The Best Restaurants In Singapore Part 1

Singapore has so many great restaurants; if I could, I would eat at a different restaurant every day (it feels like sometimes that is precisely what I am doing!!). Anyone who has watched the movie or read the book “Crazy Rich Asians” can see for themselves how much the locals pride themselves in having some of the best places to eat in the world. 

If you don’t believe me, check out the 50 Best in Asia by Hypebeast or The World’s 50 best here for their professional opinion. Where Singapore has been featured on many occasions, don’t get me wrong, I am all for some of their recommendations, as you will notice in the list of the best restaurants in Singapore. But what I also have added is affordable places to eat with great food or quirky restaurants that the entire family can enjoy.  Want more recommendations? Read here!

My Favourite Restaurants In Singapore

Burnt Ends

Burnt Ends is a Michelin-star restaurant and one of the top 50 best restaurants in Asia, and, can I tell you, it is absolutely well deserved. 

Reason: Every little bite (and the portion sizes are small) you take is like an entirely new experience. You can often hear me saying, “Oh, this is my favourite dish”, literally every time a new dish arrives. I am unaware of how some of the flavours go together, but they do! A little work of heaven in every dish.

My Rating – is 10/10. I can not fault this place, which is why it is hands down my favourite restaurant in Singapore. The service is impressive every time, the food gets better with every new dish I try, and it is well worth the wait to get in. 

Address – Block 10, Dempsey Road, #01-23, Singapore 247700

Chopsuey

Chopsuey is unlike any other Asian fusion restaurant I have been to because the decor makes me feel like I have stepped back in time with its colonial-style decor, including a range of jazz music. It follows on from that PS cafe vibe.

Reason – the food here is fantastic; I love the crispy duck pows are my absolute favourite; add their spicy sesame edamame along with the dim sum basket, and you will walk out very happy!

My Rating – 9.5/10. Not all dishes are as excellent as the ones I mentioned above.

Address – Block 10, Dempsey Road, #01-23, Singapore 247700

Koma Singapore

Regarding Japanese restaurants in Singapore, Koma Singapore would have to be my favourite. They have gone all out for not only the interior design of this fabulous restaurant, but I am sure it would have to be one of the most prominent restaurants I have been to in Singapore so far. 

Reason – From the first moment you walk down the extraordinary passageway, you know this restaurant is something special. When you arrive at your table and order your first dish, the experience will have you coming back repeatedly. Although every dish is memorable, there is nothing quite like KOMA SIGNATURE DESSERT, OMAKASE. It is worth every calorie and every cent you spend on this fantastic creation. It is an experience you will not want to miss.

My Rating – is 10/10. There is nothing I would not rate at Koma, from the decor to the service to the food presentation. It is a plus in my eyes. 

Address – #B1-67, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 2 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018972

Favourite fusion choices

Meat Smith – Little India

Do not let the name fool you; Meat Smith in Little Indiais very different to its counterpart in Telok Ayer Street. This restaurant is Indian fusion at its best.

Reason: Do not expect the expected; the best thing about this restaurant is that it does Indian food with a twist. Do not think of traditional Indian cuisine, and do not think that your butter chicken will come out in a curry; it will come out in such an exciting new way that it will keep you coming back for more. 

My Rating – 10/10 I love everything about this place, from the service to the food to the entire experience.

Address – 21 Campbell Lane, Little India

Vatos Urban Tacos

Vatos Urban Tacos is an urban fusion that brings you a mix of flavours from the best street food around, think Asia to South America and then something in between.

Reason – I love this funky (sometimes rather loud) restaurant as there is a little bit of something for the entire family. You will not find a better margarita in Singapore (more like a margarita on steroids). The bulgogi tacos and kimchi fries are a family favourite in our household. 

My Rating -9.5/10. It does get so noisy you can not hear yourself at times. Singapore now has two locations, so I am unsure if this Rating applies to the Holland Village restaurant.

