With a deluge of new, top-notch restaurants constantly opening within our food scene, we’re always spoilt for choice when it comes to picking our next dinner destination. In this ultimate guide, we harp on Singapore’s cream of the crop that always has us satiated with gourmet nosh, novel concepts and swanky (yet not stuffy) ambience. Have you feasted at these places yet?
Odette
Hello again, Julien Royer. Five months after leaving Jaan at Swissotel The Stamford, the French chef is back in the kitchen at his own fine-dining restaurant with The Lo & Behold Group, where he puts out honest and seasonal modern French food using the finest artisanal produce he can find. A tribute to Royer’s grandmother (awww), Odette offers four- and six-course menus for lunch, six- or eight-course tasting menus at dinner as well as vegetarian menus, with luxurious-sounding dishes like North Highlands beef tartare, Hokkaido saba, and Tomakomai Arctic surf clam.
Odette, #01-04 National Gallery Singapore, 1 St Andrew’s Road, Singapore 178957, p. 6385 0498. Open Mon-Sat 12pm-2pm; 7pm-9:30pm.
Artemis Grill
Artemis’ Mediterranean food selection is just as sensational as its panoramic view. The gambero rosso marries the explosive sweetness of flash-blanched prawns with the tanginess of gazpacho, and the Alaskan king crab salad serves fresh (not flaky) chunks of meat that tease with contrasting textures of crunchy grilled pimento peppers and buttery avocado. From the grill, we’d go with the Scottish Loch Fyne salmon that shocks with a consistency as smooth as tartare. And whatever you do, please try the fluffy, cloud-like apricot and lavender soufflé for dessert – you won’t regret it.
Artemis Grill, 138 Market Street, Lvl 40 CapitaGreen, Singapore 048946, p. 6635 8677. Open for Mon-Fri, 11.30am-3pm for lunch; Mon-Sat 6pm-10.30pm for dinner.
Aura
Located on the fifth floor of the new National Gallery, the 90-seater flaunts an ambience that captures the art of chic Italian cuisine. Must-tries include the scallops crudo with truffle and smoked quail eggs, tagliolini with scampi and avruga caviar, and black cod baked in cartoccio. Another trump card that Aura has in its hand is the Aura Sky Lounge, one level up. There, we dug into saccharine treats likeAmedei chocolate and banana cake ($18) and Bailey’s and hazelnut feuillantine ($15) while taking in a top-notch view of The Padang and the SG skyline.
Aura, 1 St. Andrews Road, #05-03 and #06-02 National Gallery Singapore, Singapore 178957, p. 6866 1977. Open daily 12pm-2.30pm, 6.30pm-10.30pm.
Saint Ma
The IndoChine Group never misses the mark when it comes to fusion-fuelled Indo-Chinese cuisine. Nestled within Suntec City’s newly revamped Sky Garden, this well-ventilated greenery-hugged habitat serves Euro-Asian fare with Thai, Vietnamese and Cambodian influences. Meant to encourage communal dining (sharing is caring!), dishes include rice paper hand-rolled with summer fruits and swimmer crab meat, Norwegian salmon tartare, Vietnamese Luc Lac and Vietnamese coffee crème brulee
Saint Ma, #03-300/301 Suntec City Sky Garden, 3 Temasek Boulevard, Singapore 038983, p. 6332 0322. Open Mon-Sat 12pm-10.30pm.
A slider with the ID of 275 doesn't exist.Maggie Joan’s
Moosehead Kitchen and Bar’s owners Glen and Daniel Ballis, along with their friend Darren Micallef, are the brains responsible for this so-hip-it-hurts space, which is named after Daniel’s two grandmothers (Maggie and Joan). The tight menu, crafted by chef Oliver Hyde (he’s the former sous chef of Pollen Singapore), is modern Mediterranean, and features fresh plates like an egg, dukkah and saffron mayo appetiser, amazing-sounding seafood entrees (scallop carpaccio, peas and ham is one), and hearty mains like a slow-braised lamb shoulder.
