5 of Singapore's best restaurants with a view

Article By Eve Ang

For as long as we can remember, Jaan and Forlino have held the fort as the most panoramic restaurants in Singapore. Now they've got competition.

With Singapore's landscape forever changed, restaurateurs in Singapore are upping the view ante and planting their outposts on the rooftops of skyscrapers and, at times, on water's edge, offering unrivaled views, and surprisingly gourmet grubs.

Here are five new restaurants that offer breathtaking views to enjoy as you make your way through the bread basket.



Sky on 57



The setting: The glass-wrapped Sky on 57, on the top floor of the iconic Marina Bay Sands, affords an almost 270 degree view of Singapore's skyline, stretching from Sentosa, the financial district and the Marina Bay enclave out to Johor Bahru in the horizon. Take in these views from the white-swathed lounge seats dotting the timber-decked outdoor terrace before you adjourn indoor to dine.

For the perfect meal... Go mod. Asian with Justin Quek's fusion menu of foie gras-studded xiao long bao, Maine lobster tossed in tongue-searing black pepper sauce and the symphony of four desserts including a melt-in-the-mouth pandan-flavored macaroon.

View rating: 5/5

Level 57 SkyPark Tower 1, Marina Bay Sands Hotel, 10 Bayfront Avenue; tel +65 6688 8857


Level 33


The setting: From its perch 156 meters above ground level, the hip Level 33 atop the iridescent Marina Bay Financial Centre affords unrivalled views of the entire Marina Bay enclave. The best seats in the house are those that dot the airy outdoor terrace. But don't miss the buzz of dining in the rich wood and leather swathed dining space which houses eight tonnes of gargantuan copper-toned microbrewery vats and kettles. Reservations are a must.

For the perfect meal ... Go beer dining -- with deluxe finger food such as an upscale version of fish and chips, and cubed striploin with roasted garlic and wasabi -- along with a glass of blonde lager, pale ale or stout. For a heartier meal, start with a porcini ravioli or braised pig's tail with snails, then go rustic with a slab of 120-day-aged cote de boeuf.

View rating: 4.5/5

#33-01 Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 1, 8 Marina Boulevard; tel +65 6834 3133


Barnacles


The setting: When it comes to waterfront dining, you can't get better than Barnacles at the Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa. Situated in a free-standing hut just a short walk from the hotel's main building, the unobstructed view of the calming South China Sea from Barnacles is a sight to behold. On Sundays, the timber-decked tables spilling out beyond the tented al fresco area are a favored venue for Sunday Brunch.

For the perfect meal ... The mound of chilled seafood platter with heaps of freshly-shucked oysters, poached prawns, leg of Alaskan king crab, juicy black mussels, periwinkles and bulots; the bisque-like rockfish soup crowned with foam of rouille sauce; and mixed grill of beef tenderloin, lamb chop, pork sausage and a jumbo tiger prawn.

View rating: 4.5/5

Rasa Sentosa Resort, 101 Siloso Road; tel +65 6371 2930


Clifford


The setting: Tucked away in a corner of the glitzy Fullerton Bay Hotel and right by the bay, with full view of the neighboring Custom's House and glitzy skyscrappers -- including The Sail and the Marina Bay Financial Centre -- and beyond.

For the perfect meal ... The best time to come is for Sunday brunch. Tuck into truffle oil-laced oyster shooters, terrine of foie gras, crêpes suzette and sip on Moët & Chandon while gazing out at the skyscrappers that have altered Marina Bay's architectural landscape. Alternatively, enjoy the nightscape from Clifford at dinner time while you tuck into French classics such as steak tartare and rack of lamb.

View rating: 4/5

Fullerton Bay Hotel, 80 Collyer Quay; tel +65 6597 5288


iL Cielo


The setting: Sheathed in dark wood and glass, iL Cielo, beside the 24th-story rooftop pool of the Hilton hotel, is one of the quietest spots along Orchard Road to enjoy a tête-à-tête amidst the skyscraper-studded Orchard belt skyline. While we love the chic 32-seater indoor space, we wouldn't pass on the opportunity to sip Prosecco or tuck into desserts in the romantic poolside lounge seats.

For the perfect meal ... Made-to-order burrata cheese doused with Tuscany-made organic extra virgin olive oil served alongside cherry tomatoes and seasonal greens; a disc of raviolo pasta, which breaks to reveal a savory mess of runny egg yoke, ricotta and spinach; wafer-thin Roman-style pizza topped with lobster carpaccio and a decadent caviar dressing; marbled grilled prime rib-eye that's free of antibiotics and hormones.

View rating: 3.5/5

Level 24, Hilton Singapore, 581 Orchard Road; tel 65 6730 3395