The results of the 2019 Singapore Michelin Star list are in, with a total of 44 restaurants lauded for their culinary excellence, up from 39 in 2018.
Odette and Les Amis were both awarded with three Michelin stars, and the list as a whole saw seven new additions to its ranks.
Arguably the most coveted culinary accolade in the world, the Michelin Star list celebrates top dining establishments around the globe, with each star denoting grades of excellence. Restaurants are rated based on five criteria: quality of ingredients used, mastery of cooking technique and flavours, projection of the chef’s personality in his or her cuisine, value for money, as well as consistency over time and across the entire menu.
There’s a flavour to suit every palate in Singapore, so dig into our guide to this year’s winners (newly awarded establishments are denoted with an [N] for your convenience).
One Star
Alma by Juan Amador
Add some soul to your culinary adventures, which is what the name of this establishment translates to from Spanish. The restaurant is helmed by executive chef Haikal Johari, who has worked in top kitchens around the globe, including Water Library in Thailand.
Alma’s fine European cuisine is infused with a twist of Asian flavours, with particular influence from Thailand and Japan.
Goodwood Park Hotel, 22 Scotts Road, Singapore 228221
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Basque Kitchen by Aitor [N]
As its name suggests, this restaurant’s menu is inspired by the cuisine of the Basque region, which straddles France and Spain.
Head chef Aitor Jeronimo Orive—formerly from one-Michelin-star restaurant Iggy’s—has created a grill-based menu that centres on Basque and Spanish staples like Madrid-style beef tripe stew, turbot with pil-pil sauce and chorizo brioche buns.
97 Amoy Street, Singapore 069917
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Beni
Having formerly worked in three-Michelin-star restaurants Georges Blanc and L’Osier, head chef Kenji Yamanaka’s passion for French cuisine has led him to helm this restaurant, which serves up delightful Japanese interpretations of Gallic dishes.
If this is your first time visiting béni, we recommend trying chef Yamanaka’s speciality—the Ozaki A5 Wagyu Beef from Miyazaki prefecture.
Mandarin Gallery, 333A Orchard Road #02–37, Singapore 238897
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Braci
With wood-fired creations cooked through in a Josper oven and over a shichirin grill, Braci is an Italian concept by restaurateur Beppe De Vito. Driven by his passion for food, chef Beppe De Vito is now a top-notch triple threat—restaurateur, maître d’ and chef.
Be sure to try signature dishes such as foie gras semifreddo with kumquats and fig vincotto, or you could opt for a surprise four or five-course dégustation menu.
52 Boat Quay Level 5/6, Singapore 049841
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Buona Terra [N]
Buona Terra translates to ‘Good Earth’, and boasts a menu that features the finest produce from Italy.
Chef Denis Lucchi serves up reinterpretations of classic Italian dishes that are meant to be savoured, fusing both Italian culinary tradition with a sense of innovation. Signatures here include carbonara with cured egg yolk bottarga and Mozambique scampi with cauliflower tartare.
29 Scotts Road, Singapore 228224
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Burnt Ends
A casual, modern restaurant known for its open-concept kitchen, Burnt Ends serves up dishes inspired by Australian barbecue. Prior to founding the restaurant, chef-owner Dave Pynt has worked alongside industry legends such as Tetsuya Wakuda, Nuno Mendes and Fergus Henderson.
Burnt Ends famously employs four-tonne, dual cavity wood burning machines to infuse its dishes with deliciously smoky flavours. Be sure to partake in the signature Sanger burger, a pulled pork burger served up on a brioche bun.
20 Teck Lim Road, Singapore 088391
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Candlenut
The first and only Peranakan* restaurant to be awarded a Michelin star in Singapore, Candlenut is helmed by chef Malcolm Lee, who was greatly inspired by his grandmother’s traditional Peranakan cooking. The restaurant’s dishes—such as ayam buah keluak (chicken cooked with black nut indigenous to Southeast Asia) and babi pongteh (braised pork with fermented soy bean sauce)—blend traditional tastes with modern culinary flair.
Block 17A Dempsey Road, Singapore 249676
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Cheek Bistro [N]
If you’re craving hearty Australian fare in an unpretentious setting, drop by Cheek Bistro. Formerly known as Cheek by Jowl, the original establishment was the brainchild of head chef Rishi Naleendra and general manager Manuela Toniolo, a husband-and-wife team.
