One of the hottest locations in Singapore, Outram Park is a stone's throw away from some of the city's biggest names in food. Its vibrant nightlife and eclectic mix of both cultural and gastronomical gems makes it a must-visit area when making a trip to the Lion City.
Near to Keong Saik, Tanjong Pagar, and Chinatown, exit the Outram Park MRT station and let your senses be enthralled at what this corner of Singapore has to offer.
Three MICHELIN Stars: Exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey!
The celebrity chef of Frantzén fame opened his third Asian venture in a shophouse circa 1926. Diners here are offered an aperitif and amuse-bouche on the first floor, before the neo-Nordic, eight-course, seafood-heavy tasting menu with Japanese influences unfolds above — on the second floor. Petit fours and coffee are served in the lounge area on the top level. Premium ingredients from Europe and Japan infuse the dishes with unique character. Reservations are mandatory.
Two MICHELIN Stars: Excellent cooking, worth a detour!
Chef Mano Thevar serves a creative multi-course menu rooted in Indian traditions and crafted with European techniques. Signatures such as Chettinad chicken roti or Brittany lobster in curry beurre blanc pack a ton of oomph, all the while maintaining a fine balance with mindful touches. Amuse-bouches and snacks between courses are especially fun, and a vegetarian version of the menu is also available. The bustling and lively vibe makes for a great experience.
Two MICHELIN Stars: Excellent cooking, worth a detour!
Meta boasts an open kitchen for diners to interact with chefs. The palette of warm greys and wood tones matches the dishes that are presented in a clean, minimalistic manner, but pack tons of flavour. Only one menu is offered, and it changes every season. The Korean chef reinvents Australian food with Asian — largely Korean — twists, as seen in signatures like raw oysters with ginger lemon gochujang, and Jeju abalone.
Bib Gourmand • Inspectors’ favourites for good value
Now into its third generation, the Wong family has been serving tze char classics like seafood, eggplant, tofu in claypot, and curry fish tail at various locations for nearly 50 years. Call to pre-order special dishes available only from April to September, like braised pork belly with salted mustard greens or duck smoked with camphor wood and tea leaves. Expect to find a queue any time of day. Reservations are accepted for tables of six or more.
This bistro-inspired establishment is the brainchild of the owner-chef Andrew Walsh, whose Nua Irish cuisine tasting menu is a whimsical nod to his personal background and homeland’s culinary culture. Irish classics are re-imagined with original ideas and quality produce, as evident in A Porridge of Grains; while Childhood Memories of Peat tells tales by engaging all the senses. You might as well find a Lucky Gold Pot at the end of this gastronomic rainbow.
The dining room is upstairs at this shophouse just off Keong Saik Road, but the best place to sit is at the counter on the ground floor, in front of the open kitchen, watching the young chef and his team. The dishes are as flavoursome as they are colourful and not without some creativity; order some anchovy sticks with bottarga aioli while you scour the sections marked "snacks", "soil", "sea", and "land". The octopus and the suckling pig are two specialities.
Come to this lively Catalan spot for tapas and small plates packed with flavour, made with finesse and plated with modern aesthetics. Don’t miss the iconic creamy cheesecake and “spherical olives,” a tribute to the legendary el Bulli. The chic interior by Barcelona-based designer Rosa-Violán embodies the Mediterranean soul and takes diners to Spain instantly. Service is very friendly and attentive, and the maître d is always up for a chat.
Wood-fire cooking is the speciality of this dark and handsome restaurant within Raffles hotel. Head straight to the "Tour de Force" multi-course menu if you want to experience a variety of top-quality fish and meat dishes, all expertly prepared using American wood and supplemented with Asian flavours. The moodily lit room ensures your gaze never wanders too far from the open kitchen. A restaurant to appeal to the hunter-gatherer in all of us.
Where to Stay:
The Warehouse Hotel is the closest MICHELIN Hotel in the vicinity.
In some cities, the prospect of a warehouse hotel would hardly raise an eyebrow. But Singapore’s godown warehouse buildings are a good deal more distinctive than your ordinary disused industrial space — and so Singapore’s Warehouse Hotel comes with a good deal more character than your everyday boutique hotel.
Apart from its stellar location along the river, the rooms are pure modernity, adapted to their century-old shell; many are designed loft-style thanks to the pitched roofs of the original warehouses. Visually, they’re spare, almost minimal, muted in colour but warmed by the rich textures and the heritage materials, including original windows and beams. And they come with all the modern-day luxury-boutique must-haves, from pillow-top mattresses and free wi-fi to Bang & Olufsen sound systems and Ashley & Co bath products.
What to Do:
Fancy a temple run? If you're in the mood for something other than a food adventure, some of the must-see attractions in the area include the Sri Mariamman Temple, which is Singapore's oldest Hindu temple. Its ornate structure has been restored multiple times, and the temple itself is popular for gatherings. For history lovers and those interested in Oriental culture, Thian Hock Keng Temple is Singapore's oldest Chinese temple and is known to be a living monument and architecture masterpiece that dates back to the 1800s. Lastly is the iconic Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, known to house a sacred artefact, is a revered place for Buddhist worship.
