With such a vast array of Italian food across the city, it can be difficult to know exactly where to go for authentic and quality cuisine. We’ve gathered some of the top Italian restaurants and wines to bookmark for your next special occasion!
Top Italian restaurants to try
Dolce Vita
For a bellissimo brunch in the heart of the city, complete with resplendent bay-side views, try rooftop restaurant Dolce Vita in Mandarin Oriental, Singapore. More than just an Italian restaurant, it’s also the perfect spot for a birthday brunch or ladies’ luncheon as the setting is fresh and summery.
The premium produce used in the kitchen here is flown in directly from Italy, so you know you’re in for a treat. The three-hour brunch takes place from 12pm to 3pm on Saturdays, and costs $118 per person for the non-alcoholic option (including free-flow soft drinks and juices). You can take things up a notch – and why not? – by topping up $40 for unlimited “R” de Ruinart Champagne, house pour wines and beers.
Brunch begins with a selection of fine Italian cold cuts and cheeses. Cleanse your palate with the refreshing cured hamachi salad with lemon dressing, salmon roe, kumquat and radish. You can also treat yourself to oysters on ice, or a lentil soup with black truffle emulsion; or overload on carby picks like acquerello risotto with saffron, slow-cooked pork and cheese fondue, and homemade orecchiette with seafood ragout. For mains, the slow-braised lamb shank is a crowd favourite.
Make space for the array of pastries on offer. From dainty macarons and pralines to exquisite desserts like green tea coconut tart, the sinful spread makes this brunch a winner for anyone with a sweet tooth.
Mandarin Oriental, Singapore
5 Raffles Avenue
6885 3500 | mandarinoriental.com
Latteria Mozzarella Bar
This charming Duxton Hill spot comfortably fits up to 50 guests (subject to safe distancing restrictions). There’s also an indoor setting that’s intimate enough for date nights and family dinners. In addition, if you fancy an alfresco experience on a breezy night, there’s a picture-perfect outdoor terrace that’s also popular for parties.
The speciality here is the fresh mozzarella selection, flown in from Italy twice a week. A must-try is the Bocconcini in Carrozza ($22): deep-fried buffalo milk mozzarella with a flavourful, peppery arrabbiata sauce. Fill up on the crab and mascarpone linguine ($30) – al dente pasta tossed in an indulgent crab meat sauce – or the vegetarian-friendly homemade gnocchi with porcini and truffle cream ($33). Prefer something meatier? Go for the slow-roasted lamb shanks with a red wine casserole and chickpeas ($38). And do make room for the raspberry and pistachio meringue cake ($16), a simple yet satisfying end to the meal.
40 Duxton Hill
6866 1988 | latteriamb.com
Bistecca Tuscan Steakhouse
Tucked in a cosy shophouse along a quiet stretch of Mohamed Sultan Road, this elegant steakhouse is decked out in complementing brown and red interiors, exuding an air of opulence from top to toe. This is one fantastic spot for special date nights and celebrations – especially if you love Italian food and steaks!
Kick-start the meal with a side of burrata ($40) – 300 grams of hand-formed young mozzarella served with a rocket salad. Then, move on to the restaurant’s signature thick-cut, Tuscan-style steaks, which are great for sharing. Perfectly grilled, seasoned and sliced, the Florentina ($220) is a massive 1.1kg T-bone that easily feeds up to four people. This meaty goodness is a must-try for steak fanatics! Bistecca also offers individual cuts like the filet mignon tenderloin ($69) as well as alternative meaty mains like the Iberico pork rib-eye ($42) and roasted Australian lamb rack ($78).
26 Mohamed Sultan Road
6735 6739 | bistecca.com.sg
D.O.P. Mozzarella Bar
For chic and casual Italian food in a laidback setting, visit this cosy osteria along the river at Robertson Quay, with both indoor and alfresco dining available. Start with one of the most popular items, the mozzarella ball ($19), which oozes molten cheese and Parma ham upon cutting. If you prefer something more traditional, the “Make Your Own” antipasto ($35) lets you choose your mozzarella, plus one cold cut and one side dish.
