Must-see restaurants in Singapore

  • Tiong Bahru Bakery, external

    Tiong Bahru Bakery

    Chinatown & the CBD

    The quintessential Frenchman, baker Gontran Cherrier has everyone at his door, itching for a little French lovin'. At Cherrier's light-filled,…

  • Esquina

    Esquina

    Chinatown & the CBD

    Intimate, buzzing Esquina has tongues wagging with its classic-with-a-twist Spanish morsels. Scan the paper placemat menu for standouts like the palate…

  • Ci Yan Organic Vegetarian Health Food

    Ci Yan Organic Vegetarian Health Food

    Chinatown & the CBD

    Excellent food, a very friendly manager and an informal atmosphere make this a fine choice for a no-fuss vegetarian meal in the heart of Chinatown. It…

  • Internal, Super Loco

    Super Loco

    Colonial District, the Quays & Marina Bay

    The only thing missing is a beach at this breezy hipster cantina, complete with Mexican party vibe, pink-neon and playful barkeeps in Cancún-esque shirts…

  • Lau Pa Sat.

    Lau Pa Sat

    Chinatown & the CBD

    Lau Pa Sat means 'Old Market' in Hokkien, which is appropriate since the handsome iron structure shipped out from Glasgow in 1894 remains intact. It's a…

  • Lim Chee Guan

    Lim Chee Guan

    Chinatown & the CBD

    When food snobs hanker for bak kwa (barbecued preserved pork), they snack at this veteran. Around since 1938, Lim Chee Guan grills like no other, turning…

  • Bincho, food

    Bincho

    Chinatown & the CBD

    In heritage heavyweight Tiong Bahru, the last thing you'd think you'd find is a sleek yakatori joint serving some of the best Japanese fare in town. The…

  • Coconut Club, external

    Coconut Club

    Chinatown & the CBD

    Not just any old nasi lemak joint, here they're nuts about coconuts and only a certain Malaysian West African (MAWA) hybrid will do. Chicken is super…

  • Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle

    Little India & Kampong Glam

    Locals have tried to keep this second-generation hawker stall – famous for Teochew-style bak chor mee (minced pork noodles) – secret, but with its shiny…

  • Mustard Incident

    Mustard Incident

    Chinatown & the CBD

    What started off as a hole-in-the-wall hot-dog stall in the basement of Tangs department store on Orchard Rd has now morphed into a proper restaurant on…

  • Noodle Man

    Noodle Man

    Chinatown & the CBD

    Noodle Man does rice dishes and dumplings here too, but this place is all about the authentic noodles, hand-pulled to perfection (sometimes at your table…

  • Flying Squirrel

    Flying Squirrel

    Chinatown & the CBD

    This sneaky squirrel lurks down a laneway off Amoy St. Find it and your reward is fresh, delicious Japanese in a cool but cosy combo of brickwork,…

  • Tong Heng, food cabinets.

    Tong Heng

    Chinatown & the CBD

    Hit the spot at this veteran pastry shop, specialising in pastries, tarts and cakes from the southern Chinese province of Guangdong. While locals…

  • L'Entrecote

    L'Entrecote

    Chinatown & the CBD

    This place only does one dish – steak and chips – but it does it very well, so if you're pining for a slice of French bistro action, trek up to this…

  • Red Star, food

    Red Star

    Chinatown & the CBD

    Armed with trolley-clutching aunties who swoop like fighter jets, classic Red Star is perfect for a Hong Kong–style yum cha. Keep your ears pricked for…

  • Grain Traders

    Chinatown & the CBD

    This bustling eatery dishes up filling comfort food to busy city workers craving fresh, nutrient-packed meals. Start your day with oatmeal, acai smoothie…

  • J2 Famous Crispy Curry Puff

    Chinatown & the CBD

    These golden parcels of curried goodness are a favourite Singaporean snack, and this hawker stall serves some of the best puffs around. Our pick is the…

  • L'Angelus

    L'Angelus

    Chinatown & the CBD

    At this cosy, friendly, traditional French restaurant run by a couple of attentive French expats, the escargot (snails) are a speciality, but we like the…

  • Tiong Bahru Fried Kway Teo shop.

    Tiong Bahru Fried Kway Teow

    Chinatown & the CBD

    The daily queue attests to the popularity of this unassuming hawker stall, where an elderly uncle cooks up fragrant, moreish kway teow (fried noodles with…

  • Pantler

    Chinatown & the CBD

    You're practically guaranteed to love whichever brightly coloured goodie you choose at Pantler, helmed by a baker and an award-winning pastry chef who…

  • Chop Tai Chong Kok takeaway food shop.

