The list of established eateries in the heart of Singapore is more or less endless, but which are worthy of the calories you’re constantly counting? We round up a couple within the Marina Bay and Raffles Place district, so you can go from steaks and oysters to Cantonese and Peranakan fare within minutes.
The Black Swan
A 1920s-style establishment in heritage building The Quadrant in the heart of the CBD, the chophouse-style dishes here are well-executed and consistently delicious. Add to that affable but professional service, an intriguing cocktail list, a selection of carefully sourced steak options and a lovely garden patio, and it’s easy to see why it is one of the best-loved restaurants in town. The fact that they also do a great oysters-and-drinks happy hour combo doesn’t hurt either. The Quadrant, 19 Cecil St., 6438-3757. $$$
Cherry Garden
One of the best fine dining Chinese restaurants in town, the opulent and elegant Cherry Garden offers a wide selection of Cantonese cuisine presented with an artistic touch. Not too much has been shaken up here, but we can’t complain when the BBQ meat platter, wasabi prawns and double-boiled soups are so good. The weekend dim sum brunches are also unmissable, featuring faultless food and service. 5/F Marina Square, Mandarin Oriental, 6885-3500. $$
The Clifford Pier
The Clifford Pier is a lot like many other super-pretty hotel restaurants with a colonial heritage aesthetic, except it’s housed in a historic landmark that served as the first port of call for immigrants in Singapore’s early days. But start things out with a drink in a rattan armchair at their outdoor terrace overlooking the water, and things get a bit magical. On the menu are upscale versions of familiar favorites and hawker reinterpretations with Western touches, such as wagyu beef rendang and classics like prawn laksa with quail eggs. G/F The Fullerton Bay Hotel, 80 Collyer Quay, 6597-5266. $$
Cut
Singapore is no stranger to outposts of international celebrity restaurants, but this one by Wolfgang Puck is an enduring classic. It serves a really notable menu of beef, including 300-day grain-fed Australian Angus from Rangers Valley and Japanese Wagyu, along with a range of unique and delicious sauces like their signature Argentinean chimichurri. Cocktails are also marvelous. If you’re looking for a classic meat extravaganza, look no further. #B1-71 Galleria Level, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 2 Bayfront Ave., 6688-8517. $$$$
db Bistro & Oyster Bar
Chef Daniel Boulud’s restaurant is awash with soft lighting, dark wood accents, and a beige marble bar dedicated to oysters. The menu is dominated by well-executed French classics including bouillabaisse and traditional coq au vin, as well as delectables like the quintessential original db burger. There’s a dizzying amount of luscious seafood, too, covering the oyster bar, selection of tartares and ceviches, and a handful of seafood cocktails including the jumbo shrimp cocktail. #B1-48 Galleria Level, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Ave., 6688-8525. $$$
Edge
Many hotel buffets feel same-y, but that is not the case here. For sure, they cover all the bases, but there is something to be said for the sheer variety this crowd favorite offers, and at such impressive prices. We’re talking seven different open concept kitchens, Japanese sushi and Thai salads, Indian curries and chargrilled satay, not to mention oysters, prawns, mussels and scallops made a la minute at the seafood station, as well as pastas, pizzas, steaks and of course, a dessert spread. This is the big hotel buffet blowout you’re looking for. International, Buffet. 3/F Pan Pacific Singapore, 7 Raffles Blvd., 6826-8240. $$
Lavo Rooftop Bar & Restaurant
This first foray into Asia by famed nightlife operator TAO Group is, expectedly, nothing short of a stunning and much-welcomed addition into the dining and entertainment scene here. Think upscale restaurant-meets-lounge experience, set amidst the spectacular setting that is the rooftop of Marina Bay Sands, 57 floors high. Expect luxurious indoor and outdoor lounges, a wraparound terrace (where a gelato cart sits) and nightlife programing that includes live DJ sets. Get used to the Las Vegas- style VIP treatment as you wine and dine on an Italian-American menu with items like penne a la vodka, linguini with clam sauce, chicken parmesan, and their infamous one-pound meatball. Once you’re ready, feel free to dance the night away. 57/F Sands Skypark Hotel Tower 1, Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Ave, 6688-8591. $$-$$$
