12 unique restaurants that you must try in Singapore

It’s nostalgia overload at Mama Diam and its cafe-cocktail bar Lou Shang on the second floor. Decked out in decor meant to replicate an early 2000s tuck shop, the ambience at Mama Diam feels like a blast to the recent past. Get stuck in on old-school delights with a twist, such as the chicken curry kueh pie tee ($15) topped with coconut foam. And for something more inventive, opt for the stuffed seafood lychee ($15) featuring refreshing mouthfuls of tiger prawns, lychee, citrus mayo and tobiko. Slurp up the cold truffle mien ($26) – a sure-win given the luxurious toppings of Hokkaido scallops, ikura, caviar and truffles.

When you’re done eating, head up to Lou Shang for drinks, where you’ll be greeted with a HDB corridor-themed bar. And just as you think things can’t get any more hyper-local, wait till you see concoctions like 3 Times a Day ($24), a sweet blend featuring the staple cough syrup Nin Jiom Pei Pa Kao.

Fancy a trip out to sea, complete with a meal at Singapore’s only floating restaurant? A 15-minute boat ride will take you to Smith Marine Floating Restaurant – a modern kelong between Pulau Ubin and Changi Point Ferry terminal, serving the freshest catch of the day and quintessential zichar fare. The interiors are simple and functional, leaving the spotlight on the novelty of the experience and the food.

A seven course set menu for five people starts at $580, and while that may seem hefty, it includes the two-way ferry ride and a wide spread of seafood. Expect to see lobster deep-fried with shredded potatoes, a Hong Kong-style steamed fish, chilli crab, scallops, sambal mussels, and stir-fried lala beehoon. Soak in the sea breeze at the restaurant’s patio when you’re done with your meal, and enjoy the sound of waves for a moment or two.

Absurdities by Andsoforth serves dinner on an epic scale. It’s the first of its kind in Asia to weave gastronomy into a highly interactive experience that’ll see diners climbing and crawling through rooms. The menu is shrouded in secrecy. All you’ll know is that you’ll be served six courses and two drinks – novel creations unique in their presentation and flavours – meant to confuse and excite your senses. Wear something comfortable and expect to be on the move throughout the four-hour affair. You’ll be walking through an infinity mirror tunnel, navigating hidden doors, exploring a mystical jungle, and even discovering a Moroccan tent in a desert. Tickets start at $192 per person.

This one’s for the cinephiles. Watch your favourite films come to life through this dining experience at Nom Nom Cinema which combines cinema with culinary finesse. The first run of this dinner journey by Andsoforth focuses on Wes Anderson’s iconic The Grand Budapest Hotel, telling the story of a famous hotel’s concierge Monsieur Gustave from the perspective of the hotel’s lobby boy Zero.

A five-course dinner ($117) is served throughout the screening, inspired either by the food depicted in the movie, or significant moments in the film. What’s impressive is that the dishes are artfully plated and brought out at specific timings in the film to truly immerse you in the entire experience. For a more boozy experience, opt for the drinks pairing which starts at $68 for four drinks from their cocktail, mocktail and wine menu.

Koma is known for its 20 metre entranceway lined with vermilion torii gates, reminiscent of Kyoto’s iconic Fushimi Inari Shrine. When you enter the space, you’ll be greeted with a dramatic two-and-a-half-metre-tall Japanese bell that overlooks a footbridge and a reflecting pool. As you draw your eyes away from the austerity of the space towards the menu, you’ll find everything from sushi and sashimi, to robatayaki and tempura. To start, order the salmon pillow ($18) which is a puff pastry filled with smoked avocado blanketed with salmon sashimi and a burnt jalapeño pepper. The DIY Spicy Tuna ($36) is another good option, featuring rice crackers topped with a spicy tuna tartare made of sweet soy and spicy mayo.

Having a meal in total darkness without knowing what’s going into your mouth might be a strange concept to some. But let the idea settle, and you’ll find that dinner at NOX proves to be a fun yet enlightening rollercoaster ride, and a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The establishment is also a social enterprise that hires and trains visually-impaired individuals, so you’ll be in the good hands of your visually-impaired waiter throughout the dinner. 

Expect a mystery set menu ($88 per person) consisting of 12 dishes served over three courses. Pro tip: focus your naturally heightened senses of taste and smell on the food and try to paint a mental image of the dishes. At the end of your meal, you’ll be tasked to guess the dishes you’ve partaken in, before the menu is finally revealed to you.

