When one thinks of Italian fare, hearty pastas, comforting pizzas and cheesy lasagne come to mind. But there's so much more to Italian cuisine than just that. From exquisite antipasti and succulent meatballs to creamy burrata cheese and seafood, we've rounded up Singapore's best establishments that whip up wicked Italian food.

Angeleno

Foodies know that the robust flavor of Italian-American cooking is a distinct cuisine unto itself, and few places in town do it well and give it the fine dining treatment. For these reasons, this year’s sleeper hit Angeleno is a must-visit. Brought to you by the people behind Luke’s, Angeleno serves hearty but balanced fare like the Iberico pork chop with wild fennel pollen, their famous saucy meatballs with woodfire polenta and a half-dozen housemade pasta dishes—not to mention Italian-American icons like the veal chop Parmigiana. 20 Gemmill Lane.

Aura

il Lido group’s National Gallery restaurant offers one of the city’s great treats: drinking affordably with magnificent views of the Padang and Marina Bay and in such a big-deal historical building. The food menu doesn’t disappoint either: restrained, light dishes with just enough contemporary twists to keep things interesting. Don’t miss the orecchiette with asparagus and guanciale and the grilled octopus with crispy egg and corn. 5-05-03 National Gallery Singapore, 1 St. Andrew’s Rd.

Burlamacco Ristorante

This intimate and elegant eatery, set in a conservation shop house, really drums up its Tuscan roots, both in the Tuscan commedia mask it’s named after, and the Tuscan dishes on the menu. The menu may be by-the-book, but it is hearty, delicious and comforting. Order home rolled pasta dishes like the ricotta ravioli with porcini sauce and the spaghetti vongole, and meaty affairs like the roast lamb rack with herbed pumpkin in red wine sauce. There’s a serious Italian wine list to go with. 77A Amoy St. Make a reservation via Chope here.

Cicheti

At this Venetian eatery, woodfire oven-baked Neapolitan pizzas are on offer, as well as tapas-style snacks known as “cicheti”, like the burratina with onion marmalade, pesto and ham, and the oven-roasted asparagus with spicy crumbs. With wrought iron furnishings and beat up oak tables, regional Italian cuisine and an all-Italian wine list is the name of the game at this cozy gem. 52 Kandahar St.

Jamie’s Italian

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver’s Italian food is both comforting and peppered with fun surprises, continuing to win hearts at this branch on Orchard Road. Don’t miss the signature prawn linguine, which they do with some exciting additions like saffron, rocket and fennel. Also good is the penne carbonara which here also gets buttery leeks. On the antipasti front, try the crab and avocado bruschetta and the umami-packed porcini arancini. Check out their other branch at VivoCity, too. #01-04 Forum The Shopping Mall, 583 Orchard Rd. Make a reservation via Chope here.

Kilo

A lot has changed over at the Kilo building on Kampong Bugis: the party lounge upstairs is gone, and Loysel’s Toy has been replaced by an excellent barbecue joint. What remains the same is the minimalist, leafy and beautiful Kilo restaurant. The menu is Asian fusion, but the dishes are far from unoriginal: try the truffle tai yuzu roll, with crab meat, snapper and tempura flakes, or the more substantial pork jowl with tomyum stewed beans, kale chips and chorizo. #01-02/04, 21 Tanjong Pagar Rd.

Osteria Art

The big hit of the il Lido Group this year has been Aura at the National Gallery, but we still adore this older one, which takes cues from traditional osterias and bars found in Italy. The menu is all about classics with dishes like beef agnolotti pasta with truffles, pappardelle with pork cheek in red wine and beef sirloin tagliata with asparagus and Parmigiano. The sexy and dimly-lit space is awash with lots of dark wood, marble top counters and a storied library-like vibe. 55 Market St. Make a reservation via Chope here.

Osteria Mozza

Celebrity chef Mario Batali’s Singapore outpost is a sleek space with marble counters and dark wood. Italian comfort classics are created with refinement and premium ingredients, as in the orecchiette with fennel sausage and Swiss chard, and the sea trout with Umbrian lentils. Don’t miss the creamy burrata cheese with beets, horseradish, walnuts and rocket—and other combos—from the dedicated mozzarella bar. #B1-42/46 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Ave.

Pepenero

When the Burlamacco people took over Pepenero, we knew it would be something good. The space is simple and understated—no starched tablecloths or overstuffed armchairs here—the mostly-classic dishes kind of place a corporate executive may have a nice lunch at, but the food is warm and well executed. Try the cod fillet with rosemary potatoes and saffron sauce and the papardelle with pork sausage ragout, porcini and truffle paste. 14 Stanley St. Make a reservation via Chope here.

Senso Ristorante & Bar

Senso is a Club Street institution. Food here is a joy, as is the service, and in such a charming space (they occupy five adjacent shophouses and the courtyard is gorgeous), too. The decor, with its starched tablecloths and not-so-subtle giant paintings, is pretty oldschool fancy, but the menu of Italian classics is well-executed and consistent. Try the salmon tartare with pan-seared scallops and Avruga caviar, and the homemade raviolio with veal shank and porcini mushroom. Their revamped bar is great for aperitifs. 21 Club St. Make a reservation via Chope here.

