Singapore is one of the world’s greatest foodie cities and for good reason. Not only are our hawker centres recognised on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list, we’ve also got an equally impressive range of restaurants spanning a wide variety of cuisines to offer the eager gourmand. If you’re looking for someone to point you in the direction of the best restaurants in Singapore, you’ll want to bookmark this guide. We’ve organised this according to price, for ease!
Table of Contents
Those passionate about their pasta would have heard of Tipo Pasta Bar. This Muslim-owned eatery has garnered significant acclaim for their handmade pasta expertise.
It’s all about DIY pasta at Tipo. Prices start from $9.90 for 120g of the pasta of your choice, made fresh daily. Pick a sauce and your combination of toppings, and voila. Aside from tiered pasta mains, the restaurant also offers sharing bites. A popular pick is their Truffle Tramezzini ($16++): mini sandwiches packed with cheese, truffle mayo, and beef bacon.
The restaurant tends to be fully booked, so definitely make your reservations ahead of time. Note that they’re not halal-certified, but, as mentioned, are Muslim-owned.
Read our Tipo review.
Website
Tipo Pasta Bar is not a halal-certified eatery but it is Muslim-owned
Honbo, the well-known burger chain originating from Hong Kong, has opened its first overseas restaurant in Singapore. The 40-seater restaurant in CHIJMES is a great spot to visit for a casual lunch or dinner with friends.
Enjoy their hearty range of smashed burgers tailored to Asian palates, including the must-try Honbo Burger ($18++), a great introduction to the Honbo experience. This burger features the brand’s popular 2oz crispy beef patties, topped with cheese, housemade pickles, onions, and their delicious house sauce.
Read our Honbo review.
Website
Honbo is not a halal-certified eatery.
Kok Sen is a familiar name in Singapore’s zi char restaurants scene. Housed along Keong Saik Road, there’s almost always a crowd during mealtimes—amplified by the fact that the restaurant has a spot on the Michelin Bib Gourmand lists in 2016 and 2023.
The zi char menu features staples such as fried rice, prawn paste chicken, and stir-fried vegetables. Kok Sen takes these staples a notch higher as their dishes are all served power-packed with wok hei, the distinct smoky flavour achieved through stir-frying in a seasoned wok, over high heat. A meal here would be remiss without their Big Prawns Hor Fun (from $19), one of the most popular items on the menu, wooey, wok-hei infused hor fun and gravy are topped with huge prawns.
Read our Kok Sen review.
Website
Kok Sen is not a halal-certified eatery.
Waa Cow is a casual restaurant in Singapore best known for its wallet-friendly flame-torched Wagyu beef bowls. Most of them are priced around the $20 range, so you get to treat yourself without splurging. There are six outlets around the island, ranging from VivoCity to Marina One.
A crowd fave here is their Yuzu Foie Gras Wagyu Beef ($30.90++), where marbled cuts of Wagyu steak come served with a slab of seared foie gras dressed with yuzu zest to cut through the fat. Each portion comes with a runny onsen egg as well, to make each bite all that more creamy. If you don’t eat beef, there’s also a variety of butadon and seafood donburi bowls, including chirashi, you can order.
Read our Waa Cow review.
Website
Full list of locations
Waa Cow! is not a halal-certified eatery.
Cumi Bali is a Michelin-approved Indonesian restaurant that’s a frequent presence on the Bib Gourmand list. Founded in 1986, the restaurant is all about crafting dishes with bumbu, a spice paste frequently used to give Balinese cuisine its intense flavours.
The restaurant offers family-style mains best enjoyed with a side of Nasi Kunyit ($2+), where rice is perfumed with 11 different spices. A majority of the menu is centred around Balinese barbecue, with highlights including their Cumi Bali ($38+), of charcoal-grilled squid, and Ayam Sate Madura ($20+), chunky chicken satay topped with fried shallots.
Read our Cumi Bali review.
Website
Cumi Bali is a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @hooyeats
Lagnaa is a regular fixture on the Michelin Bib Gourmand list for their Indian menu, built around the six flavours of Ayurvedic nutrition. Everything at this three-storey establishment is a flavour bomb, from their signature sets to their ala carte dishes. You can choose where you prefer to sit, but we recommend dining upstairs, with floor seating, for the true Lagnaa experience.
If you’re spoilt for choice, the eatery has a curated selection of set menus, each with six different dishes off their menu, including options for vegetarian diners. Prices start at $60 for a set that feeds two. With each set, you can expect to have a variety of their signature dishes, from vegetable pakora to chicken tikka. Lagnaa is also famous for serving up some of the spiciest curries in Singapore, so if you’re up for the challenge, there are 10 levels of spice to choose from, though levels seven to 10 are so deadly, you can only be invited to order them.
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Lagnaa is not a halal-certified eatery.
Zhup Zhup by One Prawn & Co is a former hawker stall run by an ex-Burnt Ends chef who has recently established a standalone restaurant along MacPherson Road. Here, you can get their famed prawn noodles, as well as a new 12-course dinnertime menu that celebrates seafood.
Swing by during the daytime and dig into their range of claypot prawn noodles, priced from $14. This comes with the eatery’s signature broth that’s made with pork bones and prawn stock, slow-boiled to extract maximum flavour. Come by during dinner, and the humble eatery becomes a full-fledged seafood bar and grill, serving up a course menu priced at $138++ per person. While the latter menu changes from time to time, you can always expect the freshest catch, ranging from fish to prawns, lobster to crab, and even oysters.