Despite a changing of the guard, Cheek Bistro still stays true to the spirit of its predecessor. The menu comprises comforting Western classics with playful touches, including chicken liver pate with date jam and burrata with a hint of green chilli.
21 Boon Tat Street, Singapore 069620
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Chef Kang’s
Indefatigable chef-owner Ang Song Kang’s struggles with restaurant closures, bankruptcy and a battle with cancer didn’t stop him from opening Chef Kang’s in 2015.
This intimate eatery of just five tables is a great place to train your taste buds in the subtleties of Cantonese cuisine. The restaurant uses only the freshest ingredients from local markets, and its cordyceps flower stewed duck soup is a must-try.
25 Mackenzie Road, Singapore 228681
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Corner House
Local chef Jason Tan’s ever-inquisitive mind and passion for the culinary craft is on showcase at Corner House, a restaurant that experiments in herbs and plants to deliver gastro-botanico cuisine. Chef Jason finds inspiration for his culinary creations from travelling across the world, making this restaurant a great place to experience the world on a platter. The restaurant’s popular business luncheon menu include Queensland Spanner Crab, wagyu beef cheek ‘Westholme’ and a delectable tiramisu.
Singapore Botanic Gardens, 1 Cluny Road (Nassim Gate Entrance), Singapore 259569
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CUT by Wolfgang Puck
Become a true meat connoisseur at CUT, which offers the finest array of steaks, grilled to perfection over hard wood and charcoal. Expect an authentic, hearty meal, with produce and ingredients sourced directly from southern California. Red meat aficionados will be able to choose from various cuts, including Australian Angus grain-fed beef and Japanese Wagyu from the Miyazaki prefecture.
The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands®, 2 Bayfront Avenue Suite B1-71, Singapore 018972
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Garibaldi
With its chic and trendy interior, Garibaldi is known for being an unpretentious fine dining spot for lovers of Italian cuisine. Driven by pure passion for his craft, executive chef and owner Roberto Galetti opened the restaurant in 2003, and hasn’t looked back since.
The four-course signature menu includes dishes such as Spanish octopus with heirloom tomatoes and homemade fettuccine, while the six-course creative menu includes pan-seared sea scallop with truffle sauce and chives, as well as Japanese wagyu with mustard and porcini mushrooms.
36 Purvis Street #01–02, Singapore 188613
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Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle
Originally established on Hill Street in 1932 by Tang Joon Teo, this bak chor mee (minced pork noodle) stall is one of the most affordable Michelin-starred meals you can get in Singapore. Enjoy a hearty bowl of thick, al dente springy noodles served in savoury vinegar sauce, accompanied by tender pork, fried fish and dumplings.
466 Crawford Lane #01-12, Singapore 190465
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Iggy’s
Showcasing artful Modern European cuisine and the choicest of wines, Iggy’s is a 42-seat gastro-bar that offers a seasonal menu, incorporating only the freshest produce. Named after sommelier Ignatius Chan and established in 2004, it’s a great option for both wine connoisseurs and those looking to delve into the world of wine and food pairings.
Hilton Hotel. 581 Orchard Road Level 3, Singapore 238883
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Imperial Treasure Fine Teochew Cuisine
Originating in the Chaoshan region of China, Teochew cuisine is characterised by its subtly refined flavours. Rigour and a heritage of excellence culminate at Imperial Treasure Fine Teochew Cuisine, which serves up marinated meats, the freshest seafood and enticing desserts.
Adventurous visitors looking for diverse flavours should order the combination platter, which includes duck tongue, cuttlefish, marinated beef tripe and braised duck meat.
ION Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn #03–05, Singapore 238801
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JAAN by Kirk Westaway
A modern European restaurant that’ll prove to be a transcendental experience for your taste buds, JAAN is known for its artisanal menu by Chef de Cuisine Kirk Westaway. A winner of the S.Pellgrino Young Chef award in 2015, chef Westaway’s upbringing in Devon has influenced his meticulous style of cooking, which involves impeccable produce and fine attention to detail.
