Here are seven restaurants, rated by Michelin, that we think are worth crossing town for. The food will blow you away, give you memories that last and give you with a great talking point for months to come.
What: There is nowhere more beautiful for a first date or a celebration than this characterful restaurant in the tropical setting of the Botanic Gardens that also attracts a glossy crowd of gourmands from far and wide to sample chef David Thien’s beautifully executed Asian food wrapped in French technique. Foie gras might arrive with grapefruit, apple, rice cracker and ginger while Hokkaido sea urchin might be emboldened with crevettes, spring peas, yuzu, pork crackling and caviar. Enlightened and friendly service delivers 100%, too.
Where: Sofitel Singapore Sentosa, 2 Bukit Manis Road, 099891
What: Perfectly comfortable but bland nonetheless the Odette’s dining room, with its muted greys, off-pinks and really rather dreary mirrors and artwork, respects its National Gallery setting but is no advertisement for the fireworks that come out of the two-Michelin-starred kitchen. Sit up and be amazed by the depth of a dish that champions turbot with Obsiblue prawns and Kaffir lime, or foie gras with abalone, smoked eel broth, cut through with the tangy flavours of yuzu and delectable for its combination of richness and piquancy. Is this the most accomplished kitchen in Singapore?
Where: East Coast Seafood Centre,Block 1206 East Coast Parkway #01-07/08, 449883
What: Head and shoulders the leading Indian restaurant in Singapore, The Song of India in a classic black and white heritage building is a shot in the arm for the Orchard Road and well worth a special trip. The handsome interior is given live theatre by an open kitchen while views of the lush gardens are a joy. Mushrooms from the tandoor are indicative of some supreme vegetarian dishes while prawn, lamb and chicken kebabs are exemplary, too. Nice private rooms add further reasons to go.
Where: 33 Scotts Road, 228226
What: Small, unprepossessing, intimate neighbourhood restaurant where you feel privileged to have snared one of the seven tables, but it’s the food with its bold flavours, clear thinking and attractive presentation that steals limelight. Service is friendly but professional.
Where: 3 Duxton Hill, 089589
What: The glammed-up setting plays second fiddle to the succulence of the steak at Wolfgang Puck’s Singapore outpost. Fabulously charred cuts of beef come in all sizes, ages and provenances, preluded by fancy starters including steak tartare, pork belly and beef carpaccio. And if anyone dares order the (rather good) prawn cocktail, you can just add in a portion of the bone marrow flan to redress the balance.
Where: The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 2 Bayfront Avenue, 018972
What: What’s not to like about this light-filled room and its spectacular views across the city and bay that attracts a colourful crowd of well-healed locals? But it’s the cooking of chef Kirk Westaway which provides the trump card. Poached snapper with caviar and sweet onion or herb-crusted lamb, rounded off perhaps with Eton Mess, and that’s merely from the lunchtime set. Wines provide similar class.
Where: Swissotel the Stamford, 2 Stamford Road, 178882
What: Tetsuya Wakuda’s inspirational showcase of Japanese and European technique mixed with top end ingredients is a beautifully balanced and precisely executed treat for the senses. The restaurant itself is a pristine Japanese-inspired place while our favourite flavours include botan shrimp with sea urchin and Oscietra caviar and charcoal-grilled fillet of Tasmanian beef cut through with wasabi.
Where: Level 2 Dining, L2-01, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 018956
What: Refined, elegant and beautiful, the colonial-styled Lei Garden boasts sumptuous, refined elegance in abundance. If acres of wooden floorboards or sympathetic lighting, that flatters its diners, seem a touch deja vu, the floor-to-ceiling glass windows, that bring the garden views inside, are simply irresistible. The same polish and finesse is witnessed in the kitchen where recommended dishes include crispy roast pork with exceptional crackling and lobster served to order.
Where: 30 Victoria Street, #01-24 Chijmes, 187996
What: The grandest fine dining experience in Singapore. The service is an elaborate ceremony of elegance and extraordinary precision at the grandest fine dining experience in Singapore. Dishes are a tour de force of artistry and diners feel completely indulged.
Where: #01-16, Shaw Centre, 1 Scotts Road, 228208
What: Peranakan cuisine is sometimes referred to as Nyonya cooking which spins traditional Chinese food with delightful Javanese and Indonesian twists. It’s contemporary but authentic, tangy but also spicy, and the results are a delight to behold
Where: 17A Dempsey Road