Read our Zhup Zhup by One Prawn & Co review.
Website
One Prawn & Co is not a halal-certified eatery
Keng Eng Kee Seafood is a family-run zi char restaurant that has been around for three generations, and has since bagged a Michelin Plate award, as well as several television features. While formerly a hawker zi char operation, they’ve also opened a full-fledged restaurant in SAFRA Tampines.
The dishes here are all prepared with family recipes. Must-orders include their Signature Moonlight Hor Fun (from $12+), wok-fried hor fun with Taiwanese sausages, prawns, and sliced fish, topped with raw eggs. The Coffee Pork Ribs (from $22+) were the other star of the show: addictive and big on flavour, with notes of coffee shining through the sticky-sweet glaze.
Read our Keng Eng Kee review.
Website
Keng Eng Kee Seafood is not a halal-certified eatery.
One of Singapore’s most famous nasi padang restaurants, Hjh Maimunah, has received a Michelin Bib Gourmand accolade for six years straight, since 2018. They’ve been around since 1992 and specialise in kampong-style Minangnese dishes, available at affordable prices. At their flagship restaurant at Jalan Pisang, you get to feast on homely, halal-certified dishes meant to be shared.
Highlights include their BBQ Seabass ($30), grilled over charcoal and served with a side of spicy sambal kicap, as well as their Sambal Goreng Jawa ($10), where long beans, beancurd, and tempeh are fried in a spicy belacan sauce.
Read our Hjh Maimunah review.
Website
Full list of outlets
Hjh Maimunah is a halal-certified eatery.
Run by the folks behind The Feather Blade, Picanhas’ is a Muslim-owned steakhouse serving up affordable cuts of picanhas steak, AKA the rump cut. For the uninitiated, the rump cap may not possess the same tenderness as the ribeye or tenderloin. The restaurant takes extra steps to marinate the mixture in a salt brine. It’s then slowly sous-vided before it is seared.
The menu has four items, each spotlighting the picanhas cut in a different way, from burgers to pasta. The Queen of Steak ($31++), for example, is one of their most popular dishes, where you get 200g of meat seared in binchotan butter. Pair that with your pick from their menu of sides, priced at $7 each. The Brussel Sprouts, cooked in garlic butter, are a crowd fave.
Read our Picanhas’ review.
Address: 90 Club Street, Singapore 069458
Opening hours: Tue-Fri 12pm to 3pm, 5:30pm to 10pm, Sat-Sun 11am to 3:30pm, 5:30pm to 10pm
Website
Picanhas’ is a halal-certified eatery.
One of the more popular street foods in Indonesia is bakmi, a minced meat and noodle dish that’s prepared with chicken or pork. KULON, located along Bali Lane, is one of the places you can get legit bakmi in Singapore, and it doubles as an excellent, wallet-friendly spot for a casual lunch or dinner.
The small, rustic restaurant seats only 16 diners indoors, and another eight outdoors. They tend to get quite crowded at mealtimes. For the best of what the restaurant has to offer, try their Bakmi Komplit ($13.80), served with all the toppings, including beef balls, minced chicken, and a soya sauce braised egg. They also have bakso noodles and ayam geprek.
Read our KULON review.
Address: 30 Bali Lane, Singapore 189866
Opening hours: Tue-Fri 11:30am to 3:30pm, 5:30pm to 9:30pm, Sat-Sun 11:30am to 9:30pm
Website
KULON is a halal-certified eatery
Taiwanese bistro Abundance has garnered quite the cult following for their Din Tai Fung-style fried rice, dumplings, Taiwanese gua bao and the like. They’ve got one outlet in Redhill, and another in Jalan Besar.
The chill bistro is great for a causal weekday lunch or dinner. You can pair any of their craft beers with their acclaimed fried rice dishes, including the Niu Yolk ($19++), fried in beef fat and served with beef short ribs, or the Mentaiko Fish Fried Rice ($13.90++), served with house-made mentaiko mayo. End off your visit here with their Peanut Ice Cream Roll ($6.90++), a classic Jiufen dessert where ice cream, crushed peanuts, and coriander are all wrapped in thin popiah skin.
Read our Abundance review.
Website | Full list of eateries
Abundance is not a halal-certified eatery.
Singapore has a fair few unagi restaurants, but if you’d like an affordable option, try Una Una. The casual restaurant serves up unagi dishes largely priced under $20++, including their hitsumabushi—a Nagoyan dish that sees an unagi don enjoyed four ways.
All the unagi here is freshly prepared, grilled over charcoal, and glazed with their signature tare sauce. If you’d like to splurge a little, try their Unagi Sashimi Gozen ($29.80++), served with a whole eel fillet and salmon sashimi, atop rice.
Read our Una Una review.
Website | Full list of locations
Una Una is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: Un-Yang-Kor-Dai
Visit Un-Yang-Kor-Dai on South Bridge Road for a taste of authentic Isaan fare. Northern Thai cuisine is characterised by a reliance on fresh herbs and spices, layered to create dishes that are simple, but no less flavoured.
