When it comes to bucket list-worthy culinary experiences, Singapore delivers… and then some. From award-winning bars slinging 11/10 tipples, to restaurants run by chefs who are crafting dishes that you’ll remember for years to come, there is no greater place for passionate foodies to converge.
Never one to rest on their laurels, Singapore’s food and drink scene is constantly evolving which means there’s ALWAYS a new gem to be discovered. Not sure where to start? We’ve curated a tasty list of the very best new bar, restaurant and café openings you need to treat your tastebuds to.
Sushi Yujo
Sure you might think you’ve tried the best omakase Singapore has to offer, but newbie Sushi Yujo stands a good chance of becoming your new fave. Nestled in the heart of the Central Business District, Sushi Yujo is headed up by Chef Desmond Fong, formerly at Les Amis’ Sushi Jin, so he knows his stuff. The snug 13-seater restaurant serves up a lunch set menu from $38 which is tasty and kind on the wallet – a winning combo in our opinion. Think: melt-in-your-mouth salmon don and sashimi. With seafood flown in four times a week from Tokyo’s Toyosu Market, you can expect the freshest of ingredients.
The Kongsee
When it comes to epic bars in Singapore, you’re seriously spoilt for choice—and The Kongsee, located in Gemmill Lane, is only going to make your decision on where to grab a tipple this weekend even harder. Housed in a heritage shophouse, with a ceiling of paper cranes and walls adorned with achingly cool neon signs, the place is good vibes personified. Part Mod-Sin izakaya, part underground lounge, choose from a carefully curated range of wines, sakes and cocktails (The Kongsee Gimlet is a must), and pair it with stuffed chicken wings, Xinjiang lamb skewers and dumplings.
California Republic
SoCal cuisine in Singapore? We dig it, and you will too when you book a table at California Republic, Singapore’s new retro-chic eatery. From the same legends that brought us Neon Pigeon and Fat Prince, this achingly cool restaurant is destined to be your new fave. With moody lighting, retro furnishing and cosy booths, the Amoy Street venue is perfect for long lunches and dinners with friends. California eats meets Italian fare on the menu with moreish dishes like baked stuffed clams, red snapper ceviche, sweet corn arancini and cavatelli pasta with black truffle.
The Store
The exterior of this new speakeasy might be unassuming, but the drinks list and cool interiors are anything but. Slip through The Store’s green door on Neil Road to find a moodily lit cosy bar. Designed to look like a rockstar’s living room, you can lounge on the leather couches, or pull up a stool at the bar while sipping your way through their impressive drinks list. Order their Smonkey Biscuit Sour and Umezu Highball and thank us later. Feeling peckish? There’s a range of tasty bar snacks, like prawns, mussels and cured meats to fuel you up.
FOOL Wine
If, like us, you enjoy hunting down the latest and greatest in juicy drops, FOOL is a must-visit. The brainchild from Chef-Owner Rishi Naleendra (Cloudstreet) and Group Beverage Manager Vinodhan Veloo, this contemporary, passionate and cheeky wine bar specialises in edgy and dynamic wines—all cloaked in a sense of unpretentious playfulness. The 60-page wine list is extensive yet enjoyable with its manageable and quirky chapters like Champagne Showers, Betting On Climate Change and, our favourite, I’m Not Drinking F**king Merlot.
Analogue
Embracing alternative methods, Analogue is a fairly-new and intriguing bar that takes a curious-driven approach to produce and decor, paving the way to carve out a more sustainable drinking culture in Singapore. With a 3D-printed bar, recycled tables and 100% plant-based menu, Analogue is the ultimate place to toast to the future. Our recommendation? Stay a while and work your way through the cocktail menu while sampling a few unforgettable sides like plant-based ‘nuggetz’ with in-house ‘curry crack sauce’.
Revival
Located in the eclectic neighbourhood of Robertson Quay, Revival is the chic new cocktail bar you need to check out. The loft-style bar is styled with opulent mid-century meets modern furnishings, rich jewel tones, and sexy lighting—aka it’s the perfect place for date night as well as pre and post-dinner tipples. On the menu you’ll find 16 signature cocktails (plus 400 spirits), all inspired by revival art movements like neoclassicism and romanticism.
Kaarla
Perched on the 51st of the CapitaSpring building and boasting sweeping views of Marina Bay Sands, Kaarla is a seriously stunning spot for your next meal. Serving coastal Australian cuisine, much of the menu’s ingredients are sourced from the 1-Arden food forest—the highest farm in the world. The centrepiece of the restaurant is the wood grill and oven, which means you simply must order the hot smoked rainbow trout and aged King Island beef which has been cooked to perfection. And be sure to add the damper, Australian crab and salt-cured kangaroo to your order as well.
Osteria Mozza
This one is more of a welcome back than a bona fide newbie to the Singapore dining scene, but we’re glad Osteria Mozza finally reopened its doors. Italian lovers, you will want to book yourself a table here stat. After shutting its doors at Marina Bay Sands in 2018, you’ll find Osteria’s new digs at the stunning Hilton Singapore Orchard. Feast at the mozzarella bar (the burrata and peach is a game-changer) and drool over handmade pasta like goat cheese ravioli and oxtail ragu tagliatelle. Make sure you save some room for their heaven-sent desserts too – the espresso semifreddo will see you going back for round two.
Singapore is a tasty melting pot of award-winning dishes, Michelin-star chefs and unrivalled bars and distilleries. To plan your next foodie adventure, head to Singapore Tourism.
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