In a food city as diverse and plentiful as Singapore, the task of finding a good restaurant to eat at can confound even locals—let alone visitors who have only one night to spend on the island. How do you know if the eatery you end up in will be worth it?
Enter Singapore’s foodies, who have garnered thousands of followers on Instagram for sharing their gastronomic adventures. If you’re looking for gourmands with seasoned palates, it’s these people—which is why we’ve recruited them to share their number one spot to visit in Singapore if you only have time for one place to go. From upscale fine dining to hearty zi char, here’s where you should eat for an exceptional meal if you have only one night in Singapore.
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Eat First/Sik Wai Sin
“If overseas Uncles ask this Singapore Uncle, I will point them to old school, local and comfort foods. Zi char is very popular in Singapore. Enjoying zi char will give visiting Uncles a good feel for everyday Singapore—communal style, no frills and hearty fares, as raw as it gets; including a glimpse of what Singaporeans will do for good food, [including] sweating for food.
Sik Wai Sin can be enjoyed by multi-generations. It is a place where parents will bring their children to reminisce the flavours they enjoyed when they themselves were children. The menu is not big but every dish is exceptionally done. Whether it is old school tofu prawns, sweet and sour pork (probably the best in Singapore), steamed minced pork with salted fish, ginger chicken or the signature steamed fish head, the dishes will hit the spot for Uncles, Aunties and young foodies in the making.
Nestled in a heritage house along Geylang, it feels like you are really going home to have your meal. Sik Wai Sin is truly uniquely Singaporean.”
—Leon Chua, @uncle_lim_chiak
Eat First/Sik Wai SinAddress: 287 Geylang Road, S(389334), +65 6443 8434
Naked Finn
“Not the usual ‘local seafood’ joint in Naked Finn, by founder Ken-Loon Tan and Chef Marcus Leow. Come here for impeccably sourced seafood prepared in refined, elevated yet comforting ways.
The Dungeness crabs are phenomenal. Chilli crabs are properly piquant, spicy and balanced, allowing the natural flavours of meaty crabs to shine through. The new Penja black pepper crabs are exceptional with a mellowed assertiveness, accentuating the natural sweetness of the beautiful crabs.
Add to that regular favourites like the signature bee hoon and wild-caught samegarei, and exciting seasonal dishes with progressive Singaporean accents like shima aji toasts and pomfret with pickled starfruit, served by a knowledgeable team, and dinner becomes a truly fantastic experience!”
—Lim Sze-Liang, @szeliang888
Naked FinnAddress: 39 Malan Road, Gillman Barracks, S(109442), +65 6694 0807
Bonding Kitchen
“For a first-time foodie visitor, Peranakan or Straits Chinese cuisine always invokes curiosity and delight, because it showcases a mélange of local flavours. Bonding Kitchen is my go-to Peranakan restaurant in Singapore. The flavours are rich & layered, very much to my taste and dishes are well priced. Best thing of all, it’s centrally located, easy to book and with à la carte options [for] whenever the craving hits.”
—Chan Kwai Sum, @chanksters
Bonding KitchenAddress: 277 Orchard Road, 02-18 Orchardgateway, S(238858), +65 8860 9087
Read more: You can sit with him: How Chan Kwai Sum became Singapore’s most sociable foodie
Spago Dining Room
Laksa spring rolls at Spago Dining Room
“We are spoilt for choice when it comes to dining out in Singapore. But even with new restaurants opening on a weekly, if not almost daily, basis, the one that comes to mind first whenever I am asked to recommend a restaurant, is Spago. For the stellar combination of good food, ambience and service that makes dining out a pleasure, this restaurant on the 57th floor of Marina Bay Sands is hard to beat. Don’t take my word for it—please ask my followers on Instagram who have thanked me profusely after I recommended Spago to them.
Executive chef Greg Bess who also helms one-Michelin-starred Cut, may be American but having spent more than a decade in Singapore, his love for Asia’s diverse cuisines runs deep—and it shows in the menu at Spago.
Therefore, besides the sure-wins of perfectly done American Wagyu steaks with all the necessary bells and whistles, hearty pastas that rank among the best in Singapore and dozens of other Western-style dishes, you can find original tastebuds-titillating modern Asian creations too, such as the stunning signature Japanese sea bream “laksa”, an unconventional tribute to one of his favourite hawker dishes in Singapore.
Service, that elusive ingredient that adds a sparkle to any dining experience, is always pitch perfect at Spago.
Whether it’s lunch or dinner you choose to have here, the space is as beautiful as it is comfortable. Don’t forget to step outside to take in the panoramic views either.”
—Veronica Phua, @iamveronicaphua
‘Bak chor mee’ at Labyrinth
“Up for a uniquely Singaporean gastronomic adventure? Labyrinth is the place to be! Led by chef-owner LG Han who’s all about reimagining traditional Singaporean dishes, this restaurant has snagged a Michelin star for seven years in a row. Plus, it’s rocking the 30th spot on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants and 92nd on World’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2024.
But it’s not just about the awards. Labyrinth is a playground for foodies. Daringly playful, they serve up Singaporean classics with a creative spin that’ll surprise and amuse you. My most unforgettable dish at Labyrinth is its bak chor mee, where the noodles were actually made from freshly caught local squid.
Tucked in Esplanade Mall, Labyrinth looks mysteriously cool with dark walls and sharp lighting. If you’re lucky, you might catch Han sharing his culinary stories.
As a foodie who travels globally, I’m incredibly proud to have Labyrinth in Singapore. It’s a hit with every international foodie I’ve recommended it to, and I hope you’ll enjoy it too.”
—Eunice Lim, @foodtravelbabe and author of blog foodtravelbabe.com
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