Image credit: Un-Yang-Kor-Dai
Un-Yang-Kor-Dai is as legit as it gets, for the restaurant hails from the Khao Yai National Park in Thailand. Dig into delicious Isaan dishes rarely found in Singapore here, from their UYKD Signature Grilled Chicken (from $15++), marinated in white peppercorn and coriander, as well as their Red Curry with Grilled Chicken, Lychee, Tomato, and Sweet Basil ($18.50++). They’ve also got a Michelin Bib Gourmand nod, making them one of the best Thai restaurants in Singapore.
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Un-Yang-Kor-Dai is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: The Coconut Club
The Coconut Club may serve Singapore’s priciest nasi lemak, but in our books, it is worth it. Their Signature Chicken Nasi Lemak Leg ($21++) is served with organic French chicken, marinated for at least twelve hours, and then fried until the skin is extra crisp. The coconut rice is another standout; it’s oh so lemak thanks to the restaurant using only fresh-pressed coconut milk, prepared with coconuts sourced from family-owned plantations. A delicious, slow-cooked sambal rounds off the dish.
Image credit: The Coconut Club
The Bib Gourmand restaurant has two outlets islandwide. If you just want their nasi lemak, head to their Siglap outlet. If you’d like to enjoy family-style Nyonya and Malay dishes, then their Beach Road outlet is where it’s at.
Website
Full list of locations
The Coconut Club is not a halal-certified eatery but uses no pork or lard.
Image credit: Working Title
(working title) Burger Bar is a familiar Haji Lane fave, known for their casual vibes and delicious burgers. The brand has expanded to the East in the form of (working title) Riverside, which offers a more comprehensive menu round the clock, including all-day brunch and those famous burgers.
Image credit: Working Title
If you’re looking for a child- and pet-friendly spot for weekend brunch in the East, then (working title) Riverside is a great option to consider. They’re also work-friendly if you’re looking for respite from the home office on WFH days.
Website
(working title) Riverside is not a halal-certified eatery but it is Muslim-owned.
Image credit: @dm.akie
For nostalgic Nyonya fare, visit True Blue Cuisine. The home-style restaurant is located in the heart of Singapore’s Peranakan neighbourhood along Armenian Street. Within their cosy premises, Peranakan chefs whip up delicious, full-flavoured and familiar recipes, ranging from fried fish and seafood to spicy stews.
You really get an extensive range of Nyonya classics here, and an equally amazing array of traditional kueh and desserts. Don’t stress breaking the bank here—True Blue Cuisine prides itself on its affordable dishes. It’s even got a spot on the Bib Gourmand list.
Website
Tru Blue Cuisine is not a halal-certified eatery.
What began as a modest pushcart stall during the 1930s has since evolved into a renowned zi char restaurant with a rich 80-year history. Ka-Soh is a heritage eatery celebrated for its classic Cantonese fish soup. Its signature Prawn Paste Chicken (from $16++), also known as har cheong gai, is also celebrated as one of the best in Singapore. When here, don’t skip their Slice Fish Noodles Soup (from $9++), which lives up to the hype and comes with a milky broth that is the result of slow-boiling fish bones for four hours.
The restaurant is no-fuss, no-frills—think homely Chinese restaurant decor with tables that sit four or more.
Read our Ka-Soh review.
Website
Ka-Soh is not a halal-certified eatery.
It’s not the easiest to find quality Filipino roast pork, better as lechon, in Singapore, but thankfully, restaurants like Lechon Republic offer a corrective. The fuss-free eating house roasts their pigs on site each day, so if you swing by early enough, you’ll get to see them on spits, turning over an open flame.
The Chopped Lechon Meal ($12.50) is a classic here. It’s simple, but so delicious—diners get chunks of juicy lechon with crackling skin, plain rice, a pork liver sauce known as mang tomas, and a cucumber-shalot pickle. Each set also comes with a drink. Those dining with friends should definitely branch out and try more of the lechon menu available here, with highlights like Lechon Sinigang ($15.50) and Lechon Sisig ($15.50) available too.
Read our Lechon Republic review.
Website
Lechon Republic is not a halal-certified eatery
Image credit: @cherryoak.sg
There are plenty of steak restaurants in Singapore but not nearly enough Muslim-friendly ones. Cherry & Oak, however, is here to close that gap a little. The 100-seater smokehouse specialises in meats smoked with cherrybark oak in a firewood oven. This means all your orders come with a distinctive, smoky aroma that really elevates this from the regular ol’ barbecue.
Image credit: @cherryoak.sg
They’re best known for their Beef Brisket ($26+), a generous slab of beef served alongside house-made barbecue sauce and a zesty mango salad. Pair that with their Rainbow Sausages ($16+), a platter of four different flavours: beetroot, original, spinach and curry. Aside from meats, the restaurant also has rice and pasta dishes, as well as baby Dutch pancakes for dessert.
Read our Cherry & Oak review.
Website
Cherry & Oak is not a halal-certified eatery, but it is Muslim-owned.
Common Man Night Shift is a dinnertime concept by renowned cafe Common Man Coffee Roasters. Here, expect an inventive menu of unique sourdough pizzas, fusion sides, and an extensive selection of natural wines.
The menu here does not shy away from taking big swings in the name of fusion. There’s the Cacio E Pepe Udon Pasta ($24++) for one, which pairs handmade udon with the cheese and cracked black pepper combo definitive of cacio e pepe. Another notable one to order is their Umami Magic ($22++), a 12-inch sourdough pizza topped with a medal of cheeses, a runny egg, and mushrooms, finished with Lao Gan Ma chilli crisp.
Read our Common Man Night Shift review.