Address – 36 Beach Rd, #01-03 South Beach Quarter  and Holland Village – 281 Holland Ave 

Joie by Dozo

Although this could come under the fine dining or meatless (as there are a few seafood-related dishes), it is also a Japanese French fusion restaurant that will not break the bank balance.

Reason: Each dish comes beautifully presented, as both the French and Japanese do so well. The lunch list at Joie will have you choose from an array of mouthwatering dishes. Found on the top floor of a major shopping mall, you would not even know it existed unless someone gave you the address. A 6-course set lunch ($39.80++) or a 7-course set dinner ($69.80++), which you will not find anywhere else in Singapore.

My Rating – 9.5/10. Although lacking a little bit of ambience, this restaurant exceeds its value-for-money ratio.

Address – 181 Orchard Road #12-01 Orchard Central

Fine dining experiences 

Nouri

This restaurant is small but impressive; word of warning – do not think fusion; think crossroads. Flavours that aren’t supposed to go together but somehow do.

Reason: The Nouri restaurant’s tasting menu is a little expensive, but you can see why. When each dish became an experience rather than a means to an end, every dish seemed to get better, with the final dish (dessert) being the pinnacle of the meal. Borscht which is frozen yoghurt foam, beetroot and blackberry sorbet, honeycomb and aromatic herbs, is another example of the intricate detail and thought that goes into each dish.

My Rating – is 8/10. However, I feel like maybe a few dishes were a little too extreme for my palette.

Address – 72 Amoy St, Singapore 069891

Gattopardo Ristorante di Mare

Do not be mistaken; this is not a typical Sicilian restaurant; this is fine dining with a twist. Set in a gorgeous restaurant in a significant part of Singapore, this restaurant will not serve you your regular pasta dish.

Reason – When it comes to fine dining, this is a little different; it is not Japanese and is not French, which is the usual combo in this category. It is an Italian restaurant that will have you leaving the restaurant full of both food and experience. If you opt for pairing with this meal, it is a great way to bring out the abundance of rich flavours in every dish.

My Rating – is 8/10 Great restaurant, but some dishes were a little too rich for my palette. 

Address – 34 Tras St, Singapore 079026

Lerouy 

The French know how to do fine dining, and this restaurant is no exception. Think opulence, think exquisite presentation and think award-winning flavours. Lerouy is a Michelin-star restaurant that has it all. 

Reason – This Carte Blanche menu gives you an element of surprise with every dish. With no idea of what they will serve you or how many dishes you will be receiving, this restaurant is not only one of the unique restaurants, but it is also one of the fascinating experiences.

My Rating- is 10/10 when it comes to fine dining; Lerouy has perfected it into an art.

Address – 104 Amoy St, Singapore 069924

High Tea experiences

Raffles Hotel 

You can not be in Singapore without trying Raffles Hotel high tea; it is by far the most luxurious of them all. The Raffles hotel has a history like no other found in this red dot; step back in time and experience the colonial days for yourself. Why not book a staycation here for the entire experience?

Reason – what is there not to love about this experience? The grand lobby is precisely that, grand in so many ways. Choose from the Sakura afternoon tea or the Kyoto afternoon tea (for a limited time only), unique to Raffles Hotel or choose from the traditional British high tea option. With or without bubbles. My tea preference would have to be the Singapore Sling (must try and only found at Raffles). Afternoon tea is from Monday to Thursday, 1:00 pm to 5.00 pm, or Friday to Sunday, 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm, and has an array of 

My Rating – is 9.5 /10-can get a little crowded on a busy day, but the experience is still outstanding. 

Address – 1 Beach Rd Singapore 189673 

The Orient Express 

Although the Orient Express is not a permanent feature in Singapore, it has been around for a while and doesn’t look to be moving anytime soon. 

Reason – Let’s face it, there is no better experience than the Orient Express, and with it no longer being an option, this would have to be the next best thing. Do not forget to check out the Orient Express exhibition first and then head to this once-in-a-lifetime experience on the Orient Express and enjoy this fun experience. 

