When it comes to eating out in Singapore you are not just spoilt for choice but are offered such a wonderful variety of dining options from Michelin-star restaurants to authentic street food vendors that it can be difficult to narrow down where you should dine.
In a previous article, I told you about my wonderful stay at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel in Singapore and now I want to share with you the incredible dining options in and around the hotel.
The definitive buffet experience in Singapore
Upon arrival in Singapore I was absolutely starving and in need of sustenance so it made sense to go straight to Grand Copthorne’s buffet restaurant Food Capital Restaurant.
Located inside the hotel’s vast lobby and with outside seating on the banks of the river there are many ways to enjoy dining here. As with any buffet restaurant I always walk around to see what’s on offer so I can plan my trips to and from the buffet accordingly but with Food Capital I just didn’t know where to start as there were so many things I wanted!
My first plate was belly pork, Grilled red snapper, Nasi Goreng, rice a bowl of salad and grilled vegetables and to be honest, I could have just had another plate of the exact same thing again, but with fresh, oysters, sushi, spider crab, scallops and prawns I had to indulge in the seafood.
Then of course there were chefs preparing traditional Malaysian dishes fresh for you and I even saw a roast turkey and beef wellington! Believe me when I say the buffet here is sensational and it’s worth a visit even if you’re not a guest at the hotel.
Things to do in Singapore
Singapore is a cultural melting pot and enjoys a population of people from all over the world bringing their heritage and culture to the city. My companion and I enjoyed a day of sightseeing where we explored the Marina Bay Sands, the Botanical Gardens, Art Galleries and street art of the old town before arriving back at our hotel ready for a good meal once again. Thankfully we didn’t have far to go as we were headed to M Social Hotel just over the river.
Beast and Butterflies is a Mediterranean and Asian Cuisine Restaurant at Robertson Quay and part of the Hotel M Social which is designed as a meeting hub, where people can come together and enjoy great food and drinks with views over the river in a welcoming space.
It certainly felt that way as my companion and I entered the restaurant, we felt so welcome and spoke in depth with so many staff members it was a lovely atmosphere. The space was designed by Philippe Starck and once you are told this, it is almost obvious when you look at the tile floors and clever lighting over the tables and muted dark colours, it’s really beautiful.
What’s the signature dish at Beast and Butterflies?
The food at this restaurant is very much matched to the culture of Singapore itself, a mixture of foods both local and with Western influences. You’ll find Italian cheeses, Japanese Oysters, local vegetables and fish and their most popular dishes are lobster porridge and pork knuckle.
We enjoyed a variety of dishes including these signatures: Fresh Burrata with basil and green tomatoes was the perfect starter, a sample of beef in Alderney pasta was delicious and the beef so tender. We thought the lobster porridge was the perfect comfort food, full of flavour and ever so filling.
A highlight for us was the red snapper, baked in salt crust, it was so fresh and tasty and the soft vegetables with it made it a truly delicious dish. My personal favourite was the pork knuckle, served with plenty of crispy crackling and spicy sauce.
What makes this restaurant special?
What we loved about Beasts and Butterflies at M Social was the number of things going on, there was a different offer on each night of the week such as buy one get one free, bottomless brunches and wine-tasting evenings. Bartender Mark told us that the wines change every week and the cocktail menu has a lot of influences from his travels around the world. We immediately trusted his skills from the first drink we had, Lady Charlotte’s spicy Margarita she told me was in the top 5 she’d ever had (high praise indeed, she’s had more than a fair few!).
Best place to meet friends in Singapore
If you do find yourself stopping off in Singapore on a long journey, or you are visiting the city and want to catch up with friends, then Beasts and Butterflies is a fantastic place to meet up. The interiors are just stunning and it is so well designed, the menu is so varied and eclectic there’s something for all to enjoy and every night of the week there is some special offer to take advantage of. Had we been staying longer we would definitely have visited again.
Great Indian restaurant in Singapore
In a hot country such as Singapore, you wouldn’t expect the cuisine to be so hot and spicy but somehow it just works. In a place where all the finest ingredients from all over the world are imported fresh every day, it would be ridiculous not to take advantage of all the wonderful herbs and spices on offer. One place we found that incorporates the wonderful flavours of India into their food was Sansara an authentic north Indian restaurant newly opened within the grand Copthorne Hotel in 2023.
What does Sansara mean?
SanSara is an ancient Sanskrit word which means ‘to flow’; it encapsulates the idea that life is a river, constantly moving, evolving, and renewing itself. Head Chef Pannalal Nath said his menu was a tribute to the flowing heritage of Indian cuisine, where regional specialities merge and evolve, reflecting the dynamic nature of the country.
What’s on the menu?
On our visit we were treated to a set menu of five courses but 12 dishes in total including multiple mains with naans, rice and a refreshing selection of cocktails. There are several set menus you can choose from as well as a la carte and even a special lunch menu. Signature dishes include Shahi Gosht Biryani, Gossht Adraki Saalan and Murgh Noorani Kabab which is a succulent chicken breast stuffed with raisins, cream cheese, saffron, and more, creating a delightful contrast of textures and flavours.
The best way to enjoy Indian Food
My favourite part of this restaurant experience was that it was served exactly how Indian food should be, in great quantities with plenty of sides to dip in! I love trying lots of dishes, I never order the same thing when I go for an Indian meal so a set menu for me is ideal. Whilst a butter chicken may be most Brits’ go-to I never order it, so to have it here was a rare treat.
I absolutely loved the Khatti Kaika Machi which was a mackerel curry I would never have thought to order. I relished every bit of garlic naan smothered in Dal E-SanSara, the signature black lentil dal. The food was made enjoyable also by the staff, we were served by the lovely Nadia who took the time to explain every dish we were served and made sure we had everything we needed.
Martin greeted us so kindly as we entered the restaurant and couldn’t do enough for us. The whole team worked like a well-oiled machine and it was also lovely to meet chef Akhilesh Pathak who was thrilled to hear we were enjoying his food (I think they thought we would find it too spicy!).
You could spend weeks in Singapore trying all the best restaurants, street food vendors and family-run restaurants in the winding streets of the city. But if you are on a whistle-stop tour I’d encourage you to visit these three restaurants as I was given a wonderful impression of the diversity of flavour and variety of cuisines on offer in Singapore.