Website
Common Man Night Shift is not a halal-certified eatery.
Sen-ryo is well-known for offering gourmet Japanese dishes at wallet-friendly prices. Their main branch at ION Orchard always requires reservations, no matter the day of the week. They’ve got a wide selection of Japanese dishes, from sushi and sashimi to Japanese-style nabe hotpots.
The Sen-ryo Premium Bento ($25.80++) is a crowd fave: the set includes nine different high-quality bites such as unagi, fatty otoro, and salmon belly. Another popular choice is the Zuwaigani Soy Nabe ($48++), a hotpot featuring a broth made from Japanese soybeans and served with a whole snow crab leg.
Read our Sen-ryo review.
Website
Sen-ryo is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: Super Loco Customs House
Super Loco Customs House is a local fave for Mexican food and margaritas. This restaurant offers a taste of classic Mexican flavours without the frills—think a menu packed with tacos, tostadas, quesadillas, chips and dips. Start off your meal with their Chips & Salsa ($18++) platter, then move on to your picks from their lengthy taco selection, which includes gluten-free and plant-based options. Popular picks include the Cali-style Baja Fish ($11++), where crispy fish is topped with a mango salsa, or their Chorizo & Beef Brisket ($10++), a meaty combo packed with spiced chorizo and tender braised beef.
Image credit: Super Loco Customs House
What’s more, the restaurant is situated by the Marina Bay waterfront, so you get great views both day and night.
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Super Loco is not a halal-certified eatery.
For an authentic taste of Burmese cuisine, pay a visit to Inle Myanmar Restaurant. The Peninsula Plaza establishment serves up legit, full-flavoured Burmese classics, at wallet-friendly prices to boot.
Start off with their Pickled Tea Leaves Salad ($8.50++), a classic and earthy appetiser that’ll whet your appetite. For mains, the Mohinga ($9++) is a must—this is Myanmar’s national dish, which comes with a sour fish paste broth, vermicelli noodles, and a medley of toppings.
Read our Inle Myanmar Restaurant review.
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Inle Myanmar Restaurant is not a halal-certified eatery.
At Birds Of A Feather, Sichuan cuisine receives a fusion makeover. Anticipate inventive small plates as well as main courses, which are great for sharing or digging into solo.
Image credit: Birds Of A Feather
Menu favourites here include the Yu Xiang Eggplant ($17++), a vegan appetiser which reinterprets the Sichuan spicy eggplant dish with bocconcini and a garlic sauce. We’re also fans of the Oriental Bolognaise ($26++), where capellini pasta meets pork ragout and sakura ebi.
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Birds Of A Feather is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @artichokesg
Kebab and mezze get a new school facelift under the expertise of local chef Bjorn Chen, the whiz behind Artichoke. Grab a few friends and go for their Artichoke Experience Platter, priced at $75++ per person. All you need to do is choose either meat or seafood, and watch as the chefs whip up a generous platter for you to dig into. Each set also comes with a handful of mezze, including Miso Hummus, Baby Corn & Tahini, as well as house-made bread. The meal also includes desserts and hot Turkish tea to finish.
Image credit: @artichokesg
The restaurant is where you want to be after a long week at work, or to celebrate something special. The colourful eatery is framed by wide, floor-to-ceiling windows that let in tons of natural light, and are decorated with vibrant art pieces that catch the eye. Lots of thought has been put into the soundtrack here too: think 60s soul and 90s hip-hop.
Website
Artichoke is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: The Prince
Another Middle Eastern restaurant in Singapore we love is The Prince, located in Tanjong Pagar. The dishes here are bold and full-flavoured and are definitely made to be shared.
Image credit: The Prince
Swing by with your friends or loved ones, settle into the convivial atmosphere here, and get messy with their “Build It” platters, where grilled meats are served with house-made pita and Turkish chillies. The Pit Smoked Pork Ribeye($28++ for 100g) is a must, but if you prefer something smaller, choose from their lengthy list of mezze to share with the table. Prices start from $15++ per small plate.
Website
The Prince is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: Bakalaki
For legit Eastern Mediterranean fare, head to Bakalaki Greek Taverna. Located in River Valley, the bustling taverna serves up primarily Greek dishes, with ingredients sourced from native producers. Its warm ambience and sharing-style menu are great for casual meals with friends.
Image credit: Bakalaki
They have medzes—AKA small plate starters—aplenty here, all featuring dips made in-house. The Kalamari Tiganito ($23.90++) is a popular choice, featuring ultra-crispy fried squid rings. For mains, tuck into grilled seafood and meats, the latter including skewers, kebab, and gyros. Don’t leave without ordering some sweets off the dessert menu. The Baklava ($15.90++), dressed with Grecian honey syrup, is divine.
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Bakalaki is not a halal-certified eatery.
East Coast Park is home to many eateries, with Fico being one of the newest kids on the block. Run by Chef-Partner Mirko Febbrile, who formerly held the Michelin-starred Braci, Fico is an ode to the chef’s Southern Italian roots, with fuss-free dishes meant to be shared with the ones you love. The ambience here is perfect for date nights or special occasions, with cosy wood furnishings and lots of natural light, and windows facing the waterfront that offer a particularly scenic view at sundown.
You’ll find hearty Pugliese dishes here, alongside showstopping mains such as their Spaghetti ($26++), prepared atop an entire wheel of pecorino cheese, and the chef’s housemade focaccina, with toppings ranging from goat’s milk blue cheese to fresh San Marzano tomatoes.