Swissôtel The Stamford, 2 Stamford Road Level 70, Singapore 178882
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Jiang-Nan Chun
Delight in a diverse array of Cantonese dishes at Jiang-Nan Chun, housed in the Four Seasons Hotel. Jiang-Nan Chun’s chef, Tim Lam, was raised in Macau and born into a family of chefs. No stranger to accolades, the 24-year industry veteran led his team at Ying Restaurant at the Altira Macau to a Michelin star in 2017.
Besides a tantalising selection of dim sum, this establishment is best known for its signature Peking duck, roasted in a mesquite wood-fired oven and served with caviar.
Four Seasons Hotel Singapore, 190 Orchard Boulevard, Singapore 248646
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Labyrinth
Experience the intricate flavours and innovative new techniques of New Singaporean Cuisine on showcase at Labyrinth. Formerly from the banking industry, Chef-owner Han Li Guang turned his experience in At-Sunrice GlobalChef Academy into a culinary career, with stints at Garibaldi and Tanuki Raw Bar.
Labyrinth’s menu fuses tastes from both Singapore and abroad. Playful nostalgia abound in the dishes here, which include Oolong Tea Egg and Ah Hua Kelong Lala Clams (made with XO sambal, deep fried wonton [Chinese dumpling] skins and Chinese spinach).
Esplanade Mall, 8 Raffles Avenue #02-23, Singapore 039802
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Lei Garden
An internationally renowned restaurant chain with outlets in Hong Kong, Macau and China, Lei Garden stays true to its roots of traditional Cantonese-style cuisine. The restaurant is well known for its top-class service along with impeccably prepared dishes such as double-boiled soups and crispy roasted pork belly.
Chijmes, 30 Victoria Street #01-24, Singapore 187996
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Lerouy [N]
Helmed by acclaimed Chef Christophe Lerouy, this modern French restaurant places the social aspect of dining front-and-centre, with counter seating, an intimate vibe and an ambience that evokes the experience of dining in a friend’s home.
A variety of lunch and dinner courses are available, and while visitors won’t be able to pick their dishes, the innovative flavours and artful presentation of the food is unlikely to disappoint.
3 Stanley Street, Singapore 068722
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Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle
From humble beginnings, Chef Chan Hon Meng’s hawker stall is now internationally famous for its soya sauce chicken rice, and also happens to be the world’s most affordable Michelin-starred meal. Aside from its world-famous chicken rice, you may also opt for a range of alternative, stick-to-your-ribs fare, such as the roasted pork rice and pork ribs rice.
Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre, 335 Smith Street, Singapore 050335
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Ma Cuisine
Refine your appreciation for wine while indulging in hearty Gallic fare at Ma Cuisine. Located in a spacious shophouse along Craig Road, the establishment was founded by owners Anthony Charmetant and Mathieu Escoffier, who have curated a collection of over 600 wines from various regions of Europe.
The menu—which consists of dishes like terrine of jellied ham and parsley, as well as spiced lamb shoulder—was chosen to accentuate Ma Cuisine’s wine selection.
8 Craig Road, Singapore 089676
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Meta
True to its name—which signifies change, alternation and alteration—Meta serves up French-inspired cuisine with an Asian twist. Its East-meets-West menu fuses Korean and Japanese flavours with traditional French dishes.
Head chef Sun Kim is a protégé of the famed Tatsuya Wakuda, and his masterful execution of his training can be seen in the establishment’s iconic dishes, including Iberico pork chop with kailan (Chinese kale) and beetroot with tobiko (flying fish roe).
1 Keong Saik Road, Singapore 089109
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Nouri
Opened by Chef-owner Ivan Brehm—who led The Kitchen at Bacchanalia to a Michelin star—Nouri’s globally inspired cuisine is based on the philosophy of ‘crossroad cuisine’, which centres on food creating bonds between people.
Have a seat at the central chef’s table, and watch the culinary masters of this restaurant at work. The menu changes on a weekly basis, and we suggest visiting at lunch to sample the five-course omakase menu.
72 Amoy Street, Singapore 069891
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Putien (Kitchener Road)
Named after the beautiful city of Putien—a coastal suburb in Fujian—this casual eatery first opened in 2000, and has since become a household name, with branches in Malaysia, India and China. The establishment is famous for elegantly simple, hearty fare, exemplified in dishes like steamed clam with minced garlic.
