Eating has been known as one of Singapore’s national pastimes, and it’s pretty clear why. Besides well-loved traditional hawker food, the country is also blessed with a myriad of unique restaurants including those that offer extraordinary dining experiences worth going the extra mile for.
Why stick to the usual spots when you can choose to dine in an aircraft-themed space or a modern kelong floating between Pulau Ubin and Changi Point Ferry Terminal?
We shine the spotlight on eight restaurants with cool concepts for your next unforgettable meal!
1. Gardenasia
240 Neo Tiew Crescent
Far from the city centre lies a hidden gem: Gardenasia. Located in a secluded spot in the Kranji countryside, this expansive space is a farm stay and event venue all-in-one. Besides the villas, there’s a quaint and comfy bistro tucked amidst all that lush greenery, the perfect spot for those looking for respite from café crowds in the urban jungle.
What sets this bistro apart is how it creates dishes using local ingredients grown in the surrounding farms. Yes, that means you get the authentic farm-to-table experience!
Expect classic Western dishes like Traditional Fish and Chips and Pan-Seared Fish Fillet, prepared using fresh catches of the day including red snapper and sea bass.
Those who prefer local dishes can tuck into local delights like Grilled Ribeye Hor Fun, Hokkien Mee Pasta and Farm Fresh Fish Soup. For light bites, order comforting nibbles such as Mozzarella Cheese Sticks, Popcorn Chicken with Salsa and Prawn Fritters with Wasabi Mayonnaise.
2. Smith Marine Floating Restaurant
95B Pulau Ubin FC97E Pulau Ubin Coastal Area 508325
Fancy reeling in fish and devouring them on the same day? Smith Marine Floating Restaurant is where you can eat your fresh catch!
Take a 15-minute boat ride from Changi Point Ferry Terminal to hop aboard this modern kelong (an offshore platform), located right smack in the middle of the sea – an unconventional place that’s unlike your usual zi char (cooked food) stall.
Not only is it Singapore’s first halal-certified kelong restaurant, but diners can also personally catch their fish in the restaurant’s “sure catch” pond. This particular pond is teeming with fleshy fishes like snapper and sea bass. Don’t worry if fishing is new to you as the friendly staff will be on hand to offer assistance to help you secure a fish within minutes.
The restaurant offers several set menus to satisfy your seafood cravings. Its seven-course set menu for five persons features a feast of Lobster – Deep-Fried with Shredded Potatoes, Fish steamed Hong Kong-style, Chilli Crab, Steamed Garlic Scallops, Sambal Mussels, Seasonal Stir-Fried Vegetables, and Lala Beehoon. The price includes a two-way ferry ride.
Photo: Smith Marine Floating Restaurant
The nine-course set menu comes with additional delights like Chicken Dried Scallop and Mushroom Soup, Steamed or Salted Egg Prawns, Crispy Chicken with Lemon Sauce, Cereal or Calamari Squid and Seafood Fried Rice.
3. Le Jardin Singapore
5 Cox Terrace, Level 2, Fort Canning Arts Centre
Nestled within Fort Canning, this blooming floral-themed garden café whose name means “the garden” in French boasts a Victorian-style interior decked with hanging ceiling plants and vibrant terrariums. The pet-friendly eatery also offers an alfresco terrace seating for those who prefer to dine under a canopy of trees.
If the naturalistic styling of this place seems familiar to you, that’s because it’s opened by the same team behind Café de Nicole’s Flower, which sports a similar florist-in-cafe concept.
Photo: Le Jardin Singapore
Food-wise, go for breakfast and brunch house specialities like Rosti and Big Breakfast, or mains like Le Jardin’s Wagyu Burger, Singapore Chilli Crab Linguine for lunch and dinner.
Satisfy your sweet cravings with the scrumptious Chocolate Hazelnut or Strawberry Belgian Waffles or Basque Cheesecake.
4. Sushi Airways
20A Baghdad Street
This dining destination replicates a flight to Japan, with an interior that looks very much like an aeroplane cabin with its stainless steel stairs, compartments and meal carts. Even the windows are shaped like the ones in an aircraft! To top it all, service staff are also dressed in uniforms befitting air stewards and stewardesses.
All that might seem gimmicky, and you might be thinking if the food matches up to its theme. Thankfully, Sushi Airways delivers the quality with its wide range of fresh seafood air-flown from Japan every week.
It also offers a specially curated omakase meal consisting of typically eight to 10 courses comprising seasonal ingredients. The meal includes a wide range of dishes, from appetisers like Raw Eggplant to more substantial dishes like Abalone with Saba Tiny Crab, Unagi, Frozen Ikura, Chawanmushi with Grated Truffle, and Grilled Lobster with Sea Urchin Sauce.