Read our Fico review.
Website
Fico is not a halal-certified eatery
Acclaimed Yunnanese restaurant chain Yun Nans has now established an offshoot: YUN NANS Stonepot Fish. This gem takes steamboat to the next level, offering their signature pressure-steamed live fish and a selection of fresh seafood, served in a collagen-infused hotpot broth cooked at the table.
Pair their Collagen Fish Soup ($18++) with your choice of fish, picked straight from their live tanks. We suggest the Live Soon Hock ($8.80++ per 100g)—the sweet and fresh fish pairs excellently with the collagen broth. Aside from their signature stonepot offering, the restaurant has an a la carte menu of Yunnanese sides to enjoy, giving diners a delicious overview of the lesser-known Chinese cuisine.
Read our YUN NANS Stonepot Fish review.
Website
YUN NANS Stonepot Fish is not a halal-certified eatery.
MasterChef Singapore judge Damian D’Silva’s Rempapa is a celebration of what the chef terms New Singapore Heritage Cuisine—familiar recipes sourced from Peranakan, Eurasian, and hawker culture are elevated and adapted across Rempapa’s multiple menus.
Their breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner offerings differ. We recommend swinging by for dinner, where you can get a Heritage Set Menu that feeds two for $99++. Each comes with two small plates, two large plates, and two portions of basmati rice. Choose from a variety of Rempapa signatures, including their delicious Hakka Fried Pork, marinated for at least 16 hours, their moreish Beef Rendang, or wok hei Buah Keluak Fried Rice. Don’t skip closing off the meal with your picks from their house-made kueh selection.
Read our Rempapa review.
Website
Rempapa is not a halal-certified restaurant.
Air, also known as Restaurant Air, is the brainchild of renowned chefs Will Goldfarb, celebrated for his work at Bali’s Room4Dessert and on Netflix’s Chefs Table, and Matthew Orlando, whose illustrious culinary journey includes stints at Noma, Per Se, and Fat Duck. Located in Dempsey, this culinary gem offers sustainable, inventive dining at value-for-money prices.
The menu showcases clean, fresh flavours, with most dishes priced affordably under $50. Expect a delightful array of seafood delicacies, hearty vegetarian options, and innovative desserts paying homage to Goldfarb’s pastry prowess. The attention to detail extends beyond the plate, with thoughtfully curated spaces featuring upcycled furnishings and a charming lawn area where patrons can savour their meals picnic-style.
Read our Air review.
Website
Restaurant Air is not a halal-certified eatery
elBulli alma mater Chef Alain Devahive is the maestro behind Olivia Restaurant & Lounge, a multi-concept establishment that celebrates Barcelonian fare and Spanish produce. You may know of Olivia because they were ground zero for the Basque burnt cheesecake phase that swept Singapore a couple of years ago, but trust us when we say this restaurant is so much more than that. The dishes here are all designed for sharing, from its starters to mains.
The Spherical Olives ($1.50++ each), for instance, is a celebration of elBulli’s molecular gastronomy legacy, and is a delightful starting point for the meal. Follow that up with their Wagyu Ribeye & Foie Gras Carpaccio ($42++), laced with truffle, and finish with their Black Rice with Carabineros ($65++), red deep-prawns that are char-grilled so they’re smoky and sweet.
Read our Olivia Restaurant review.
Website
Olivia Restaurant is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: Kotuwa
Kotuwa, the passion project of acclaimed Chef Rishi Naleendra, has been a regular on the Michelin Bib Gourmand list for the past couple of years. Kotuwa pays homage to Naleendra’s Sri Lankan background, with home-style recipes that celebrate the best of Ceylonese comfort food.
Image credit: Kotuwa
Come hungry and with friends who are keen to share. Start off the meal with their Crab Cutlet ($16++), croquettes packed with spiced crab meat. The Kottu Roti here is a must—this is a famed Sri Lankan street food dish, made with chopped-up prata, eggs, and gravy. We recommend the Polos Kottu ($22++), prepared with baby jackfruit. Take your pick from a range of pickled sambals and achar, as well as curried vegetables and proteins to complete the meal.
Website
Kotuwa is not a halal-certified eatery.
With an enchanting garden as its backdrop, and a menu that reads like a love letter to locally sourced ingredients, Open Farm Community offers diners a meal to remember. If you’ve ever been sceptical of the produce our land-scarce country is capable of growing, then it’s high time you swing by. Crowd favourites include their Roasted Barramundi with Celeriac and Garden Herbs ($36++), or their Pumpkin Agnolotti ($26++), dressed with a beef consommé.
The Michelin Plate-awarded urban jungle eatery is the perfect setting for a casual weekend brunch or a more refined evening dinner. There are also gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options to cater to a wide array of dietary needs.
Website
Open Farm Community is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: The Halia
As an ode to its namesake, The Halia at The Botanic Gardens is located within the expansive Ginger Garden of the Singapore Botanic Gardens. The gorgeous restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating that overlooks the garden grounds, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a view of some 250 ginger species and their vibrant blossoms.
Image credit: The Halia
The Halia only offers set menus, priced from $50++ for two courses. Dishes are classic Western fare—think salmon fillets served with couscous, or Wagyu rump dressed with black pepper sauce—though ingredients are sustainably sourced. It’s also worth noting that they’re a halal-certified and vegetarian-friendly restaurant, making for a more inclusive dining experience.
