Modern Australian Restaurants in Singapore

A guide to modern Australian restaurants in Singapore

Modern Australian food is relaxed cooking built on good produce and many cultural influences. There are few modern Australian restaurants in Singapore that use the label. Still, the style shows up in grill restaurants and in the city's many brunch cafés. This guide explains what to expect and where to find it.

What is modern Australian food?

Modern Australian cooking, often called "Mod Oz", grew from Australia's mix of cultures. British roots meet Mediterranean, Asian and Middle Eastern flavours. Chefs focus on quality produce, such as beef, lamb and seafood, and cook it simply. Grilling and barbecue play a big part.

Native Australian ingredients sometimes appear too. Examples include finger lime, a small citrus fruit filled with tiny juice pearls. Wattleseed is another, a roasted seed with a taste a little like coffee.

Café and brunch culture

Australian-style cafés are popular in Singapore. Think flat whites, smashed avocado on toast, eggs and grain bowls. A flat white is a strong coffee topped with smooth, steamed milk. See Cafés & Bakeries and Cafés & Coffee for places to try.

Where to eat modern Australian food in Singapore

Fine dining barbecue

Burnt Ends is a fine dining barbecue restaurant in Dempsey, Tanglin & Holland. It is also listed with our steakhouses and grills. Expect dishes cooked on the grill. Book well ahead.

Getting to Dempsey

Dempsey Hill is a leafy area of former army barracks. Today it is home to restaurants and shops in low buildings among old trees. It feels calmer than the city centre. Many visitors arrive by taxi or ride-hailing car. You can pair a meal with a walk in the Singapore Botanic Gardens nearby. For more ideas, read Dempsey Hill & Holland Village.

Related grill and barbecue pages

• Meatsmith is a barbecue spot in Marina Bay & CBD.
• Smokey's BBQ serves American barbecue in Katong & Joo Chiat.
• See Barbecue and Steakhouses & Grills for more.
• For another modern take on a national cuisine, see Modern British.

What to order

• Grilled meats: Australian beef and lamb are common. Ask staff how each cut is best cooked.
• Seafood: look for barramundi, a mild white fish, plus prawns and oysters.
• Vegetables from the grill: charred leeks, corn or pumpkin are typical sides.
• Pavlova: a meringue dessert with cream and fruit. Australia and New Zealand both claim it.
• Lamington: a square of sponge cake dipped in chocolate and rolled in coconut.
• Brunch: smashed avocado on toast with a flat white.

Tips for booking and dining

• Book early. Small, popular restaurants can be full weeks ahead. Check when bookings open and plan around it.
• Sit at the counter. Grill restaurants often have counter seats facing the kitchen. They are fun for watching the chefs at work.
• Mention your diet. Grill menus are meat-heavy. Ask ahead if you need vegetarian dishes or have allergies.
• Dress smart casual. Neat clothes suit most fine dining rooms in Singapore.
• Know rough costs. A fine dining dinner can cost S$150 to S$300 or more per person. Café brunch is often S$20 to S$40. Prices change, so check menus first.

FAQs about modern Australian restaurants in Singapore

What is modern Australian cuisine?

It is a relaxed style built on fresh Australian produce. It mixes British roots with Mediterranean, Asian and Middle Eastern influences.

What does "Mod Oz" mean?

Mod Oz is a short, informal name for modern Australian food. "Oz" is a casual nickname for Australia.

Where can I find Australian-style brunch in Singapore?

Many cafés serve it, with smashed avocado, eggs and flat whites. Start with the Cafés & Bakeries page.

Can vegetarians eat at a grill restaurant?

It depends on the restaurant. Most grill menus focus on meat, but chefs often grill vegetables too. Tell the restaurant when you book, so the kitchen can plan for you.

Is Dempsey easy to reach?

Yes. Dempsey is a short taxi ride from Orchard Road, and buses run along nearby Holland Road.