127 Kitchener Road, Singapore 208514
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Restaurant JAG [N]
Chef Jérémy Gillon’s love for Savoie is apparent in the dishes served at Restaurant JAG, which incorporates the subtle flavours of herbs from that region.
Foodies hoping to hone their palates to detect nuance should pick from the à la carte menu, which boasts dishes like foie gras seasoned with bouleau (birch) and A7 wagyu striploin with ortie (nettle) and flat beans.
76 Duxton Road, Singapore 089535
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Rhubarb Le Restaurant
Chef Paul Longworth first started his culinary career at the age of 18 when he was offered an apprenticeship with Conran Restaurants in London. After a three-year stint at Au Petit Salut, he founded Rhubarb Le Restaurant in 2013.
This cosy fine dining restaurant offers a contemporary approach to French gastronomy, and first-time visitors should certainly try their signature rhubarb dessert, made from bird’s custard powder.
3 Duxton Hill, Singapore 089589
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Shinji by Kanesaka (Bras Basah Road, Tanglin Road)
Experience authentic Japanese omakase at this Edomae-style sushi restaurant. Helmed by chef Koichiro Oshino—who spent three years as sushi chef at Yamazato in Hotel Okura, Amsterdam—this restaurant pays homage to the rigours of Japanese culinary practices, and is famous for its sublime nigari (raw or cooked seafood on rice).
Shinji by Kanesaka at Bras Basah Road, Carlton Hotel, 76 Bras Basah Road Lobby Floor, Singapore 189558 | Call
Shinji by Kanesaka at Tanglin Road, The St. Regis Hotel, 29 Tanglin Road Lobby Floor, Singapore 247911 | CallWebsite | Email | Facebook | Instagram
Summer Palace
Offering a truly regal dining experience, Summer Palace serves an extensive array of dim sum delicacies. The restaurant is helmed by executive chef Liu Ching Hai, a veteran in the industry with over 20 years of experience.
Executive chef Liu aims to provide Cantonese comfort food with the freshest produce, and we recommend sampling the restaurant’s wok-fried jasmine rice with lobsters, scallops and XO sauce.
Regent Singapore, A Four Seasons Hotel. 1 Cuscaden Road Level 3, Singapore 249715
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Summer Pavilion
Executive chef Cheung Siu Kong was introduced to the culinary world at the age of seven by his grandmother’s cooking. Before moving to Singapore in 1996, he honed his skills at Lei Garden in Hong Kong, where he learnt to employ what he humbly terms ‘modest cooking techniques’ to bring out the natural flavours of the best ingredients.
The signature dishes here include poached fish noodles with lobster meat, barbecued Iberico pork in honey sauce and braised four-head South African abalone.
The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore, 7 Raffles Avenue, Singapore 039799
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Sushi Ichi
Watch sushi masters in action at this intimate, 23-seater restaurant, as you sit at a counter made from 200-year-old cypress trees. Chef Masakazu Ishibashi—who helms Sushi Ichi—made his first sushi when he was ten years old. “Even after 26 years of making sushi, I’m still learning and refining my technique. [To me], continual learning is essential for a chef,” says Masa.
Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel, 320 Orchard Road #01-04, Singapore 238865
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Sushi Kimura
Deepen your appreciation of Japanese cuisine’s nuanced flavours at Sushi Kimura, a restaurant that serves up seasonally curated Edomae-style delicacies, with produce flown in from the famed Tsukiji Market.
Chef-owner Tomoo Kimura has spent over two decades mastering the traditional art of sushi-making, and sources for ingredients for the restaurant’s omakase-style menu from organic producers in Japan’s various prefectures.
Palais Renaissance, 390 Orchard Road #01-07, Singapore 238871
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Table65 [N]
Fun and fine dining come together in an artful fusion at table65. The establishment eschews formality to focus on casual conviviality, with an open concept that’ll let you interact with the chefs at work.
The dishes—which include smoked herring with caviar and flatfish with truffle—are a showcase of both indulgent flavours and innovative presentation.
