What to eat in Singapore? Which restaurant must we try in Singapore? These are questions we are asked every week. It is impossible to have a complete list as food preferences are subjective but we have tried anyway. Here is our list of restaurant suggestions for where and what to eat in Singapore. Restaurants serving different cuisines and at different budgets for foreign visitors and locals alike. Links have been provided to our reviews with more information and pictures of the restaurants and food. Links to the CHOPE online booking system have been provided where available.
Our Food Dictionary will help readers visualise the different types of food that we encounter in Singapore.
Glossary:
Estimated prices for an average meal without drinks.
$ – Less than $20 per person
$$ – About $40 per person
$$$ – About $60 per person
$$$$ – About $80 per person
$$$$$ – About $100 or more per person
RESTAURANTS FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS
Spago at MBS
For a special occasion, a meal at Spago, Wolfgang Puck’s second restaurant in Marina Bay Sands, will not disappoint. Pick a day when the sky is clear so that you can enjoy the views from the top of MBS, Skypark on level 57. $$$$$
Spago Singapore
Sands SkyPark, Tower 2 Level 57
Access from MBS Hotel Lobby Tower 2
Opening Hours:
Main Dining Room
Sunday – Thursday 6PM – 10PM Friday & Saturday 6PM – 11PM
Terrace
Breakfast: 7AM – 10:30AM, daily Lunch: 12PM – 2:30PM, daily Cocktails +
Small Plates: 2:30PM – Late night, daily
Tel: +65 6688 9955
Nearby MRT Station: Bayfront
Corner House at Botanic Gardens
For a scenic setting within the only UNESCO World Heritage site in Singapore, we suggest the Corner House. The beautiful location in the Singapore Botanic Gardens and the Michelin star food are an awesome combination. $$$$$.
Corner House
1 Cluny Road, Singapore Botanic Gardens,
E J H Corner House, Nassim Gate
Singapore 259569
Tel: +65 6469 1000
Opening Hours
Tue – Sat: 12: noon – 3:00 pm; 6:30 pm – 11:00 pm
Sun: 11:30 am – 3:00 pm, 6:30 pm – 11:00 pm
Les Amis
French restaurant with a two-star Michelin award, Les Amis will also be a good choice for a formal dinner or lunch. $$$$$
1 Scotts Road,
#01-16 Shaw Centre,
Singapore 228208
(Opposite HSBC Bank, Tanglin Branch)
Tel: +65 67332225
Nearby MRT Station: Orchard
UNIQUE RESTAURANT OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
Coastal Settlement
Where to eat in Singapore if you want a change from the usual? Escape from the city and go to Coastal Settlement, a remote restaurant at the Eastern end of Singapore. It is a restaurant like no other in Singapore. $$
200, Netheravon Road
Singapore 508 529
Tel: +65 6475 0200
Oprning Hours:
Tuesday – Thursday: 10.30am till 11pm Friday & Eve of PH: 10.30am till 12 Midnight
Saturday: 8.30am till 12 Midnight
Sunday & PH: 8.30am till 11pm
Closed on Monday except when it falls on a Public Holiday or its eve
Website
CHINESE RESTAURANTS IN SINGAPORE
Summer Pavilion
Summer Pavilion in the Ritz Carlton is one of our favourite restaurants in Singapore. This one Michelin star Chinese restaurant scores highly for quality of food and great service. $$$
Ritz Carlton Hotel Level 3
7 Raffles Avenue
Singapore 039799
Opening Hours: Mon-Sun: 11:30am-2:30pm, 6:30pm-10:30pm
Nearby MRT Station: Esplanade, Promenade
SHAO 烧
We like this neighbourhood Teochew restaurant that opened in 2018. SHAO 烧 is a casual Teochew restaurant at Frankel Avenue. Located in the hip suburban enclave where there are a number of popular cafes and restaurants, SHAO 烧 serves contemporary Chinese dishes centered on roast and barbecued meats. Read more. $$
117 Frankel Avenue
Singapore 458232
Opening Hours:
Mon-Sun: 11am-3pm, 5-11pm
Empress
Empress, is a modern Chinese restaurant opened by the Prive Group. Its location next to the Asian Civilisation Museum and the Singapore River provides wonderful views of old and new Singapore. $$$
1 Empress Place
#01-03 Asian Civilisations Museum
Singapore 179555
Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 11:30am-3pm (Last Order: 2:30pm), 6-11pm (Last Order: 10:30pm)
Sat-Sun: 11am-4pm (Last Order: 3:30pm, Dim Sum Last seating: 2pm)), 6-11pm (Last Order: 10:30pm).
Zui Yu Xuan
For traditional Teochew cuisine we suggest Zui Yu Xuan Teochew Cuisine. This new restaurant is housed within a two-storey heritage building located in Far East Square in the CBD. $$$
130 Amoy Street
#01-01 Far East Square
Singapore 049959
Nearby MRT Station: Telok Ayer
For more Chinese restaurants in Singapore. Please read our list of TOP Chinese Restaurants in Singapore.
LOCAL SINGAPORE FOOD
Jumbo Seafood
Seafood restaurants are popular eating places where one can find the famous Singapore chilli crab and other local dishes such as mee goreng. One such restaurant that we like because of its convenient location and good service is Jumbo Seafood at Dempsey Hill. $$$
Block 11 Dempsey Road
#01-16
Singapore 249673
Opening Hours: Mon-Sun: 12-3pm (Last Order: 2:15pm), 5:30-11:30pm (Last Order: 10:30pm)
Jumbo has several outlets in different locations such as ION Orchard, Jewel Changi Airport and East Coast Seafood Centre.