Maggie Joan’s, #01-01, 110 Amoy Street, Singapore 069930, p. 6221 5564. Open Mon-Fri 12pm-2.30pm, 6-11pm; Sat 6-11pm.
Grain Traders
Working in the CBD sometimes mean that there’s literally no rest fo r the wicked; lunches are usually packed to go and eaten at the desk. So you can imagine our joy when Grain Traders – a casual lunchtime joint started by Javier Perez from Kilo – open its doors this month. Serving wholesome real food in a bowl, Grain Traders brings a slice of comfort to the never-ending CBD stress. Everything is priced at $16 and you can either build your own bowl or just choose one of their Hero creations like the energy-boosting Rooster Crow.
Grain Traders, #01-01/02/03,138 Market Street, Singapore 048946. Open Mon-Fri, 8pm-8am.
Mitzo
Forget about traditional Chinese plates; Mitzo takes a contemporary approach to crafting Cantonese cuisine. Most of the dishes make great for communal dining – highlights include black truffle crispy duck, grilled silver cod in Champagne sauce and an array of dim sum creations, such as lobster and shrimp dumpling with black truffle. Drink-wise, choose a cocktail from the Asian Inspiration menu. The mixes feature iconic Asian herbs and spices, as well as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).
Mitzo, 4/F Grand Park Orchard, 270 Orchard Road, Singapore 238857, p. 6603 8855. Open daily 12pm-1am.
Boca
Portuguese cuisine isn’t easy to find in Singapore. That’s why we welcome Boca with open arms. Taking over the now-defunct Oca Grassa, Boca focuses on authentic Portuguese fare. Stuff like grilled sardines, Iberian pork cubes sautéed with clams, and – of course – Portuguese egg tarts pepper the menu, as do drink choices like espresso and Portuguese wine.
Boca, 6 Bukit Pasoh, Singapore 089820, p. 6221 0132. Open Mon-Sat 6pm-12am. Closed Sun.
Lokkee
Inspired by founder, Norman Hartono’s, love for Chinese take-out dishes during his time in California, Tung Lok’s new venture, LOKKE, gives a playful spin to classic Chinese dishes that will please both traditionalists and contemporary Chinese eaters alike. Highly recommended is the Firecracker Chicken Nest, which is based on the fiery Chongqing and Kung Pao chicken; the deep-fried chicken dish is seasoned with five spice and dried chillies, and comes with four raw eggs to wash down the heat.
LOKKEE, #03-01, Plaza Singapura, 68 Orchard Road, Singapore 238839, p. 6884 4566. Open Mon-Sun 11am-3pm and 5:30 pm-10pm.
CATO
Find Modern Asian creations at CATO, a new dining spot on South Bridge Road. Try dishes like the spicy prawn risotto, crispy squid with a spicy-sweet Thai glaze, and the sinful Loaded Beef Beer Chilli Cheese Fries for a decadent treat. Craft beer enthusiasts, make a beeline for the bar to enjoy your favourite brew on tap; look out for choices like Crew Republic’s Drunken Sailer Indian Pale Ale and Schlenkerla Helles Lagerbier.
CATO, 237 South Bridge Road, Singapore 058786, p. 8299 6434. Open Tue-Fri 5pm-12am, Sat 5pm-1am. Closed Sun & Mon.
Kaiserhaus
Located in the heart of Capitol Piazza is Kaiserhaus – a contemporary restaurant serving cuisine of the former Austrian-Hungarian Empire. Reminiscent of a traditional Viennese coffee house, this spacious dining destination is all about meat, meat and well, more meat. Of noteworthy mention is the Viennese schnitzel (an Austrian must-try) and the tender, lip-smacking gourmet beef.
Kaiserhaus, #02-06/#03-06 Capitol Theatre, 17 Stamford Road, Singapore 178907, p. 6377 0013. Open Sun-Thu 10:30am-12am, Fri-Sat 10:30am-1am.
A slider with the ID of 276 doesn't exist.Park Bench Deli
Lunch in the CBD got a lot more interesting with the arrival of cool new sandwich joint, Park Bench Deli (AKA PBD). Helmed by chef Ming Tan of Lolla, chef Andrei Soen of The Cajun Kings, and management guru Aamir Ghani, this Telok Ayer outlet offers elevated renditions of the humble sandwich. We sampled the offerings, so click on to see our recommendations.
