Best Restaurants in Singapore: Where to Eat in 2024
Singapore is a city obsessed with eating. It is one of the few places on earth where a street food stall shares the same Michelin prestige as a white-tablecloth French dining room. The local food scene is a high-speed collision of Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Eurasian influences, further augmented by a constant influx of global culinary talent. From humid hawker centers to sky-high luxury suites, the city offers a range of price points and flavors that few global hubs can match. This guide cuts through the noise to show you exactly where to eat in Singapore.
Must-try dishes in Singapore
Before you book a table, you need to know the staples. These dishes define the local palate.
- Chilli Crab: Mud crabs stir-fried in a thick, sweet, and savory tomato-and-chili sauce. Order a side of mantou (fried buns) to soak up the gravy.
- Hainanese Chicken Rice: Poached chicken served with fragrant rice cooked in chicken fat and ginger. It is widely considered Singapore’s national dish.
- Laksa: A spicy noodle soup with a creamy coconut milk base, flavored with dried shrimp and topped with cockles or prawns.
- Nasi Lemak: Fragrant rice cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf, typically served with fried whitebait, peanuts, egg, and spicy sambal.
- Satay: Skewered meats grilled over charcoal and served with a rich, chunky peanut sauce and rice cakes.
- Bak Kut Teh: A "meat bone tea" consisting of pork ribs simmered in a complex broth of herbs and peppercorns.
Best restaurants in Singapore for a splurge
If you are looking for a world-class meal without regard for the bill, these three establishments represent the pinnacle of fine dining in the city.
Odette (City Hall)
Located inside the National Gallery, Odette holds three Michelin stars and consistently ranks among the best restaurants in the world. Chef Julien Royer focuses on Modern French cuisine with an emphasis on artisanal ingredients. The dining room is airy and elegant, mirroring the precision of the plated courses. Expect seasonal menus that treat ingredients with extreme technical reverence.
Burnt Ends (Dempsey Hill)
Burnt Ends is a masterclass in modern barbecue. This one-Michelin-starred spot uses custom-built ovens and grills to cook almost everything over open coals. It is high-octane, loud, and incredibly hard to book. The counter seats offer a front-row view of the fire. Order the Sanger burger and any of the seasonal vegetable dishes, which frequently outshine the meats.
Cloudstreet (Amoy Street)
Cloudstreet offers a progressive tasting menu that merges Australian influences with Sri Lankan heritage. Chef Rishi Naleendra’s approach is bold and eclectic, focused on unexpected flavor pairings. The interior is moody and sophisticated, featuring an open kitchen and a dedicated dessert lounge upstairs. It is a standout choice for those who want a creative, modern dining experience.
Best casual restaurants and local favorites
These spots sit between the hawker centers and fine dining. They offer high-quality food in a relaxed environment, perfect for a standard night out.
National Kitchen by Violet Oon (City Hall)
For an introduction to Peranakan (Straits Chinese) cuisine, this is the gold standard. Located in the National Gallery, the decor is opulently old-world. The menu features classics like Ayam Buah Keluak and Beef Rendang. It is sophisticated but approachable, making it a reliable choice for showing visitors the depth of Singapore’s heritage flavors.
Kok Sen Restaurant (Keong Saik)
This is a legendary zi char (home-style Chinese) spot that recently upgraded to a cleaner, air-conditioned space. It remains famous for its Big Prawn Bee Hoon Soup, which features a rich, umami-heavy broth. It is loud, busy, and unpretentious. It captures the soul of Singaporean Chinese cooking without the frills of a hotel restaurant.
Labyrinth (Esplanade)
Labyrinth takes traditional Singaporean flavors and applies "new expression" techniques. Chef LG Han reimagines local staples—like chili crab or kaya toast—into avant-garde dishes that look nothing like the originals but taste exactly like home. It is a fascinating, intellectual way to experience local food culture in a casual yet refined setting.
New Ubin Seafood (Various Locations)
New Ubin started in a rustic corner of the island and grew into a local powerhouse. They are famous for "Singaporean-style" seafood and their signature USDA Black Angus Ribeye, which comes with "heart attack" fried rice cooked in beef tallow. It is the ultimate spot for a large group dinner where the food takes center stage.
