Jurong Country Club

Kallang Tennis Center

Kampong Glam

St Regis

SAFRA Mount Faber

Marina Square

It's hard not to give in to a platter of smoky, seared meat, and thanks to a slew of new openings, the barbecue trend is bigger than ever in Singapore. Here are some of our top spots that do it right.

Burnt Ends

After snagging bragging rights as one of San Pellegrino's Asia Best Restaurants 2015, this industrial-style grill has gone from strength to strength, most recently winning a place on the World's 100 Best Restaurants list, too, thanks in no small part to dishes like the Burnt End Sanger, a brioche bun with pulled pork, and rump cap with burnt onion and bone marrow. Just be prepared to wait as the space doesn't take reservations. 20 Teck Lim Rd., 6224-3933. Open Tue-Sat 11.45am-2pm, 6pm-midnight.

Decker

This tucked-away spot behind Aussie grill restaurant Boomerang, all decked (oops) out in string lights, picnic tables, an open kitchen and a giant smoker, is an indie barbecue haven for those who like feeling like they're in-the-know. Besides soaking up smokey-cool vibes, you'll want to fill your plate with Texan-style highlights like beef brisket, burnt ends, tender pulled pork and all-American sides like brisket beans, mac & cheese and kale salad. Seriously among the best we’ve had in recent memory. Wash it all down with their short but delightful list of bottled craft beers, or better yet, order their spiked Southern sweet tea. 01-17 The Quayside, 60 Robertson Quay, 6635-8565. Open Tue-Sat 6pm-10pm.

Camp Kilo Charcoal Club

Kilo's Kampong Bugis lounge may be no more, but in its place is a hot new barbecue joint. Camp Kilo has the vibes of a perpetual evening barbecue party—imagine kicking back with an ice cold beer, and getting down and dirty with juicy chunks of roasts slapped on paper-lined trays, all in the great outdoors with giant fans to keep you cool. Meaty choices include roast chicken ($10 half, $18 whole), roasted pig ($12/100g), crispy pork belly ($10/100g), pork ribs ($15/half rack, $30/full rack) and a variety of breads and carb-loaded sides. #01-01 66 Kampong Bugis. Open Fri 5:30-11pm, Sat-Sun 11am-11pm. 

The Chop House (Katong)

The restaurant's newer outlet at Katong doesn't stray too far from its flagship at Vivocity but at least it features a slightly more chilled-out vibe. There are the usual mixed grill platters, grilled meats served off the broiler, lamb and pork chops, hearty burgers and sandwiches, and also a selection of pasta and seafood dishes if you're not up for a steak. #01-13 I12 Katong, 112 East Coast Rd. 6443-1011. Open daily noon-midnight.

Iskina Cebu

Meat Smith

An American smokehouse by the Unlisted Collection restaurant group, this cozy brick-and-concrete place on the party bit of Telok Ayer Street specializes in meats smoked on premises, bourbon and picklebacks (that is, shots of whisky chased by shots of pickle brine). Just steer clear of the deep-fried stuff. Their forte is the smoker. 167 Telok Ayer St., 6221-2262. Open Mon-Sat 11:45am-2pm, 5:30-11pm.

Prime Gyu-Kaku

This is a fun place to hit with friends. Gyu-Kaku (“horn of the bull” in Japanese) was one of the first few places in Singapore to bring in yakiniku (Japanese barbeque). Options include the prime Wagyu beef and prime Wagyu plate, the latter being a fair bit pricier. #01-01/02 Chijmes, 30 Victoria St., 6333-4001. Open daily noon-2.30pm, 5.30pm-11pm.

Red Eye Smokehouse

Located at Jalan Besar and housed in a cavernous, restored warehouse, this American-style grill restaurant has a fuss-free buffet style approach, so diners here pay only how much they can eat. We prefer the fatty, oozing brisket at Decker, but Red Eye’s strength is stuff like the spicy Sriracha chicken wings. 1 Cavan Rd., 6291-0218. Open Wed-Sun 5pm-10pm; Sat-Sun noon-10pm.

Sugarhall

Part grill and part rum bar, this restaurant serves up legit modern American food. With lots of wood, red beams, exposed light fixtures and large communal tables, it’s got a come-and-let-loose vibe to it. On the menu are simple but hearty mains like the pork chop and whole spring chicken, while the bar has a rum list and cocktails like the rum Negroni. 102 Amoy St., 9732-5607. Open Mon-Sat 5.30pm-midnight.

Next time you want some restaurant bragging rights and Michelin-starred brownie points, go to these celeb chef outposts. 

Bread Street Kitchen

Gordon Ramsay’s bustling London restaurant is just as buzzing as its Singapore branch. The casual and industrial bistro serves up traditional English classics with an upscale price tag---popular mains span from the hearty shepherd's pie, fish and chips to lamp chops and short rib beef burger. For those with dietary restrictions, there is a gluten-free menu, too.

Cut by Wolfgang Puck

Renowned restaurateur Wolfgang Puck’s Singapore outpost is a contemporary steakhouse that sports an impressive menu of beef. Diners can look forward to scrumptious house-made sauces like the signature Argentinean chimichurri or wasabi-yuzu kosho butter.

