10 Unique Restaurants In Singapore To Try In 2027

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From hidden speakeasies that transport you back decades to dining options that mimic famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites…Prepare to be utterly impressed by the unique restaurants in Singapore! 

The city always reminds me of Bangkok’s food scene. Not as in the exact same type of restaurants or cuisine. I am talking about two different countries here. But in terms of how far advanced the food offerings are. It always gives me the same vibes. Always something new to try. Inventive restaurants popping up all over the show. Restaurateurs that dare to think outside the box…I love it! 

On that note, prepare to discover some super cool concepts, amazing Michelin-starred food, decor and settings to take your breath away, and simply creativity at its finest. Without further ado, here are my top unique restaurants in Singapore you shouldn’t miss for your next trip to the Lion City!

1. Synthesis: Based on TCM principles 

Is it a traditional medicine shop? A pharmacy? A neon-lit alleyway?… That’s the coolest thing about speakeasies – you never know what lies behind closed doors. 

Synthesis is, in fact, a TCM-focused restaurant and bar. TCM? That stands for traditional Chinese medicine (something I follow religiously after my years living in Southeast Asia). If you research a little more into TCM, you’ll be astounded by how holistically good it is for our bodies. Many of its principles make so much sense, like how the body operates as hot and cold, and so do the foods you eat as well! 

Offering modern Chinese cuisine, the menu centres around TCM, with nourishing ingredients carefully selected to promote overall wellbeing. These menus include lunch, dinner, and a seasonal bundle set. The same goes for the drinks menu (including cocktails, descendants of the dragons shots, and tea mocktails). My choice? Always the Purple Qi cocktail. 

2. Absurdities: Bet you’ve never dined like this before  

Not only is Absurdities one of the most unique restaurants in Singapore that you’ll stumble upon, but I would go so far as to say it’s a rarity almost anywhere in the world. I certainly have never experienced anything like it elsewhere. 

Describing the experience, because yes, that’s what it is, as a ‘food tour through the multiverse,’ this one-of-a-kind dining concept is totally out of this world!

The vibe? Think six courses served across multiple rooms; each one as mystifying and crazy as the next. Themed? You bet! The staff (who are more like actors) are all part of the culinary show, adding to each moment of insanity. 

P.S. They recommend (and for good reason) that you wear comfy clothing. You will have to climb through creative portals to reach your next meal in some cases. And nope, I ain’t kidding! 

3. Cavern Restaurant: Dining inside a cave 

Close your eyes for a second and imagine the feeling of cool air and being worlds away, back in ancient times. Hidden within the Mandai Wildlife Reserve lies Cavern Restaurant. 

Replicating a cave-like setting, it’s easy to forget where you are in an instant; the restaurant is conceptualized that well. Taking inspiration from Malaysia’s UNESCO-listed Mulu caves in Sarawak, the restaurant suits the wildlife reserve’s vibe. 

The ambiance is pretty unreal, with lifelike formations dripping from the cave-top above you. 

On the cuisine front, it’s not one of those places that’s all smoke and mirrors – the menu is actually decent, with a wide variety to appease all taste buds. Thai soft shell crab salad, chicken liver parfait, caveman’s meat skewers, and beef short rib are some examples of what to expect.   

4. Tomacado: Floral heaven  

Whimsical in every way, Tomacado forms part of the unique restaurants in Singapore destined for floral lovers, fairies, or anyone searching for a ridiculously pretty setting to dine in. 

Picture oversized flowers (constructed from paper) stretching over your table and all the pastel shades imaginable at every turn. It’s a dreamy spot for a girls’ lunch. 

But it’s not just fake flowers that you’ll discover here. The restaurant also sports its own flower shop, and so the fresh fragrance of blooms is never far away. This certainly adds to the ambiance of the place. 

Expect a seasonal menu, and I love how the food and drinks pop with colour. Not just relying on color, but overall, the food presentation is amazing, with a lot of attention to detail. Everything feels like you’re sitting inside a garden. Go for an extra special moment when you order the Afternoon High Tea, plated on a tiered stand that replicates a branch. 

5. Mama Diam 妈妈店: For Singaporean nostalgia 

Growing up, I lived for Fridays when my dad would give my brother and me our weekly pocket money to spend. We’d run up the street and head straight for the local tea room, stocking up and spending all our pennies on sweeties and chocolates. 

If you grew up in Singapore, the equivalent of your local tea room or convenience store would be a “mama diam.” Taking a page out of these old-school neighborhood store books, this next spot among the unique restaurants in Singapore is super-cool! 

Yes, it’s another speakeasy vibe. But honestly, these are where you get the biggest surprises! At first glance, Mama Diam’s exterior appears to be a convenience store stocked with toys and snacks. But if you’re in the know, you’ll soon discover that behind its doors lies a restaurant-meets-bar. 