Park Bench Deli, 179 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068627. Open Mon-Fri 9am-3pm.
Alma by Juan Amador
Three Michelin starred chef Juan Amador (yes, the same man behind Amador in Mannheim, Germany) launched a new restaurant at Goodwood Park Hotel. With offerings like pigeon with mango and purple curry, foie gras ice cream with mango gazpacho, and monk fish cheek, trust us when we say you’re in for a real treat.
Alma by Juan Amador, Goodwood Park Hotel, 22 Scotts Road, Singapore 228221, p. 6735 9937. Open Mon-Sat 5:30pm-10:30pm. Closed Sun.
Open Farm Community
Sitting on 35,000 square feet of lush greenery that was once a golf driving range, Open Farm Community boasts a sprawling garden filled with herb and vegetable produce. This super exciting, ingenious concept features a seasonal menu (curated by chef Ryan Clift from Tippling Club), which changes according to the local harvest. Find out more here.
Open Farm Community, 130E Minden Road, Singapore 248819, p. 6471 0306. Open Mon-Fri 12pm-3pm, 6pm-10pm, Sat-Sun 11am-10pm.
Luxe
Celebrated chef Chui Lee Luk puts out comforting contemporary Australian creations like an extra creamy burrata and a pork sausage roll. You can also expect some familiar elements in the food, items like the madeleines are made with pandan and come with a kaya dipping sauce, and the grilled octopus has chef Chui’s special XO sauce drizzled all over it. See what we thought about Luxe’s plates here.
Luxe, #01-04, 1 Keong Saik Road, Singapore 089109, p. 6221 5615. Open Tue-Fri 12pm to 12am, Sat 9am-12am, Sun 9am-4pm. Closed Mon.
London Fat Duck
No points for guessing what the main attraction is at this new Chinese restaurant. Inspired by Four Seasons and Gold Mine at Bayswater London, London Fat Duck serves juicy, melt-in-your-mouth roasted duck. Aside from the signature roast duck, another must-order is the decadent black pepper duck bun.
London Fat Duck, #B1-16/17 Scotts Square, 6 Scotts Road, Singapore 228209, p. 6443 7866. Open Mon-Fri,11am-10pm and Sat-Sun, 10am-10pm.
Adrift By David Myers
Inspired by the award-winning chef’s travel experiences from all across the globe, Adrift pays homage to the colourful mish-mash of food cultures from both sides of the Pacific. Highlights include foie gras banh mi, a grilled lobster mochi with ginger vinaigrette, and a king crab melt with pimento cheese (a refreshing twist on an American classic). There’s even a robata section featuring Japanese-inspired, bincho-grilled items like miso-cured duck breast and wagyu beef with onion jam.
Adrift, Marina Bay Sands, Hotel Lobby Tower 2, 10 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018956, p. 6688 5657. Open daily 5:30pm-late. Lunch service will commence March 2015.
A slider with the ID of 277 doesn't exist.Lepark
From pop-up event to full-fledged F&B concept, Lepark is a tapas-focused hangout with a massive outdoor sitting area of 63,000 square feet and lots of fun little shindigs to boot (think flea markets and movie screenings). Draft beers start from $6, and the ever-changing menu (it gets updated at least once a month) features stuff like deep fried otah bombs and soft shell crab sliders that come with salted egg yolk.
Lepark, 5/F People’s Park Complex (rooftop carpark), 1 Park Road, Singapore 059108, p. 6908 5809. Open Tue-Fri 4pm-11pm, Sat-Sun 11am-11pm. Closed Mon.
MEATLiquor
One of London’s most influential burger spots, MEATLiquor, arrived earlier this year, and we couldn’t have been more stoked. The Dirty Chicken Burger, the Dead Hippie – all of MEATliquour’s signature bites are on offer, but expect some local creations too. Sambal fries, anyone? Find out more about this exciting spot here.
