封面圖片 Food spread at Casa Vostra, one of the new restaurants at Raffles City (Photo: Casa Vostra)

While anticipated Italian restaurant openings and a Japanese izakaya with good intentions land in Singapore, keep your local roots close as bak kut teh gets a swanky upgrade for the month of August

It’s no secret that food is at the Singaporean core. Word of the best food on the island spreads quickly, and is well trusted, indeed, for Singaporeans never take recommending a good spot lightly.

So when our gastronomy scene welcomes a new player to the field, our great national endeavour is to give it a true blue Singaporean welcome with our palates. Come the month of August, divide your attention between the nation’s birthday and these anticipated restaurants and bars, and trust us, we’re recommending these with proper seriousness.

Don’t miss: The ultimate guide to new restaurants and bars in Singapore 2024

1. Uoharu

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1/2 Squid with Squid Liver Sauce. Uoharu sources its ingredients from the Toyosu Market in Tokyo (Photo: Uoharu)
2/2 The nightly Katsuo Warayaki Show held at Uoharu (Photo: Uoharu)

There’s no shortage of izakaya places in Singapore, but what makes Uoharu stand out from the flames is its commitment to reducing food wastage. Known for turning less-than-perfect produce from one of the largest fish markets in the world, Toyosu Market, the Japanese wabi-sabi philosophy takes a palpable turn to food, proving that there is no better way to eat with good intentions than at Uoharu. As you snag a seat, the nightly Katsuo Warayaki Show (traditional straw-roasting) ignites the grill, bringing perfectly imperfect dishes of undersized fish, scratched scallops, and crabs with miscounted legs to your table.

With its roots in Tokyo, Singapore marks the izakaya’s second international outpost after Hong Kong.

Uoharu 
Address: 01-16 IOI Central Boulevard Towers, 2 Central Boulevard, S(018916), +65 6931 2733

2. Casa Vostra

When pining for that familiar taste at that Italian trattoria a summer ago, Casa Vostra is your answer. This Italian joint is no stranger to Singapore, first launching a delivery-only pizza stop in 2023, followed by a pop-up at Ann Siang Hill to much fanfare. Its popularity is certainly taking the brand to greater heights, finding its new home at Raffles City. Marking the brand’s first brick-and-mortar store in Singapore, diners can look forward to Casa Vostra’s trademark handcrafted 12-inch Newpolitan and Doublecrunch pizzas that first captured the heart of the nation back when it was a humble pizza stop. Aside from pizzas, pasta aficionados can look forward to a lineup of unique pasta plates that are proudly made from scratch and by hand, with high-quality, natural ingredients.

Casa Vostra 
Address: 01-49/50/51, Raffles City, 252 North Bridge Road, S(179103), +65 9780 5362

3. Hayop

A slang word used in the Philippines that translates to “beast” and used to describe something unbelievably amazing, Hayop is Philippines’ entry to the food scene in Singapore. Sitting proudly as the first fine-casual Filipino restaurant in Singapore over at Amoy Street, it is slated to be a gateway for locals to get a taste of Filipino cuisine.

Committed to emulating what the pantry list in a Filipino household has, the restaurant will serve up classics including crispy sisig, adobo, halo-halo, and Wagyu and watermelon sinigang. Pescatarian, vegetarian, and vegan options are also available.

Hayop 
Address: 104 Amoy Street, S(069924), +65 8028 9012

Read more: 11 Classic Filipino dishes everyone needs to try: Sinigang, adobo, and more

4. Pete’s Place

Opening this month along with the grand return of Grand Hyatt Singapore, Pete’s Place has been an Italian favourite amongst local palates. And dare we say, it’s back and better than ever. This cosy Italian restaurant has been a haunt for many, and rightly so, with its elevated menu of favourite Neapolitan flare. It’s refreshing return also includes an elevated and personalised off-the-menu experience at the specially designed chef’s table.

Pete’s Place 
Address: 10 Scotts Rd, Grand Hyatt, S(228211), +65 6738 1234

5. Cendra

Let us extend a warm bienvenido to Cendra, the newest kid on the block at Gemmill Lane. The Spanish tapas restaurant features a brightly lit open concept helmed by chef-owner Xavi, who had previously worked alongside renowned Spanish chefs like Nandu Jubany. At Cendra, he looks to infuse his style of Catalan Spanish cuisine with modern techniques. Signature dishes include the squid ink and Wagyu striploin rice “a la llauna” (cooked in an oven tray), a transitional method of Catalan Spanish cooking unique to Cendra.

