Food is the one thing that brings us all together. Dive into these National Day-themed menus at top-notch restaurants as a nod to Singapore's birthday.
Every National Day brings with it a cheery new song, red-and-white hues all over the land, and restaurants everywhere whipping up locally-inspired food. We’re obviously obsessed with food – as evidenced by our constant crop of new restaurants and bars. But, while we’ll never tire of local dishes, our curiosity for fresh takes on crowd-favourites will never die down. That’s why chefs in Singapore put together special National Day dining menus every year – and we all flock to ’em. Want a sweet deal or a unique take on classic creations? You’ve come to the right place.
National Day food guide: Best buffets and themed menus
1. Kinki Restaurant + Bar
There’s nothing better than a bottomless brunch on a public holiday, and we’re heading to Kinki restaurant for that on National Day ($68++). From 12pm to 3pm, you’ll enjoy free-flow sushi, sashimi and dishes like curry cheese croquette and garlic fried rice. Plus, choose your main from a selection of buta kimchi, wagyu foie gras donburi and more. Top up $38++ to complement your meal with unlimited alcohol!
If you’re more of a night owl, hit up the alfresco rooftop bar and party it up from 5pm to midnight. The National Day rooftop package ($588++ per table of up to six) offers food like cassava nachos and Kinki wings, a bottle of Roku gin and your choice of Belvedere vodka or Chita whiskey, and an undisturbed view of the fireworks.
Kinki Restaurant + Bar, 9 August; #02-02, Customs House, 70 Collyer Quay, Singapore 049323
2. Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay, Singapore
From rooftop dining to afternoon tea, the hotel offers it all for National Day. Enjoy sunset dining ($128++) at Skyline Bar on 9 August, 6pm to 9pm – you’ll be treated to a stunning view of the fireworks while you eat your way through black angus beef tomahawk, Australian lamb rack and hickory baby back ribs.
Prefer an afternoon tea situation? Portman Bar’s new Picnic in an Oasis (available daily, $58++) offers a mod-Singaporean twist on classics. Think Milo dinosaur scones, butter chicken mini pie, burbur cha cha gateaux and more. If you’d like the ultimate buffet treat, head to Peppermint (1 to 31 August, from $68++) and stuff yourself with the likes of seabass in laksa sauce, chilli crab in brioche roll, wok-fried chicken durian and loads more.
Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay, Singapore, various dates and times; Marina Square, 6 Raffles Boulevard, Singapore 039594
3. Goodwood Park Hotel
Planning a little get-together? Go for a high tea extravaganza with the hotel’s National Day takeaway medley, which comes with two tiers of sweet and savoury food influenced by local flavours. Sink your teeth into Szechuan pepper smoked salmon with tobiko and cream cheese, chilli crab salad in vol au vent, chicken ‘bak kwa’ croissant, curry chicken shepherd’s pie, ondeh ondeh cake, rainbow Swiss roll and loads more.
Goodwood Park Hotel, 25 July to 9 August, $57; order online
4. Rempapa
Chef Damian D’Silva collaborates with local culinary talents Marvas Ng from Path (6 August, $168++ per pax) and MasterChef Singapore season 2 contestant Vasunthara Ramasamy (13 August, $68++ per pax) to celebrate our nation’s 57th. The dinner menu with chef Marvas features dishes like 16-day dry-aged duck crown, Iberico pork jowl, collagen soup and chilled angel hair pasta with majiang sauce. For lunch with Vasun, you’ll enjoy a communal feast of masala thosai, Sri Lankan chicken curry, a trio of chutneys and more.
Love nibbling on kueh? Snag the 10-piece multi-cultural kueh box (6 – 9 August, $22) for Chinese, Indian, Eurasian, Malay and Peranakan sweet treats.
Rempapa, various dates, #01-01/02/03, Park Place Residences at PLQ, 2 Paya Lebar Road, Singapore 409053
5. The Marmalade Pantry
Grab a friend and enjoy a heritage afternoon tea set ($78++ for two) at this homegrown bistro. Savoury nibbles with locally-inspired flavours include otah mousse toast, crab coleslaw ciabatta and satay chicken brioche. Meanwhile, the range of sweets features pandan gula melaka tea cake alongside the classic scones. Dine in or get yours delivered!
