Quick answers — eating in Singapore
- Best restaurant overall
- Odette
- Best value
- Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle (SGD 6-15 / USD 4-11)
- Strongest cuisines
- French, Japanese, Modern European, British, Steak & grill
- Dishes to try
- Hainanese Chicken Rice, Chili Crab, Laksa, Char Kway Teow
- Booking window
- For three-Michelin-starred restaurants like Odette or Les Amis, book at least 2-3 months in advance, especially for weekend dinner slots. Use their online reservation systems which typically open specific windows.
Booking well in advance, often weeks or months for top establishments, is crucial in Singapore. Dress codes typically range from smart casual to elegant, with jackets sometimes recommended for men at two- and three-star venues. Tipping is generally not expected as a service charge is included, and dinner hours typically run from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM, with some offering later seatings.
French
Best French restaurants in Singapore
French cooking is still the backbone of fine dining almost everywhere — expect sauce work, butter, precise service and set lunch menus that cost a fraction of dinner.
Odette
Three MICHELIN StarsModern French · City Hall · SGD 300-500+ / USD 220-370+
Julien Royer
Housed within the National Gallery, Odette offers refined modern French cuisine with an Asian sensibility, emphasizing provenance and seasonality. The elegant, art-filled room provides a serene backdrop for Chef Royer's delicate and precise cooking, making it a benchmark for contemporary fine dining in Southeast Asia.
Order: Rosemary Smoked Organic Egg, Brittany Blue Lobster
Les Amis
Three MICHELIN StarsClassic French · Orchard Road · SGD 300-500+ / USD 220-370+
Sébastien Lepinoy
A stalwart of Singapore's fine-dining scene for decades, Les Amis delivers classical French haute cuisine with unwavering precision and exceptional service. The luxurious dining room exudes old-world charm, providing an elegant setting for dishes crafted from the finest seasonal ingredients sourced globally. It remains a bastion of French culinary excellence.
Order: La Raviole de Langoustine, Le Homard Bleu Rôti
Japanese
Best Japanese restaurants in Singapore
Japanese rooms range from counter omakase, where you eat whatever the chef cut that morning, to kaiseki menus built around the season. Counters are small — book early and arrive on time.
Zén
Three MICHELIN StarsModern Nordic-Japanese · Newton · SGD 450-600+ / USD 330-440+
Björn Frantzén
Zén, the Singapore outpost of Stockholm's Frantzén, provides a multi-level, immersive dining experience combining Nordic and Japanese culinary philosophies. Guests progress through different rooms, enjoying meticulously plated dishes that showcase premium ingredients and innovative techniques. It's an intimate, theatrical journey of taste and texture.
Order: French Toast with Kristal Caviar, Grilled Lobster
Waku Ghin
Two MICHELIN StarsJapanese European · Marina Bay · SGD 450-600+ / USD 330-440+
Tetsuya Wakuda
Waku Ghin by celebrity Chef Tetsuya Wakuda offers an intimate and luxurious dining experience within Marina Bay Sands. Guests enjoy a multi-course omakase menu prepared live at a private counter, showcasing premium Japanese ingredients with European finesse. It's a personal culinary spectacle focused on exquisite ingredients and precise execution.
Order: Marinated Botan Shrimp with Sea Urchin and Caviar, Wagyu with Wasabi and Citrus
Modern European
Best modern European restaurants in Singapore
Modern European is the catch-all for kitchens that borrow technique from France, produce from their own region and ideas from everywhere — usually tasting-menu only.
Cloudstreet
Two MICHELIN StarsModern Australian · Tanjong Pagar · SGD 250-400+ / USD 185-295+
Rishi Naleendra
Cloudstreet offers an inventive, produce-driven Modern Australian menu with Sri Lankan inflections, reflecting Chef Rishi's heritage. The relaxed yet refined atmosphere allows for engaging interactions with the kitchen team. It's a culinary journey characterized by bold flavors, unexpected combinations, and artful presentation, delivered with warm hospitality.
