vegetable garden. You’ll have to book months ahead for a table, but the wait for his painstakingly made food—like a signature roast duck that undergoes three days of preparation and features homemade spices—is worth it. The price is per head for an eight- to ten-course meal.
Upper East Coast Rd., Singapore, Singapore, 466413, Singapore
9823–7268-For reservations; text only
Known For
- Private dining
- Roast duck
- Locavore culture
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: By appointment only
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$ | Sentosa Island |
Who wins the great debate over which country has the best hawker food, Singapore or Malaysia? Judge for yourself without crossing the causeway at this cluster of hawker stalls (thankfully air-conditioned), which has all the signature Malaysian hawker noshes in one spot. The variety (and aromas) can prove overwhelming, so your best (and safest) bet is opting for the places with the longest lines. Prices are higher than at a standard hawker center, but a little extra can be justified at standouts like the KL Jalan Alor Hokkien mee heun (stir fried noodles), famous for its secret dark sauce and 30-year-old recipe, the wok hei-filled kee claypot chicken rice cooked over charcoal, and the famous Penang Lim Brothers' char koay teow (stir-fried rice cake strips).
8 Sentosa Gateway, Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
Known For
- Authentic Malaysian hawker food such as clay pot chicken rice
- Affordable prices
- Wide variety
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$$ | Little India |
Give into the heady aromas wafting out of this Indian-influenced barbecue joint, and you won’t regret it. Although a meal here is pricier than those at its more casual neighbors, the cost difference is easily justified by the intense, mouthwatering flavors and creative menu. The show stealer is the juicy suckling pig biryani, its pork barbecued to a perfect char. The meat platters (for one or two diners) offers a taste of their best hits (beef brisket, masala pork ribs, spice-crusted lamb chops).
21 Campbell La., Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
Known For
- Juicy suckling pig biryani
- Spice-heavy meats
- Cool, grungy spot for a meal
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues.
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$$$$ | Chinatown |
If you’re celebrating a special occasion or looking to experience some Michelin-starred fine dining, you won’t be disappointed by Meta’s multi-course fixed menu inspired by Chef Sun Kim’s Korean heritage. With a minimalist design and open kitchen, the restaurant gives you the opportunity to watch the chefs at work as you enjoy a languid afternoon or evening of tasting (the restaurant advises customers plan 2.5 hours for their meal). The wine pairing is highly recommended.
1 Keong Saik Rd., Singapore, Singapore, 089109, Singapore
Known For
- Korean food prepared using both Japanese and Western techniques
- High-quality fine dining
- Warm yet polished service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch Tues.--Thur., Reservations essential
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$ | CBD |
This restaurant has been serving Indonesian classics in the CBD for decades. Its focus on authentic recipes and Indonesian spice blends results in vibrant dishes loved by families and workers alike. Try such specialties as ikan ota kukus (fish in a rich sauce) and tahu telor (crispy tofu omelet) in the friendly, family-style restaurant.
88 Telok Ayer St., Singapore, Singapore, 048470, Singapore
Known For
- Ikan ota kukus (fish in a rich sauce) or tahu telor (crispy tofu omelet)
- Well-established CBD restuarant
- Family-style dining
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Mon.
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$ | Kampong Glam |
A second generation business that started out as a wooden stall, this authentic nasi padang (Padang steamed rice served with various pre-cooked dishes) serves a fork-tender beef rendang (Indonesian dry beef curry) slow cooked over charcoal. Other dishes include the ayam belado hijau (chicken in a secret green chilli marinade) and the crispy tahu telur (fried tofu mixed with blanched bean sprouts, peanuts, and a dark sweet soy sauce). Be sure to order a serving of the house-made sambal balado merah (hot and spicy chilli)—it packs a punch, so go easy.
