The tapas resurgence is in full swing. There are loads of variations of this essentially Spanish cuisine, and we’ve rounded up some of the best tapas joints around.
Bam! Tapas and Sake Bar
What do you get when you mix small Spanish plates and sake? This Tras Street joint combines the best of Spanish tapas and Japanese drinks to make an oddly harmonious match. There’s even a sake-pairing menu where Japanese ingredients get the Latin treatment. Think Kurobuta pork in Jerusalem artichoke soup and Japanese momotaro tomatoes on coca bread.
Binomio
Always a solid bet for classic tapas dishes like tortilla de patatas (Spanish potato omelette) or baby octopus with potato escabeche. Don’t miss their roasted suckling pig, which can be shared by three people, and we particularly love their $69 deal that gets you six different tapas items of your choosing.
Catalunya
This slick, modern Spanish restaurant and bar housed in a glass dome at The Fullerton Pavilion boasts impressive views of the Marina Bay waterfront. There’s a killer suckling pig, but for those tapas cravings, they’ve got twists on traditional Spanish dishes like a deconstructed omelette and ham croquetas.
Esquina
Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton needs no introduction. This cool, intimate space doesn’t take reservations so be prepared to wait. Executive chef Andrew Walsh makes some mean tapas dishes that are perfect for sharing, from amuse bouche-portioned mini Spanish breakfast eggs to heartier sea bass with chorizo red pepper paella and black olives.
FOC
Another Michelin-starred chef, Nandu Jubany, is getting in on the tapas game, collaborating with Jordi Nogeura (formerly of Foodbar Dada) and Dario Nocentini (formerly of Catalunya) to create this achingly hip tapas joint on Hongkong Street. Expect plenty of modern interpretations of classic dishes like black Mediterranean paella, and some Asian touches thrown in for good measure. Oh, don’t forget to try their kooky, killer cocktails, too.
Lolla
The Club Street stalwart has been pushing out perfectly cooked morsels for the past couple of years. Although it’s not Spanish, per se, they still have tons of great regional Mediterranean tapas dishes like the scrambled eggs with bottarga and the ever-popular and decadent sea urchin pudding.
My Little Spanish Place
This homey, all-rounder neighborhood joint has a dedicated jamon bar (with five different types of jamon) and a pretty awesome weekend brunch for the tapas-loving set. The Bukit Timah gem has never disappointed with perennial favorites like seafood paellas and gambas al ajillo, prawns in a garlic-chili sauce.
Ola Cocina del Mar
This slightly hidden Spanish restaurant, with a vibrant open bar counter and kitchen atmosphere, has got quite the pedigree with Chef Daniel Chavez (formerly of now-defunct Santi at MBS) behind the kitchen. The spot has simple and well-executed food with dishes like pulpo a la brasa, grilled octopus with chickpeas and romesco sauce.
Sabio Tapas Bar & Restaurant
Duxton Hill tapas mainstay Sabio has quite a few things going for it. From the unfussy food to the convivial atmosphere, there’s plenty of tapas and booze to be had. The compact space is usually packed with fashionable diners sipping on cava and sangria, and nibbling on croquetas and cold cuts while listening to the two-man band.
Salt Tapas & Bar
Luke Mangan’s stab at a tapas place is down-to-earth and friendly. Aside from killer after-work drink deals, he’s got some modern reinterpretations of Spanish dishes. His Australian-Spanish menu features items like seared scallops with lemon curd, leek, bacon and horseradish, as well as an addictive sumac-spiced veal and pork meatball with fontina mash.
