After the all out festivities of SG50, National Day just isn’t getting very much hype this year. Still, our nation’s birthday is every bit worth celebrating, whether you’re toasting to Singapore from afar or soaking in her history and heritage right here. But if you’d rather salute the homeland by feasting your way through town, we’ve found 10 places for you do exactly that. Read on to find out where to eat, drink and make merry this National Day.
Aura
For the National Day weekend, Aura will present an Italian take on classic Singaporean dishes. Highlights on its 4 course dinner menu (S$88++) include chicken rice risotto with truffle, a meaty piece of black cod with lobster laksa, and an elevated rendang of wagyu beef cheek and chilli eggplant
This post: Feast and fiesta: 10 places to celebrate National Day
And throughout the whole month, lounge away at Aura’s elegant bar which offers a spectacular view of the Marina Bay skyline. The specially crafted cocktails are infused with local flavours like mangosteen and curry leaves to encapsulate the nation’s heritage. Try The Red Dot (S$22++) — a blend of prosecco, gin, roast apple purée, lime juice, red cherry reduction and Aura’s own improved bitters.
The dinner menu is available 7-9 August 2016, while the cocktails are available all month.
Aura, 1 St Andrews Road, National Gallery Singapore, #05-03 & #06-02, Singapore 178957, +65 6866 1977, www.aura.sg
Book now
The Clifford Pier
Peranakan fare embodies all that Singaporean cuisine has to offer. Born from a blend of Chinese ingredients with Malay spices and cooking techniques, it is known for its tantalising combination of flavours — tangy and deeply savoury, lightened with herbs but with a spicy kick.
Paying tribute to the historical pier where Singapore’s forefathers first landed, The Clifford Pier has invited renowned Peranakan chef Philip Chia to cook up eight classics for National Day (from S$18++ to S$26++). These include ayam buah keluak (chicken braised with the quintessential Indonesian nut) and ikan kuah ladah (fish in a tamarind and pepper sauce). If you’re all about the heart and soul of Peranakan dining and togetherness, this is the perfect place to go with a group of family and friends.
Available all month.
The Clifford Pier, The Fullerton Bay Hotel, 80 Collyer Quay, Singapore 049326, +65 6333 8388, www.fullertonhotels.com
Book now
Capella
Capella is laying out a heritage brunch spread (from S$128++) so you can indulge in all of your favourite Singaporean dishes at the buffet table. Get a taste of nostalgia with a spicy punch from sambal stingray and ikan kunyit (turmeric fish), as well as Chinese dishes like drunken prawn mee and live crab. And what would a brunch be without the booze? Give your brunch a boost to include free flow wine and specialty cocktails (S$148++), or go another step further with free flow Tattinger champagne too (S$178++) — it is a public holiday, after all.
Available only on 9 August 2016.
Capella Singapore, 1 The Knolls, Sentosa Island, Singapore 098297, +65 6377 8888, www.capellasingapore.com
LeVeL33
Tuck into a Singapore platter for 2 (S$50++) up in the world’s highest urban craft brewery. Inspired by local delights, it will feature black vinegar roast pork, chicken rice arancini, cereal prawns with lemongrass emulsion, and pan seared coconut brioche paired with pandan jam.
LeVel33 is famed for its copper brew house kettles that produce craft beers steeped in European heritage and tradition. But for National Day, the focus will be on its version of the Singapore Sling (S$23++), a potent mix of London dry gin, champagne, strawberry marmalade, pink pepper syrup, pomegranate, lemon and Goji berry infused soda.
Available only on 9 August 2016.
LeVeL33, 8 Marina Boulevard, Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 1, #33-01, Singapore 018981, +65 6834 3133, www.level33.com.sg
Book now
Cherry Garden
If you’re tired of Asian inspired flavours and would rather have the real deal, get your fix of authentic Cantonese delicacies at the Mandarin Oriental’s Cherry Garden. Their National Day set menu (S$118++, for a minimum of 2 people) is beckoning us with 7 exquisite dishes, including braised abalone with Chinese mushrooms and vegetables, a duet of sour plum and wasabi aioli prawns, and a lamb casserole with black garlic fried rice. Pair it all with a few glasses from their selection of old and new world wines, and that’s dinner sorted.
Available 8-9 August 2016.
