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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.
This restaurant is located close to the jetty and has a laid-back island vibe, like all the other places. It's a good place to grab a fresh, cold coconut drink, but if you're hungry, the dishes to try include the not-too-spicy sambal kangkong (stir-fried water spinach with chili) and the black-pepper crab.
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.
The two-Michelin-starred Shoukouwa offers perhaps the most intimate dining experience in all of Singapore, with just eight counter seats and a private room for six. Reservations are a must, but for your trouble, you get elegant omakase meals created with obsessive attention to detail—even the sushi rice is dressed in a meticulously crafted mix of artisanal vinegars. There is an extensive, well-curated sake menu to complement the omakase set menus.
If tea is your thing, be sure to visit Signature Koi—pioneers of the bubble tea culture in Singapore. Try the Earl Grey milk tea with signature pearls (tapioca balls) for the original experience. You’ll find lots of bubble tea stalls are takeaway-only in Singapore, so this well-designed (if small) sit-in space is a real boon.
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.
Often busy with the after-work crowd, Super Loco is a laid-back place for a cold beer or lazy meal by the water. Located in the iconic Customs House, with panoramic views of Marina Bay, the restaurant is known-for its fresh and vibrant Mexican menu, best served with a frozen margarita. Bookings are recommended.
Run by the team behind well-stocked Australian market Surrey Hills Grocer, this deli serves great coffee and hearty sandwiches in a light, rustic setting. For extra snacking on the go, don’t miss the gourmet yogurts and fresh fruit bowls at the mini grocer.
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.
Situated at the heart of foodie Keong Saik Road, chef Mano Thevar’s eponymous modern Indian restaurant provides a refreshing take on cuisine not often considered fine dining. Recognizable dishes like Chettinad chicken roti are given a unique twist with European techniques and flavors from the Malay peninsula. The fun atmosphere, extensive menu, and multiple vegetarian options make this a great choice for those wanting to experience fine Indian dining.
Among the heaving mass of eateries in Lau Pa Sat food center, this locally-renowned stall serves an exemplary version of thunder tea rice, a rice dish topped with peanuts, chilli, and anchovies and served alongside herby, green tea soup. The dish is a specialty of the Hakka people—one of Singapore’s largest Chinese dialect groups—and is apparently named after the sound the ingredients make when being pounded to make the soup. Unlike many other specialties found in hawker centers, thunder tea rice is high in fiber, low in fat, and low in cholesterol, making it a popular choice for those looking for a healthier lunchtime option.
Channeling a Palm Springs vibe with cacti and palm-tree landscaping, this family-friendly Italian eatery on Siloso Beach has a dedicated children’s water play area and coloring corner. Order the thin-crust, wood-fired pizzas—including a shareable 16-inch pie—or a hearty burger. It's a good option for big groups or for a cocktail session in a space where little ones can roam freely.
The latest import at Jewel Changi Airport, this Hong Kong yakiniku restaurant finally opened a Singapore branch in late 2022. It’s largely known for its premium A4/A5 wagyu beef sourced from Japan's Miyazaki province. The wines and cocktails of the annexed Wa-En Bar, all best paired with yakiniku meats, accompany the grill-based restaurant.
Rare Shan and Thai Buddha statues and stunning views of the Singapore River complement amazing Cambodian, Vietnamese, and Laotian food at this classy riverside restaurant. There's a focus on nutritious dishes at IndoChine, and although the lemongrass, chili, mint, and curry flavors are generally on the subtle, non-spicy side, some plates do pack a punch. Arrive by 7 pm and try to score a table with sunset views over the river.
Plenty of meat-eaters also head to this casual Western-style vegan and vegetarian restaurant for its hearty Mediterranean-inspired cuisine. The menu includes sundry salads, pastas, and pizzas, and the three-course prix-fixe lunch menu is a great value. Original Sin shares the award-winning wine list from its sister restaurant, Michelangelo's, a recommended Italian that's also in Chip Bee Gardens.
Come for the excellent microbrews, stay for the magical setting amid the lush tropical greenery on Dempsey Hill, and snack from an international bistro menu with pizzas, pastas, grilled meats, salads, and sandwiches. The food is satisfying, if not particularly memorable or remarkable, but RedDot's range of delicious beers more than makes up for that. You'll find a Czech pilsner, and Kölsch-style and wheat beers among the house brews normally on tap, along with seasonals and a guest beer from the fellow Singaporean microbrewery Brewerkz. Those tall glasses of bright-green liquid you'll see at most tables are RedDot's Monster Green Lager, which gets its hue from the spirulina (aqautic bacteria) it's brewed with. It tastes better than it looks.
Don't be fooled: soup is hardly the only thing on the menu at this popular Cantonese chain. It's an excellent spot to taste a variety of Chinese-style cuisine, from double-boiled pork ribs and dried scallops to tofu prawns and chicken rice, perhaps the most popular dish in Singapore. There are now more than ten Soup branches across the island—and all of them tend to be packed, particularly on Sundays.
A step above the island's more rough-and-ready seafood centers, Tung Lok Seafood lets you feast on daily catches that include everything from Alaskan king crab to Australian barramundi and lobster, or follow the locals' lead and grab a cracker to break into a succulent chili or black-pepper crab. Wasabi-mayo prawns, another of Tunk Lok's signature dishes, are highly recommended. A buffet with more than 50 items is served daily for dinner, as well as for lunch on the weekend.
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