12 Coolest Places to Eat in Singapore: From Local Gems to Trendy Hotspots

Singapore’s food scene is like no other, blending flavors from across Asia with a modern twist. From buzzing hawker centers with authentic local dishes like chili crab and Hainanese chicken rice to sleek rooftop spots with skyline views, this city has it all. You’ll find hidden gems serving traditional Peranakan bites, trendy fusion spots with cutting-edge menus, and everything in between. Whether you’re a street food lover or into fine dining, Singapore’s coolest places to eat offer unforgettable flavors and unique vibes. Here’s your ultimate guide to exploring the city’s most iconic and innovative dining spots!

👉 Pro Tip: Don’t miss the Award-Winning Private Food Tour: 10 Tastings of 3 Cultures in Singapore! This tour is the perfect way to dive into the city’s rich food scene, sampling top picks from Malay, Chinese, and Indian cuisines. Guided by a local foodie, you’ll taste everything from foamy teh tarik to the classic rojak, while exploring neighborhoods like Kampong Glam, Little India, and Chinatown. With ten tastings and a private guide tailoring the experience just for you, this tour is a must for anyone wanting an authentic taste of Singapore’s culture and flavors!

Unique Restaurants in Singapore: 12 of the Lion City’s Most Extraordinary Eateries

Are you eager to explore the most unique dining experiences Singapore has to offer? As mentioned before, Singapore’s culinary scene is as diverse as its culture, offering an array of eateries that promise to astonish and delight. Continue reading to uncover where to dine in Singapore for an unforgettable gastronomic adventure.

Craving a fusion of flavors that defy tradition? Or perhaps a meal that’s not just served but also performed? Singapore’s dining landscape caters to every imaginable taste. Here’s your exclusive guide to the most extraordinary and unique restaurants in Singapore.

1. Ocean Restaurant

• 📍 Location: Resorts World Sentosa (Inside S.E.A. Aquarium)
• 💲 Price range: $100 – $200+ per person
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Fine Dining / Sustainable Seafood / Modern European
• 🔥 Standout Features: Dining alongside S.E.A. Aquarium tank, underwater views, sustainable seafood focus, elegant setting.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Unique fine dining, aquarium lovers, special occasions, impressing visitors, and underwater vibes.

Get ready for dinner with some seriously impressive tablemates – manta rays and sharks! Ocean Restaurant is uniquely situated within Resorts World Sentosa, offering jaw-dropping floor-to-ceiling views directly into the S.E.A. Aquarium’s Open Ocean Habitat.

The menu focuses on elegant, modern European dishes. Consider the pan-seared scallops with truffle Somen, the steamed toothfish with a light broth, or the rich lobster ravioli. It’s a one-of-a-kind, immersive fine-dining night.

2. The Wizard’s Brew

• 📍 Location: Serangoon Garden Area (Near myVillage)
• 💲 Price range: $10 – $25 per person (Drinks/Desserts focus)
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Themed Cafe / Magical Drinks & Desserts
• 🔥 Standout Features: Wizarding/magic theme, bubbling/smoking drinks, themed desserts, interactive elements (dry ice!).
• 🎯 Perfect For: Harry Potter/fantasy fans, themed drink lovers, Instagrammable moments, dessert seekers, and magical vibes.

Brew up some enchanting fun at The Wizard’s Brew! This themed spot near Serangoon Garden fully embraces the world of magic. Expect drinks served with flair – think bubbling cauldrons and smoke effects billowing from your glass, straight out of potions class.

They specialize in super whimsical, Instagrammable drinks. The fiery “Wizard’s Brew” itself, a flaming cocktail, is a must-try. The “Elixir of Life” with its color-changing magic, or a themed cake like the “Enchanted Apple Crumble,” are also popular.

3. Candlenut

• 📍 Location: Dempsey Hill
• 💲 Price range: $70 – $150+ per person
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Peranakan / Fine Dining
• 🔥 Standout Features: World’s first Michelin-starred Peranakan restaurant, refined Straits Chinese cuisine, elegant Dempsey Hill setting.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Peranakan food connoisseurs, special occasion dining, experiencing elevated Straits Chinese flavors, and a unique Michelin-starred meal.

Experience the exquisite flavors of Peranakan cuisine at Candlenut, the world’s first Michelin-starred restaurant celebrating this unique Straits Chinese heritage. Nestled in the lush Dempsey Hill, this spot offers a refined and contemporary take on traditional family recipes.