Website
The Halia is a halal-certified eatery.
Established by Thai real estate developer, Sansiri, Siri House is a restaurant in Dempsey that impresses me with its contemporary Asian menu, built around sharing plates. The dishes differ across lunch and dinner, but expect some mainstays to recur, including their popular Unagi Risotto ($42++) and their Prawn Pappardelle ($39++).
Siri House is also a great restaurant to reserve for larger events, meals with a group, or even private dining. They can accommodate bookings for their restaurant, lounge, and their al fresco backyard space.
Website
Siri House is not a halal-certified eatery.
Most of the best restaurants in Singapore can be found around its busy city centres, but if you want some respite from the bustle, pay a visit to The Summerhouse. The farm-to-table restaurant is located in the tranquil Seletar Aerospace Park, occupying an old colonial manor framed by verdant tropical greenery.
The multi-storey restaurant has different concepts across its space: a cafe, outdoor garden domes, a bar and grill, as well as their main restaurant. You get to pick the type of vibe you want, whether it be a showstopping garden dining experience for a date, a fancier dinner, or a relaxed Sunday brunch with the fam. Overall, expect immaculate vibes, picturesque dining areas, and hearty dishes prepared from fresh produce, as well as greens grown on-site.
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The Summerhouse is not a halal-certified eatery.
Publico Ristorante stands out as a favourite amongst the Italian restaurants in Singapore for its hearty Italian dishes, including a selection of house-made pasta and wood-fired pizzas beloved by regulars. The latter is especially popular—you have 13 topping combinations to choose from, built atop either a white base or a San Marzano tomato sauce base. The pizza dough is made fresh in-house daily, and fermented for 24 hours before it is rolled out.
Image credit: Publico Ristorante
Another point worth noting: the Roberston Quay restaurant is located by the waterfront, with indoor and outdoor seating options to suit the weather and your mood. Sit indoors for an elevated dining experience, or al fresco to enjoy the view and breeze with a spritz in hand.
Website
Publico is not a halal-certified eatery.
Forma is the brainchild of The Cicheti Group and Ben Fatto 95, the latter the acclaimed private dining chef. This restaurant spotlights pasta dishes that come from lesser-known Italian regions, from Emilia-Romagna to the Amalfi Coast.
The menu at Forma is set up like a traditional Italian trattoria with different sections: Antipasti, AKA, starters, pasta, main courses, and desserts. Come hungry and with a group so you can enjoy multiple dishes and really get a sense of what Forma has to offer.
Read our Forma review.
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Forma is not a halal-certified eatery
Image credit: Cicheti
Cicheti pays homage to Venetian wine bars that serve up small plates bearing a distinct Mediterranean influence. The two-storey trattoria offers a fuss-free menu of small plates, pastas, and wood-fired Neopolitan pizzas. Start off the meal with their small antipasti bites, which include Calamari ($21++) and the Polpo ($29.50++), where octopus is served with a harissa and an arugula salad.
Image credit: Cicheti
There are over 10 pizzas on the menu to choose from, most of them prepared with classic toppings, from crushed tomatoes to Grana Padano cheese.
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Cicheti is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: Le Bon Funk
Natural wine enthusiasts, you want to head down to Le Bon Funk. This buzzy bistro is beloved for their lengthy list of natural wines, all served alongside a contemporary menu that’s comforting, but no less refined because of it. They’ve got two outlets: one along Club Street, which is the OG, and one in Holland Village.
Image credit: @munchrkive
The menu is split into small and big plates, with some perennial classics. The Beef Tongue And Gribiche Sandwich ($28++) is a definite must-order here. The sandwich comprises a stack of house-cured beef tongue, sliced paper-thin, nestled between two slices of shokupan dressed with rich French mayonnaise.
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Le Bon Funk is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: Mott32
Mott32 is a renowned mod-dim sum restaurant, with establishments in Hong Kong, Vancouver, Seoul, Las Vegas, Dubai, Cebu, Bangkok, and Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands. Your regular yum cha and Cantonese restaurant fare gets a serious facelift here, with flavours that, nevertheless, remain true to their roots.
Image credit: Mott32
It’s the kind of restaurant that works best when dining with a group, for you’ll definitely need help when feasting on their famous Apple Wood Roasted 42 Days Peking Duck ($128++), which requires an advanced order. Their fancy dim sum bites are also a must—think xiao long bao prepared with Iberico pork or South Australian scallops, and siew mai dressed up with truffle. Note that they also have plant-based options.
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Mott32 is not a halal-certified eatery.
The mastermind behind Mrs Maria and Mr Singh is Gaggan Anand, acclaimed for his restaurant Gaggan, which previously ranked first for four consecutive years and now stands at number five on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list. Mrs Maria and Mr Singh is his casual alternative to Gaggan, serving up Indian-Mexican fusion fare to diners in Bangkok, where the former first opened in 2020.
The Singapore outpost is a result of Mrs Maria and Mr Singh’s success—it recently came in 33rd on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023 list. Course menus are offered alongside ala carte bites here, all of them designed with Gaggan’s characteristic flair. Lunch menus start at $48++ for five courses, and dinner from $68++. If you’re dining with a group, don’t skip an ala carte order of the celebrated Gaggan’s Crab Curry (market price), which comes with large chunks of stir-fried crab meat cooked in a coconut-tamarind-raw mango curry.
