Singapore Restaurants, Food and Dining

Singapore is known as food lovers' heaven, and deservedly so. Its various cultural influences and a readiness to take on the latest gastronomic trends make for a unique blend of top-notch restaurants, cosy cafes and local-style hawker stalls and kopi tiams (coffee shops).

Singaporeans love eating, and have been known to travel miles in search of the perfect preparation of their favourite dish. Where to go for lunch or dinner, or which stall makes the best laksa (curry noodles) are common topics of conversation. The typical Singapore foodie is also rather sophisticated; he knows his penne from his rigatoni and is au courant with the latest fusion eatery that has just opened.

You could literally comb the streets for good restaurants; there are so many everywhere and they are easily accessible. The choice is so varied it is sometimes startling - there are whole streets where Chinese, Malay, Indian and Peranakan eateries rub shoulders with their Japanese, American, French, Mexican and Mediterranean counterparts.

Clarke Quay

both bordering the Singapore River, are lined with colourfully restored warehouses turned into restaurants. From your riverside table, you can watch Chinese junk boats shuttle passengers to and fro the two Quays against a backdrop of skyscrapers. The Quays are also lined with bars and clubs, so be prepared for a good blast of pop music when you're in the vicinity.

For an excellent introduction to Indonesian food from Sunda island, hop into House of Sundanese (55-55A Boat Quay, 5343775) at Boat Quay. If North Indian cuisine is more your thing, go for Our Village (46 Boat Quay, 5383058), which has delightful rooftop seating. Or check out the cool and classy Mediterranean atmosphere of JP Bastiani (#01-12, Merchant's Court, 433 0156) and the smoky, spicy taste of Malay satay (grilled meat on sticks) at the Satay Club at Clarke Quay.

Chijmes

Chijmes (30 Victoria Street), a chapel and convent converted into a courtyard of restaurants and pubs, also offers great outdoor dining.

Try Lei Garden (#01-24, 3393822) for flawlessly-prepared Cantonese food, Bobby Rubino's (#B1-03, 3375477) for juicy American pork ribs or the trendy Shrooms (#01-19, 3362268) which specialises in mushroom dishes.

Trendy Spots

Most Trendy

For dining at the moment include Indochine (42, Waterloo Street, 3335003) which dishes up good Vietnamese in an appropriately exotic setting, replete with Angkor-like statues and the scent of jasmine flowers.Marmalade (#01-02, 33 Purvis Street, 8372123), is great for European food amid minimalist decor. Try Sunday champagne brunches at restaurants like The Greenhouse at the Ritz-Carlton Millenia (7 Raffles Avenue, 4345286), where there's free flow of bubbly and an eat-all-you-can buffet.

Fine Dining

For impeccable Chinese fare try the Shang Palace (22, Orange Grove Road, 7302473) at the Shangri-La Hotel, or the Summer Pavilion (7 Raffles Avenue, 4345286) at the Ritz-Carlton Millenia, to name just two.

French Cuisine

Take your pick from restaurants such as Les Amis (1 Scotts Road #02-16 Shaw Centre, 7332225) or L'Aigle d'Or (83 Duxton Road, The Duxton Hotel, 2277678) or, if you really want to splurge, Au Jardin Les Amis (EJH Corner House, Singapore Botanic Gardens, 4668812) which is set amidst the lush tropical greenery of the Botanic Gardens.

Holland Village

Holland Village is another enclave dedicated to eating. Situated off Orchard Road, away from the central business district, the place is relaxed, even slightly bohemian. Step into Michelangelo's (44 Jalan Merah Saga #01-60 Chip Bee Gardens, 4759069) for a candle-lit tete-a-tete over Italian cuisine, or soak in the Mediterranean ambience at Original Sin (43 Jalan Merah Saga #01-62, Chip Bee Gardens, 4755605), which offers scrumptious vegetarian fare.

For a Local Atmosphere

East Coast

For a local atmosphere, the East Coast of the island is a great place to embark on a food excursion. For authentic and affordable Peranakan food, try Guan Hoe Soon (214 Joo Chiat Road, 3442761) or Baba Inn & Lounge (Frankel Avenue #01-103, 4452404), or have a laid-back chow-down at one of the many open-air seafood place such as Jumbo Restaurant along the East Coast Parkway, where the chili crab and black-pepper crab's a must.

Hawker Centres

The great thing about Singapore is that you can eat really well -- and have lots of fun too -- without busting your wallet. The island is dotted with hawker centres, where you will find food stalls that sell the local version of fast food. Some dishes to try: Hainanese chicken rice, laksa, roti prata (Indian-style pancakes with a curry dip), char kuay teow (fried noodles), satay.

Singapore dining

A popular hawker centre with tourists is Newton Circus near the Newton MRT, but for a more authentic (and cheaper) meal you can go to any of the hawker centres in the suburbs, such as Clementi, Bedok or Geylang. Locals swear by Thasevi Food Eating House (237/239, Jalan Kayu) for the best roti prata. If you have no time to venture into the suburbs, hawker gourmets say the ultimate Hainanese chicken rice can be had at Chatterbox (333 Orchard Road, 8316288) at the Mandarin Singapore Hotel.

Unforgettables

For meals that are at once unforgettable and a little off the beaten track, try the famous steamboat restaurant at Tiong Bahru, where bird-singing competitions are regularly held. Or head for Prima Tower (201 Keppel Road, 272 8822), whose revolving restaurant set aside a flour mill will let you savour dim sum and a bird's-eye view of the Singapore harbour at the same time.

There's also Killiney Kopi Tiam (67 Killiney Road), which still serves the fast-disappearing Singapore breakfast of toast with kaya (rich coconut custard) and half-boiled egg laced with soya sauce. It may not sound so, but it's delicious.

Best Selection

BEST AMBIENCE - Indochine

42, Waterloo Street, Tel: 3335003
Cuisine : Vietnamese
Budget : Upper mid-range

MOST ROMANTIC - Au Jardin Les Amis

EJH Corner House, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Tel : 4668812
Cuisine : French
Budget : Upper Range

BEST LOCAL FLAVOUR - Newton Circus

Near Newton MRT
Cuisine : Local Hawker Stalls
Budget : Low to midrange (if you order seafood)

BEST VALUE FOR MONEY - Qun Zhong Eating House

21, Neil Road, Tel : 2213060
Cuisine : Beijing dumplings and noodles
Budget : Low to midrange

MOST POSH - Compass Rose

2 Stamford Road, 70th Level, Westin Stamford Hotel, Tel : 4316156
Cuisine : Continental
Budget : High

MOST HIP - Marmalade

#01-02, 33 Purvis Street, Tel : 8372123
Cuisine : European
Budget : Upper midrange

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