Cendra 
Address: 5 Gemmill Lane, 01-01, S(069261), +65 9663 4084

6. Locanda

Locanda is the sister outlet of Michelin-starred Italian restaurant Buona Terra. Meaning “inn” in Italian, the restaurant screams rustic with its exposed red brick walls and rustic wooden furnishings. Helmed by an experienced team from Buona Terra, its food menu draws inspiration from various Italian regions, including that of Northern Italy, resulting in a richly toasted onion focaccia topped with melted Casera cheese. The restaurant’s focaccia is made from stone-ground Italian wheat flour and braised red Tropea onions, a process which takes six to seven hours to prepare and proof. Other dishes include pastas with flavourful, savoury sauces and in-house made gelato.

Locanda 
Address: 109 Rowell Road, S(208033), +65 9619 2691

7. Estiatorio Milos

Hailed as one of the most celebrated Greek restaurants in the world, Estiatorio Milos takes its Mediterranean fare to Marina Bay Sands, enhancing its stellar lineup of gourmet experiences. The restaurant promises an authentic and sophisticated dining experience influenced by the concept of philoxenia, the sacred art of making a stranger feel at home. True to this, expect quality ingredients prepared with simple techniques, just like you would for your guests at dinner parties.

What most wouldn’t have at home, however, is a spectacular fish market—the jewel in the crown—with around 15 varieties of wild-caught fish air-flown daily from the Mediterranean ranging from grouper, red sea bream to sea bass. Your fish of choice is then prepared in various styles: sashimi, grilled, or baked in sea salt. Complemented by a raw bar and seasonal vegetable display, your authentic culinary journey at Milos may well be paralleled to a weekend trip in Greece.

Estiatorio Milos 
Address: 2 Bayfront Avenue, B1-48 The Shoppes, S(018972), +65 6688 9977

8. Song Fa Signatures

Closer to home, the locally renowned Song Fa Bak Kut Teh chain introduces a new culinary concept focused on Teochew hospitality. Ubiquitous in Singapore, bak kut teh’s flavour profile might not be the same elsewhere, but tuck into a familiar peppery warm bowl and you’ll know you’re back home. Likewise, the menu at Song Fa Signatures is adapted from the owner’s mother, whose modernised recipes include stir-fried vegetables deep-fried in a thin tempura-like batter and drenched in Thai chilli sauce and an aromatic Teochew pig trotter rice. And, of course, you’ll find the signature bak kut teh derived from a mix of garlic and specially roasted Sarawak peppers, topped off with slow-cooked signature prime ribs that fall right off the bone.

Song Fa Signatures 
Address: 290 Orchard Road, B1-06 Paragon Shopping Centre, S(238859)

9. Oasis

Situated amongst lush tranquil surroundings, Oasis is your poolside escapade in the heart of the city. Also refreshed alongside Grand Hyatt Singapore, indulge in the restaurant’s returning classics and healthy options. In addition, BBQ Nights are not for the faint of heart, with delectable eats found across an abundant buffet spread. After dinner, unwind at the standalone bar as speciality cocktails and live music usher you deep into the night.

Oasis 
Address: 10 Scotts Road, S(228211), +65 6730 7119

10. Wild Honey

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以上 The Tahitian, comprising of coconut pancakes with coconut yoghurt, fresh mango, passionfruit, maple syrup (Photo: Wild Honey)

Breakfast is often called the most important meal of the day, and Wild Honey does not take this lightly, serving up imaginative, globally inspired breakfasts in Singapore. With an established location at Mandarin Gallery, its newest abode finds itself in Bugis. Each restaurant of Wild Honey mirrors a city in America: Brooklyn at Mandarin Gallery and Los Angeles at Bugis—think earthy tones, natural textures, and pops of vibrant colours that sing of the So-Cal lifestyle. Here, you’ll find dishes exclusive to the Bugis outlet, including the signature brioche French toast stuffed with fresh mango, vanilla mascarpone, hibiscus berry sauce, maple syrup and frazzled prosciutto.

Wild Honey 
Address: 200 Middle Road, 01-00, lyf Hotel, S(188980), +65 6636 1816

11. Club Rangoon

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以上 Club Rangoon’s laphet thoke, the Burmese tea leaf salad (Photo: Club Rangoon)

Come August 13, the Duxton enclave welcomes Club Rangoon, a contemporary Burmese restaurant serving up delectable Yangon classics inspired by co-founder Nelson Htoo’s family recipes. Using authentic Burmese ingredients, the menu is based on three key flavour pillars: chin (sour), ngan (salty), and sat (spicy), savoured in dishes such as the Burmese noodle soup, mohinga, and laphet thoke, the Burmese tea leaf salad. 

Club Rangoon 
Address: 76 Duxton Road, S(089535)

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