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.
In Singapore the French list is led by Odette in City Hall (Three MICHELIN Stars, SGD 300-500+ / USD 220-370+ per person).
- 1.
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
- 2.
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
Booking a French 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.
And the local dishes 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.
Other cuisines in Singapore
Seven days in Singapore
Pair these French tables with the full itinerary: neighbourhoods, museums and what to skip.
Read the Singapore travel guide