Read our Ms Maria & Mr Singh review.
Address: 43 Craig Road, Singapore 089681
Opening hours: Tue-Thurs 6pm to 10:30pm, Fri-Sun 12pm to 3:30pm, 6pm to 12am
Tel: 9654 4351
Website
Ms Maria And Mr Singh is not a halal-certified eatery
Image credit: Humpback
In Chinatown, where restaurants come and go, Humpback has remained a long-standing presence. The seafood restaurant is known for their skillful blending of European culinary techniques with Japanese flavours, applied to sustainably sourced seafood. Their menu features options of both small and large plates, designed for sharing.
Image credit: Humpback
Aside from the food, the restaurant also boasts a selection of over 60 different wine labels that you can enjoy alongside your meal, and housemade cocktails. Additionally, they’re known for their happy hour deal, offering oysters from the Washington coast for just $4++.
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Humpback is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: Amò
If you’re craving pizza and pasta, you want to go to Amò. The Clarke Quay restaurant, run by chef-restauranteur Beppe de Vito, has a staggering menu made up of regional Italian fare, including wood-fired pizzas and house-made pasta dishes. The pizzas here are some of the best around, as they’re made with natural leaven, semolina, and extra-virgin olive oil, as well as the restaurant’s very own starter, which makes the dough delightfully pillowy.
Image credit: Amò
The Calabrese ($33++) is a favourite among patrons—the perfect combo of spicy, sweet, and salty. Else, the Meat Lover’s Pizza ($35++) is another: the meaty medley is loaded with minced beef, topped with smoked buffalo mozzarella, caramelised onions, and a drizzle of piquant chilli oil.
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Amò is not a halal-certified eatery.
The buzz around Um Yong Baek is well-deserved, and it only takes a visit to figure that out for yourself. The charming Korean restaurant specialises in two variations of Busan pork. At lunch, they offer the Busanese pork stew known as Dwaeji Gukbap ($21+), which features a collagen-rich broth, short-grain rice, and a medley of pork cuts, along with offal.
Come dinner, Um Yong Baek takes a different approach by focusing on pork-centric K-BBQ. They serve premium pork cuts accompanied by a range of unique Busan-inspired sides. Note that each diner is required to order a pork item from their dinner barbecue menu.
Read our Um Yong Baek review.
Website
Um Yong Baek is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: Summer Pavilion
Summer Pavilion is an esteemed Cantonese restaurant with a Michelin star. Housed in The Ritz Carlton, you can expect classic Canto fare elevated with top-quality produce. Their lunch and dinner set menus offer you a taste of the restaurant’s best. In each, you’ll find dim sum and decadent mains, from Barbecued Iberico Pork to pan-fried Japanese Wagyu Beef.
Image credit: Summer Pavilion
Summer Pavilion also boasts six private dining rooms, suitable for gatherings of six to 30 individuals. If you’re dining with tea aficionados, explore their selection, which includes artisanal blends from heritage tea house, Tea Bone Zen Mind.
Website
Summer Pavilion is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: Odette
Think of the best restaurant in Singapore and Odette is, by default, at the top of the charts. This three-Michelin-starred restaurant by acclaimed Chef Julien Royer is all about spotlighting quality produce from the world’s best artisans across their menu—a feat matched by their acclaimed hospitality. The menu changes according to the seasons, but a handful of signatures remain, including their kampot pepper-crusted pigeon and their Normandy brown crab.
Image credit: Odette
Housed in the historic National Gallery building, Odette is a fine dining experience that’s definitely one for the bucket list. Lunch menus start at $348++ per person.
Website
Odette is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: Claudine
Where Odette sees Chef Royer flexing his fine dining muscles, Claudine sees the maestro scale those sensibilities back in favour of comforting French classics and personal recipes.
Image credit: Claudine
The brasserie is housed in a 1930s colonial chapel in Dempsey, and has two menus, starring plates designed to be shared with the whole table. Aside from the main restaurant, Claudine is also home to a bar and lounge serving up cocktails with a distinct Asian influence, alongside a curated selection of primarily French wines.
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Claudine is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: Thevar
The two Michelin-starred modern Indian restaurant, Thevar, is renowned for their reinventions of classic Indian dishes, prepared with European culinary techniques. Course menus are priced from $328++ and change seasonally, but for the price, you can expect a range of amuse bouches, followed by homely small plates, mains, and a dessert to close.
Image credit: Thevar
One dish Thevar is best known for is the Chettinad Chicken Roti, reinvented as tacos packed with tender, marinated pulled chicken, and garnished with finely chopped spring onions.
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Thevar is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: Candlenut
One Michelin-starred Candlenut is acclaimed for their Peranakan fare, which combines Chinese, Malay, and Indonesian influences across their dishes. Chef Malcolm Lee has built Candlenut’s menu with recipes handed down from his mother and grandmother, reinventing tradition with seasonal produce and new culinary techniques.
Image credit: Candlenut
They have an omakase menu, cheekily titled “Ah-Ma-Kase” for both lunch and dinner. The lunch selection is priced at $108++ per person, and comes with 11 different dishes, most of them small plates. Dining a la carte is possible as well. The menu offers elevated Peranakan dishes that are still homely, from their Aunt Caroline’s Babi Buah Keluak ($42++), prepared with slow-cooked Borrowdale pork, or their Ikan Bakar ($38++), prepared with locally sourced red snapper.