18 & 18A Kandahar St., Singapore, Singapore, 198884, Singapore
Known For
- Its status as a Kampong Glam institution
- Traditional West Sumatra recipes
- Famous beef rendang cooked over charcoal
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$$$$ | Marina Bay |
At this intimate 24-seater run by celebrated chef Emmanuel Stroobant, you’ll be served delicate, Asian-inflected French cuisine alongside a panoramic view of the Marina Bay waterfront. The chic, Michelin-starred establishment is a favorite among many not just for its fine food but also its inclusive offerings such as special menus for vegetarians.
1 Fullerton Rd., Singapore, Singapore, 049213, Singapore
Known For
- Impeccable food and service
- Vegetarian-friendly fine dining
- Picturesque waterfront views
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.–Wed., Reservations essential.
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$$ | Chinatown |
Of all Singapore's popular themed cafés, Settler's Café is considered the first board game café in the country. There are more than 600 games on offer, which you can enjoy as part of a package that includes food and drink alongside a few hours of game play. You can select from options like the dinner package, which includes grilled chicken, pasta, and fish and chips with free-flowing non-alcoholic drinks; or the wine package where you can play as you drink a bottle of wine. Games include everything from Monopoly and Pictionary to intense strategy games and silly party games.
39 North Canal Rd., Singapore, Central Singapore, 059295, Singapore
Known For
- Games like Pictionary
- Dinner and wine packages
- Fun for friends
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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$$$$ | Geylang Serai |
It may be rough around the edges, it's in the red-light district of Geylang, and the cost of a full meal would make some fine-dining establishments blush, but there's good reason why the late food magnate Anthony Bourdain named Sin Huat one of the "10 places to eat before you die." Chef Danny's rich, gooey, briny, magnificent crab (or prawn) bee hoon (vermicelli-like rice noodles) is a stunning dish. Pair it with on-the-shell scallops slathered in black bean sauce and a plate of kailan (fresh greens) with garlic for a meal to remember.
659/661 Geylang Rd., Singapore, Singapore, 389589, Singapore
Known For
- Crab noodles
- On-the-shell scallops
- Edgy neighborhood
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$$ | Changi |
Located off the coast of Changi, this modern spin on the traditional kelong (floating fish farm) doles out meals to remember. You travel to it on an old-fashioned bumboat from Changi Ferry Terminal, then catch your own lunch or dinner in "sure-catch" ponds from the ship-like structure in the middle of the sea. The steamed sea bass and salted egg squid are must-tries. Tables are by reservation only, so book ahead (at least three days in advance).
Pulau Ubin Coastal Area, Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
Known For
- Novel dining experience
- Fresh seafood
- Catch-your-own meals
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$$$$ | Marina Bay |
The second Singaporean venture by Wolfgang Puck serves Californian food with an Asian twist, including a locally-inspired "kaya toast" with foie gras. Perched on the 57th floor of Sands SkyPark in the Marina Bay Sands, the restaurant offers unparalleled views of the hotel’s famed infinity pool and the city skyline from its alfresco bar and lounge and its indoor dining room.
10 Bayfront Ave., Singapore, Singapore, 018956, Singapore
Known For
- Sky-high views
- Celebrity chef
- Casual-chic ambience
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$$ | Changi |
Mixing alfresco restaurant and seaside swimming pool, Stella is the first beachfront lounge along Tanah Merah Beach in the southeast of Changi, just a 10-minute drive from the airport. The brunch menu is big on sandwiches and toasts, grilled pork chops, and healthy breakfasts, while dinner is best for live seafood, charcoal grilled meats, and seafood-based pastas. The restaurant's sheltered alfresco dining area spills daybeds and sofa lounges over a cozy wooden seaside deck, where guests can lounge by the pool before or after their meals.
11 Changi Coast Walk, Singapore, Singapore, 499740, Singapore
Known For
- Frequent parties and events
- Swimming pool
- Beachfront location
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekdays
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$$ | Orchard |
This spacious restaurant looks a little inauthentic from the outside, but inside, the intricate meals served on beautiful Japanese tableware will quickly convince you otherwise. The set menu of main courses come with all the trimmings: miso soup, rice, and a range of side dishes to choose from, including salmon salads and deep-fried tofu. The staff is also incredibly friendly and welcoming.