You should definitely try their signature Blue Swimmer Crab Curry (Kueh Pie Tee). The tender Beef Rendang slow-cooked in coconut milk and spices, or the delicate Ngoh Hiang (five-spice meat rolls), are also exceptional. Candlenut is a true taste of Singaporean culinary artistry.

4. British Hainan

• 📍 Location: Kallang Area (Near Jalan Besar)
• 💲 Price range: $20 – $40 per person
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Hainanese Western Fusion / Colonial Era Food
• 🔥 Standout Features: Nostalgic colonial decor/antiques, Hainanese-style Western food, cozy/retro vibe, oxtail stew.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Nostalgia lovers, colonial-era food fans, unique fusion seekers, cozy dinners, and Hainanese Western explorers.

Take a delicious journey back to Singapore’s colonial past at British Hainan. This charming spot specializes in that unique Hainanese Western fusion cuisine. The place is packed floor-to-ceiling with vintage memorabilia and antiques, creating an incredibly cozy, retro time-capsule.

Expect comforting classics prepared with heart. Their tender Oxtail Stew, slow-braised to perfection, is a must-try. Traditional Hainanese Pork Chops with a tangy sauce, or a comforting Shepherd’s Pie, are also fantastic. It feels like eating in your grandparents’ home.

5. Andsoforth (Concept Varies)

• 📍 Location: Secret Location (Revealed before event)
• 💲 Price range: $100 – $180+ per person (Ticketed immersive experience)
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Multi-Course Themed Dining (Varies with show)
• 🔥 Standout Features: Immersive dinner theatre, secret location, changing themes/stories, interactive performance art/dining.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Immersive theatre fans, unique group outings, adventurous diners, special occasions, and surprise seekers.

Get ready for dinner where you’re part of the show with Andsoforth. This isn’t your typical restaurant; it’s an immersive dinner theatre company creating elaborate themed experiences in secret locations around Singapore. Each production features a different story and multi-course menu.

Expect to interact with actors and become fully immersed in the narrative. Past themes have included “Around the World in 80 Days” with globally inspired dishes, or a “Valhalla” Viking feast with roasted meats. It’s an active theatrical adventure.

6. Japan Rail Cafe

• 📍 Location: Tanjong Pagar (Guoco Tower)
• 💲 Price range: $15 – $35 per person
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Japanese Cafe Fare / Monthly Regional Focus
• 🔥 Standout Features: Travel theme (Japanese railway), monthly regional Japanese menu, JR Pass counter, travel info/merch.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Japan travel fans, trying regional Japanese food, casual lunches/coffee, unique cafe theme, and JR Pass buyers.

All aboard for a taste of Japan at the Japan Rail Cafe. More than just a cafe, this bright Tanjong Pagar spot acts as a hub for Japan enthusiasts, complete with a counter for buying actual Japan Rail Passes. The space incorporates subtle train design elements.

The real culinary highlight is their monthly rotating menu focusing on a specific region of Japan. You might find Hokkaido seafood donburi one month, or Kyoto-style matcha desserts the next. They also serve reliable cafe staples like katsu sandos or curry rice.

7. Small’s

• 📍 Location: Near Little India / Farrer Park (Reservation/Directions provided upon booking)
• 💲 Price range: $100 – $150+ per person (Omakase/Tasting Menu)
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Experimental Omakase / Currently All-Fish Korean BBQ
• 🔥 Standout Features: Tiny hidden 7-seat counter, experimental omakase (currently All-Fish KBBQ), chef interaction/show-and-tell, unique ingredients.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Adventurous foodies, exclusive dining experiences, chef interaction fans, unique KBBQ seekers, and intimate splurges.

Forget everything you thought you knew about omakase at Small’s, the tiny 7-seat hidden counter from Chef Bjorn Shen. It’s all about experimental culinary journeys, with a tasting menu showcasing unusual ingredients and processes, with engaging show-and-tell from the team.

Right now, they’re doing an All-Fish Korean BBQ omakase. Think crispy salt-grilled eel, unique Tuna Secret Cuts that eat like steak, and flavorful Grilled Oyster Pancakes, paired with Cold Noodles and Jjigae. It’s a one-of-a-kind splurge.

