Traditional Chinese dialect restaurants in Singapore

What is it? A stalwart of Cantonese fine dining since 1982, Summer Palace has been reimagined within Conrad Singapore Orchard. The restaurant seamlessly blends traditional Cantonese culinary techniques with modern sensibilities, offering an immersive dining experience that honours its rich heritage.

Why we love it: Chef Liu Ching Hai leads the kitchen with over 30 years of experience, offering refined Cantonese classics that balance tradition and modern elegance. Expect double-boiled soups simmered for 12 hours, dishes with deep wok hei and standout signatures like crocodile fillet in brown sauce, baked stuffed crab shell and spinach tofu in crabmeat sauce. Dim sum is artfully done, and the seasonal tasting menus showcase Chef Liu’s dedication to freshness, colour and balance. The opulent dining room, with hand-painted De Gournay wallpaper and serene ambience, adds to the sense of timeless luxury.

Time Out tip:
Don’t miss the tea-infused cocktails, especially the Tie Guan Yin Old Fashioned, and ask for a recommendation from the Park90 curated wine list, which highlights both boutique Chinese and international producers.

Address: 1 Cuscaden Rd, Conrad Singapore Orchard, Level 3, Singapore 249715
Opening hours: Daily 11.30am-2.30pm, 6.30pm-10.30pm
Expect to pay: From $100 per person depending on menu and wine pairing.

What is it? A refined modern-Cantonese restaurant housed in the heritage NCO Club, offering contemporary takes on classic Cantonese flavours.

Why we love it: Chef Pak Chee Yit brings over two decades of experience to the table, blending tradition with creativity in dishes that feel both familiar and new. His updated menu draws from childhood memories and heritage recipes, like the deep-fried queen crab with osmanthus egg, and a warming stewed beef soup with conpoy and radish. A standout is the poached yellow croaker with xin hui tangerine peel, delicately cooked in salted water to preserve its natural sweetness. Don’t miss the assorted seafood and tofu rice, served in lotus leaf and topped with a luxurious crab roe sauce and mullet roe. Upstairs, Madame Fan Bar complements the dining experience with inventive cocktails like the lychee-laced Concubine Sour or Mandarin Mist, infused with clarified mandarin juice and smoky peat.

Time Out tip: Order the seafood rice to share – it’s comforting, aromatic, and perfect for two to three diners. Then head to the bar for a tea-infused nightcap.

Address: 32 Beach Rd, The NCO Club, Singapore 189764
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11.30am-2.30pm, 6pm-10.30pm
Expect to pay: From $60 per person; cocktails from $25.

What is it? One of the rare Chinese restaurants that offers both Teochew and Cantonese cuisine.

Why we love it: Can’t decide between Teochew or Cantonese cuisine? Have the best of both worlds at San Shu Gong, which is run by a second-generation Teochew chef with over 15 years of experience in luxe hotel chains like The St. Regis. The restaurant recently opened its trendier sibling in New Bahru – San Shu Gong Chao Yue – which has more woodfire charcoal-grilled dishes, but we like its original digs at Geylang for its understated yet elegant vibes. 

The Teochew cold yellow roe crab marinated with Shaoxing wine ($16 per 100 grams) is a must-order if you enjoy sweet, glistening morsels of crab meat bursting with roe, beautifully deshelled and plated for your convenience. Other table favourites include the pan-fried oyster omelette ($16) with a delightfully crispy underbelly, the deep-fried sea cucumber ($32) for its interesting texture, and the wok-fried cai pu kway teow with homemade XO sauce (from $14).

Time Out tip: The braised whole chicken stuffed with pig stomach ($138) is another crowd favourite. Make sure to order it 24 hours in advance.

Address: 135 Geylang Rd, #01-01, Singapore 389226
Opening hours: Mon-Thu noon-2.30pm, 6pm-11pm; Fri-Sun noon-2.30pm, 5.30pm-11pm
Expect to pay: Around $80 per person depending on dishes ordered.