The Marmalade Pantry, 1 August – 31 October; available at multiple locations including Ion Orchard and Oasia Hotel Downtown
6. Oumi & Kaarla
Go all out for National Day with an incredible five-course dinner by the chefs of Oumi and Kaarla Restaurant and Bar. Both are all about seasonal and sustainable produce, which means you’ll enjoy exquisite farm-to-table ingredients fired up in Kaarla’s grill and oven, as well as kappo dishes made with a nose-to-tail approach.
Oumi & Kaarla, 30 July, $198++ per person, 9 August, $248++ per person; #51-01, CapitaSpring, 88 Market Street, Singapore 048948
7. The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore
The hotel goes wild celebrating the nation’s birthday this year, offering everything from culinary specials to staycations to a rooftop party complete with stunning views of the fireworks. Head to 15 Stamford by Alvin Leung for the Asian appetiser platter (1 – 31 August, $68/two) of familiar flavours. Think chilli king crab, satay kueh pie tee, century eggs with beluga caviar and more.
Love a good afternoon tea? The Lobby Lounge serves up a five-course sesh (3 – 10 August, from $58) with free-flow tea, champagne or sparkling wine. Nibble on bites like smoked king salmon on rice crackers, vegetable curry quiche and chilled chawanmushi before you dive into locally-inspired desserts.
For luxe stay, book the grand deluxe rooms or suites and get exclusive rooftop access to watch the Marina Bay fireworks display with a glass of sparkling wine (available on 23 or 30 July and 9 August). Or, simply make a beeline for the party on National Day itself. Snag a VIP table ($348++) to enjoy two bottles of Ruinart Brut champagne and a canape platter while you dance the night away to the backdrop of spectacular fireworks, scenic night views and pumping beats.
The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore, various dates and prices; 15 Stamford Road, Singapore 178906
8. Grand Hyatt Singapore
57 is lookin’ fab, especially at the hotel’s StraitsKitchen buffet line-up, which highlights local faves and halal-certified show kitchens. The sumptuous feast starts with popiah, rojak and gado gado, alongside wok-fried carrot cake, char kway teow, salted egg yolk crab and loads more hawker staples. Ready yourself for the meat sweats when you hit up the barbecue section and grab servings of kambing bakar (roasted lamb leg). But don’t miss out on other goodies like sambal sotong, tandoori lamb kebab and an amazing array of Indian curries to be paired with naan or prata.
Come dessert time, work your way through Peranakan delights like ondeh ondeh before you move on to ice kachang and chendol or even fried durian balls. Complete the gut-busting meal with unlimited juices and drinks like bandung, teh tarik and kopi tarik.
Grand Hyatt Singapore, 8 & 9 August, 12pm – 2pm, 3pm – 4.30pm or 6.30pm – 9.30pm, from $50/adult, from $25/child; 10 Scotts Road, Singapore 228211
9. York Hotel Singapore
Throw on your stretchy pants for a buffet filled with local treats. Start with chicken and pork satay with peanut sauce and gado gado, then order a plate of fried prawn Hokkien mee or chilli crab with fried mantou from the show kitchen. Next, pick up plates of har cheong sai (prawn paste chicken), fish curry, laksa and mee siam from the spread.
When you’re done stuffing yourself with savouries, hit up the dessert section to sink your teeth into pancakes. These fluffy babies are topped with your choice of red bean, grated coconut or chopped peanuts. Don’t forget to save space for more sweets like chendol, Nonya kuehs and pulut hitam. You’ll be washing it all down with free-flow bandung (rose syrup with milk) and calamansi – for that sugar high – or coffee and tea.
Psst: if you share the same birthday as Singapore, you’ll enjoy 57% off the buffet when you dine with at least two others.
York Hotel Singapore, 9 August, noon – 2.30pm, $57/adult, $28/child; 21 Mount Elizabeth, Singapore 228516
10. Sofitel Singapore City Centre
Rock up to Racines at Sofitel Singapore City Centre for an epic brunch that pays homage to the island’s culinary scene. The semi-buffet National Day food selection offers classics like pork satay, kong bak bao (braised pork belly on steamed bun) and chilli king prawns. Plus, dishes that lean towards the unconventional. Think curry capellini with clams and onsen tamago, as well as plant-based otah with quinoa and smoked eggplant.
Polish off your mains and enjoy unlimited appetisers like rojak, popiah and laksa salmon gravlax, alongside desserts such as pandan kaya cake and soya milk pudding.
Sofitel Singapore City Centre, 9 August, 12pm – 3pm, $128/adult, $64/child; 9 Wallich Street, Singapore 078885
Celebrate National Day in Singapore with these special food menus!