8. Platform 1094

• 📍 Location: Serangoon Road (Boon Keng Area)
• 💲 Price range: $25 – $50 per person
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Wizarding/Fantasy Themed Cafe Fare / Western Fusion
• 🔥 Standout Features: Harry Potter/wizarding world theme, magical decor, themed food/drinks (Goblet of Fire!), interactive elements.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Harry Potter fans, themed cafe lovers, Instagrammable drinks/food, kids/families, and magical experiences.

Grab your wand and head to Platform 1094, a fantasy-themed cafe heavily inspired by Harry Potter. Expect magical decor – floating candles and house banners – creating an enchanting atmosphere perfect for witches, wizards, and muggles alike. It’s pure Potterhead delight!

The menu features Western fusion cafe fare with whimsical names. Ordering the signature Goblet of Fire, a cocktail that arrives dramatically flaming, is essential. Their Witches Brew (a non-alcoholic bubbling drink) or themed desserts like the “Bloodberry” are also popular.

9. NOX – Dine in the Dark

• 📍 Location: Bugis / Beach Road Area
• 💲 Price range: $80 – $120+ per person (Prix-Fixe)
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Mystery Multi-Course Modern European / Sensory Dining
• 🔥 Standout Features: Fine dining in complete darkness, visually impaired hosts/servers, focus on enhancing senses, unique concept.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Adventurous fine diners, unique sensory experiences, special occasion dates, icebreakers, and memorable meals.

Elevate your senses at NOX – Dine in the Dark. This unique restaurant offers a sophisticated multi-course Modern European dining experience consumed entirely in pitch-black darkness. You’ll be expertly guided and served exclusively by visually impaired or blind hosts.

The prix-fixe menu remains a secret, challenging you to guess ingredients. Past menus have featured dishes like pan-seared scallops with a surprising puree, tender braised lamb shank with aromatic spices, or complex chocolate desserts with multiple textures.

10. The Dragon Chamber

• 📍 Location: Singapore (Circular Road, Boat Quay area)
• 💲 Price range: $40 – $70 per person
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Modern Chinese / Speakeasy / Adventurous
• 🔥 Standout Features: Hidden kopitiam entrance, “underground” vibe, adventurous Chinese dishes.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Speakeasy adventurers, unique Chinese food, and hidden gem seekers.

Ready to uncover a hidden culinary lair? The Dragon Chamber lurks behind a humble kopitiam fridge door on Circular Road, leading you into a clandestine world of ‘guerilla-style’ Chinese cuisine. The vibe is part speakeasy, part old-school gambling den, full of intrigue and rebellious spirit. This isn’t your everyday Chinese restaurant!

Prepare for adventurous and delicious dishes. The show-stopping Dragon Claw (braised crocodile foot) is a must-try for the daring. You’ll also be delighted by the rich wagyu truffle beef fun or the explosive firecracker chicken and maple fritters. It’s a thrilling taste of unconventional Chinese flavors.

11. Cable Car Sky Dining

• 📍 Location: Mount Faber / Sentosa (Departs from Mount Faber Peak)
• 💲 Price range: $100 – $300+ per cabin (Couple/Group Packages)
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Set Menu Dinner (Singaporean/Western options usually)
• 🔥 Standout Features: Private dining in cable car cabin, stunning skyline/harbour views, meal served during rides, romantic setting.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Ultimate romance, proposals/anniversaries, unique skyline views, special tourist experiences, and private dining lovers.

Take your dinner date to breathtaking new heights with Cable Car Sky Dining. This one-of-a-kind experience involves enjoying a multi-course meal inside your own private Singapore Cable Car cabin as it glides between Mount Faber and Sentosa. Pure magic!

You get several rounds to savor courses. Expect Singaporean signatures like Hainanese chicken rice or chili crab (de-shelled). Western options include dishes like grilled beef tenderloin or pan-seared salmon. It’s incredibly romantic with unparalleled views.

12. Sushi Airways

• 📍 Location: Kampong Glam / Haji Lane Area
• 💲 Price range: $50 – $100+ per person
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Japanese / Sushi
• 🔥 Standout Features: Airplane cabin theme, retro aircraft details, fresh sushi/sashimi focus, unique dining ambiance.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Aviation fans, unique themed dining, sushi lovers seeking novelty, fun date nights, and Instagrammable settings.

Prepare for first-class sushi service at Sushi Airways! This unique restaurant near Haji Lane is meticulously designed to look exactly like the inside of a retro airplane cabin – think actual airplane seats and staff dressed like flight attendants. It’s a super fun, immersive theme.