Best cheap eats and street food
The best restaurants in Singapore aren't always restaurants. The hawker centers are the lifeblood of the city.
Liao Fan Hawker Chan (Chinatown)
Famous for being the world’s cheapest Michelin-starred meal, this stall specializes in Soya Sauce Chicken Rice. While it has expanded into a global franchise, the original stall in the Chinatown Complex Food Centre remains the most authentic experience. The chicken is tender, slick with savory soy, and costs less than a coffee at Starbucks.
Maxwell Food Centre (Chinatown)
Maxwell is home to Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice, famously praised by Anthony Bourdain. Beyond the chicken rice, look for the Fuzhou Oyster Cakes and the sliced fish soup from Han Kee. It is a dense, high-energy environment that rewards those willing to stand in line for the most popular stalls.
Old Airport Road Food Centre (Geylang)
Ask a local where to eat in Singapore for the most concentrated density of good stalls, and they will likely point here. It is less touristy than Maxwell. Key highlights include the Lor Mee (thick gravy noodles), the satay, and the various prawn noodle stalls. It is a sprawling complex that requires multiple visits to fully explore.
Zam Zam (Kampong Glam)
An institution since 1904, Zam Zam is the place to go for Murtabak—a folded, stuffed pancake filled with minced meat (mutton, chicken, or beef) and onions. It is massive, greasy in the best way, and served with a side of spicy curry gravy. It is a staple of Singapore’s Indian-Muslim culinary heritage.
Best breakfast and brunch
Singaporeans take brunch seriously, ranging from traditional coffee shop sets to Australian-style cafe plates.
Ya Kun Kaya Toast (Multiple Locations)
For the quintessential Singaporean breakfast, go to Ya Kun. Order "Set A": charcoal-grilled toast slathered with kaya (coconut jam) and cold butter, served with two soft-boiled eggs and a cup of thick kopi (local coffee). Crack the eggs into a saucer, add dark soy sauce and white pepper, and dip the toast.
Sarnies (Telok Ayer)
This Australian-style cafe is a staple of the CBD (Central Business District). It serves some of the best coffee in the city alongside hearty plates like massive breakfast wraps, smoked salmon bagels, and steak sandwiches. It is busy, efficient, and perfect for a high-protein start to the day.
Common Man Coffee Roasters (Martin Road)
A pioneer in the local specialty coffee scene, Common Man offers a polished brunch experience. Their "Full Breakfast" is legendary, and their beans are roasted in-house. It has a vibrant, bustling atmosphere that feels more like Melbourne or London than Southeast Asia.
Best rooftop or view dining
Singapore’s skyline is iconic, and several restaurants take full advantage of the elevation.
Level33 (Marina Bay)
Billed as the world’s highest urban microbrewery, Level33 offers a direct view of the Marina Bay Sands. While it is known for its craft beers, the "Contapast" menu and grilled meats are surprisingly refined. The outdoor terrace is the premier spot for a sundowner with a view of the bay.
SKAI (City Hall)
Situated on the 70th floor of Swissôtel The Stamford, SKAI offers a panoramic view across the entire island. The menu is a Japanese-inspired grill, focusing on premium cuts of beef and fresh seafood. The floor-to-ceiling windows provide a sense of scale that is hard to beat anywhere else in the city.
Best food neighborhoods to wander
If you don't have a reservation, head to these districts to find a high density of quality options.
- Tiong Bahru: One of the oldest housing estates, now filled with trendy cafes, specialty bakeries (like Tiong Bahru Bakery), and a top-tier hawker market.
- Katong/Joo Chiat: The heart of Peranakan culture. Wander between colorful shophouses to find laksa stalls, boutique coffee roasters, and traditional Dumpling houses.
- Keong Saik Road: Once a red-light district, it is now a dense cluster of award-winning cocktail bars and Michelin-rated restaurants.
- Little India: Head here for the most authentic South and North Indian food. The wet market at Tekka Centre has an incredible hawker floor for biryani and appam.
Note: Restaurant operating hours and reservation availability are subject to frequent changes; always check official websites before visiting.