Terra

Terra might be less than a year old, but chef-owner Seita Nakahara, who has worked his way through kitchens in Tokyo, Tuscany, Sicily and Piedmont, has quickly made waves with his beautiful “Tokyo-Italian” restaurant. Choose from three omakase price points, and sit back for a parade of original dishes like the seafood broth Acqua Pazza (“crazy water”), and Seita’s specialty, the spaghetti sea urchin, with homemade bottarga cured in-house. 54 Tras St. Make a reservation via Chope here.

Artichoke

Everyone’s got an opinion about Artichoke, and so do we: It’s amazing. Set in a sprawling single-story building in the courtyard space behind Objectifs gallery, Bjorn Shen’s Middle-Eastern-with-attitude restaurant has been a place we keep going back to for the simple but fireworks-inducing dishes like the massive Lambgasm, the skillet prawns with harissa and the chargrilled pork collar with kebab spices, not to mention a host of delightful little mezze. Don’t miss the brunch either. 161 Middle Rd.

Aura

il Lido group’s National Gallery restaurant offers one of the city’s great treats: drinking affordably with magnificent views of the Padang and Marina Bay and in such a big-deal historical building. The food menu doesn’t disappoint either: restrained, light dishes with just enough contemporary twists to keep things interesting. Don’t miss the orecchiette with asparagus and guanciale and the grilled octopus with crispy egg and corn. 5-05-03 National Gallery Singapore, 1 St. Andrew’s Rd.

Coriander Leaf

The long-famed pan-Asian small plates restaurant by Samia Ahad moved to a dramatic space in the revamped heritage building. The menu is cleverly divided into five flavor profiles—fresh, familiar, spicy, umami and sweet—which feature dishes like Nepalese minced chicken momo dumpling, roasted tomato relish, Sichuan pepper, and soft shell crab with salted duck egg yolk sauce and curry leaves. The restaurant also has an extensive list of regional whiskies, craft beers, sakes and umeshu. #02-01 Chijmes, 30 Victoria St.

Gunther’s

It’s not new and shiny, but chef-owner Gunther Hubrechsen’s consistently great contemporary, simple-yet-refined French food has a loyal following. While the interiors here tend to the minimalist, conservative even, perhaps that’s so as not to distract you from the fabulous fare. The cold angel’s hair pasta with Oscietra caviar is legendary, and the meat mains are also excellent. #01-03 Talib Centre, 36 Purvis St.

Kaiserhaus

Fashioning itself a bit after an elegant Viennese coffee house, Kaiserhaus is inspired by the flavors and cultures of the former Habsburg Empire, covering places like Bohemia, Northern Italy and Switzerland in its menu. Try the classic slow-cooked beef rump, tafelspitz, and the cevapcici, Balkan sausages with goat cheese. The restaurant has also recently partnered with old royal confectioners Zauner for its pastries and desserts. #02-06 Capitol Piazza, 17 Stamford Rd.

Lewin Terrace

Located in a black-and-white house in the leafy heart of Fort Canning, Lewin Terrace is a serious date night spot. Fancy vibes aside, there is an equally fancy food menu featuring changing seasonal offerings that highlight Japanese ingredients with French and Japanese cooking techniques like the Amadai fish, served with black truffle over a Koshihikari rice cake, as well as the reputable wagyu steak, cooked in Nippon-Rossini style. Fort Canning Park, 21 Lewin Terrace.

Saha

Modern Indian restaurant Saha moved from Duxton Hill to the National Gallery, offering an inventive approach to a hard-to-change cuisine. Abhijit Saha’s restaurant takes time-honored regional Indian dishes and recasts them in interesting, light and sometimes deconstructed ways for both vegetarians and ominvores alike. Try their take on the Kerala vegetable istew, which comes espuma-style, with citrus pudding and garlic crumbs, or just get one of their tasting menus and let the kitchen take you on a familiar, but entirely new ride. #01-03 National Gallery Singapore, 1 St. Andrew’s Rd.

Mikuni

Fairmont’s Japanese restaurant is a big, well-dressed space that elevates, not just covers, its bases with the teppanyaki counter, a sake/ sushi bar, an intimate live robatayaki station (our pick), in addition to the main dining room. At its helm is Korean executive chef Moon Kyung Soo whose kaiseki dishes are innovative yet restrained, with highlights including a signature mushroom soup served in a siphon. Whatever you’re sampling here, it’ll be money well spent. 3/F Fairmont Singapore, 80 Bras Basah Rd.

Whitegrass

Headed by chef-owner Sam Aisbett, this modern Australian-Asian restaurant champions using native Australian ingredients, some of which are completely new to Singapore. For now, the restaurant offers three-, five- and eight –course degustation menus featuring an oft-refreshed selection of progressive dishes like the yellowtail ambjerjack with green apple dashi and seaweed oil, and the slow-roasted Mangalica pork with Australian abalone, smoked onion cream and other delightful flourishes. #01-26/27 Chijmes,30 Victoria St.

Wooloomooloo Steakhouse

The reliable, but unstuffy, steakhouse is known for its selection of Australian Angus and USDA-grade meats. Aside from perfectly seared meats, the menu is kept to steakhouse classics including starters like crab cakes and prawn cocktail, and mains like lamb cutlets and fish. This refined yet relaxed 140-seater restaurant also boasts a wine collection of over 150 bottles. 3/F Swissôtel The Stamford, Singapore, 2 Stamford Rd.