Whether you’re planning on having a nice tete-a-tete with a date, or a lavish meal with some friends, there’s something alluring about doing it over some great French dishes. Whether you’re going for just the classics like escargots de bourgogne or haute cuisine ones like a deconstructed version of foie gras, you’ll find something you want at one of these 14 restaurants.
Bar-roque Grill
This cave-like and convivial restaurant and grill by chef Stephane Istel (formerly of the Daniel Boulud Group) serves up classic and solid French fare, from the rillettes, escargots and terrines at the beginning to the Tomahawk ribeye with Bordelaise sauce for mains to the baba au rhum for dessert. Dig into it all in a cavernous space with long communal tables, and finish up at their alfresco space with a digestif. #01-00 Amara Hotel, 165 Tanjong Pagar Rd. Make a reservation via Chope here.
Brasserie Gavroche
A facsimile of an old school Parisian brasserie right on Tras Street, this pretty, skylit dining room fosters a bit of nostalgia with black and white photos on the wall and a 1930s wooden bar-counter said to have been rescued from the original Parisian Café de la Paix. It’s all about hearty and rustic here, and aside from the usual suspects like escargots de Bourgogne, you can also look forward to forgotten classics, made using recipes passed down from chef Frederic Colin’s grandpa Henri, like baked pork terrine pie. The food and service are excellent, but it’s the charming ambiance that you’ll find particularly hard to resist. 66 Tras St. Make a reservation via Chope here.
Cocotte
One of the prettiest restaurants in Little India, located at the design-forward Wanderlust hotel, Cocotte serves up hearty, homey French fare without any pretension. The ambiance is bright and playful (with mismatched metallic chairs), the kitchen, under the care of Anthony Yeoh, pushes a communal dining concept, so bring along company to share stu like the homemade charcuterie, the free-range poulet roti and the beef shortrib Bourguignon. Most of all, we loved the brunch trolley that comes heaping with roasted meats, quiche, salads and flambeed desserts. 1/F Wanderlust, 2 Dickson Rd. Make a reservation via Chope here.
Corner House
We’ve known chef Jason Tan is a culinary mastermind ever since Corner House first opened, so we are thrilled global bodies like Asia’s 50 Best and the Michelin Guide caught one this year. This fine dining “gastro-botanic” restaurant amid the lush greenery in the Botanic Gardens impresses with its seasonal menu and beautifully plated dishes. The elegant and airy space matches the re ned menu and seasonal ingredients. Don’t miss Tan’s signature dish: Cevennes onion done four ways, where one of the renditions comes in the form of a tea. E J H Corner House, Botanic Gardens, 1 Cluny Rd. Make a reservation via Chope here.
Fleur de Sel
A cozy space featuring an open-concept kitchen, this restaurant is helmed by French chef-owner Alexandre Lozachmeur, who has worked at the Spoon restaurants and Alain Ducasse Au Plaza Athenee. The menu includes classic French dishes such as slow-cooked duck breast with apple, figs and cherry, as well as a five-course Fleur de Sel dinner and three-course set lunches. #01-01 64 Tras St. Make a reservation via Chope here.
Gunther’s
It’s not new and shiny, but chef-owner Gunther Hubrechsen’s consistently great contemporary, simple-yet-re ned French food has a loyal following. While the interiors here tend to the minimalist, conservative even, perhaps that’s so as not to distract you from the fabulous fare. The cold angel’s hair pasta with Oscietra caviar is legendary, and the meat mains are also excellent. #01-03 Talib Centre, 36 Purvis St. Make a reservation via Chope here.
Jaan
We held our breaths when Julien Royer left and Kirk Westaway took up the mantle. But not only does Jaan remain one of the best blowout French meals in town, the Westaway touch has made the seasonal menu here more exciting than ever, thanks to dishes like the scallop with cabbage and pine dashi and the Mangalica pork collar with coco de paimpol beans and Pommery mustard. Even the humble dishes on the degustation menus, like the Farmer’s Harvest, will have you curling your toes. 70/F Equinox Complex, Swissôtel The Stamford, Singapore, 2 Stamford Rd.
