Garibaldi Italian Restaurant & Bar

Garibaldi Italian Restaurant & Bar is a long-running Italian restaurant at 36 Purvis Street, a short walk from Raffles Hotel. Chef Roberto Galetti, who comes from Brescia in northern Italy, opened it on 21 March 2003. It is named after Giuseppe Garibaldi, the general who helped unite Italy. In the same spirit, the menu brings together dishes from all over the country.

Galetti trained at the Caterina de' Medici institute in Italy. He then cooked in London, Salzburg, Rome, Buenos Aires and Tokyo before coming to Singapore. Working alongside him is chef de cuisine Chong Wan Khang, from Ipoh in Malaysia. He joined in 2006 and took on that role in 2015.

Awards

Garibaldi won one Michelin star in 2017 and kept it in 2018 and 2019. It no longer holds a star, but the MICHELIN Guide Singapore 2026 still includes it as a Selected restaurant. The World Gourmet Summit named it Restaurant of the Year in 2009 and gave it Wine List of the Year in 2012. In 2013 the Italian government gave it the Ospitalità Italiana mark for authentic Italian food abroad. Wine Spectator has also recognised the wine list, including its Best of Award of Excellence in 2017.

What to order

The Michelin Guide points to three classics: ossobuco, costoletta alla Milanese (a breaded veal cutlet) and tiramisu. Many ingredients are brought in from Italy. Beyond the long à la carte menu, there are several set menus:

• Set lunches: a weekly set lunch and a Chef's Lunch Menu
• Dinner: the Executive Menu and the Experience Menu
• White truffles: extra dishes when the truffles are in season
• Weekend brunch: each month features a different Italian region, and there is a vegetarian brunch menu

Wine is a big draw. Antonio Valentini, from Verona, is the restaurant manager, sommelier and wine director. He can help you pick a bottle from the large list.

The setting

The dining room is modern and cosy, and there is counter seating as well as tables. For groups, Garibaldi has private rooms that seat from 8 to 90 guests. Padded dividers move to change the size of each space, and audio-visual equipment is available for presentations.

Good to know before you go

• Booking: reserve by phone or email, as listed on the official website.
• Access: the Michelin Guide lists wheelchair access and valet parking.
• At home: takeaway and catering are also offered.

Nearby

Garibaldi sits close to Raffles Hotel Singapore. Inside Raffles Arcade you will find Butcher's Block and Yì by Jereme Leung. For French cooking, Whitegrass is at CHIJMES. After lunch, you can walk on to Kampong Glam and Haji Lane.

See more European and Italian restaurants or all restaurants in Bugis and Kampong Glam. Menus are on the official Garibaldi website.