501 Orchard Rd., Singapore, Central Singapore, 238880, Singapore
Known For
- Beautiful set-menu lunches
- Excellent service
- Delicious side dishes
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$$$$ | Orchard |
Experience Edomae-style delicacies at this 22-seater sushi restaurant in Palais Renaissance. All ingredients are delivered directly from Japan, including organic rice from a farm in Yamagata prefecture and spring water from Hokkaido. Chef Tomoo Kimura is driven by attention to detail; personal touches like the ceremonial tea set hand-painted by the chef’s master and centuries-old noren (room dividers) are used to create an elegant feel to the dining experience.
390 Orchard Rd., Singapore, Singapore, 238871, Singapore
Known For
- High-grade sushi
- Imported Japanese ingredients
- Traditional interior
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon., Essential
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$$$$ | Sentosa Island |
For a really special treat, this celebrated eatery by chef Richard van Oostenbrugge of Amsterdam's Restaurant 212 will do the trick, offering pricey but precise and elegant tasting menus. In the convivial, communal setting, you might sit next to strangers. The menu varies from season to season, but the usual fine-dining suspects are in the line-up. Call ahead to nab the best seats in the house: at the Chef’s Table directly facing the open-concept kitchen.
26 Sentosa Gateway, Singapore, Singapore, 098138, Singapore
Known For
- Theatrical presentations
- Communal fine-dining experience
- No kids under 12 allowed
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
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$$ | Orchard |
This windowless, no-frills, Thai restaurant might be tucked away on the third floor of the slightly sleazy Orchard Towers, but the locals still pile in for the delicious, authentic, and very affordable food. The menu packs all the classics, from massaman curry to traditional fishcakes, each served in generous portions. It’s definitely not a spot for a long, leisurely meal, but if you’re looking for a taste of Thailand that’s quick and cheap, Thai Tantric is a safe bet—if you can get a table!
400 Orchard Rd., Singapore, Singapore, 238875, Singapore
Known For
- Quick and cheap
- Authentic flavors and huge portions
- Great green curry
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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$$ | Little India |
This casual, cafeteria-style, Indian restaurant is one of the best (and busiest) of its kind in Little India. Standout dishes include the signature fish-head curry, as well as the fish tikka, mutton mysore, and prawn masala, but choose whatever sounds good, and you'll still do well. Everything is served on large banana leaves; cracker-like papadam and two scoops of the day's vegetables come with every meal. Spice levels vary, but if the heat catches up with you, ask for curd (traditional yogurt) or raita (yogurt with cucumber and seasonings) to help cool things down. Fun fact: Founder/owner Mr Chellappan was so inspired by the Apollo 11 mission, he named the restaurant after it!
54 Race Course Rd., Singapore, Singapore, 218564, Singapore
Known For
- Authentic Indian served on banana leaves
- Affordable prices
- Fish-head curry
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$$ | Changi |
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.
78 Airport Blvd., Singapore, Singapore, 819666, Singapore
Known For
- Local celebrity chef
- Dry laksa
- Food souvenirs
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$ | Kampong Glam |
In business for more than a century, this hole-in-the-wall eatery serves what's arguably Singapore's best murtabak. Stuffed with mutton, chicken, or beef, it's a bit like a folded dough omelette with egg mixed in, roti prata (a fried flat bread), onions, and spices, all of it grilled together and served with a side of curry sauce. It's cheap, it's filling, and the sidewalk tables are great for people-watching. Curries, rice dishes, and other regional specialties are also available, but the murtabak is what keeps locals coming back.
697 North Bridge Rd., Singapore, Singapore, 198675, Singapore
Known For
- Singapore's best murtabak
- Casual and cheap local street food
- Late-night eatery