Azmi Chapati
Try eating chapati with your hands at Azmi Chapati in Singapore’s Little India. Your wallet will also thank us for this suggestion. $
Azmi Restaurant Chapati
Location: Junction of Norris Road and Serangoon Road
168 Serangoon Road
Google Map
Nearby MRT Stations: Little India, Farrer Park
The Peranakan
There are many good Peranakan restaurants in Singapore. One of them is The Peranakan, which stands out from the rest by its wonderful Peranakan decor. $$
Address:
442 Orchard Road
#02-17 Claymore Connect
Singapore (238879)
Hours: Mon-Sun: 11am-10pm
Keng Eng Kee Seafood 瓊榮記海鲜
Keng Eng Kee Seafood 瓊榮記海鲜 is one of the names that crop up when discussing good places for zhi char in Singapore. It is located at Bukit Merah Lane 1. There are two dining areas at Keng Eng Kee Seafood – a small air-conditioned restaurant area and an adjacent large coffee shop area. Read more. $$
Keng Eng Kee Seafood
Blk 124 Bukit Merah Lane 1
#01-136, Singapore 150124
Hours:
12:00pm to 2:30pm
5:00pm to 10:00pm
Website
Kok Sen Restaurant
Kok Sen Restaurant is a Singapore zi char outfit that was recognised as a Singapore Bib Gourmand restaurant in the Singapore Michelin Guide. Located in the Keong Saik dining enclave, the humble Kok Sen restaurant ticks all the boxes of what makes a good local restaurant in Singapore – traditional coffee shop atmosphere, good food, friendly service and fairly priced. Being air-conditioned is a bonus. $$
30-32 Keong Saik Road
Singapore
Tel: +65 6223 2005
Opening hours:
Lunch 12:00-14:30
Dinner 17:00-23:00
Nearby MRT Station: Outram
Michelin Guide Website
HIPSTER CAFES IN SINGAPORE
Curious Palette
Cafes are convenient places to meet up and have a meal. These days, appearances and the “hip factor” is also an important. Curious Palette and Cafe Academics are two hipster cafes that have good food, just-as-good coffee and a comfortable cafe atmosphere. $$
64 Prinsep Street
Singapore 188667
Opening hours:
Wed to Mon 9am-10pm
Closed on Tuesdays
Nearby MRT Station: Bras Basah
The Coffee Academics
The Coffee Academics in Scotts Square was the first Singapore outlet to be opened by the the highly rated coffee specialty store from Hong Kong. The wide range of coffee available makes this a favourite among coffee afficionados. $$
Scott Square #02-01/02
Singapore 228209
Tel: +65 65381940
Opening Hours: 9 am to 9 pm
Nearby MRT Station: Orchard
The Coffee Academics has another outlet in Raffles City.
JAPANESE RESTAURANTS IN SINGAPORE
Tomi Sushi
A section of Millenia Walk mall, called Millenia Walk Nihon Food Street, has been earmarked for Japanese restaurants. We were impressed by the sushi and cooked food at Tomi Sushi. $$$
9 Raffles Boulevard
#02-12/13 Millenia Walk,
Singapore 039596
Tel: +65 6238-1123
Opening Hours:
11:45 am -2:30 pm
5:45 pm – 9:30 pm
Shinji by Kanesaka
Shinji by Kanesaka is perhaps the best sushi restaurant in Singapore. It is also very expensive. We get to go when someone else is paying. There are two branches – at St Regis Hotel and Carlton Hotel $$$$$
Carlton Hotel
76 Bras Basah Road, Lobby Floor
Singapore 189558
Opening Hours:
Lunch: 12pm to 3pm (last order at 2pm)
Dinner: 6pm to 10.30pm (last order at 9pm)
Closed on Sundays
Tel +65 6338 6131
Nearby MRT Stations: Bras Basah, City Hall
Website
Tenshin
Tenshin is our favourite tempura restaurant in Singapore. Like Shinji, they are expensive but the lunch sets are affordable. $$$ (lunch) $$$$$ (dinner).
1 Cuscaden Road, Regent Singapore, #03-01
Singapore 249715
Opening Hours：
12:00pm～2:30pm（2.00pm L.O. Lunch）
Dinner 6:00pm～10:30pm （10.00pm L.O. Dinner）
VEGETARIAN RESTAURANTS IN SINGAPORE
Joie Restaurant by DOZO
What to eat in Singapore when your special someone frowns on the eating of helpless animals? Fear not, we have the place for you. Joie Restaurant by Dozo is an elegant restaurant at the penthouse level of Orchard Central that serves meatless cuisine. $$$$
181 Orchard Road
#12-01 Orchard Central
Singapore 238896
Tel. No: 6838 6966
Opening Hours:
Lunch : 12:00 am to 3:30 pm
Dinner : 6:00 pm to 10:30 pm
Nearby MRT Station: Somerset
Real Food Orchard Central
For a vegetarian meal at more down to earth prices, we suggest Real Food at Orchard Central. It is set up by the people of the organic grocery shop Real Food Grocer. The vegetarian cafe serves food with “No processed ingredients, No Artificial Preservatives and No Trans-fat”. $$
181 Orchard Road
#02-16 Orchard Central
Singapore 238896
Tel: +65 6737 9516
Nearby MRT Station: Somerset
Real Food also has an outlet at South Beach.
What to eat in Singapore? We hope you found our list of restaurants useful. Cheers!
Glossary:
Estimated prices for an average meal without drinks.
$ – Less than $20 per person
$$ – About $40 per person
$$$ – About $60 per person
$$$$ – About $80 per person
$$$$$ – About $120 or more per person
The Ordinary Patrons | Real Dining Experience of Ordinary People
an independent Singapore food blog