Singapore is an exciting destination for world class cuisine from all around the world.
With holiday season descending upon us, let’s explore eight of Singapore’s most expensive and prestigious restaurants, each known for a uniquely atas dining experience.
Are they worth the price tag?
This article was written by a Financial Horse Contributor.
1.Odette
Cuisine style: French fine dining with Southeast Asian influences
Odette in Singapore has garnered glowing praise from food critics for its exquisite fine dining experience.
Odette holds three Michelin stars, which it first achieved in 2019 and has maintained since.
Positive reviews highlight the restaurant’s beautifully crafted French cuisine with Asian influences. Signature dishes like the Rosemary Smoked Organic Egg and Kampot Pepper Crusted Pigeon are celebrated for their rich flavors and visual presentation.
The service at Odette is often commended for being highly knowledgeable, with staff guiding diners through the intricacies of the menu. The ambience, housed in the National Gallery, adds to the experience, making it an ideal choice for special occasions.
The price point—dinner for two starting at $700 —is also frequently noted as steep, even by fine dining standards.
Signature Dish: Pigeon from Brittany, seasoned with Kampot pepper.
Signature Dish: Rosemary Smoked Organic Egg
2. Burnt Ends
Cuisine style: Modern Australian barbecue
Signature Dish: Their signature pulled pork burger is famous for its smoky flavors and juicy meat, cooked using wood-fired techniques, highlighting the restaurant’s focus on open-flame grilling
The restaurant has been awarded one Michelin star, recognizing its excellence in modern Australian barbecue and open-flame cooking techniques.
Critics praise Burnt Ends for its mastery of open-fire cooking.
Many rave about the precision with which the meats are prepared, with dishes like the Flat Iron Steak with Burnt Onion and Bone Marrow standing out as fan favorites for their depth of flavor and perfect execution. The Sanger sandwich, a pulled pork delight, and the signature marshmallow dessert are also iconic, offering a perfect balance of smokiness and sweetness.
The atmosphere is also noted for being unpretentious despite its Michelin star status, making it a place where guests can enjoy a refined meal in a relaxed setting.
However, some critics point out that Burnt Ends might not always live up to the immense hype. While Burnt Ends excels at meat dishes, some critics feel that not every item on the menu hits the same high notes.
It is also notoriously difficult to secure a reservation.
Burnt Ends’ high price point is another factor that can leave some diners questioning the value, especially when portions may feel small for the cost.
3. Naeum
Cuisine style: Modern Korean
Naeum, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Singapore, is known for its modern take on Korean cuisine, crafted by Chef Louis Han. Its culinary style blends traditional Korean flavors with innovative techniques, and the menu evolves in “episodes” that tell a story through changing seasonal dishes.
The classic ($218) and signature ($268) menus are currently on their seventh iteration, featuring seasonal blossoms and produce from Jeju Island.
Signature Dish: “Somyeon” (buckwheat noodles) and the “Duckgalbi” (minced duck ball skewers with rice cake) are popular choices
Naeum is celebrated for offering a high-end, innovative Korean dining experience in Singapore.
4. Les Amis
Cuisine style: French haute cuisine
Les Amis in Singapore is highly regarded by food critics and holds three Michelin stars, which underscores its status as one of the top fine dining establishments in the city. Critics praise its French haute cuisine, elevated by Chef Sébastien Lepinoy’s skill in blending French culinary traditions with a Japanese twist. The restaurant is also known for its impeccable service, opulent decor, and extensive wine selection.
Positive reviews highlight the exceptional quality of the dishes, such as the Kegani crab with caviar, and the blue lobster à l’américaine, with many noting the beautiful presentation and delicate balance of flavors. The wine list, curated by Sommelier Rajeshwaran Raja Gopal, is often described as one of the best in the city. The desserts by Pastry Chef Cheryl Koh, like the pistachio mille-feuille, also receive high praise.
