Asian Market Café

Asian Market Café is the buffet restaurant on level 2 of Fairmont Singapore, at 80 Bras Basah Road. It serves lunch and dinner, with a spread of Singaporean and Southeast Asian favourites, fresh seafood and live cooking stations.

It is a good choice if you want to try many local dishes in one sitting, in the comfort of a hotel dining room. The restaurant seats about 235 guests, so it works well for families and larger groups.

What to order

The buffet focuses on dishes from Singapore and its neighbours. The exact line-up changes, but these are the core of the spread:

• Singapore favourites: laksa, chilli crab, teh tarik and Nyonya kueh.
• Regional dishes: nasi lemak, satay, beef rendang, nasi goreng and gado-gado.
• Indian dishes: curries and tandoori items.
• Dim sum, seafood and grills: dim sum, seafood and grilled meats round out the buffet counters.

The live stations are the highlight. Chefs make roti prata, laksa and satay to order. If you are new to local food, this is an easy way to sample dishes you might later order at a hawker stall.

The restaurant also runs themed buffets at different times of the year, such as festive spreads. Check what is on before you book.

The setting

This is a relaxed hotel dining room rather than a formal one. Food is laid out across several buffet counters, with chefs working at the live stations. The hotel lists it as casual, family-friendly and accessible, and it suits groups too.

Good to know before you go

• The hotel asks guests to reserve ahead, so book before you go, especially for weekend meals.
• The dress code is smart casual. Men should not wear singlets.
• Children aged five and under eat free, and children aged 6 to 12 pay a reduced child rate.
• You can order a celebration cake from the restaurant with 48 hours' notice. Outside food, drinks and cakes are not allowed.
• Bank card and membership offers often apply, so check the official Asian Market Café page before booking.

Getting there

City Hall MRT station is the nearest stop. It links underground to Raffles City Shopping Centre, which is connected to the hotel.

Nearby

In the same hotel, Asia Grand Restaurant serves Cantonese roasts and dim sum. For a special night out, JAAN by Kirk Westaway is in the Swissôtel tower of the same complex. CHIJMES is a short walk away. Compare more hotel buffets in Singapore, or read our guide to the best hawker centres for tourists to try these dishes at street prices. If you are staying here, see our page on Fairmont Singapore.