7 Best Restaurants in Singapore

Like jade itself, this upscale restaurant in a historic hotel has both exquisite and intriguing attributes. Inside you'll find a contemporary design that follows an eclectic Asian thread, with Vietnamese hanging lamps and Chinese calligraphy. Similarly, the food is fundamentally Chinese, but with creative modern accents, such as in the rich cocoa-flavored pork ribs with spinach in a raspberry vinaigrette. Jade's lavish weekend dim sum buffet is a Singaporean institution; reservations are a must.

Rare Shan and Thai Buddha statues and stunning views of the Singapore River complement amazing Cambodian, Vietnamese, and Laotian food at this classy riverside restaurant. There's a focus on nutritious dishes at IndoChine, and although the lemongrass, chili, mint, and curry flavors are generally on the subtle, non-spicy side, some plates do pack a punch. Arrive by 7 pm and try to score a table with sunset views over the river.

Jumbo more than makes up for its lack of polish through competitive prices on some of the best fresh seafood on the island. This East Coast Seafood Centre staple is the perfect place to crack into a chili or black-pepper Sri Lankan crab, a glorious, delicious mess of a dish that's a true Singaporean specialty—be sure to order it with sides of fried buns to sop up the sauce. Prices are by the kilogram; some crabs are large enough to feed up to four people, but smaller ones for two are also available. Jumbo's spacious outdoor seating area is ideal for families. Jumbo's has several other branches, including one at Blk 11 #01-16 Dempsey Road.

Plenty of meat-eaters also head to this casual Western-style vegan and vegetarian restaurant for its hearty Mediterranean-inspired cuisine. The menu includes sundry salads, pastas, and pizzas, and the three-course prix-fixe lunch menu is a great value. Original Sin shares the award-winning wine list from its sister restaurant, Michelangelo's, a recommended Italian that's also in Chip Bee Gardens.

Come for the excellent microbrews, stay for the magical setting amid the lush tropical greenery on Dempsey Hill, and snack from an international bistro menu with pizzas, pastas, grilled meats, salads, and sandwiches. The food is satisfying, if not particularly memorable or remarkable, but RedDot's range of delicious beers more than makes up for that. You'll find a Czech pilsner, and Kölsch-style and wheat beers among the house brews normally on tap, along with seasonals and a guest beer from the fellow Singaporean microbrewery Brewerkz. Those tall glasses of bright-green liquid you'll see at most tables are RedDot's Monster Green Lager, which gets its hue from the spirulina (aqautic bacteria) it's brewed with. It tastes better than it looks.

Don't be fooled: soup is hardly the only thing on the menu at this popular Cantonese chain. It's an excellent spot to taste a variety of Chinese-style cuisine, from double-boiled pork ribs and dried scallops to tofu prawns and chicken rice, perhaps the most popular dish in Singapore. There are now more than ten Soup branches across the island—and all of them tend to be packed, particularly on Sundays.

A step above the island's more rough-and-ready seafood centers, Tung Lok Seafood lets you feast on daily catches that include everything from Alaskan king crab to Australian barramundi and lobster, or follow the locals' lead and grab a cracker to break into a succulent chili or black-pepper crab. Wasabi-mayo prawns, another of Tunk Lok's signature dishes, are highly recommended. A buffet with more than 50 items is served daily for dinner, as well as for lunch on the weekend.