LeVeL33 
Its prime location on the 33rd floor of the Marina Bay Financial Centre has earned LeVel33 the deserving reputation of being one of the best spots for killer views of the city skyline. You’ll find both proper sit-down table settings and classic barstools wrapped around the main defining features of this establishment, a row of towering brewing tanks, two brewing kettles and a whole lot of shiny metal. This urban craft brewery serves up some mean dishes such as hand-cut Black Angus beef tartare with sourdough chips, lightly poached Hokkaido scallop with bonito flakes, and Welsh lamb rump with parsnip pureé and stout caviar, as well as signature beers brewed onsite like 33.15 India Pale Ale and 33.4 House Porter. #33-01 Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 1, 8 Marina Blvd., 6834-3133. $$$
Morton’s of Chicago, The Steakhouse
It has been the year of casual barbecue in Singapore, but when it comes to classic, carnivorous glamor, this American steakhouse stalwart is still a sure bet, especially since it lightened things up after its renovation. Have a “Mortini” or two at their brass-colored island bar before heading in for a big, fat juicy slab of steak the size of a baseball mitt. The stars are the onion bread and the USDA prime ribeye, as well as desserts like their legendary hot chocolate cake and New York-style cheesecake. 4/F Mandarin Oriental, Singapore, 5 Raffles Ave., 6339-3740. $$$
Ola Cocina del Mar
Helmed by Peruvian Chef Daniel Chavez, this is a homey spot with friendly service and simple, well-executed food. Don’t miss the gazpacho, a cold tomato and cucumber soup with raspberry vinegar, ceviche—marinated fish with lime, chili and red onions—as well as the roasted suckling pig with orange caramel and sweet and sour sauce. #01-06 Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 3, 12 Marina Blvd., 6604-7050. $$
Rang Mahal
Breaking with the heavy, Mughal- inspired decor commonly found in many fine dining Indian places, this stalwart, around since 1971, is all about high ceilings, clean lines and minimalist decor. Even the presentation of the regional (North, South, coastal and other) dishes is delicate rather than hearty. Try the tandoori lamb chops, served on a hot stone, and tandoori salmon tikka. Vegetarians won’t feel left out with balanced, but flavor-packed, dishes like the smoked eggplant bharta, paneer tikka and the palak paneer. There’s a brief list of mostly French wines, too, curated specifically for Indian flavors. 3/F Pan Pacific Singapore, 7 Raffles Blvd., 6333-1788. $$
Saint Pierre
Veteran Chef Emmanuel Stroobant moved his beloved Saint Pierre from Sentosa to One Fullerton a couple of years ago, with a lighter touch and more of a market-to-table concept. The six- and 10-course degustations involve seasonal ingredients and change often, divided into Earth (meat and seafood) and Nature (vegetarian). Expect swish dishes with exciting touches like hay- smoked Hamachi with ponzu and leek, and steamed hairy crab with corn and lemongrass. There’s also the option to go a la carte if that’s more your style. #02-02B One Fullerton, 1 Fullerton Rd., 6438-0887. $$$$
Wakanui Grill Dining Singapore
There is certainly no lack of steak restaurants in Singapore, but what diners can expect here is partaking in fine quality New Zealand beef from cattle raised on natural green pastures and fed locally grown organic grain feed. The meat is aged to perfection in the restaurant’s on-site aging room and grilled using traditional Japanese Binchotan charcoal, in a glass capsule venue perched on the fourth floor of Marina One. Wakanui imports its beef, lamb and seafood such as oysters and salmon from New Zealand. Naturally, diners will find a good range of famous New Zealand wines to go with their meats, but do look out for the assortment of wines from boutique producers. Western, Steak. #04-02 Marina One, The Heart West Tower, 5 Straits View, 6384-2665. $$
