The best restaurants in Singapore

How to choose a restaurant in Singapore

Eating out is a big part of daily life in Singapore. Every restaurant on this page averages 4 stars or more on Google. Even so, they range from a stall with plastic stools to a dining room with a long tasting menu. Start by deciding what kind of meal you want. Then pick by area, so you are not crossing the island at dinner time.

Types of places to eat

Hawker centres

A hawker centre is a large, mostly open-air food court with many small stalls. Food is cheap, and most stalls focus on a few dishes. Maxwell Food Centre is home to Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice. Lau Pa Sat sits among the office towers of the CBD. Tiong Bahru Market is in the Tiong Bahru estate. See the full Hawker Favourites list.

Kopitiams and zi char

A kopitiam is a traditional coffee shop with a few food stalls. It is the place for kaya toast, which is toast with sweet coconut jam, often served with soft-boiled eggs and local coffee. For kaya toast, try Ya Kun Kaya Toast (Far East Square) or Killiney Kopitiam. Zi char means home-style Chinese cooking. Dishes are cooked to order and shared, so it works best in a group. Browse Zi Char for ideas.

Fine dining

Singapore has a strong fine dining scene, and many chefs serve set tasting menus. Odette and Les Amis serve French cuisine. Zén, in the Chinatown and Tanjong Pagar area, is Nordic. Burnt Ends is a Modern Australian barbecue spot in Dempsey. Nae:um cooks Korean food, while Seroja is Malaysian. JAAN by Kirk Westaway serves Modern British food high above City Hall. See all Fine Dining picks.

Local dishes to try first

• Chicken Rice: poached or roasted chicken with fragrant rice cooked in chicken stock, plus chilli and ginger sauces.
• Chilli Crab: crab in a thick, sweet and mildly spicy tomato-chilli sauce. Order fried buns, called mantou, to mop it up. Jumbo Seafood (Riverside Point) is on the Singapore River.
• Laksa: noodles in a spicy coconut curry broth. 328 Katong Laksa serves a well-known version in Katong.
• Bak Kut Teh: pork ribs simmered in a peppery or herbal broth. Try Song Fa Bak Kut Teh (New Bridge Road).
• Satay: grilled meat skewers served with peanut sauce.

For Peranakan food, which blends Chinese and Malay cooking traditions, try National Kitchen by Violet Oon or Candlenut.

Best areas to eat

• Chinatown & Tanjong Pagar: hawker food, small eateries and fine dining, much of it in restored shophouses.
• Little India & Jalan Besar: South Indian vegetarian meals, banana leaf rice and fish head curry.
• Bugis & Kampong Glam: Malay and Middle Eastern food, plus murtabak, a stuffed and pan-fried flatbread.
• Katong & Joo Chiat: Peranakan food and laksa in a quieter heritage area.
• Dempsey, Tanglin & Holland: relaxed dining in leafy former army barracks.

Tips for booking, paying and hawker etiquette

• Book ahead for fine dining. Popular tasting menus can fill up weeks ahead. Hawker stalls take no bookings.
• Check for "++". Many sit-down menus show prices with "++". It means service charge and GST, Singapore's goods and services tax, are added to the bill.
• Know rough costs. A hawker dish often costs around S$4 to S$8. A tasting menu can cost several hundred dollars per person. Prices change, so check menus before you go.
• Tipping is optional. It is not expected, especially where a service charge applies.
• Leave saved seats alone. At hawker centres, locals "chope" (reserve) a table by leaving a tissue packet on it. Find another seat if you see one.
• Clear up. Return your tray and crockery to the tray return point when you finish.
• Halal food. Look for the MUIS halal certificate on display at the stall or shop. MUIS is the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore.

New to hawker food? Read Hawker Centre Etiquette in Singapore: 9 Simple Rules first.

FAQs about restaurants in Singapore

Do I need to book a table in Singapore?

For fine dining and popular dinner spots, yes, often well in advance. Hawker centres and most casual places are walk-in only.

Is tipping expected when eating out in Singapore?

No. Many sit-down places add a service charge to the bill. You can leave a small tip for great service, but nobody expects it.

How much does a meal cost in Singapore?

A hawker meal is the cheapest option, often under S$10 with a drink. Mid-range places cost more, and fine dining costs the most. Prices change, so treat these as rough guides.

What should I eat first in Singapore?

Chicken rice, laksa, chilli crab, satay and kaya toast are good places to start. All are easy to find in the list above.

Is there vegetarian food in Singapore?

Yes. Little India has many South Indian vegetarian kitchens, such as Komala Vilas. Many hawker centres also have a vegetarian stall.