In the heart of Chinatown along Trengganu Street lies a wizard-inspired dessert bar that takes a page from the beloved Harry Potter series. You’ll be greeted with imaginative desserts, from combustible effects to colour-changing liquids and smoking cauldrons that will delight the cameras. The Baby Root ($22) comes straight out of Professor Sprout’s Herbology class in the Harry Potter film. Presented as a sharing dessert nested in an egg-shaped pot, a creature made out of chocolate ganache sits on top of a delectable strawberry shortcake that’s dusted with Oreo crumbs.

The dessert bar also shakes up a whimsical range of cocktails that are a feast for the eyes. Expect fire shows with the rum-based Phoenix Fire ($22), or opt for the signature grapefruit-forward Wizard’s Brew ($22). There are even interactive experiences, from ‘potion-making’ classes to spellcasting demonstrations, making The Wizard’s Brew a worthy spot for families, couples, and most definitely Potterheads.

How often is it that you can say you’ve had a meal in the world’s largest oceanarium? Well, humans aren’t the only inhabitants at Resorts World Sentosa’s Ocean Restaurant, because here, you’ll be dining with manta rays, sharks, and schools of vibrant tropical fish. The six and eight course menus ($248 and $288) are curated by Chef Olivier Bellin – a two-star Michelin chef from L’Auberge des Glazicks in France – with a strong sustainability-focused ethos and locally sourced produce.

While there’ll be no shortage of premium ingredients like king crab, scallops and lobsters on your plate, we’ll admit that the highlight of your meal here will undoubtedly be the view. After all, every seat in the restaurant promises a breathtaking view of the massive undersea habitat. The surreal and hypnotic experience is sure to be a treat for any thalassophile.

Step into Café Monochrome – Singapore’s first 2D café inspired by the ones in South Korea – and you’ll feel like you’ve entered a world in a colouring book. Detailed hand-drawn designs are plastered all over the space, creating a life-sized optical illusion. Food-wise, the café offers a selection of comfort meals, coffee and ice cream desserts that ground you in reality as you grapple with the mind-boggling experience.

Tuck into hearty donburis, pasta, or waffles topped with ice cream at the Chinatown branch. If you’re visiting the Syed Alwi outlet, there are additional burger options, as well as a dainty high tea set ($48). This comes in a gorgeous three-tiered stand, featuring a colourful assortment of cakes, tarts, macarons, ice cream and tea, making for a picture-perfect accompaniment against the backdrop of the black-and-white interiors.

No, it’s not a budget airline. Instead, this tenant at Kampong Glam is a 30-seater Japanese restaurant-cum-sushi-bar modelled after a Douglas DC-3 propeller plane. The ‘in-air’ dining experience is a novel one to add to the books, with metal stairs resembling a boarding staircase, a retro chrome-plated interior, actual aeroplane meal carts, overhead compartments, and waitresses dressed as flight attendants.

But it’s not just about appearances here. With fresh seafood being flown in at least four times a week from Japan, you can expect quality produce across their menu. Put this to the test with their Sashimi Moriawase platter ($82), or go all out with their eight to ten course omakase menus ($200 and $250 per person). There’s also a flying set lunch from Monday to Saturday featuring four dishes at $26 per person.

Singapore has plenty of retro-themed restaurants and cafés, but British Hainan at Carpmael Road might just be the most unparalleled of the bunch. The restaurant is a time capsule tucked away in a quiet corner of Joo Chiat, boasting an unapologetic mishmash of vintage artefacts and trinkets that each have a story to tell. As you revel in the glorious clutter that fills the space, Chef-owner Frederick Puah whips up soul-nourishing British Hainanese comfort food, originating from Hainanese coolies who worked on board British warships.

Dig in to the braised oxtail stew ($32.90) – the star dish that earned British Hainan its legendary status. The time-tested recipe features tender pieces of oxtail and soft vegetales swimming in a rich stew, with wafts of star anise, cinnamon and cloves. Grab a piece of baguette bread to sop up all that leftover sauce.

Here’s another one for fans of wizardry and all things magical. Platform 1094 might not be an official Harry Potter franchise, but Potterheads will know the allusions when they see it. Cheeky dishes await you, like the Flying Charm ($24), which sees cold angel hair pasta with masago caviar and truffle oil held up by a magic wand, or the unassuming carrot and beetroot soup ($10) presented in a cauldron. Expect theatrical concoctions straight out of JK Rowling’s fantasy world as well, such as Mr Lich’s Flaming Brew ($17), a bright blue mystery concoction complete with a tall, eye-catching flame – the cafés signature.

Staying for longer? The Enchanted Afternoon Tea set for two goes at $59, and serves a selection of savouries and sweets that feature other Harry Potter references like Hedwig, Harry’s owl, and the iconic golden snitch. As for the rest, we shan’t spoil the surprise for you.