Order: Sri Lankan Yellowfin Tuna, Grilled Kingfish Collar
British
Best British restaurants in Singapore
Modern British kitchens cook seasonal produce with French technique — and the best value in the category is very often lunch at a starred pub rather than dinner in town.
Jaan by Kirk Westaway
Two MICHELIN StarsModern British · City Hall · SGD 250-400+ / USD 185-295+
Kirk Westaway
Perched on the 70th floor of Swissôtel The Stamford, Jaan offers breathtaking city views complementing Chef Kirk Westaway's 'reinvented British' cuisine. The menu celebrates pristine British produce through refined techniques, delivering elegant dishes that are both comforting and sophisticated. It's a visually stunning and culinarily excellent experience.
Order: English Garden, The Fish & Chips
Steak & grill
Best steak and grill restaurants in Singapore
Grill rooms are about sourcing and fire: ask where the beef comes from, how long it was aged, and order one cut to share rather than two on separate plates.
Burnt Ends
One MICHELIN StarModern Australian BBQ · Keong Saik · SGD 150-250+ / USD 110-185+
Dave Pynt
Burnt Ends is a modern Australian barbecue restaurant where all cooking is done over custom-built wood-fired ovens and grills. The counter seating offers a dynamic view of the kitchen's intense heat and action. It's known for its bold, smoky flavors, high-quality ingredients, and energetic atmosphere, delivering an elevated yet primal dining experience.
Order: Sanchoku Wagyu Striploin, Burnt Ends Sanger
Budget
Where to eat cheaply in Singapore
Tiong Bahru Market Hawker Centre
A historic hawker centre offering a wide range of local delicacies. Try the Chwee Kueh (steamed rice cakes with preserved radish) for SGD 3-5, or Hainanese Chicken Rice for around SGD 5-8.
Maxwell Food Centre
Famous for Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice (around SGD 5-10), this bustling hawker centre also offers diverse options like Fried Hokkien Mee and Popiah, typically costing SGD 4-8 per dish.
Old Airport Road Food Centre
One of Singapore's largest and most beloved hawker centres. Must-tries include Rojak (SGD 4-7) and Satay (SGD 0.80-1.00 per stick), alongside countless other local favorites for under SGD 10.
Amoy Street Food Centre
Popular with the CBD crowd for lunch, featuring a mix of traditional and modern hawker fare. Sample the renowned Fish Soup for SGD 5-8 or innovative healthy bowls for around SGD 10-12.
Lau Pa Sat
An iconic Victorian-era market known for its array of satay stalls that open in the evenings on Satay Street. Enjoy grilled skewers for SGD 0.80-1.20 each, along with other local dishes for SGD 6-12.
Local dishes
What to eat in Singapore
Hainanese Chicken Rice
A deceptively simple yet profoundly satisfying dish, featuring tender poached chicken, fragrant rice cooked in chicken broth, and a trio of indispensable dipping sauces: chili, dark soy sauce, and ginger paste. Seek it out at renowned hawker stalls like Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice at Maxwell Food Centre.
Chili Crab
Singapore's iconic seafood dish, where succulent mud crabs are stir-fried in a rich, sweet, savoury, and slightly spicy tomato-chilli sauce. Best enjoyed with deep-fried mantou (buns) for dipping. Famous eateries include Jumbo Seafood and Long Beach Seafood, offering a truly indulgent experience.
Laksa
A spicy noodle soup, typically with a rich, fragrant coconut milk-based broth (Katong Laksa) or a tangy, sour fish-based broth (Assam Laksa, though less common in Singapore). It's usually served with thick vermicelli, prawns, fish cake, and cockles. The Katong area is famed for its rendition.
Char Kway Teow
A stir-fried noodle dish made with flat rice noodles and yellow wheat noodles, wok-fried with dark soy sauce, belacan (shrimp paste), cockles, lap cheong (Chinese sausage), bean sprouts, and egg. It’s known for its smoky 'wok hei' flavour, found at many hawker centres.