Signature Dish: Cold angel hair pasta with kombu, caviar, and black truffle – a dish that showcases Les Amis’ dedication to elegance and balance between Asian and European ingredients
5. Waku Ghin
Cuisine style: Japanese-European fusion
Waku Ghin, located at Marina Bay Sands, is a highly acclaimed two-Michelin-star restaurant in Singapore. The restaurant, led by Chef Tetsuya Wakuda, has been celebrated for its exquisite teppanyaki-style dishes, drawing heavily on high-quality Japanese ingredients and seasonal produce.
Critics have praised Waku Ghin for its culinary mastery, especially when it comes to the use of premium seafood and wagyu beef. Signature dishes like the botan shrimp with sea urchin and oscietra caviar, as well as the Ohmi Wagyu steak, are widely loved. These dishes exemplify Chef Wakuda’s ability to balance rich flavors and umami in an artful manner.
Signature Dish: Marinated Botan shrimp with sea urchin and caviar, a luxurious seafood combination that emphasizes freshness and flavor
6. Summer Pavilion
Cuisine style: Cantonese fine dining
Summer Pavilion at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore is a one-Michelin-star restaurant renowned for its refined Cantonese cuisine. Under the leadership of chef Cheung Siu-kong, who has been with the restaurant since 2003, Summer Pavilion earned its Michelin star in 2016 and has continued to impress both locals and international diners alike. The restaurant also made the long list of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2023.
Critics have praised the restaurant for its balance of traditional Cantonese flavors with modern presentation.
Summer Pavilion offers a refined and memorable Cantonese dining experience with an emphasis on elegant presentation and traditional flavors, earning it both critical acclaim and a Michelin star.
Signature Dish: Double-boiled sea whelk soup with fish maw and chicken – a classic Cantonese dish with delicate, clear broth, showcasing the restaurant’s refined approach to traditional Chinese cuisine
7. Candlenut
Cuisine style: Peranakan
Candlenut in Singapore is known for being the world’s first Michelin-starred Peranakan restaurant, earning its star in 2016 and maintaining it since. Chef Malcolm Lee is celebrated for blending traditional Peranakan flavors with modern culinary techniques, creating a unique dining experience.
Positive reviews often praise the restaurant’s creative take on classic Peranakan dishes. The Buah Keluak Ice Cream is particularly lauded for its innovative use of a traditional ingredient in dessert form. Other standout dishes include the Blue Swimmer Crab Curry, appreciated for its rich coconut base, and the Wagyu Beef Rib Rendang, noted for its tenderness and bold flavors.
Many appreciate the omakase-style menu for its variety and modern presentation.
While the creativity and quality at Candlenut are often praised, a few dishes have drawn mixed feedback for their reinterpretation of tradition. Nevertheless, it remains a must-visit for those interested in a modern take on Peranakan cuisine.
Signature Dish: Buah keluak (black nut) beef – Candlenut puts a contemporary spin on traditional Peranakan dishes, elevating the flavors with modern techniques
8. Whitegrass
Cuisine style: Modern French with Japanese techniques
Whitegrass is a Michelin-starred restaurant in Singapore known for its innovative approach to modern Australian cuisine, incorporating both Eastern and Western elements.
Critics praise Chef Takuya Yamashita for his creative and carefully crafted dishes that showcase a harmonious blend of flavors and textures.
Reviewers highlight the unique drink pairings, which include rare sakes and biodynamic wines, enhancing the overall meal.
The menu changes regularly, ensuring that returning guests can enjoy new dishes, which is a significant plus for many diners.
A few reviews mention that the portion sizes might leave some diners wanting more.
Signature Dish: Wagyu beef with seaweed and miso – this dish merges French culinary traditions with Japanese ingredients, creating a harmonious yet intricate flavor profile
Have you tried any of these restaurants? Would you recommend the experiene? Share in the comments below!
Hi Writer,
La Dame De Pic is no longer in Singapore.
Thank you! Have updated.