Photo: Sushi Airways
The a la carte menu features a range of sushi, sashimi, maki, hand rolls, yaki mono, age mono, noodles and rice. Popular choices include Sashimi Moriawase, Akami, Shake Harasu, Aburi Hotate with Mentai Sauce, Nama Chutoro, Double Shake Roll, Ebi Maki, Tori Yasai Gyoza, Saikoro Steak and Tsukune.
5. Cygnet by Sean Connolly
QT Singapore, 35 Robinson Road
Get ready for a dining experience that’s as sizzling as it is Art Deco stylish! Cygnet, a neo-classic bar and grill by acclaimed Yorkshire-born chef Sean Connolly, brings the buzzing New York steakhouse vibe to Singapore.
For lunch, enjoy a two- or three-course CBD Lunch Set, featuring starters like Charcoal Baked Squid with pistachio pesto and Prawn Cocktail with pink blush mayo; mains like King Crab Linguini, Ricotta Gnocchi and Spaghetti Vongole; and desserts like Creme Caramel, Strawberries Romanoff and Chocolate Fondant with Maraschino cherries and vanilla bean gelato.
For dinner, indulge in mouthwatering a la carte dishes like Steak Frites, Crab Linguini with chilli salmon roe and lemon, or Cornish Cod with leek and oyster chowder. Meat lovers can indulge in the “Meat Library” selection of Eye Fillet, Scotch Fillet, Tokyo Strip, T-bone Bone-in Striploin and Pork Tomahawk.
6. ASU
30 Labrador Villa Road
Step into a world of culinary artistry at ASU, a fine-dining restaurant nestled within a beautifully restored colonial bungalow in Labrador Park. This 25-seater gem offers a unique take on progressive Asian cuisine, led by Singaporean chef Ace Tan.
The minimalist décor creates a serene and inviting atmosphere, with a sweeping dining table that encircles the open kitchen, offering a front-row seat to the culinary magic. Intricately painted picture cards showcase the ingredients, adding an artistic touch to the experience.
Photo: ASU
Get ready for a symphony of flavours with ASU’s innovative tasting menu, starting from $188 per person. Indulge in creations like the “crystal ball” Oyster Omelette, a playful twist on a local favourite, and the decadent Snow Crab Dumpling. Each dish is a masterpiece of flavour and presentation, promising a truly unforgettable dining experience.
7. Panamericana
Sentosa Golf Club
Perched on a prime spot at the prestigious Sentosa Golf Club, wood-fire grill restaurant Panamericana offers picturesque views of the Straits of Singapore. Sit in the quaint indoor dining area, fitted with floor-to-ceiling windows, dine al fresco on the verandah or unwind with the wind on your face at a lounge area at The Lawn. Outdoor seats are highly coveted, so ensure that you make reservations way in advance to avoid disappointment.
Start your feast with its signature Panamericana Sourdough, Umami Chicken Salt Crispy Potatoes, Wood-Fired Beef Sliders, Peruvian Ceviche and Argentinian Empanadas. For mains, go for the succulent Lamb Al Asador, slow-cooked for seven hours and infused with aromatic herbs, Colombian Chicken or Dingley Dell Pork T-bone Steak.
Round off your meal with the Dates & Guinness Sticky Cake, served with Horlicks and Maltesers ice cream, Guinness caramel and pecan.
8. Loy Hey HK Seafood
One Holland Village, #03-22/23/24
Step into Loy Hey HK Seafood and be transported to the glamorous golden age of Hong Kong. This vibrant restaurant serves up authentic Hong Kong-style street seafood and zi char (cooked food) in a setting that’s straight out of a classic Hong Kong movie.
The nostalgic décor will have you feeling like you’ve stepped into a time capsule, with vintage movie posters, vibrant colours, and even a whimsical “ticket counter.” It’s the perfect backdrop for enjoying its delicious dishes like the celebratory LO HEY Tossed Chicken Salad, a colourful explosion of flavours and textures.
Photo: Loy Hey HK Seafood
Other must-trys include the Nostalgic Braised Beef Short Ribs, Typhoon Shelter Style Stir-Fried Crab, Steamed Fish with Pickled Chilli and Kiam Chye, Traditional Soya Sauce Duck, and Sautéed Watercress with Dried Shrimps. And no Hong Kong meal would be complete without a soul-warming soup like its signature Hami Melon Sea Conch Chicken Soup, simmered for eight hours with a medley of nourishing ingredients.
This article has been edited and adapted from Now Boarding by Changi Airport’s “13 Unique restaurants and experiences in Singapore”