Satay
Skewered and grilled marinated meat, typically chicken, beef, or mutton, served with a sweet and spicy peanut sauce, cucumber, and onion. The Satay by the Bay food court is a popular spot for this BBQ delight, offering a lively atmosphere and delicious skewers.
Roti Prata
A South Indian flatbread, crispy on the outside and fluffy inside, often served with a side of fish or chicken curry. It's a popular breakfast or late-night snack. Many variations exist, including with cheese, egg, or even plain. Springleaf Prata Place is highly regarded.
Mee Siam
A flavourful stir-fried vermicelli noodle dish with a tangy, spicy, and sweet gravy made from tamarind, belacan, and fermented soybeans. Garnished with hard-boiled egg, tau pok (fried tofu puffs), and chives. It's a beloved local staple, especially for breakfast or lunch.
Nasi Lemak
A fragrant rice dish cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf, served with various accompaniments like fried anchovies, peanuts, cucumber slices, a hard-boiled egg, and sambal (chilli paste). Many hawker stalls offer their own unique sets; Changi Village Hawker Centre has several famous ones.
How to book a table in Singapore
- · For three-Michelin-starred restaurants like Odette or Les Amis, book at least 2-3 months in advance, especially for weekend dinner slots. Use their online reservation systems which typically open specific windows.
- · Many top establishments require a non-refundable deposit to confirm bookings, particularly for larger groups or prime timings. Ensure you understand their cancellation and deposit policies to avoid forfeiture.
- · Consider dining during lunch, as many fine-dining restaurants offer more accessible tasting menus at a significantly lower price point than dinner, providing an excellent value proposition without compromising quality.
- · Be aware of strict no-show and late-cancellation policies common in fine dining. Failing to inform the restaurant could result in charges to your credit card, often the full price of the tasting menu.
FAQ
Singapore restaurant questions travellers ask
What is the best restaurant in Singapore?
Odette in City Hall is the benchmark table — Modern French, led by Julien Royer, three michelin stars, around SGD 300-500+ / USD 220-370+ per person. Order the Rosemary Smoked Organic Egg, Brittany Blue Lobster
Where is the best French restaurant in Singapore?
Odette in City Hall is the French table to book in Singapore (SGD 300-500+ / USD 220-370+ per person). Other strong options: Les Amis.
Where is the best Japanese restaurant in Singapore?
Zén in Newton is the Japanese table to book in Singapore (SGD 450-600+ / USD 330-440+ per person). Other strong options: Waku Ghin.
Where is the best modern European restaurant in Singapore?
Cloudstreet in Tanjong Pagar is the modern European table to book in Singapore (SGD 250-400+ / USD 185-295+ per person).
Where is the best British restaurant in Singapore?
Jaan by Kirk Westaway in City Hall is the British table to book in Singapore (SGD 250-400+ / USD 185-295+ per person).
Where is the best steak and grill restaurant in Singapore?
Burnt Ends in Keong Saik is the steak and grill table to book in Singapore (SGD 150-250+ / USD 110-185+ per person).
Where can I eat well in Singapore without spending a fortune?
Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle is the best-value table on this list at roughly SGD 6-15 / USD 4-11 per person. Beyond fine dining, locals point to Tiong Bahru Market Hawker Centre, Maxwell Food Centre, Old Airport Road Food Centre.
How far in advance should I book restaurants in Singapore?
For three-Michelin-starred restaurants like Odette or Les Amis, book at least 2-3 months in advance, especially for weekend dinner slots. Use their online reservation systems which typically open specific windows. Many top establishments require a non-refundable deposit to confirm bookings, particularly for larger groups or prime timings. Ensure you understand their cancellation and deposit policies to avoid forfeiture.
What food is Singapore famous for?
Hainanese Chicken Rice, Chili Crab, Laksa, Char Kway Teow, Satay — the dishes most worth eating where they come from. A deceptively simple yet profoundly satisfying dish, featuring tender poached chicken, fragrant rice cooked in chicken broth, and a trio of indispensable dipping sauces: chili, dark soy sauce, and ginger paste. Seek it out at renowned hawker stalls like Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice at Maxwell Food Centre.
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