Resorts World™ Sentosa, Hotel Michael, 26 Sentosa Gateway #01–104/105, Singapore 098138
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Terra [N]
While the cuisine served at Terra is indisputably Italian in origin, the animating philosophy behind this establishment takes inspiration from Japanese culture.
Chef Seita Nakahara’s reverence for the legacies of both Italian and Japanese culinary heritage can be seen in his approach to omakase, with seasonal ingredients from Japan married with classic Italian fare.
54 Tras Street, Singapore 078993
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The Song of India
Located in a black-and-white heritage bungalow, The Song of India’s sophisticated surroundings complement its luxurious take on modern Indian cuisine. The set menus feature an extensive range of dishes that cater to vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. Dishes on their buffet menu include butter chicken, goan fish curry and tandoori broccoli and cauliflower.
33 Scotts Road, Singapore 228226
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Two Star
Saint Pierre
As a pioneer of Singapore’s fine dining scene, Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux Emmanuel Stroobant is no stranger to the industry, with over three decades of culinary experience.
Always staying ahead of the game and keeping up to date with the island’s ever-evolving food trends, Saint Pierre’s six- and 10-course menus offer culinary adventures for discerning epicures. À la carte dishes include royal pigeon roasted on the bone with wild mushrooms and nori (seaweed), as well as steamed hairy crab in corn and lemongrass.
One Fullerton, 1 Fullerton Road #02–02B, Singapore 049213
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Shisen Hanten
Spice up your palate at Shisen Hanten, with a Japanese take on the Szechuan region’s famously fiery cuisine. The restaurant is helmed by Japanese chef Chen Kantaro, and is famous for its mapo doufu (spicy tofu in meat sauce), which follows a traditional family recipe. Other favourites include steamed fish in diced red peppers and stewed beef in hot pepper sauce.
Mandarin Orchard Singapore, 333 Orchard Road Level 35 Orchard Wing, Singapore 238867
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Shoukouwa
An omakase experience that foregrounds the flavours of the sea, Shoukouwa exemplifies Japanese cuisine at its finest. Chef Masahiro Suzuki’s faultless culinary technique is fully displayed through the restaurant’s delectable sushi, which feature fresh seafood flown to Singapore daily from Tokyo’s famed Tsukiji market.
One Fullerton, 1 Fullerton Road #02-02A, Singapore 049213
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Waku Ghin
Be transported on a gastronomic journey, as you savour each dish from Waku Ghin’s ten-course dégustation menu. A labour of love helmed by internationally acclaimed chef Tetsuya Wakada, this dining establishment serves up modern Japanese cuisine with a European twist.
The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands®, 2 Bayfront Avenue L2-01, Singapore 018956
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Zén [N]
o experience a slice of Scandinavia, pay a visit to Zén. This newcomer to the Michelin list shot straight to a two-star ranking in 2019, with chef-owner Björn Frantzén’s elevated take on Nordic fare.
An offshoot of Frantzén—the only three Michelin-starred restaurant in Sweden—Zén’s three-storey premise is integrated into its menu, with guests sampling pre-appetiser drinks, Modern-French flavours and dessert on each of its three floors.
41 Bukit Pasoh Road, Singapore 089855
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Three Star
Les Amis
Les Amis means ‘friends’ in French, and was conceptualised by four partners who wanted to bring the finer aspects of French cuisine to Singapore. Executive chef Sebastien Lepinoy perfectly executes this vision through a menu that epitomises the excellence of French culinary tradition.
Besides the chef’s meticulous attention to detail, Les Amis is also famous for its cellar of over 3,000 wines mainly from the Old World—considered as one of the most spectacular in Asia
Shaw Centre, 1 Scotts Road #01–16, Singapore 228208
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Odette
A modern French restaurant located at National Gallery Singapore, Odette is guided by chef-owner Julien Royer. The restaurant’s numerous awards include the 28th position on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2018 list and Les Grande Tables du Monde 2017.
Born into a family of farmers, chef Julien sources for the best ingredients to create eclectic dishes, turning both commonplace and exotic produce into a timeless dining experience. Expect charming variations of French staples like foie gras, as well as chef Julien’s signature 55’ Smoked Organic Egg.
National Gallery Singapore, 1 Saint Andrew’s Road, Singapore 178957
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