DB Bistro & Oyster Bar

Michelin-starred chef Daniel Boulud’s impressive, well-oiled machine is chic and yet decidedly unpretentious. Expect well-executed French classics including seared foie gras and traditional coq au vin, as well as delectables like the quintessential original DB burger and steak frites.

Jamie’s Italian

This casual and rustic bistro, borne out of a partnership between celebrity chef Jamie Oliver and his Italian mentor, chef Gennaro Contaldo, offers a range of affordable everyday eats like prawn linguine and lamb chops scottaditto cooked using fresh and sustainably-sourced ingredients.

Joel Robuchon Restaurant

One of the grand-daddies of fine cuisine, this guy's got a huge stash of Michelin stars (25 to be exact), so it's no wonder his flagship restaurant in Resorts World Sentosa isn't afraid to charge a pretty penny. It's all about the degustation menus here with an ever-changing roster of prettily-plated dishes like truffled langoustine ravioli and roasted guinea fowl and foie gras with potato confit. Wine lovers will rejoice, too, with over 1000 labels of wines from all over the world.

L’Atelier De Joel Robuchon

Lofty expectations are warranted at this slick establishment. Opt for the eight-course desgustation decouverte menu, which brings a seemingly endless procession of elevated dishes inspired by Japanese and Spanish cuisines.

Long Chim

San Pellegrino-lauded chef David Thompson offers a posh spin to Thailand’s street food in a stylish and trendy setting at Marina Bay Sands. The menu comprises mostly small places like Chiang Mai larp of chicken, Wagyu beef skewers, toasted coconut with dried prawns and ginger, and bigger dishes such as noodles, curries and a variety of meats served with rice—these are best accompanied with the bar’s tropical cocktail offerings.

Ocean Restaurant by Cat Cora

This is fine dining with an alternative view. A view of the huge S.E.A Aquarium that is. As one of the first female Iron Chefs to open a place in Singapore, expect lots of delicious seafood-centric signature dishes like smoked eel on sunchoke jelly and shaved duck liver terrine and sous vide salmon with salmon mousse, citrus minestrone, ikura and a shaved fennel salad. 

Osteria Mozza

The jovial Italian-American chef is unmistakable: Mario Batali's welcoming personality, hearty food and love for cheese is something we can all relate to. A dimly-lit space with lots of granite counters and dark wood, the fine dining side of Mozza presents options like agnolotti with butter and sage, as well as grilled quail wrapped with pancetta in sage and honey. Don't miss the grilled octopus with potatoes, celery and lemon, and the creamy burrata cheese with asparagus and guanciale.

Pizzeria Mozza

You'll find some killer pizzas here, wood-fired, of course. Get wheels of dough topped with fennel sausage, panna red onion and scallions; prosciutto, rucola, tomato and mozzarella; or alternative versions like egg guanciale, bitter greens and bagna cauda. If you're not in the mood for pizza, opt for paninis, salads or the rotating dish of the day.

Salt Grill & Sky Bar

Australian celeb chef Luke Mangan sure knows how to pick his spots. Perched on the 54th floor of ION Orchard, his unique fusion take on modern Australian food is the star of the show. The menu is a melting pot of inspiration from the crab omelette with mushrooms and miso mustard broth to the pork belly and lobster with garlic cream, tofu, enoki in a ginger jus. 

Salt Tapas & Bar

The Australian chef also does his take on tapas. Everything super affordable here and the happy hours are great for CBD after-work drinks. Share a bunch of plates like the patatas bravas with spicy sauce and garlic aioli; eggplant, haloumi cheese, chickpea, dried tomatoes and tahini dressing; Sumac spiced pork and veal meatballs with fontina mash; and BBQ pork ribs with mash and pickles before downing some martinis, beers and sangria.

Waku Ghin

Look forward to top-notch, personalized service, and a 10-course degustation menu with a distinctive Japanese sensibility that uses premium ingredients such as seasonal Japanese river fish, grade nine Wagyu beef and Hokkaido sea urchin in an understated and elegant space.

[Updated Jan 24] If your Netflix subscription isn't cutting it, you might want to head out to one of these indie cinemas for special screenings of award-winning arthouse flicks, local thought-provoking films and overseas films. 

Alliance Francaise

The theater at this French center seats 236, making it one of the largest independent film houses around, and holds regular screenings of both classic and contemporary French, including titles like La Bataille De Solferino and Eden. Screenings are typically on film to ensure a high quality experience. On Tuesdays, they do a screening as part of their Cine Club, which has monthly themes, such as A French Road Movie and Belles & Rebels. 1 Sarkies Rd.

ArtScience Museum

You might not know this, but in addition to jaw-dropping exhibitions, Instagrammable digital installations and Thursday night multimedia shows, ArtScience Museum also has an exciting screening series. The ArtScience on Screen series on the fourth floor does free screenings of mostly documentaries touching on topics close to the museum's mission. In the past, it has shown Werner Herzog's Lo & Behold: Reveries of a Connected World and Water, a collection of seven, feature-length feature films by various Southeast Asian filmmakers, each meditating on the role of water in life, conflict and more. 6 Bayfront Ave.