What is it? A Michelin-recommended Cantonese fine-dining restaurant at InterContinental Singapore, Man Fu Yuan excels at marrying time-honoured culinary techniques with modern creativity. Known for its meticulous execution and premium ingredients, it offers an elevated experience of classic dim sum, roasted meats and seafood, all crafted with precision and flair.

Why we love it: Man Fu Yuan brings a contemporary edge to classic Cantonese dining, with an emphasis on premium ingredients and craftsmanship. Standouts include honey-glazed Iberico pork collar smoked in-house, wok-fried crispy glutinous rice served tableside in three minutes and a luxurious braised abalone and fish maw dish that takes over a week to perfect. But the real draw on weekends? The stellar dim sum buffet ($98), featuring over 40 handcrafted delights. We love the truffle crystal dumpling and crispy filo pastry prawn with wasabi aioli and tobiko, and the signature Hong Kong-style barbecued meat platter. The spread also features luxurious treats like braised abalone with sea cucumber in pumpkin sauce.

Time Out tip: Pair your dim sum feast with one of their curated premium teas, each selected to complement the Cantonese flavours on the table.

Address: 80 Middle Rd, InterContinental Singapore, Level 2, Singapore 188966
Opening hours: Mon-Fri noon-3pm; Sat-Sun 11.30am-3pm
Expect to pay: From $100 per person for the dim sum buffet.

What is it? A Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore, Summer Pavilion has earned the honour for eight consecutive years. It’s known for refined cuisine, elegant presentation, and warm service – all set within a serene, Chinese garden-inspired space with private dining rooms.

Why we love it: Under the helm of Chef Cheung Siu Kong, who’s led the kitchen since 2003, Summer Pavilion delivers refined, modern Cantonese cuisine. Signature dishes include barbecued Iberico pork glazed in honey, steamed vermicelli with Hokkaido king scallops and the standout double-boiled fish maw soup with morel, bamboo pith and chicken. Interiors are sleek yet serene, inspired by Chinese garden pavilions, with hand-painted tableware and six private dining rooms for intimate gatherings. Every detail, from the attentive service to the curated teas by Tea Bone Zen Mind, speaks to the restaurant’s dedication to excellence.

Time Out tip: Go for the Orchid lunch menu (from $138 per person) to try the best of Chef Cheung’s creations, and ask your server for a tea pairing to elevate the experience.

Address: 7 Raffles Ave, The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore, Level 3, Singapore 039799
Opening hours: Daily 11.30am-2.30pm, 6.30pm-10.30pm
Expect to pay: From $100–$180 per person depending on set menus and pairings.

What is it? One of the newest Chinese fine-dining concepts on the block, The Black Pearl occupies the lofty rooftop of Odeon 333 at North Bridge Road.

Why we love it: Chinese food is often subject to generalisations, but Executive Chef Dee Chan is crystal clear on his approach, and that’s to shine the spotlight on ‘Yue’ cuisine. This particular style combines flavours from China’s Greater Canton region, including Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Chaoshan, Dongjiang, and Shunde. On the a la carte menu, it’s dishes like the barbecue premium Iberico char siew, double-boiled cured duck leg soup, and crispy roasted pig stuffed with XO glutinous rice, that shine.

Time Out tip: On weekends, you’ll get to choose from a wide array of specials from a roving dim sum trolley. The restaurant also has an omakase-style five-course experience menu ($198 per person), complete with chef selections from its a la carte offerings that changes quarterly with the season.

Address: 333 North Bridge Rd, Odeon 333, #07-11/12, Singapore 188721
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11.30am-3pm, 5.30pm-10pm; Sat-Sun 10am-3pm, 5.30pm-10pm
Expect to pay: From $198 for the omakase menu.

What is it? An esteemed Cantonese restaurant housed in the cushy St Regis Singapore, helmed by the recently appointed chef Chan Chung Shing. 

Why we love it: Food at Yan Ting defies time – dishes here are age-old Cantonese classics with palatable modern spins. The bird's nest pumpkin soup with crabmeat is simply a must-try, featuring a silky smooth and comforting broth plus a generous serving of collagen-rich bird's nest. Order the steamed leopard coral grouper for the table too. Each morsel of fish is tender and succulent, and comes doused with a delicate light soy sauce that's not overly salty.