Cherry Garden, Mandarin Oriental Singapore, 5 Raffles Avenue, Marina Square, Singapore 039797, www.mandarinoriental.com
Book now
Angie’s Oyster Bar
This stylish oyster bar is where seafood lovers go for a gorgeous selection of diver scallops, Boston lobsters, Hokkaido snow crabs and, of course, the freshest oysters of the day. To commemorate the nation’s 51st birthday, Angie’s is offering 51 per cent off every order of the eponymous signature mussel dish (S$18.60++).
Sourced from a local kelong, the mussels pack a punch with its broth of tamarind, dried shrimp, tomato, ginger and assam chilli, ideal for soaking up with free flow fat fries. Then grab a pint of Lervig craft beer (S$16++), sit back at the patio, and wait for fireworks to light up the sky.
Available 6-9 August 2016.
Angie’s Oyster Bar, 50 Raffles Place, #45-01 & #46-01, Singapore 048623, www.fiftyrafflesplace.com
Book now
Zafferano
Rather than jostle with the crowds for a glimpse of the parade, indulge in a 4 course Italian dinner (S$108++) while watching the live screening at Zafferano. Famed for their Manjimup winter black truffle, you can add slivers of the culinary diamond to your primi or secondi (S$18++ supplement).
We can’t wait to try the lamb ragout casarecce with shavings of ricotta salata, as well as the slow cooked veal cheek with Jerusalem artichoke and sautéed artichokes. To finish the meal on a high, there’ll be a red and white themed vanilla and strawberry panna cotta. And for an additional S$80++, the sommelier will pair your dishes with a glass of wine.
Available only on 9 August 2016.
Zafferano, Ocean Financial Centre, Level 43, 10 Collyer Quay, Singapore 049315, +65 6509 1488, zafferano.sg
Book now
Yàn
We love dim sum, and thanks to Yàn’s local twists on the classics, we’re going to satisfy our cravings in the name of celebrating our nation’s birthday. Crispy pan fried buns will be stuffed with chill crab meat (S$9++), steamed xiao long bao (soup dumplings) will be levelled up with bak kut teh soup (pork bone broth) (S$5.80++), and lo mai gai (lotus leaf rice) will be given a Hainanese chicken rice treatment (S$4++). Given Hong Kong master chef Chan Kung Lai’s reputation for exceptional Cantonese cooking with innovative ingredient pairings, we know we’ll be in for something good.
Available all month.
Yàn, 1 St Andrews Road, National Gallery Singapore, #05-02, Singapore 178957, +65 6384 5585, www.yan.com.sg
Book now
Cé La Vi
The swanky Cé La Vi promises the ultimate 360 degree view of Singapore, 200 metres up in the sky. To match up to the celebrations, the restaurant’s specially curated menu (S$268++) will present a premium selection of ten modern Asian dishes.
Start with maguro tuna sashimi and Asian spiced duck salad dressed with orange hoisin sauce, pickled cucumber and pomegranate. Then move on to red snapper grilled with sambal oelek (chilli paste), and pork belly braised with bok choy, mushrooms and star anise. To end, there’ll be a deconstructed version of the Singapore Sling in a popsicle. But if the iconic drink itself is what you’re after, the SkyBar has a 2 for S$40++ offer so you can toast with a friend (or have them both yourself, really).
The tasting menu is available only on 9 August 2016, while the cocktail special is available 3-9 August 2016.
Cé La Vi, 1 Bayfront Avenue, Skypark at Marina Bay Sands, Tower 3, Singapore 018971, +65 6508 2188, sg.celavi.com
Book now
Da Paolo PizzaBar
We know all about the authentic hand stretched thin crust pizzas at Da Paolo Pizza Bar, and the chef has something special prepared for National Day. Putting a spin on chilli crab, the iconic Singapore dish, this pizza (S$32++) has soft shell crab and crab meat in a sweet chilli sauce, topped with a sunny side up egg for extra richness and crunchy mantou strips for a delightful texture. If you’re craving the satisfying balance of savoury, sweet and spicy, this pizza promises exactly that. Order it with another pie for S$51++, and pair with a bottle or two of their wines sourced from all over Italy.
Available until 14 August 2016.
Da Paolo Pizza Bar, 44 Jalan Merah Saga, #01-46, Singapore 278116, +65 6479 6059, www.dapaolo.com.sg
Source: Harta Chisinau
Category: Food & Drink
