Perhaps unsurprisingly seeing as it’s the world’s most expensive city, Singapore has got it good in terms of fine dining.
For the box tickers and star chasers, the city totalled seven entries in the recently announced Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2022 list, with a whopping 48 Michelin-starred restaurants, including three receiving the highest accolade of three stars. Plenty more restaurants in the Lion City are courting that kind of recognition and prices soar skyward accordingly.
Arguably the epicentre of the haute-cuisine side of the food scene here is the Marina Bay, Singapore’s most upscale district, instantly recognisable by its modern, outlandish architecture, including the ArtScience Museum built to resemble a lotus flower, the water-spouting Merlion, and the towering Gardens by the Bay.
Here, the menus are just as cutting edge, bold and intricate as the architecture, but if you’re looking for the very finest of dining, it’s important to distinguish the good from the gastronomically great. To do just that, you’ve come to the right place; here are the best fine-dining restaurants in Marina Bay, Singapore.
Waku Chin, Marina Bay Sands
Within the ultra-opulent Marina Bay Sands resort, which boasts one of the world’s largest Swarovski crystal chandeliers and houses one of the most lavish casinos in the world, is Waku Chin by Tetsuya Wakuda, one of the world’s best Michelin starred casino restaurants. What could possibly go wrong?
At the Blackjack table, plenty. But under the care of chef Wakuda at his 2 Michelin starred Teppanyaki-Omakase restaurant, you’ll be in very safe hands, indeed.
At Waku Chin, a tasting menu is served to 25 lucky guests in two sittings each night, at either 5pm or 8pm, with prices varying according to what’s in season and what’s arrived fresh to the restaurant that day. Rest assured; whatever you’re served, the food is always impeccable and often playful. The signature here – a cold pasta of Botan shrimp, French truffle, Murasaki uni and Oscietra Caviar – often opens the tasting menu and is sublime.
Chef Wakuda is also the only official ambassador of sake outside of Japan, so expect an incredible selection of premium bottles, some of which you won’t find anywhere else in the world.
Saint Pierre, One Fullerton
Another luxurious hotel in Singapore with fine-dining options by the bucket-load is One Fullerton, just across the water from Marina Bay Sands, and equally as blessed with Michelin starred restaurants.
Our pick of the bunch? Saint Pierre, a nominally ‘French’ ode to haute cuisine, but with plenty of East and Southeast Asian accents thrown in for good measure. Awarded two Michein stars in 2019 and holding on to them since, the ‘opulence’ menu which features luxury ingredients like Oscietra caviar, Bafun uni, Nagasaki seabass and Anjou pigeon, will set you back a whopping $388 (around £220).
All things considered, then, the set lunch menu, offering three courses on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, is a relative steal at £95.
Sure, you could eat just as well in one of Singapore’s legendary hawker centres for £219 less, but sometimes, the Lion City’s luxuriousness needs to be enjoyed first hand, complete with sweeping views of Marina Bay as you dine. Saint Pierre is one of the best facilitators of both those things in Singapore.
Shoukouwa, One Fullerton
If you thought that Saint Pierre sounded exclusive, then Singapore’s most critically acclaimed sushi restaurant, Shoukouwa, takes things up another notch. Here, the omakase menu at its most prestigious will put a serious dent in your bank balance, to the tune of $650 (or £366). For the privilege, you’ll be treated to a procession of the most intricate bites, which build to a climax of expertly prepared, spanking fresh nigiri.
Throw in a bottle of sake and food heaven awaits. Interestingly, the restaurant has the record breaking, 0% polishing ratio Nizawa Reikyo Absolute ‘’0’’ Junmai Daiginjo on its sake menu. Yours for just $8500.
Read: 6 IDEAL tips of doing Singapore on a budget
Cut Steakhouse, Marina Bay Sands
A second eatery-entrant housed in the Marina Bay Sands, Cut Steakhouse is the first Asian outpost by celebrated Austrian-American chef Wolfgang Puck. A Michelin star holder for several years, the vibe here is suave and sophisticated, and the carefully-sourced steaks are chargrilled over apple wood just to your liking – yes, they’ll even do yours well-done, if you like.
For those not in the mood for a big hunk of meat, there’s still plenty to get excited about, with whole roasted Maine lobster anointed with black truffle sabayon about as indulgent as you can get, even in this most opulent of cities. Finish with one of the silkiest chocolate souffles you ever did try, and it’s time for a long, but very satisfying, lie down.
Lau Pa Sat, Raffles Quay
Finally, something a little less damaging to the purse. Fortunately, and somewhat surprisingly in a city of affluence and aspiration, cheap eats can be found everywhere.
When dining out, locals often eat at the ubiquitous hawker centres that are found all over town. Perhaps the best is Lau Pa Sat (also known as Telok Ayer Market) where you’ll find a huge diversity of dishes and styles. Singapore’s Boon Tat Street, also known as ‘Satay Street’, turns into a street food lover’s paradise in the evening, where you can find grilled things on sticks for around 50p an item.
Now you’re talking; if that sounds more like your sort of thing, then check out these 10 IDEAL foodie destinations in Southeast Asia.