Time Out tip: Yan Ting's Weekend Dim Sum Brunch packages remain popular even after all these years. It includes unlimited servings of bubbly, the restaurant's house wines, beer, and tea (from $168 per person).

Address: 29 Tanglin Rd, The St. Regis Singapore, Level 1U, Singapore 247912
Opening hours: Mon-Fri noon-2.30pm; Sat-Sun 6pm-10.30pm
Expect to pay: Around $100 per person depending on dishes ordered.

What is it? A charming restaurant along Amoy Street which has built up quite a reputation as the place to enjoy Western plates with a Sichuan twist, and vice versa.

Why we love it: Inspired by the laidback teahouses and landscapes of Chengdu, the restaurant’s elegant, eclectic design remains untouched even close to a decade later, and its gorgeous skylight is still our favourite part of the space. Head Chef Eugene See switches things up in a refreshed menu which showcases creations that are lighter on the palate, to balance out the bold and robust flavours on the current menu.

Time Out tip: Birds of a Feather offers several sharing menus, with the latest being the An Yi sharing menu ($103 per person) for diners who want to experience the restaurant’s house specialties in one sitting. And if you’re around the area in the day, business lunch sets are priced reasonably at $33.90 while happy hour runs from noon to 7pm on weekdays with two cocktails going at $28.

Address: 113 Amoy St, Singapore 069935
Opening hours: Mon-Thu noon-3pm, 6pm-11pm; Fri-Sat noon-3pm, 6pm-midnight; Sun noon-3pm, 6pm-10pm
Expect to pay: Around $60 per person for sharing dishes and drinks.

What is it? Peach Blossoms is a modern Chinese fine-dining restaurant located on Level 5 of Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay. Executive Chinese Chef Edward Chong’s innovative approach blends traditional flavours with modern techniques, creating a dining experience that is both authentic and inventive.

Why we love it: Peach Blossoms is redefining modern Chinese cuisine with bold imagination and cultural depth. Chef Chong’s latest eight-course tasting menu, Same Story, New Journey, reinterprets heritage recipes through a deeply personal lens. A standout is the crispy-scaled marble goby with spicy pineapple sauce – winner of the 2025 Annual Dish Award from the Black Pearl Restaurant Guide, making Peach Blossoms the only Singapore restaurant to earn this honour. The dish showcases masterful technique: live goby deep-fried with scales intact, paired with a fragrant, complex Nanyang-style sauce.

Time Out tip: Begin with the four-combination appetiser platter, a perfect expression of Chef Chong’s creativity, featuring Peking duck, seafood fritters, and an unexpected chawanmushi.

Address: 6 Raffles Boulevard, Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay, Level 5, Singapore 039594
Opening hours: Mon-Sun noon-3pm, 6.30pm-10.30pm
Expect to pay: From $98 per person for lunch; tasting menus from $188.

What is it? This establishment has long been a favourite among diners in Singapore for refined Chinese fare without the fuss. Its star dish is a whole duck roasted until the skin turns shatteringly crisp, then carved tableside and wrapped in delicate housemade pancakes with classic condiments.

Why we love it: Imperial Treasure serves over 3000 ducks a month, with each one roasted using time-honoured techniques for the perfect contrast of crispy skin and tender meat. The space is refined and quietly elegant, blending modern lines with subtle Oriental accents. While the duck is the headline act, the supporting cast impresses just as much: poached fish in shrimp stock over crispy rice, sautéed crab claw with shallots and preserved olives and baby lobster baked in superior broth. Service is polished, and the pacing keeps the experience relaxed yet refined.

Time Out tip: Pre-order your duck when you make a reservation as they often sell out. Don’t sleep on the roast pork and slow-boiled soups either.

Address: 290 Orchard Rd, Paragon, #05-42, Singapore 238859
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11.30am-2.45pm, 6pm-10pm; Sat 11am-2.45pm, 6pm-10pm; Sun 10.30am-2.45pm, 6pm-10pm
Expect to pay: From $60 per person depending on dishes and drinks.