Creativity and the fun continue once you’re inside, and the food is a take on modern Singaporean cuisine. Drinks match the vibes. I love that some are inspired by times past. For example, they offer a series of shooters based on classic Singaporean childhood flavors, like Milo and pandan kaya toast!

6. Sam Sam Sam: Ancient Korean health principles  

Did you know that in Asian cultures, ginseng and chicken are a healing combination? The ginseng root has been used for centuries as herbal medicine. When combined with the poultry in various ways, especially in broth form, it provides many natural healing properties. 

This is the entire premise of Sam Sam Sam – where the menu is 100% devoid of any pork, beef, and lard products.

Instead, expect five various types of ginseng chicken soups including a vitality tonic, thermal detox, nourishing perilla, circulation elixir, and the immunity black bowl with immune-boosting nutrients. You can order this as the Samgyetang Ginseng Chicken Soup Set.

Stepping inside, the restaurant’s purposefully retro interiors help you travel back to Korea as if it were decades ago, adding ladles of authenticity. 

Read more: 7 Unusual Things To Do In Seoul Off The Beaten Track: Spas, Speakeasies & Street Art

7. Claudine: A chapel turned restaurant 

A French neo-brasserie – what could be so special about that? 

Well, just wait until you step inside Claudine. You’ll realize as to why it’s considered on our list of unique restaurants in Singapore. It’s set up inside a 1930s-era conserved colonial chapel atop the city’s Dempsey Hill! 

The interiors are truly what steal the show, with arched stained-glass windows surrounding you at a 360-degree glance. I love the decor, especially when looking upwards. The food is equally impressive, focusing on classic French cuisine with a home-cooked spin. 

Seating arrangements are split into two areas: the dining room or la terrace. 

8. Tamba: Travel to West Africa  

Born in South Africa, I love how much African countries have received a platform in the culinary world in the last decade. (Over in SA, we are super multicultural and so our cuisine does vary compared to other African countries.) 

You do find a lot of African-inspired restaurants in big countries like America, but in Singapore, not so much…So I love that Tamba is bringing this cuisine to the forefront of this Southeast Asian country.  

When paying this spot a visit, it’s the Western African countries that its cuisine highlights. This especially focuses on grilled and smoked meat! The desserts are also mouth-watering, like the ‘Gbarnga Colada,’ comprising charred ripe pineapple, pistachio peanut, coconut crumble, and homemade coconut ice cream. 

With nothing else like it in the city, it’s a no-brainer as to why this is considered one of the unique restaurants in Singapore. Plus, its earthy, rich decor ticks all of my boxes, employing artists to recreate such stunning pieces throughout the space. 

9. Born: The fine dining option  

Mention the word “Michelin,” and you’ve got my ears perked up and my instant attention. 

Whilst Born isn’t some crazy concept that you’ve never heard of, the reason why it’s part of my recommendations of unique restaurants in Singapore is that its multiple award-winning cuisine IS out-of-this-world-inventive AND imaginative AND beautiful…And so is the restaurant setting itself. 

Owning the accolade of one Michelin star, as well as listed on Asia’s 50 Best, if you’re searching for a fine-dining experience among my list, this is thee spot! Marrying French and Chinese techniques, flavors, and dishes, the food out of this kitchen is simply sublime. 

As a serious appreciator of aesthetics, it wasn’t so much the food that originally caught my eye. Rather, this stunning, dramatic, rippled piece of sculptural artwork created by Dutch paper sculptor Peter Gentenaar first grabbed my attention. 

Overall, it all matches. 

10. Wonderland Upside Down: An immersive themed dinner 

Get ready for some fun and games at Wonderland Upside Down. Meet the Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts, and fall down the Rabbit Hole. 

For any Lewis Carroll fans, if you immediately thought of Alice in Wonderland the moment you read the eatery’s name, your associations would be correct! This magical immersive restaurant is loosely based on the iconic storyline – especially in terms of madness! As they put it: your “dinner becomes the story.” 

It involves dramatic performances and moving from one space to another over a set of five omakase-style courses. I guess that’s one way to burn calories! The entire dining experience takes two hours, give or take. 

There you have it: some of our favorite unique restaurants in Singapore to book for your next trip to the Lion City! Interested in more of our travel recommendations around the island? I’ve got plenty! 

For divine specialty coffee shops, check out these 9 spots. Around the Tiong Bahru neighborhood, I suggest these 7 cafes. Over in Clarke Quay, discover my list of best restaurants, whether it’s day or night. Or, if you’re vegetarian/vegan, you’re in such good hands in Singapore and spoiled for choice! Here are 8 amazing options. 

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