Michelle Yee

Japanese food is hands-down the most popular cuisine in Singapore – even on a busy weekend night, there's no lack of options. While some lean towards an omakase experience with a Japanese chef while others are perfectly satiated with a piping hot bowl of ramen, Singapore has got it all. Here are our top picks for when you're craving some mighty solid Japanese cuisine. RECOMMENDED: The best affordable sushi bars in Singapore and the best cafés in Singapore  

The first quarter of the year is officially over, and we’re ringing in April with an impressive lineup of food openings in town. This month, we’ve got plenty of heavy hitters. A new casual concept by the chef behind the one-Michelin-starred Naeum brings Korean flavours to the table, and several renowned names from overseas are setting up shop in Singapore – including a famous Italian pizzeria with a 153-year legacy, and the world’s first wagyu ramen chain. RECOMMENDED: The 50 best restaurants in Singapore you must try and The 50 best bars in Singapore

Japan is known for many things – its stunning natural sights, vibrant arts scene, mouth-watering food, and most will agree, its extensive array of snacks. From unique KitKat flavours to moist and fluffy castella cakes and savoury monaka, there is plenty to discover and try. Whether you’re an avid snacker or simply looking for unique souvenirs to bring home for your loved ones, here are some must-try snacks when you visit the Land of the Rising Sun.   RECOMMENDED: The best old-school childhood snacks from Singapore and Kyoto Guide: Best things to do, eat and stay

While you don’t have to wait till Valentine’s Day to pamper your significant other, this special occasion gives you another opportunity to show your love and appreciation. Whether you prefer an exclusive and intimate spot or something more casual, we’ve shortlisted some of our favourite restaurants in this list that are perfect for the occasion, offering exceptional views and ambience, coupled with unrivalled food.  RECOMMENDED: Check out the The best Valentine’s Day gifts for her and The best Valentine’s Day gifts for him

While there is a slew of iconic landmarks like the Supertrees and Marina Bay Sands that every visitor should see when they visit Singapore, the city harbours a lesser-known side waiting to be explored. For those seeking off-the-beaten path experiences, these unique tour offerings, led by passionate guides who know the city inside out, provide the perfect opportunity to forge a connection to Singapore and its charming neighbourhoods and history. RECOMMENDED: 101 things to do in Singapore and the best hiking trails in Singapore

Avoid the tourist traps and discover some of Singapore’s hidden culinary gems that only locals know of through one of these food tours, which will take foodies to lesser-known neighbourhoods like Jalan Besar, Geylang, Little India and more. From savouring an array of local dishes like Hainanese chicken rice at hawker centres to buying fresh produce at a local wet market, these food tours, led by passionate local guides who know these neighbourhoods inside out, are sure to offer an unforgettable experience. During the tour, your local guide will also share fascinating stories and insights about Singapore’s history, culture and traditions between food stops, adding depth to your culinary adventure. RECOMMENDED: The best interactive game tours in Singapore and The best tours of Singapore

A fun and unique way to explore Singapore, gamification tours provide a refreshing and interactive way to learn more about the city. Curated and led by passionate local guides, these immersive tours uncover lesser known place and provide participants with in-depth insights into the country’s rich culture, history and people. For the ultimate game tours experience, be sure to add one of these to your must-do list.  RECOMMENDED: The best tours of Singapore and Look out for these ‘mini museums’ in the stores of six heritage businesses in Katong-Joo Chiat

If you’re planning to eat better this year, now is good time to start. As they say, “new year, new habits”. That said, we are firm believers that eating well is not just about consuming loads of vegetables and fruits for every meal, but having a well-balanced diet. To make it easy for you to adopt new eating habits, we’ve rounded up a list of eateries that offer wholesome meals at pocket-friendly prices, chock-full of flavours and textures. RECOMMENDED: The best affordable brunches under $30 and The best vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Singapore

What better way to show the foodies in your life how much they mean to you by plying them with all the things they love. From a limited-release Christmas gin to a gourmet food hamper chock-full of scrumptious treats, this gift guide features all the things that every foodie desires. Happy shopping.  RECOMMENDED: The ultimate guide to Christmas in Singapore

A Christmas feast is never complete without the classic turkey with stuffing, leg of ham, roast beef and of course, dessert. Whether you’re celebrating at  home or heading to a friend’s place this year, make the celebration extra special and memorable with a spectacular log cake that tastes as good as it looks. Here are some of our top picks this year. RECOMMENDED The best Christmas meals and festive menus and The best Christmas takeaways in Singapore

Whether you are craving authentic local food or seeking a gastronomic experience in a modern restaurant, Chinatown, with its diverse food offerings, is bound to have something for everyone. From hawker stalls, and Michelin-starred restaurants to chic cafes and cool bars, foodies can embark on a food trail through the bustling streets of Ann Siang Hill, Club Street, Amoy Street, Duxton Hill and Keong Saik Road to explore all the scrumptious treats that Chinatown has to offer.