L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon
The more “casual” of his two Singapore outposts, L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon has the same distinctive red and black decor as the others around the world. Opt for the eight-course Discovery menu, which brings a seemingly endless procession of dishes, including highlights like the signature amuse bouche of foie gras custard with red port wine and Parmesan foam, the decadent Imperial caviar and sea urchin, tender jelly of dashi topped with broccoli cream, and the unimaginably smooth and creamy mash potato. Or opt for a smaller four-course Menu Appetit that you can create out of a list of dishes. Resorts World Sentosa, Hotel Michael, 8 Sentosa Gateway.
Les Amis
This homegrown establishment has been our pride and joy for years. From the impeccable service to the wonderful French ingredients and homemade breads to the reworks-causing dishes like the Parmesan souf e on Brittany artichoke and of course the sublime desserts by the award-winning Cheryl Koh, this is easily one of our favorite French restaurants in town. In the good hands of executive chef Sebastien Lepinoy, hunker down for a seasonal or signature set menu fully worth the price tag. #01-16 Shaw Centre, 1 Scotts Rd. Make a reservation via Chope here.
Lewin Terrace
Located in a black-and-white house in the leafy heart of Fort Canning, Lewin Terrace is a serious date night spot. Fancy vibes aside, there is an equally fancy food menu featuring changing seasonal offerings that highlight Japanese ingredients with French and Japanese cooking techniques like the Amadai sh, served with black truffle over a Koshihikari rice cake, as well as the reputable wagyu steak, cooked in Nippon-Rossini style. Fort Canning Park, 21 Lewin Terrace. Make a reservation via Chope here.
Odette
The most exciting opening of 2015 (and 2016, thus far), this bright modern French restaurant at the stately National Gallery has caused a stir, with foodies waiting for weeks to snag a table for one of its lunch or dinner degustations. Chef Julien Royer, who found fame whilst at Jaan, brings bucolic sentimentality and gastronomic touches to his dishes, most of which undergo constant changes, depending on the season. There’s a dizzying wine list, too, but don’t forget to ag down the fancy Champagne cart and try a few glasses. #01-04 National Gallery Singapore, 1 St. Andrew’s Rd.
Restaurant Andre
Hot from a recent renovation and two Michelin stars, celebrity chef Andre Chiang’s three- story shop house is now six years old and even has a sister restaurant in Paris. With prix fixe menus for both lunch and dinner, Chiang’s focus on fresh artisanal produce is showcased in exquisite dishes that reflect his roots in Southern French nouvelle cuisine. There are no choices whatsoever, so come with an open mind, a fat pocket and be prepared for whatever Chiang decides to craft based on his “octophilosophy” whose key tenets include “terroir” and “memory”. The service is beyond reproach, the clientele well-heeled and the food very good. 41 Bukit Pasoh Rd.
Rhubarb Le Restaurant
It’s not particularly trendy, but Rhubarb Le Restaurant has had a loyal following ever since it first threw open its doors over a year ago. It’s easy to see why: the lovechild of French dining temply Au Petit Salut alums Chef Paul Longworth and manager Jerome Desfonds, this classy dove gray and white space serves up refined and seasonal French food in its open-plan kitchen. No gimmicks here, just solid food and some interesting ingredients. The a la carte menu has dishes like Obsiblue prawn tartare with seaweed, pomelo and Oscietra caviar, and their signature pigeon breast and leg confit with rhubarb and rose puree. There are lunch and dinner degustations, too. 3 Duxton Hill.
Saint Pierre
Veteran chef Emmanuel Stroobant moved his beloved Saint Pierre from Sentosa to One Fullerton this year, with a lighter touch and more of a market‐to‐table concept. The six‐ and 10‐course degustations involve seasonal ingredients and change often, divided into Earth (meat and seafood) and Nature (vegetarian). Expect upscale dishes with exciting touches like the langoustine puffed wild rice with winter melon, celeriac and green apple, and the purple artichoke with tumeric sauce, pine nuts and a herb crust. There’s also the option to go a la carte. #02-02B One Fullerton, 1 Fullerton Rd. Make a reservation via Chope here.