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Candlenut is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: Cloudstreet
At the two-Michelin-starred Cloudstreet, progressive Australian gastronomy takes centre stage. Chef Rishi Naleendra helms the open kitchen, where chefs bustle to prepare dishes that spotlight seasonality. Naleendra’s wife, Manuela Toniolo, is the sommelier and brains behind the restaurant’s 350-label strong wine list, which includes smaller producers sourced from around the world.
Image credit: Cloudstreet
Their 8-course tasting menu here is priced at $398++, and takes you through a variety of small plates, built around ingredients such as West Australian marron, Tochigi A4 Wagyu, and the like. Once you’re done with savouries, diners are taken to the second-floor lounge to tuck into inventive desserts, including the true-blue Aussie Vegemite Tart.
Website
Cloudstreet is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: Nouri
One Michelin-starred Nouri sees Chef Ivan Brehm explore how different cultures and geographies, from Brazil to Japan, intersect across their artful menu.
Image credit: Nouri
Their full lunch and dinner tasting menus start from $228++, but the eatery has recently designed a Weekly Specials Menu ($75++)—a quick, easy, and light option for time-pressed diners. Go for the latter if you’d like the Nouri experience without the full degustation; you get three courses, all made with ingredients sourced from the best farms and artisans.
Address: 72 Amoy Street, Singapore 069891
Opening hours: Wed 12pm to 2:30pm, 6am to 12am, Thurs 11:30am to 2:30pm, 6pm to 12am, Sat 6pm to 12am, Sun 11:30am to 2:30pm, 6pm to 12am
Tel: 9230 2477
Website
Nouri is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: Lolla
Lolla is one of the OGs in the Singaporean dining scene, having been around since 2012. The Ann Siang institution focuses on small plates, all with Mediterranean DNA, prepared by Chef Joanne Siy, who has worked at some of the world’s most renowned restaurants: think Noma, Fäviken, and the like. Watch the chefs work when you dine from the bar seats, or sit in the communal dining room if you prefer to be removed from the action.
Image credit: Lolla
The menu here is seasonal, but we guarantee all the dishes don’t take themselves too seriously. The dining experience remains hearty and fun, with dishes designed to be shared with friends, from hand-torn pasta to tuna belly carpaccio, and their famed sea urchin pudding. In all, a meal at Lolla wows with its soul.
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Lolla is not a halal-certified eatery
Image credit: NAE:UM
Korean food gets the fine dining approach at NAE:UM by Chef Louis Han. The menu here is, as with most refined dining concepts, seasonal, so expect it to change according to the seasons.
Image credit: NAE:UM
One finds a variety of familiar Korean and Asian ingredients, as well as dishes, redefined here: think Korean barbecue turned into a small plate, or homely hotteok transformed into a plated dessert. The dinner menu is priced from $218++ per person. Lunch is also available and is omakase. Prices start at $188++ per person.
Website
NAE:UM is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: Firangi Superstar
Firangi Superstar is a mod-Indian restaurant that doubles as a fantastical ode to India itself. The gorgeous restaurant is designed to look like a movie set, with four kitschy, themed dining areas that are a homage to emblematic Indian locales, albeit with a firangi, AKA foreigner’s touch. Head chef Thiru Gunasakaran, a Spago alumni, is the brains behind the fun, flavour-forward menu here.
Image credit: Firangi Superstar
You get small plates that reinvent bites such as the aloo gobi, or combine the Mexican elote with punchy Indian spices. Larger mains are made for sharing, with highlights including Mirchi Mole ($96++) of grilled Iberico and green chilli tadka, or The Bengal Bake Off ($108++), a salt-baked seabass dressed up with kasundi cream. The weekend brunch here is also worth checking out!
Website
Firangi Superstar is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: @fiz_privatedining
Malay cuisine very rarely gets the fine dining take in Singapore, but thankfully, there’s Fiz to remedy that. The restaurant was founded by Marco Pierre White and Jean Gorges alum, Hafizzul Hashim, and is housed in Tanjong Pagar.
Image credit: @fiz_privatedining
The menu here is a love letter to Southeast Asian ingredients and Chef Hashim’s roots. It changes every three to six months, but is typically served as a combination of both a degustation menu and communal plates, so it’s best to dine with loved ones. Their current six-course menu is priced at $188++ per person.
Website
Fiz is not a halal-certified eatery.
Image credit: Shinji by Kanesaka
Acclaimed Chef Shinji Kaneska’s Singaporean ventures have been incredibly celebrated by both local diners and the Michelin Guide. The Edo-style sushi joint has its roots in chef Kanesaka’s Ginza venture, and focuses on omakase dining, with seasonal ingredients and the freshest Japanese sashimi put on display.
Image credit: Shinji by Kanesaka
Lunch starts at $280++ for the omakase option, and dinner at $350++. If you prefer to come just for their sushi, you can get the Setsugetsuka Sushi Course Sets, starting from $100 for nine pieces of sushi, though this is only available at their Carlton Hotel establishment.
Website | Full list of locations
Shinji by Kanesaka is not a halal-certified eatery.
Aside from this list of the best restaurants in Singapore, we’ve got curated guides to the best Japanese restaurants, best Korean restaurants, best Italian restaurants, best Chinese restaurants, and the top restaurants for date nights to help you along with your plans for your upcoming meals.
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