Fresh off their Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023 debut where they placed No. 64, The Elephant Room has more exciting news to share – they’ve just relocated to a brand new space along Tanjong Pagar Road, offering an imaginative cocktail menu that imbibers will definitely want to try. “Over the past four years, we have successfully established ourselves as a cocktail bar inspired by Indian culture. The Elephant Room 2.0 marks the start of the next chapter of our journey, where my team and I are focused on delivering an elevated bar experience that is immersive, sensorial and imaginative,” Yugnes Susela, co-founder of The Elephant Room shares.  Boasting almost twice the size of its previous space, the 45-seater bar offers plenty of room for guests to mingle comfortably, whether at the bar counter or in one of the cosy booth seats.  A notable feature in the new space is the spice corner, lined with an array of Indian spices. Featuring cardamom, clove, black pepper, vetiver and more, it offers guests a sensorial experience as Yugnes and his team share more about how they use these spices to make their own liquors and infusions. Photograph: The Elephant RoomYugnes Susela, co-founder of The Elephant Room “Every guest who comes through our doors will be introduced to the spice corner where they can see, smell, touch and learn more about the different spices we use in our cocktails. These spices are all from India, which not many people have heard about – some have really unique flavour and

Located right beside the historic Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum, this under-the-radar café is the perfect spot to hang out with friends over well-executed brunch fare and coffee. The Food Peeps Coffee and Deli offers an extensive menu comprising brunch favourites with a twist like rendang on toast ($15) and 3-cheese rosemary waffle ($16), and heartier items like creamy chicken pesto ($16). There are also plenty of healthy options available like the acai bowl ($11) and grilled halloumi & mushroom salad ($15). While the coffee is good, their speciality iced drinks, especially the sea salt litchi lemonade ($6), are perfect thirst quenchers for the afternoon heat.

If you appreciate a bowl of good pho, check out this unassuming eatery located at Fook Hai Building on the corner of Upper Hokkien Street and South Bridge Road. Run by a lady chef who hails from Ho Chi Minh, May Pho Culture serves authentic Vietnamese dishes that are so good that even Vietnamese locals endorse them. We tried the beef tenderloin pho ($17.90) and it’s safe to say that it was  one of the best phos we’ve ever had – the soup was herby, robust and full of flavour, while the beef was juicy, tender and cooked to perfect doneness. For pocket-friendly options, try the beef brisket pho ($12.90) or the chicken supreme pho ($11.90). The fresh spring rolls ($9.90) are equally impressive, chock-full of pork slices, shrimp and rice noodles.

For quality brunch fare at pocket-friendly prices, Afterwords is the place to be. Spacious and inviting, the 50-seater spot serves excellent coffee brewed from beans by Common Man Coffee Roasters, as well as ice cream from the famed Fatcat Ice Cream Bar. For those craving something savoury, there is a variety of brunch options like the everything on a waffle ($16), comprising crisp and fragrant pandan waffle topped with scrambled eggs and sausages. Alternatively, the chix in a waffle ($11), featuring fried chicken and sunny-side-up egg sandwiched in a half-waffle, is a hearty and comforting treat that will satisfy even the most discerning taste buds. If you prefer to stick to sweet options, for the love of French toast ($15) is a must-try, consisting coffee-infused brioche French toast served with berry compote, almond flakes and maple syrup. You can request to add a scoop of ice cream at an additional cost – the espresso and dark chocolate are crowd favourites that pair perfectly with the toast.

Meat lovers will want to bookmark this no-frills Korean BBQ buffet spot along Kreta Ayer Road that offers free flow quality meats and sides at only $34.90 per person. We like how the establishment uses charcoal grills instead of gasoline ones, lending a distinctive smoky flavour to the meats. There is an extensive selection of meats that diners can choose from including beef brisket, beef bulgogi, spicy pork belly, shoulder loin and more. If you still have space for more meat, try the pig trotters ($47) – the meat, cooked for hours in a pot of homemade braise sauce, is moist, fork tender and full of flavour. As with every Korean meal, the buffet includes free-flow side dishes like kimchi, seasoned spinach, and seasoned bean sprouts among others.

Located on bustling Pagoda Street, Fortune Court is a 38-seater Cantonese restaurant run by a group of former staff from Peony Jade who lost their jobs when the Clarke Quay outlet shuttered during the pandemic. Serving refined Cantonese cuisine prepared with premium ingredients, the dishes are similar to the ones served at Peony Jade, such as the eggplant with floss appetiser ($9.80), the XO lobster ee fu noodles ($58.80 for small), and the egg white conpoy with crab meat ($18.80 for small). Their dishes are designed for sharing, so come in a larger group to try more signature dishes like the white pepper crab (seasonal price). Prepared using Sri Lankan crabs, the meat is fresh, plump and sweet. Diners can choose to have their crabs cooked in other ways like steamed with garlic and egg white or tossed with sauces like salted egg.