MEATLiquor, 99 Duxton Road, Singapore 089543, p. 6221 5343. Open Tues-Fri 5pm-2am, 6pm-10:30pm, Sat 5pm-3am.
Neon Pigeon
From the graffiti murals on the walls to the quirky ninja cocktail “cups” from the bar and the industrial-style, dark wood-fitted space, everything about this spot’s pretty damn hip. On the menu are Japanese small-plates like edemame hummus, cucumber-goma salar, tuna tartare and baos & bone marrow. In addition to these small dishes, dubbed “birdfeed”, Neon Pigeon also whips up some killer cocktails. Its bar program has been growing dramatically with major bartenders like Symphony Loo and Sam Wong, so don’t be afraid to challenge them to whip you up a unique bespoke cocktail. Or instead try Symphony’s personal favourite, the “Had’da Smoke”, a herbal, yet sweet cocktail with whiff of rosemary. She assures us it’s both beautiful and yummy!
Neon Pigeon, #01-03, 1 Keong Saik Street, Singapore 089109, p. 6222 3623. Open Mon-Sat 6pm-12am. Closed Sun.
Long Chim
Long Chim (by Celebrity Chef, David Thompson) is all about BKK’s iconic street grub; the difference here is that it’s crafted with a touch of sophistication, and it boasts a good mix of traditional and contemporary flavours. Beef with holy basil, roasted prawns with vermicelli and coriander, banana roti, durian ice cream – see how the culinary team takes things up a notch with these seemingly straightforward dishes.
Long Chim, #L2-02 Atrium 2, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018956, p. 6688 7299. Open daily 5pm-11pm.
Bread Street Kitchen
A great addition to Marina Bay Sands’ (already) stellar line-up of award-winning restaurants, Bread Street Kitchen (opened by none other than Gordon Ramsay) serves up British European fare with a spot of local flavour – think stuff like an elevated version of the classic shepherd’s pie and tamarind spiced chicken wings.
Bread Street Kitchen, Bay Level, L1-81 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 2 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018972, p. 6688 5665. Open daily Sun-Wed 11:30am-10pm, Thu-Sat 11:30am-12am.
Lollapalooza
Yes, Lollapalooza is brought to you by the same folks behind uber popular dining temple Lolla. The menu at this cool ‘freestyle’ restaurant changes daily based on what’s available for the season, so you never really know what to expect. Dishes are prepared in a wood-fired oven using apple wood (smokin’), and won’t be limited to small plates.
Lollapalooza, 1A Keong Saik Road, Singapore 089109, p. 6221 3538. Open Mon-Sat 6pm-11pm. Closed Mon.
Longplay
The place to be for music lovers, LongPlay doesn’t just offer classic drinks (like the Rock Island Iced Tea – its rendition of the Long Island cocktail) and delish bar bites (buttermilk chicken, mac and cheese, and the perfectly spiced togarashi squid have our vote), but also a chance for you to listen to an impressive collection of vintage vinyl records.
LongPlay, 4 Haji Lane / 33 Arab Street, Singapore 199732, p. 6291 3323. Open Tue-Sat 12pm-3pm, 6pm-12am, Sun 2pm-11pm. Closed Mon.
Ginzawa
Expect elevated versions of your favourite Japanese dishes here at Ginzawa. Highlights include the Kurobuta braised pork don, the tai moto yaki (grilled fillet of snapper with caramelised egg yolk sauce), and the prettily-plated chirashi don, which comes with 11 types of seafood.
Ginzawa, #01-06/07 Palais Renaissance, 390 Orchard Road, Singapore 238871, p. 6736 0100. Open daily 12pm-3pm, 6pm-10:30pm.
The Refinery
Here at The Refinery, you get three fab concepts rolled into one. The brainchild of the same folks who brought you The General Company (makers of artisanal handcrafted products), The Refinery is home to a yakitori restaurant (first floor), a bespoke cocktail bar (second floor) and a craft workshop (third floor).
The Refinery, 115 King George’s Avenue, Singapore 208561, p. 9111 1210. Open Tue-Thu & Sun 6pm-12am, Fri-Sat 6pm-1am. Closed Mon.