National Museum of Singapore

Their wonderful Under the Banyan Tree outdoor movie series seems to have gone dormant, but fear not. There are still occasional screenings to check out at NMS. The museum's Cinémathèque Selects in the basement Gallery Theatre is a monthly double bill touching on Singapore's most notable productions. Expect titles like Jasmine Ng and Kelvin Tong's Eating Air and John Schlesinger's Billy Liar. The museum is also a regular venue for screenings by citywide festivals, such as the Voilah! French Festival and the Singapore International Film Festival. The Singapore premier of K. Rajagopal's A Yellow Bird happened here in 2016. 93 Stamford Rd.

NTU Centre for Contemporary Art Singapore

Objectifs 

Singapore Open Air Cinema Club

Ah Loy Thai

This family-run diner at Shaw Tower is perpetually packed with crowds, so make a reservation in advance, or queue early for a table. Popular items on its menu are the tom yam seafood soup, pandan chicken, phad thai and butter calamari. 

Aroy Dee Thai Kitchen

Those hankering for Thai food late at night should head to this no-frills restaurant. It's open until 6am daily, and serves typical Thai fare at low prices and can get pretty crowded at lunch and dinner. 

Diandin Leluk

Possibly Golden Mile's crown jewel (its name basically means Little Thailand), this is definitely a hotspot for good and affordable Thai food. They started out serving Thai food out of a truck but now boast a large following of people who love their green curry, pineapple fried rice and even catfish salad. The best part? It's open 24 hours a day.

Joe's Thai Kitchen

This unassuming eatery nestled among a row of HDB shops got a solid menu, with dishes like papaya salad, fish cakes to all manners of curry. Find Joe's at #01-182 Block 125 Bukit Merah Lane 1, 6270-8484, www.joesthaikitchen.com. Open daily from 11am-3pm and 5-10pm.

Korat Thai Cafe

Located in the seedy Orchard Towers (which makes an interesting spot to people-watch), this unfussy spot is known for its killer glass noodles seafood salad and flavorful tom yum soup. Everything comes in pretty generous portions and prices are incredibly affordable. 

MooJaa

Thai hotpot and barbecue specialist Mookata needs no introduction. This sister outlet holds no surprises—you cook cook your ingredients on a dome-shaped metal grill over charcoal fire and surrounded by a moat for the soup stock. Supper runs until 6am so it's a great late night spot, too.

Nahkon Kitchen

A popular chain that has various outlets at Pasir Panjang, Holland Village, Hougang and Ang Mo Kio, dining at Nahkon Kitchen is perhaps the closest you'll get to an authentic experience. Here, you'll be seated in a sparsely furnished space, with rolls of toilet paper serving as napkins on each table. Order cheap and reliable classics like tom yam soup, sambal kang kong, pandan chicken and green curry, and skip the ambiguous Chinese-inspired dishes. 

Nana Thai

Another Golden Mile gem, this humble eatery (all the good ones are always humble) serves excellent pad thai that's equal parts moist and well-fried. Be warned, this place is known to pack in the heat.

Nara Thai

If you're in the mood for a fancier treat, this ION Orchard restaurant is great for family dinners and power lunches. Prices are a steeper than what you'll find at a grittier outfit, but the food is reliable. Some must-haves include the deep-fried pork neck, cha om omelette and stir-fried soft shell crab in yellow curry. 

Patara Fine Thai Cuisine

Set in a pretty, lemongrass-scented space, dine on fine modern Thai dishes such as lemongrass-marinated New Zealand rack of lamb with spicy green papaya salad. Not the cheapest of the lot, but it has the right ambience for formal occasions. 

Spicy Thai-Thai Cafe

Retaining its coffeeshop look, this restaurant offers classic Thai dishes like steamed catfish, barbecue pork neck, mookata and jim jum, a charcoal claypot hot pot. Finish your meal with a dessert like the aloe vera lemongrass jelly, or wash it all down with Thai iced tea.

Tamarind Hill

Want to feel like you're in Thailand? This resort-like establishment will have you feeling the holiday vibes. Set in a historic colonial building at Labrador Park with Asian-inspired decor, it serves sophisticated and modern Thai plates like deep fried lobster in tamarind sauce courtesy of Thai-Canadian chef Thiti Thammanatr, who's cooked for personalities like Bill Clinton and Chow Yun Fat.

Thai Tantric

A unanimous favorite of the SG team, this kopitiam-style eatery in Orchard Towers will have you dining in smoky hallways lined with questionable discotheques. The food, however, is excellent. Dishes like green curry, deep fried pork belly, pineapple fried rice and tom yam fish soup do not disappoint. Find Thai Tantric at #03-23 Orchard Towers, 400 Orchard Rd. Open daily from 11am-3pm and 6pm-3am. 

Thanying Restaurant

As one of the pioneers of fine Thai dining in Singapore, this place hardly disappoints. While the dishes are not uncommon, the restaurant is famed for serving authentic Royal Thai cuisine. Price's a little steep, but the quick and efficient service and the food more than make up for it.