Established in 1929, Spring Court is the oldest family-run restaurant in Singapore. First opened at Great World Amusement Park as Wing Choon Yuen, it is now run by third-generation owner Mike Ho in a four-storey heritage shophouse along Upper Cross Street. Instead of classic Cantonese cuisine, the establishment serves Singaporean-Chinese food, which Ho explains is a touch more spicy, “Our food reflects the tastes of Singaporeans who are accustomed to Indian and Malay flavours, and the different Chinese dialect groups like the Hokkiens and Teochews.” Notable dishes to try include the traditional popiah ($8.50), yam ring with mixed vegetables and prawns ($42), Singapore’s chilli crab in claypot (seasonal price), and the crab meat roll with chicken liver and salted egg ($15.80 per roll). We recommend saving some space for dim sum, which is masterfully prepared by chefs who have been with the restaurant for over two decades.   

Traditional bakeries that offer nostalgic flavours are few and far between in Singapore, so Hung Huat Cakes and Pastries, tucked away in Sims Vista Hawker Centre, is a real gem. Run by husband-and-wife duo Mr. Sim Heng Hung and Madam Liau Cheok Wan and their son Mr. Sim Wei Jie, the shop offers handcrafted treats like tau sar piah, sun cake, lao po bing (wife cake), Teochew crispy yam mooncake and more – all made fresh daily. Notable favourites among regulars include the tau sar piah, featuring generous portions of either sweet or salted mung bean filling, encased with a scrumptious flaky crust; as well as the Teochew crispy yam mooncake, boasting a layered and flaky crust that crumbles easily with every bite, revealing a delightful filling of smooth and fragrant yam paste made from scratch. Be sure to grab a box of the black sesame mochi, a traditional Teochew steamed mooncake that is not easily found these days as they are quite tedious to make.

A place of worship for the god Shiva – a deity known as the master of fertility, poison and medicine, this 173-year-old temple was originally located in Potong Pasir from where it was moved three more times before settling in its present location in front of Paya Lebar MRT station. Designed by a group of renowned North and South Indian architects, the temple is built from thousands of pieces of hand-carved marble and limestone and features intricate hand-carved details on its dome-like ceiling. Apart from its magnificent architecture, there is plenty more to see and discover within the temple – you’ll find ancient wisdom of Hinduism represented through an array of paintings and traditional artworks.

The 8th Floor Ceramics Studio is helmed by renowned Singaporean artist Alvin Tan Yuan Kiat. Providing a comprehensive wheel-throwing course designed for beginners, it's a great place to start your journey with pottery. Comprising 20 sessions (three hours each) in total, the course is split into two parts: Phase I: Domestic Objects – Beginners and Phase II: Decorative Objects. Upon completion of all hands-on sessions, participants will have a good understanding of how to turn clay into ceramics, and they will also acquire the skills required to produce functional and beautiful ceramic wares.

  Launched by duo Vincent Tay and Dale Thia, Wunderfolks started out as a home-based business after the circuit breaker in 2020, offering impeccable homemade tarts that taste as good as they look. Since then, the business has grown to include four stores islandwide and their menu now offers a wider selection of pastries including viennoiseries, croissants, choux and other seasonal bakes. All their tarts are handmade from scratch – from the dough to the tart shell and filling, everything is made in-house with the best quality ingredients. The result is a scrumptious golden-brown crusted tart that features a beautiful crumbly texture and buttery flavour. Try their best seller, the mixed fruit tart ($45), filled with creme patissiere and topped with peach slices, grapes, strawberries and blueberries. If you can’t decide between the chocolate or fruit tart, go for the signature duo flavour ($45), offering the best of both – half fruit and half chocolate.

Foo Hai Ch’an Monastery is touted as one of the most stunning Buddhist monasteries in Singapore. It was founded in 1935 by Taiwan-born and Japan-ordained venerable Hong Zong who popularised Buddhism in Singapore. The monastery is truly an architectural marvel to behold, home to statues, Bodhi trees and Buddha relics that are of religious significance. Some notable structures to look out for include the two vajra warriors also known as General Heng and Ha, situated at the main entrance; and the spectacular 9.9m tall statue of bodhisattva Guanyin (a deity who has attained the highest level of enlightenment). Don’t miss the five-story pagoda, featuring decorated statues of Buddha in various styles.

Run by chef-owner Kelvin Low who has over a decade of culinary experience under his belt, this no-frills dining establishment serves restaurant-quality charcoal-grilled Western fare at pocket-friendly prices. Being an avid meat lover, Kelvin is very particular about the cuts and quality of the meat he uses and is constantly experimenting with different ways to cook them to bring out its best flavours. Some signatures to try include the beef brisket ($7), pork belly ($6) and beef cheek ($15). The pasta is also a hit and goes well with the meats, especially the aglio olio ($4.90), cooked to al dente perfection. Check out their ‘Specials’ menu which offers lots of good options depending on what’s available – some items to look forward to include the rack of Lamb ($88) and Kurobuta pork steak ($16.50).