Top 10 destination dining restaurants to escape the city!

PUBLISHED July 2nd, 2014 11:10 am | UPDATED November 10th, 2017 12:15 pm

Many of us at certain times will have experienced that feeling of argh! I feel like I’m living in a pressure cooker…I need to get away…I need to escape the city. But unless you can get on a flight there and then, which of course is highly unlikely, the next best option? Seek out one of Singapore’s many destination dining restaurants which will have you feeling like you have been transported into a bubble of bliss. Here at City Nomads we’ve rounded up 10 of our favourite restaurants to escape the city:

1. For a beach-side getaway: Cotton

902 East Coast Parkway, #01-26, Big Splash, Singapore, 449874

If dining and chilling by the balmy beach is the order of the day, then Cotton, with its wooden pavilions fitted with lounge sofas and ottomans nestled amongst verdant greenery on East Coast Park should do the trick. The menu is decidedly contemporary European, dabbed with Asian influences and has a seafood slant, from oysters, snappers to lobsters and also includes char-grilled meats infused with coconut husks. With more than 30 cocktails, beers, wines and champagnes, it’s also a good choice for those in the tipple-happy mood. Read our full review of Cotton here.

2. For some Quayside dining: Mykonos on The Bay

31 Ocean Way, Singapore, 098375

For a taste and feel of the Mediterranean right here in Singapore, Mykonos on the Bay at Quayside Isle, Sentosa, is a charming option combining  traditional Greek food and a beautiful bay front scenery – the ideal compliment to this easy breezy white-and-blue outfit. The perfect place to chow down on some much loved Greek dips and grill platters, with the night breeze making a gentle appearance, it makes a lovely spot for a bit of island relaxing. Read our full review of Mykonos By The Bay here.

3. For a slice of Bali: Blue Bali

1D Cluny Rd, Singapore, 259600

Probably the best kept secret of Botanic Gardens and tucked away in a very hard to find corner masked by the NUS campus, Blue Bali is a surprisingly expansive Balinese inspired restaurant which really does make you feel like you’re dining somewhere in Ubud. Beautifully yet rustically decorated and complete with incense smoking from every corner, although the food here is less Indo, more Asian-blend, the ambience here is perfect for a night away from the city.

4. For a colonial escape: Tamarind Hill

30 Labrador Villa Road, Labrador Nature Reserve, Singapore, 119189

Arriving at Tamarind Hill, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d somehow crossed the border without realizing! This place is visually stunning. Aside from being hidden uphill in the lush greenery that is Labrador Park, Tamarind Hill is set in a beautifully designed colonial mansion atop a ‘mini-hill’ which overlooks the sea. Serving Thai cuisine fine dining style, proving that the words Thai and fine dining can co-exist. With fresh ingredients and dishes that are perfectly executed, pair that with a beautiful setting and excellent service, well there is no doubt that this ranks Tamarind Hill as one of our must try restaurants in Singapore. Read our full review of Tamarind Hill here.

5. For the West-siders: UNA at One Rochester

1 Rochester Park, Singapore, 139212

Update: UNA is slated to move out from One Rochester at the end of 2017

Nestled in the charming dining enclave of Rochester Park, One Rochester sits framed by an expansive leafy garden flanked by water features. Singapore’s first ‘South of Latitude 30°’ restaurant, the focus here is on flavours from Spain, France and Italy, and bringing together sunny flavours and home-styled cuisines with just the right amount of chi chi. Although prices are definitely on the high side at UNA, for a special destination dining experience at an overall very high standard, we say it’s worth taking the hit. Read our full review of UNA here.

6. For the East-siders: The Coastal Settlement

200 Netheravon Rd, Singapore, 508529

Often touted as the hidden gem of the East, The Coastal Settlement is a good getaway for a more casual bite to eat, and has bundles of character owing to the plethora of vintage items displayed within. Food-wise, it’s nothing fancy – expect the likes of pizzas, truffle fries and the like – but perfect comfort food for getting comfy, kicking back and hanging with your homies and soaking up some vintage vibe.

7. For a garden experience: Pollen

Flower Dome, Gardens By The Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Drive #01-09, Singapore, 018953

Housed in the Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay, the first thing that strikes you on entering Pollen is a wonderful feeling of serenity, the clean and sophisticated interior is bathed in a beautiful light streaming down through the glass structure, which is your looking glass out onto a garden oasis. Featuring modern European cuisine with Mediterranean influences with a focus on new ideas and ways of cooking, as dreamt up by Michelin starred Chef Jason Atherton, this is a dining experience to leave you feeling fresh and revived. Although somewhat on the pricey side, the set lunch makes it much more palatable. Read our full review of Pollen here.

8. For a rustic hidden gem: Pietrasanta

5B Portsdown Road #01-03, Singapore, 139311

This Tuscan family-style restaurant is hidden away in the heart of the verdant Wessex Estate and is a true hidden gem. Serving up delicious and authentic Tuscan fare and great wine in an intimate and homely setting, their cosy patio is the perfect spot for unwinding.  With fresh and simple food just like grandma would cook, it makes this restaurant the ideal getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life.

9. For a classy experience: Il Lido

Sentosa Golf Club, 27 Bukit Manis Road, Singapore, 099892

Undoubtedly one of Singapore’s most stylish Italian restaurants owing to its scenic setting at Sentosa Golf Club, Il Lido serves up delicious and perfectly presented food in classy surrounds against the backdrop of stunning views of golden seas and sunsets. For a refined destination dining experience, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better option than this – though be prepared to fork out – making it best suited for special occasions.

10. To be surrounded with natural beauty: The Halia at Botanic Gardens

1 Cluny Road, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Singapore, 259569

Dining in the lush surrounds of the Botanic Gardens is something that everyone should experience once, and being encased in a contemporary glasshouse amongst the Ginger Garden, The Halia provides the perfect intimate setting to do so. There is something special about being able to reflect on natural beauty in such a central location, which is made even better over brunch or afternoon tea after a leisurely stroll in the grounds. If romance is what you’re after, The Halia won’t dissappoint at nighttime with its soft lighting and mother nature’s soundtrack.

Of course the above is just our selection of favourite destination dining venues – however others you might like to explore include 7Adam, Kilo, The White Rabbit, and Punggol Seafood, but to name a few.

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Written by Ms Demeanour

Read more about Singapore’s yummy local cuisine at YourSingapore.com