    Chop Tai Chong Kok

    Chinatown & the CBD

    Pick up something sweet at Chop Tai Chong Kok, a super-traditional pastry shop in business since 1938. If you’re undecided, opt for the speciality lotus…

  • Seafood at Chinatown Wet Markets

    Chinatown Wet Market

    Chinatown & the CBD

    Elbow aunties at the famous Chinatown Wet Market, located in the basement of the Chinatown Complex. At its best early in the morning, it’s a gut-rumbling…

  • Zhong Yu Yuan Wei Wanton Noodle restaurant

    Zhong Yu Yuan Wei Wanton Noodle

    Chinatown & the CBD

    Best get here early to join the queue. This stall's famous bu jian tian char siew (no daylight roasted meat) is made with pork from a pig's armpit, hence…

  • Hiong Kee Dumplings

    Hiong Kee Dumplings

    Chinatown & the CBD

    Dumplings at this stall are stuffed full of tasty fillings, hence the line of people raring to get their hands on these tiny bamboo-leaf-wrapped parcels…

  • Zhen Zhen Porridge

    Zhen Zhen Porridge

    Chinatown & the CBD

    This humble stall has an epic reputation for silky, flavour-packed rice porridge, cooked since the wee hours of the morning. Choose from an array of…

  • Maxwell Fuzhou Oyster Cake

    Maxwell Fuzhou Oyster Cake

    Chinatown & the CBD

    Specialises in UFO-shaped discs packed with oysters, prawn, minced pork and herbs. The secret is in the batter, made from rice that has been soaked…

  • Din Tai Fung - Marina Bay Sands

    Din Tai Fung

    Colonial District, the Quays & Marina Bay

    Be prepared to queue during peak periods and pretty much all weekend at this large outlet of the cult-status dumpling restaurant, best known for its…

  • Hong Lim Food Centre

    Chinatown & the CBD

    Not short on gossiping ‘uncles’ with discerning palates, this old-school food centre is routinely crowded. Must trys include char kway teow (stir-fried…

  • Tekka Centre

    Little India & Kampong Glam

    There's no shortage of subcontinental spice at this bustling hawker centre, wrapped around a wet market. Queue up for real-deal biryani, dosa (paper thin,…

  • Changi Village Hawker Centre

    Singapore

    Located in chilled-out Changi Village, this is the most Malay of Singapore's food centres, with locals heading here for one thing: the nasi lemak …

  • Lobby Lounge at The Westin

    Colonial District, the Quays & Marina Bay

    The Westin's good-value seafood high tea is divided into three 'courses', with freshly shucked oysters and decadent lobster thermidor followed by bites…

  • Two Bakers

    Little India & Kampong Glam

    The bakers at this light, contemporary bakery-cafe earned their stripes at Paris' Cordon Bleu. The result? Irresistible sweet treats and countless broken…

  • Roland Restaurant

    Singapore

    According to Roland, it was his mum, Mrs Lim, who invented Singapore's iconic chilli crab back in the 1950s. Decades on, Roland has his own giant…

  • Smokey's BBQ

    Singapore

    You'll be longing for sweet home Alabama at this breezy, all-American barbecue legend. Californian owner Rob makes all the dry rubs using secret recipes…

  • QS269 Food House

    Little India & Kampong Glam

    This is not so much a 'food house' as a loud, crowded undercover laneway lined with cult-status stalls. Work up a sweat with a bowl of award-winning…

  • Artichoke

    Colonial District, the Quays & Marina Bay

    Sequestered in a cosy building behind an old church, cafe-style Artichoke is the stamping ground of street-smart chef Bjorn Shen. His schtick is Middle…

  • Common Man Coffee Roasters

    Colonial District, the Quays & Marina Bay

    While this airy, industrial-cool cafe roasts and serves top-class coffee, it also serves seriously scrumptious grub. Produce is super fresh and the…

  • Charlie's Peranakan

    Little India & Kampong Glam

    Charlie has garnered a loyal following over the last few decades for his comforting Nonya cuisine. After an eight year hiatus he's back doing what he…

  • Meatsmith Little India

    Little India & Kampong Glam

    Often referred to as the little cousin of Burnt Ends (it's partly owned by chef David Pynt), this American barbecue joint takes inspiration from the…

  • Swee Choon Tim Sum

    Little India & Kampong Glam

    What started as a single shophouse dim sum restaurant in 1962, Swee Choon has grown to consume all the floorspace, sidewalk and back alley of four…

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