Despite the quirky setting, they serve seriously good, fresh sushi and sashimi. Consider their omakase (chef’s choice) for the best selection. Popular à la carte items include the uni (sea urchin) sushi, otoro (fatty tuna) sashimi, or their signature “Sushi Airways” rolls.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Unique Places to Eat in Singapore

Before you set out to explore the unique restaurants in Singapore, here are some frequently asked questions to satisfy your appetite.

Does Singapore have good restaurants?

Absolutely! Singapore has a diverse culinary landscape, offering everything from hawker street food to Michelin-starred establishments. Among these are several unique restaurants in Singapore that provide not only delectable dishes but also unforgettable dining experiences. Whether you’re craving local delicacies or international cuisines, Singapore’s restaurant scene has something to satisfy every palate.

What is a unique food in Singapore?

Singapore boasts a rich culinary heritage, with influences from Malay, Chinese, Indian, and Peranakan cultures. One unique dish that stands out is the Chili Crab, a flavorful seafood dish that’s both spicy and sweet, often served with mantou (fried buns). Another distinctive dish is Hainanese Chicken Rice. Tender steamed chicken is paired with fragrant rice cooked in chicken stock and garlic. These dishes, among others, showcase the distinctive flavors and culinary creativity of Singapore.

What to eat in Singapore as a tourist?

As a tourist flying to Singapore, the culinary options are endless. Start with local hawker centers where you can sample dishes like Laksa, Satay, and Roti Prata. For those seeking a more upscale dining experience, there are numerous unique restaurants in beautiful Singapore that offer both local and international cuisines in stunning settings. Don’t forget to try the Durian, often referred to as the “king of fruits,” if you’re feeling adventurous!

What is the most famous food in Singapore?

While Singapore has a plethora of iconic dishes, if one had to choose the most famous, it would likely be Hainanese Chicken Rice. This simple yet flavorful dish consists of succulent steamed chicken and aromatic rice, often accompanied by a tangy chili sauce and ginger paste. It’s a testament to Singapore’s culinary prowess, blending textures and flavors to perfection.

Are there themed restaurants in the city?

Yes, Singapore is home to several themed restaurants that offer diners more than just a meal. From dining in complete darkness at NOX to the aviation-themed Sushi Airways, there’s a myriad of experiences awaiting those looking for something out of the ordinary. These establishments are more than just eateries; they’re a testament to the city’s innovative spirit.

Is Singaporean cuisine spicy?

Singaporean cuisine is diverse and caters to a range of taste preferences. While some dishes, like the Sambal Stingray or Curry Laksa, can be spicy, there are plenty of non-spicy options available. Most restaurants and hawker stalls are accommodating and can adjust the spice level to suit individual preferences.

Where can I find the best seafood in Singapore?

Singapore, being an island city-state, offers a plethora of seafood dining options. From the bustling seafood hawker stalls in East Coast Park to upscale restaurants like Jumbo Seafood, there’s something for every seafood lover. For a truly unique restaurant in Singapore experience, try the Chili Crab or Black Pepper Crab at one of the city’s renowned seafood establishments.

Is it cheap to eat in Singapore?

In Singapore, the secret to eating well on a budget lies in the bustling hawker centers. These open-air food courts offer a smorgasbord of local flavors at cheap prices relative to the city’s glitzy restaurants. You can savor iconic dishes like Laksa, Chicken Rice, and Char Kway Teow for just a few Singapore dollars. For the savvy foodie traveler, Singapore’s street food scene is an affordable gastronomic haven where cost doesn’t compromise on quality.

Do restaurants in Singapore cater to dietary restrictions?

Certainly! With its multicultural population, Singaporean restaurants cater to various dietary needs. They can accommodate preferences such as vegetarian, vegan, halal, or gluten-free. It’s always a good idea to communicate any dietary restrictions to the staff. They’ll be more than happy to assist.

Final Thoughts on Unique Singapore Restaurants

Singapore’s culinary landscape is as diverse as its culture, offering a blend of traditional flavors and innovative dining concepts. From high-flying cable car dinners to magical tarot-themed bars, the city-state never ceases to amaze and delight food enthusiasts. As you embark on your next dining adventure, remember that the unique restaurants in Singapore are not just about the food. They’re about the stories, the ambiance, and the unforgettable experiences that linger long after the last bite.