31 Best Restaurants in Singapore

Nestled among the exotic flora of the Botanic Gardens and in a colonial house named after an important 20th-century botanist, Corner House is chef David Thien’s “ode to Asia with French undertones." The setting is exceptionally romantic, matched only by the omakase experience and curated wine list. The menu uses French techniques to present Asian ingredients in innovative ways, and each dish comes with an accompanying note to expand on the chef’s inspiration.

The inventive dishes at this seafood-centric, Michelin-starred restaurant reinvent Singaporean classics with local produce. Within its five-course lunch and nine-course dinner menus, chicken rice is packaged into dainty dumplings, chilli crab is transformed into ice cream, and kaya toast is elevated with caviar—but the flavors stay distinctively Singaporean.

Mingle with Singaporean tycoons and celebrities at the island's finest French restaurant, where you can admire the adjoining bar's grand chandelier and curtain-draped wine cabinets before adjourning to the intimate dining area. The breathtakingly expensive seasonal menu changes regularly, but expect such exquisite French classics as foie gras, roasted whole pigeon, and white asparagus. Their wine list is considered one of the best in Asia, with more than 1,800 Old World wines, 90% of which are from France (in particular Burgundy and Bordeaux).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This corporate executive favorite encased by floor-to-ceiling windows serves up mod Italian food with a side of sweeping Marina Bay views. Wine aficionados can pair their meals with a selection from more than 200 premium Italian wines and collection of vintages.

Look for the fabric-covered doorway opposite the HSBC building on Claymore Hill to find this sleek Japanese restaurant. Inside, there are counters made of hinoki wood, a Zen minimalist design, and elegant, kimono-clad servers. The beautifully presented cuisine here includes sukiyaki (skillet-grilled beef and veggies), shabu shabu (hot pot), and sake sherbets. Aoki also presents kaisekis (formal banquets) in which each dish looks prettier than the last, as well as pricey omakase courses, in which the chef chooses the food for you. Fish is flown in from Tokyo's huge Tsukiji fish market several times a week.

Carnivores with a taste for succulent slices of marinated beef, pork, lamb, and other meats sliced off jumbo-sized skewers can take a 20-minute cab ride from downtown to this busy all-you-can-eat churrascaria (barbecue) restaurant in the affluent Bukit Timah neighborhood. You'll pay a set price for the meats, sides, and desserts. Vegetarians along for the ride can find ample solace at Brazil Churrascaria's large buffet bar, which serves more than 15 hot and cold salads, appetizers, traditional dishes, and soups.

Coffee chicken, butter-oat soft-shell crab, and beef green curry are among the halal Thai–Indo fusion dishes at this homey shophouse. Salads, particularly the Thai-style pomelo, are great sides, and portions are generally small, so this is an easy place to taste a number of different dishes. There's also a buffet with more than 20 meat and vegetable selections. There are a few locations but this outlet, with its antiques and Peranakan-style decor, is the prettiest.

Traditional Cantonese dishes are presented with modern flair in an understated setting at this award-winning Chinese restaurant. Plush banquettes and elegant wallpaper by designer Andre Fu grace the dining room, and an outdoor seating area overlooks lush grounds. For a sampling of the best Cassia has to offer, order Chef Chan's 6-course Signature Set that can be paired with wine or tea at an additional cost.

Chef Rishi Naleendra’s Cloudstreet is rooted in both his Sri Lankan heritage and his training in Australia. The menu promises to “champion ingredient-driven cuisine,” and there’s always a heavy focus on seasonality in the creative tasting menus. The chef’s counter allows diners to engage and interact with the team as they move through the menu, delving deeper into the inspiration behind the elegant dishes. There’s also a great curated wine list, featuring wines from independent winemakers from all over the world.

Join the power-lunchers at this swanky, Michelin-starred hotel dining room for what has been described as "maverick Hong Kong cuisine." Alongside an impressive selection of conventional dim sum delicacies you'll also find more adventurous Cantonese dishes, like crispy prawns with walnuts or golden crispy chicken stuffed with glutinous rice. Both prix-fixe and à la carte menus are available for lunch and dinner.

You'll enjoy sweeping views of Singapore from most tables at this contemporary Cantonese restaurant, curated by Hong Kong Chef Ricky Leung, high up in the Pan Pacific hotel. Dim lighting, carved wooden screens, and waitresses in cheongsams (Chinese-style dresses with Mandarin collars and side slits) all contribute to the restaurant's distinct sense of place. Expect familiar—and very tasty—Cantonese dishes and dim sum on Hai Tien Lo's prix-fixe and à la carte menus.

If you can splurge on just one meal in Singapore, Iggy's is worth considering. Hailed as one of the top restaurants in Asia, this intimate Euro-Japanese fusion spot has mouthwatering dishes like A5 Miyazaki Wagyu beef and Maine lobster, as well as one of the best wine lists on the island. Multi-course tasting menus are available for lunch and dinner, with separate dishes designed for vegetarians.

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. 

Potted plants line the entrance of this chic, Parisian-style restaurant, and, in its casual dining area, French film posters cover the walls from floor to ceiling. Daily specials are scrawled on chalkboards, but the set menu includes meat, seafood, and such French specialities as snails, foie gras, and crème brûlée, and there's an exhaustive selection of French wines, as well as a large range of whiskies, vodkas, gins, liqueurs, rums, and Armagnacs.

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.

NAE:UM— meaning a fragrance that evokes memories—is a contemporary take on traditional Seoul cuisine, blending Western cooking techniques wth Korean flavors. Founder and chef Louis Han regularly changes the seasonal tasting menu to reflect the stories and memories of home, with menu titles like "Han River Sunset" and "Front Yard Barbecue." The dining room is a calming space just back from the busy Telok Ayer Street, with impeccable service from Han’s team.

Chef Ivan Brehm’s mixed background—Italian, Spanish, German, and Brazilian—provides the inspiration for what he calls "crossroads cooking." Nouri’s dedicates himself to combining ingredients, techniques, and flavors from across the globe in intriguing tasting menus. The light, airy dining room and marble chef’s counter create a serene atmosphere, with service and wine pairings that are both top-notch.

The sight of sharks and manta rays swimming past your dinner table at this elegant restaurant in the S.E.A. Aquarium makes for quite the memory. Sure, watching more than 40,000 sea creatures behind floor-to-ceiling glass as you tuck into a plate of blue cod or langoustine might induce guilt, but you can ease your pangs with the knowledge that the kitchen works with sustainable sources. Book in advance to secure a table right beside the floor-to-ceiling glass panels.

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.

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.

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.

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.