Best New Restaurant: Waku Ghin
The $400 a pop price tag evidently hasn’t deterred diners one bit from heading to Waku Ghin. An understated, elegant space that mirrors chef Wakuda’s approach to his exquisite food, expect impeccable service along with a most impressive wine collection. #02-02 Casino Level 2, Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Ave., 6688-8507, www.wakughin.com.
Best Restaurant: Les Amis
Les Amis has continuously placed itself on the frontier of modern European cuisine in Singapore. Lauded by the World Gourmet Summit and voted as one of the world’s top 100 restaurants by Restaurant Magazine UK (among other accolades), its resident Austrian chef Armin Leitgeb never breaks his promise of indulging diners with gastronomic surprises—a truly exceptional dining experience. #02-16 Shaw Centre, 1 Scotts Rd., 6733-2225, www.lesamis.com.sg.
Chef of the Year: André Chiang
After a highly successful run at Jaan par André, chef André Chiang left to set up his own highly-anticipated restaurant, André. An intimate space in a three-storey shophouse that seats 30 with two prix fixe menus for both lunch and dinner, chef Chiang’s focus on fresh artisanal produce is showcased in exquisite dishes that reflect his roots in Southern French nouvelle cuisine. 41 Bukit Pasoh Rd. 6534-8880, www.restaurantandre.com.
Best Brunch: Privé
This port of call has a nice ambiance and is the ideal place for power breakfasts by the marina. Despite its stellar reputation, it manages to stay warm and humble without turning into a stifling, tight-ass brekkie joint. G/F Marina @ Keppel Bay, 2 Keppel Bay Vista, 6776-0777, www.prive.com.sg.
Trendiest Cafe: PS Café
This contemporary glass house in the woods is a perennial favorite (of both ours and yours, clearly). Half tuckshop, half living room, it combines homeliness with urban chic to winning effect. Watch this space next year, though. Runner-up, 40 Hands is already a real contender despite being barely six months old. 28B Harding Rd., 9070-8782, 6479-3343, www.pscafe.sg.
Best Alfresco Space: The Dining Room
You can literally taste the salt in the air when you dine alfresco at Tanjong Beach Club’s The Dining Room. With a smattering of lounge beds and deck chairs overlooking its swimming pool and the shores of Tanjong Beach, it’s well worth the risk of taking a volleyball to the head. 120 Tanjong Beach Walk, Sentosa, 6270-1355, www.tanjongbeachclub.com.
Best Cocktail Joint: Martini Bar@Mezza9
This snazzy cocktail bar at Grand Hyatt Singapore houses one of the largest selections of martinis in Singapore. With over 30 martinis to choose from, expect a lipstick jungle of flashy patrons who do a good job of dressing up the bar’s sleek interiors. Not a place for teetotalers. Mezzanine Level, Grand Hyatt Singapore, 10 Scotts Rd., 6738-1234.
Best Late Night Food Spot: Timbre
So many good things have been said about Timbre, but we’re pleased to see them gain recognition as a great after-hours spot. Though there is nothing unconventional about the menu, it appeases night crawlers with a selection of delish thin crust pizzas, beers aplenty and a line-up of the best in the local music scene. Timbre @ The Substation, 45 Armenian St., 6338-8030, www.timbregroup.asia.
Best Value Restaurant: Old School Delights
Kudos for bringing back our canteen favorites and making them cool again. With wallet-friendly selections like mee siam, nasi lemak and chendol, this unassuming place is great if you’re tight on cash and want to go back to basics. Bring on the nostalgia. 215M Upper Thomson Rd., 6458-4518, www.oldschooldelights.com.
Best Restaurant To Impress: Stellar at 1-Altitude
Gastronomy challenges gravity in this international restaurant at One Raffles Place, one of the tallest buildings in Singapore. From its open kitchen to the spectacular view of the surrounding landmarks, Stellar at 1-Altitude is bound to impress your dining partners. 62/F One Raffles Place, OUB Centre, 1 Raffles Place, 6438-0410, www.1-altitude.com.
Best International Chef: Tetsuya Wakuda
What sets Tetsuya Wakuda apart from the rest of the celebrity chefs who have set up shop over the past year? Top-notch, personalized service that pampers diners who’ve paid good money for chef Wakuda’s 10-course degustation menu, as well as a distinctive Japanese sensibility exhibited in his divine creations. #02-02, Casino Level 2, Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Ave., 6688-8507.
Best Dessert Venue: 2am: Dessert Bar
Don’t expect your run of the mill crème brulee or banana split here. An intimate space for a late-night sweet fix, it redefines desserts with creations such as popcorn parfait, vinegar chocolate table and basil white chocolate with shiso and seagrapes and passion fruit puffs. 21A Lorong Liput Holland Village, 6291-9727, www.2amdessertbar.com.
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