This charming restaurant nestled in a colonial building is a gem for those who want an intimate meal in a rustic environment. Hidden away atop the forested Labrador Nature Reserve, it serves Thai and Shan cuisine with a luxe and contemporary twist. Dishes are pricier than at a normal Thai restaurant, but dishes are hearty and full of flavour, and worth every cent, especially if you’re up for sharing. Appetisers range from $14 to $28, mains from $22 to $58 and desserts from $14 to $24. But to get the best value, go for the restaurant’s leisurely Sunday Brunch ($60++ per person or $120++ with free flow beverages) where you can order as much as you please off a set menu, including dishes such as red curry with pork, duck with lychee salad and deep fried tiger prawns with salted egg sauce.

Tamarind Hill is at 30 Labrador Villa Rd, tel: 6278 6364. 

Image: Instagram (@samadhi_retreats)

Dining at this glamorous and opulent restaurant gives you bang for your buck when it comes to ambience. With its marble tabletops, plush furnishings and old-world decor, it makes you feel like you’re in a freaking movie. This Italian restaurant is known for its handmade pastas, so pick from its ala carte menu (look for Tagliolini with Scampi, Tarragon and Smoked Paprika and Linguine with Manilla Clams, and Trombetta Zucchini and Salmoriglio).

Appetisers such as the Crispy Egg with Sevryga Caviar, Cod and Sea Urchin Custard are also delectable. If you’re feeling peckish, go for the 4-course degustation menu ($108++). For best value, go in the evenings as the sun is setting. The restaurant’s Sky Lounge offers stunning views of the skyline as you sip a cool beverage.

Aura is at 05-03 and 06-02 National Gallery, 1 Saint Andrew’s Road, tel: 6866 1977. 

Images: Instagram (@aura.nationalgallery)

Good old Chinese food is injected with modern European influences in this chic restaurant. Its value comes from the fact that the dishes are so out of the ordinary that they are a delight to try. Take the Szechuan-style tortellini ($16 for three), which consists of heavenly parcels of Kurobuta pork wrapped in handmade skin soaked in a broth of Sichuan chilli and Zhejiang vinegar before they are topped with frothy chilli oil foam. Or go for the Poulet De Bresse ($35), a quirky play on French cuisine, which comprises a crispy roulade of French chicken thigh that is marinated with nu er hong and stuffed with creamy foie gras. Get more from your dollar by getting the 4-course lunch set ($48++) that comes with an appetizer or soup and a main, staple, and dessert.

Xin Divine is at 10 Duxton Hill, tel: 3100 0030. Closed on Sundays. 

Image: Instagram (@xin_divine)

This one-Michelin-starred restaurant  — helmed by husband-and-wife team, Rishi Naleendra and Manuela Toniolo — serves really intriguing, mod-Australian fare, and is known for artful presentations. Dishes are ever evolving but look for the the pretty-as-a-picture Zucchini Flower (a dash of bright green and orange). The bloom is stuffed with Sri Lankan mung beans and paired with millet. For the best experience I’d recommend the 5-course omakase dinner ($88++) where you’ll be surprised with dish after dish of intense flavours that are derived through innovative pairings. Small portions, but so unique it’s well worth the money.

Cheek By Jowl is at 10 Boon Tat Street, tel: 6221 1911. Closed on Sundays. 

Image: Instagram (@cheekbyjowlsg)

Not only does this elegant spot give you the best riverside view, dining here also evokes feelings of a bygone era. Lit warmly with old school bulbs and a rather over-the-top Art Deco chandelier, the European-style dining room housed in a colonial heritage building is an inviting and comfortable spot for a quiet meal. European meals made with fresh seasonal ingredients are key here. Their set menu is just $28 for two courses and $35 for three courses, where you get to choose from appetisers such as a Trio of Saumon and Truffled Crab Pasta, and mains such as a Bar de Ligne of pan-roasted sea bass, dashi mushroom essence, potato mousseline and enoki crisp and a Beef Bourguignon of braised beef short ribs, wasabi kale and patatas bravas. End off the meal with a Cassis Noir of rich dark chocolate mousse, cassis sorbet with a mixed berry medley, a La Pomme of caramelised apples, cinnamon ice cream, sour apple granite and spiced crumble or a cheese plate. What a great deal.

1919 Waterboat House is at #03-01, 3 Fullerton Road, The Waterboathouse, Singapore 049215, tel:6538 9038. 

Image: Instagram (@1919waterboathouse)

If you love Singapore food but enjoy seeing it elevated, this is for you. Helmed by Singaporean chef Han Li Guang, this one-Michelin-starred restaurant offers dishes that are concocted from local produce. Chef Han draws on recipes inspired by his grandmother, giving a creative spin to traditional Singapore cuisine. The restaurant’s lunch menu ($68++) gives the best value, where you can get a good glimpse of Chef Han’s gastronomical creations without breaking the bank. Look out for Toh Thye San Farm French Poulet, a tender roulade of chicken thigh that is slow-roasted for five hours and served with keropok crumbles, glutinous rice and soy-egg yolk sauce; and the chargrilled pork collar with mixed grains, pickled local bok choy and fried kale.

Labyrinth is at 02-23 Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, Singapore, 8 Raffles Ave, tel: 6223 4098. Closed on Mondays.

Image: Instagram (@han_lg)