My Rating – is 8/10. Although the experience itself is fab, the food was just okay at times. 

Address – Gardens by the Bay-West Lawn (next to Bayfront Plaza), 18 Marina Gardens Drive Singapore 018953 – Give yourself 10 minutes to walk from Bayfront Pavilion drop-off. Or, for $5 per person, a golf buggy will pick you up and drop you off. 

The Shangri-la Hotel Singapore

The Shangri-la hotels never disappoint in any country, and The Rose Veranda at the Shangri-la Singapore is a fabulous location for high tea. They have been hosting high tea since 1991, so they know how to perfect it. 

Reason – Ensure you do not eat anything before you head over to the Shangri-las tea because you receive the usual suspects and get a proper main meal as well. With pink everything, the atmosphere suited an afternoon out with the girls. Whether you choose bubbly or not, the selection of tea is endless. Want to add a staycation, book here.

My Rating – 9.5/10. It is a beautiful place to have an afternoon with the girls over world-class high tea. 

Address – 22 Orange Grove Road 258350 Singapore

Peranakan Style restaurant 

The Blue Ginger

The Blue Ginger is a fantastic restaurant with unique flavours; it is not your traditional Peranakan style but more of a fusion style. You will not be disappointed; with each bite comes a new experience. 

Reason – This Michelin-star restaurant has flavours you won’t find anywhere else. With its delicious nonya rolls and succulent beef rendang, every dish is full of flavour that you can not stop eating (even after you are full). The Blue Ginger at Tanjong Pagar was the first of its kind in Singapore, putting Peranakan cuisine on the Singapore market. 

My Rating – 8.5/10 Although the food is fantastic, the service and the ambience are just okay. 

Address – Tanjong Pagar 97 Tanjong Pagar Rd and the new venue is at Great World at #01-106, 1 Kim Seng Promenade

Violet Oon 

Although you can also have an unusual Peranakan-style high tea at Violet Oon, you can’t go past the lunch menu. From the service to its decor, this restaurant has it all. 

Reason-The experience at Violet Oon depends on the location of the restaurant you try. Although every place has that colonial-style feel, you can not go by the National Kitchen by Violet Oon at the National Gallery for an all-inclusive experience. However, if you head over to ION, the service is far superior to many restaurants in Singapore. There are many delicious items on the menu, but my favourite is still both the Kuay Pie Tee and the dry laksa. The satay bar and grill at Clarke Quay has another different menu, and although there is a newer restaurant at the Jewel, I am yet to try it, so I really can’t comment.

My Rating – 9.5/10 I love this place at all the locations I have tried. If I could combine the service of ION with the atmosphere of The National Gallery, I would have given it a 10. 

Address – Jewel Changi Airport – 78 Airport Boulevard, #01-205/206

National Gallery – 1 St. Andrew’s Road #02–01, National Gallery Singapore

(City Hall Wing)

Clarke Quay – 3B River Valley Rd, Singapore 179021

ION – 2 Orchard Turn, #03-22 ION Orchard, Singapore 238801

Candlenut

The blend of traditional meets new age is found at Candlenut. With its new fun approach to Peranakan food, found in everything from its dishes to its furnishings. 

Reason – This first-in-its-kind Michelin-starred Peranakan restaurant has mouthwatering flavours in every bite you take. If you are unsure what to order, Candlenut makes it easy by offering monthly set menus. However, if you feel adventurous and want to order straight from the menu, you can not go past either the chef’s mum’s chicken curry or the blue swimmer crab curry, both mouthwatering both memorable. 

My Rating – 8.5/10 Although the hype around this restaurant is enormous, I found it a little disappointing compared to the others I tried. 

Address – 7A Dempsey Road, Singapore 249676

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Thanks for taking the time to read my blog. I hope this post has given you the information you need. If you have any recommendations, tips or advice, I would love for you to share them in the comment section below!

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