Best Singapore Restaurants, Singapore Food Guide

Dining out couldn’t be easier—or more enjoyable—than it is in Singapore. Practically every neighborhood on the island has at least one “hawker center”—an open-air food court featuring dishes from around the region, plus the occasional Western stall selling burgers and fries. A full meal typically costs S$3 to $5 (US$2 to $3.50).

Approaching a hawker for the first time can be intimidating, so narrow your options by picking up a copy of local food bible Makansutra Singapore 2009 (Book Clearing House, 2008). When in doubt, try the chicken rice or curry rice at Maxwell Food Centre in Chinatown, satay at East Coast Park or stingray at Newton Circus.

Restaurant options are endless as well. Since nearly every epicurean need can be satisfied in Singapore, here are the best restaurants in Singapore for a variety of cuisines and dining experiecnes. Prices are in Singapore dollars, trading at S$1 to US$0.69 (or US$1 to S$1.45) at time of publishing.

Alfresco: Screening Room 

Take in the panoramic view of Chinatown’s pagodas and shophouses from Screening Room’s rooftop bar, where the extensive wine list and quirky “bites menu” (herbed popcorn, anyone?) will keep you satisfied well past happy hour.

12 Ann Siang Road. Tel. +65-6221-1694. Average drink: $13. Average “bites menu” prices: $8 to $14. www.screeningroom.com

American: Botak Jones

Botak Jones founder, Bernie Utchenik, is the first to admit he got funny looks when he opened an American-style hawker stall in Singapore’s heartland. Then the locals tried his “U-Crazy-What?!” triple-patty Botak burger with cheddar cheese, and the rest is history.

Outlets throughout Singapore. Check Web site for individual addresses, telephone numbers and hours. Burgers from $6. www.botakjones.com

 

• Singapore’s Clementi Food Court offers travelers the chance to try the best of local cuisine.

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Australian: Boomarang Bistro & Bar

Boomarang Bistro & Bar blends the casual comfort of picnic-style dining with an impressive, adventurous menu that includes Wagyu beef burgers, emu, crocodile and kangaroo. Try the Angus steak sandwich on flatbread—it’s delicious.

60 Robertson Quay #01-15, The Quayside. Tel. +65-673-8107. Entrées range from $12 to $60. www.boomarang.com.sg

Brunch: Town (The Fullerton Hotel)—Sunday Champagne Brunch

Extensive brunch buffet with Japanese, Italian, Mediterranean and Western cuisine, as well as Malay curry dishes. While the food is tasty, it’s really the view over the river that makes this place special.

1 Fullerton Square. Tel. +65-6733-8388. Brunch: $148++, includes free-flow champagne. www.fullertonhotel.com

Chinese: Cherry Garden

Cherry Garden has an all-you-can-eat dim sum buffet that changes monthly, though the regular menu features a steady stream of Cantonese classics. Recent highlights include: salmon rolls, wok-fried Kurobuta pork and a controversial shark’s fin dumpling.

Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Level 5, 5 Raffles Ave., Marina Square. Tel. +65-6885-3538. Entrées range from $8 to $68. www.mandarinoriental.com

 

• German sausages are always on the menu at Brotzeit Bar and Restaurant.

Courtesy of Brotzeit Bar and Restaurant

Filipino: 7,107 Flavours

With a nod to the Philippines’ 7,107 islands, this restaurant is committed to delivering an authentic cultural experience. Come for the thick, rich stews that taste like they were made by a team of hard-working Filipino grandmothers and live acoustic performances by young singer/songwriters.

6 Raffles Blvd., 2nd level, Marina Square Unit #02-02. Tel. +65-6334-7107. Entrées range from $9 to $15. www.7107flavours.com

French: Gunther’s

Belgian chef Gunther Hubrechsen earned his food chops working at three-star Michelin restaurant L’Arpège in Paris before moving east. Splurge on the sumptuous tasting menu. S$128 (US$90) for dinner.

36 Purvis St., #01-03. Tel. +65-6338-8955. Entrées range from $36 to $110. www.gunthers.com.sg

German: Brotzeit

Brotzeit serves up Bavarian cuisine using only traditional and original recipes. It’s not just a restaurant, it’s a beer bar too—with brews imported from Bavaria. Prost!

VivoCity, 1 HarbourFront Walk, #01-149/151. Tel. +65-6272-8815. 252 North Bridge Road,  #01-17 Raffles City Shopping Centre. Tel. +65-6883-1534. Entrées range from $12.90 to $29.90. www.brotzeit1516.com

 

• Rice Table serves Dutch-Indonesian small plates for lunch and dinner.

Courtesy of Rice Table

Indian: Banana Leaf Apolo

Though you can’t go wrong anywhere on Race Course Road, Banana Leaf Apolo is consistently good, drawing locals and tourists alike with its wide selection of Northern and Southern Indian food. Try the cheese-garlic naan and juicy chicken tikka. Plus, the portions are large, and you eat directly off a banana leaf.

56/58 Race Course Road. Tel. +65-6297-1595. Entrées range from $9 to $20. www.thebananaleafapolo.com

Indonesian: Rice Table

At this Dutch-Indonesian buffet (known as a Rijsttafel), they serve 14 small plates at lunch and 20 at dinner. It’s the perfect place to sample from Indonesian favorites such as satay and beef rendang.

360 Orchard Road, #02-09/10 International Building. All-you-can-eat lunch starts at $17.88 per person. All-you-can-eat dinner starts at $28.49 per person. www.ricetable.com.sg

Next: Japanese to Vietnamese Picks