You won’t go wrong with the Homemade Scialatielli Cheese Bowl ($30). This sinful signature dish consists of amatriciana pasta with bacon and onion in a spicy tomato sauce, sitting in a bowl that’s a hollowed out caciocavallo cheese (similar to aged provolone); it’s as good as it looks! If you’re unable to finish the cheese, you can (and should) bring it home to snack on.
Alongside other pasta options, this Italian restaurant in Singapore also serves a small selection of pizza, as well as mains like a grilled filter of red snapper ($28).
#01-04A, The Quayside,
60 Robertson Quay
6908 0830 | dop.restaurant
Italian wines for your next meal
Keen on vino that pairs well with Italian food? Here are some must-try Italian wines to accompany your pastas, pizzas and more!
Hugo by Stella Angelo, $45
Looking for a delicious bubbly to start your evening (or brunch)? Hugo by Stella Angelo isn’t just any other white wine, nor is it just an aperitif. A blend of Trebbiano and Garganega varieties, this sparkling Italian wine offers a frisky flavour of summer from natural elderflower aromas.
The Hugo cocktail was originally created by bartender Roland Gruber in the alps of Northern Italy. This tipple consists of three simple ingredients: elderflower liqueur, prosecco and seltzer. Shortly after its invention, the drink became a hit across the alps, as well as in Austria, Germany and beyond. It’s now known as one of the most popular cocktails in Southern Europe!
Hugo by Stella Angelo successfully recreates this floral, summery classic. Rooted in old Italian traditions, the light and refreshing aperitif is best enjoyed with a couple of fresh mint leaves, some slices of lime and a bunch of ice cubes. It’s the perfect setup, whether you’re planning a picnic at the beach or looking for an easy cocktail to recreate for date night at home.
La Morandina 5 Vignes Barbera D’Asti DOCG, $45
Located in northwest Italy, Piedmont sits at the base of the Western Alps. Its unique geography produces great wines, such as this organic red from family-run vineyard La Morandina. Fruity and relatively light-bodied despite its bold, deep purple colour, Barbera is extremely drinkable due to its refreshingly high acidity, cherry flavours and soft, round tannins. It works especially well with rich traditional Italian food such as pasta with parmesan or risotto with truffles. It’s also a great picnic wine paired with charcuterie and cheeses.
Psst… Enjoy 10 percent off this wine with the code EL10OFF!
Vigna Barbagalli Etna Rosso 2016, $159
The vines that grow on the volcanic slopes of Europe’s most active volcano, Mount Etna, create vibrant wines with floral aromas, bright acidity and great ageing potential. This flagship red by family-run estate Pietradolce in Sicily is made from a single vineyard that hosts their oldest vines. Silky and full-bodied with notes of plum and ripe cherry, this Italian wine is a must try for all fans of endemic Italian varieties.
Valentina Moscato d’Asti, $24.90
You don’t have to break the bank to get a quality drop. This light-to-medium-bodied moscato is versatile enough to be a delicious outdoor sipper, an aperitif or a desert wine. With seductive notes of muscat and honeydew on the nose, and lemon and apricot on the palate, it’s a refreshing bubbly that goes well with aged cheeses and fruits.
Castello di Monsanto Chianti Classico Reserva, $78
Home to the largest reserves of Chianti Classico in Tuscany, Castello di Monsanto is a family-run winery that owns some of the best vineyard sites within the appellation. This full-bodied red is layered with aromas of plum, cherries and hints of green olives. It’s pure and minimalist, which is characteristic of traditional, hands-off winemaking. Pair it with roasted meats like beef and lamb, and tomato-based pasta dishes.
Barbanera Terre Siciliane IGT Syrah (Shiraz) 2020, $34
The broad and intense bouquet in this fantastic Syrah opens with small ripe red fruit aromas, leading to elegant spicy and tobacco notes. Warm and velvety, the red is beautifully balanced with fruity reminiscences of black cherry and has just enough tannin to provide a framework to the fruit. It’s suitable for all courses, but particularly recommended with red meats and mature cheeses.
Psst… Enter the code EXPAT10 before checkout to enjoy 10 percent off your purchase with a minimum spend of $100!
This article first appeared in the August 2021 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase a copy or subscribe so you never miss an issue
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