In the bustling food scene of Singapore, lies a secret society of culinary connoisseurs. Like undercover detectives, these anonymous culinary sleuths discreetly slip into our local eateries, blending seamlessly into the crowd. But they eat with a great mission, and that mission my dear reader, is to uncover the brightest gems of Singapore’s food paradise and most importantly, award them with a great honour; a “star” if you will. Yes, I’m talking about the MICHELIN Guide! It’s that time of the year again as MICHELIN returns to unveil their full restaurant selection of the MICHELIN Guide Singapore 2024.
If you don’t already know what I’m talking about, the MICHELIN Guide is where restaurants are awarded “MICHELIN Stars” based on five strict criteria. Five criteria? Sounds too easy, doesn’t it? Nope, that is far from that, especially since this year, we see a grand total of only 51 restaurants receiving the highly coveted MICHELIN Stars! Getting a Michelin star is like hitting the jackpot in the culinary world as it puts restaurants on the map and MICHELIN’s expert inspectors recognise them.
In this guide, I’ll be laying out which restaurants have newly earned their MICHELIN Stars. Which sleek fine dining establishment will dazzle with its culinary prowess? You might discover your new favourite dining spot through this guide, so read on to find out!
Meta
This year, one of Singapore’s standout restaurants is finally awarded its second Michelin star, a long-overdue recognition. And that Michelin recipient is Chef Sun Kim’s restaurant, Meta! Meta is where Chef Sun’s East-meets-West philosophy comes to life, owing to how he marries his Korean heritage, Japanese culinary techniques, and Western culinary training to present innovative dishes that utilise the best of global seasonal ingredients and produce.
Hailing from Busan, Korea, famed for its beaches and seafood, it’s unsurprising that MICHELIN would highlight Meta’s steamed Jeju abalone with gochujang seaweed risotto. With its contrasting textures of tender mollusc, creamy rice, and crunchy lily bulbs, chef Sun Kim’s ability to blend Korean traditions and bold flavours makes this dish a hit.
What makes this recognition long overdue? Well, the restaurant received its first MICHELIN Star way back in 2017, which makes this a seven-year climb up the MICHELIN ladder for both Chef Sun Kim and Meta!
📍Location: 9 Mohamed Sultan Rd, Meta Restaurant, Singapore 238959
⏰Opening hours:
- Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 6.30pm to 11.30pm
- Friday and Saturday, 12pm to 3pm and 6.30pm to 11.30pm
- Closed on Sunday and Monday
To book for Meta, you can do so on Meta’s official website! For more information, head to Meta’s socials on Facebook and Instagram.
Chaleur
Let’s now discuss the restaurants that have received their first MICHELIN Star, starting with Chaleur, where French gastronomy meets Japanese excellence at Neil Road. Helmed by chef Masahiko Kawano, who previously brought another restaurant, Reve, to a MICHELIN Star, Chef Kawano has cooked up a delectable 10-course dinner menu to savour in Chaleur!
Using solid French techniques, French and Japanese produce are juxtaposed effectively whilst being pleasing to the eye. The MICHELIN Guide also spotlights Chef Kawano’s dedication towards painstakingly tweaking the consistency of his duck consommé to perfection daily.
Given how one of the five criteria for earning a MICHELIN Star is consistency between inspectors’ visits, Chef Kawano’s admirable attention to detail proves Chaleur’s most certainly worthy of their new MICHELIN title!
📍Location: 77 Neil Rd, Singapore 088903
⏰Opening hours: 1pm to 9pm
- Tuesday, 6pm to 11pm
- Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 12pm to 3pm and 6pm to 11pm
- Closed on Sunday and Monday
To book a spot at Chaleur, check out Chaleur’s official website! For more information, head over to Chaleur’s socials on Facebook and Instagram.
Araya
Give it up for the restaurant Araya, the first restaurant with South American influences to be awarded a MICHELIN Star in Singapore! Helmed by Chilean chefs Francisco Araya and Fernando Guerrero, the pair’s ingenious creations take great inspiration from Araya’s time in Spain and Japan, hence Araya’s masterful showcase of an eclectic mix of Chilean and Japanese produce.
One example of the pair’s inventiveness is how they spice up Japanese favourites like kinki and cod milt with Chilean aji amarillo and merkén, served alongside French pigeon and caviar.
Beyond cultural infusions, the duo also integrates their Chilean roots into their cooking techniques. Ancient cooking techniques, such as using an earth oven from Chiloé Island, a Chilean island, are also reinterpreted into the Curanto, a blue lobster cooked in a charcoal parcel and corn husk.
If Araya’s first MICHELIN Star accomplishment isn’t already impressive enough, this achievement comes only eight months after Araya’s opening! The restaurant has also made history by being the one and only Chilean South Pacific establishment to receive one MICHELIN Star at the MICHELIN Guide Awards this year!
So if you’re looking for something different in Singapore’s over-saturated fine dining landscape, then Araya’s reimagined Chilean South Pacific cuisine is a spark of novelty you shouldn’t miss out on.
📍Location: 83 Neil Road, Duxton Hill, #01-08 Mondrian Singapore, 089813
⏰Opening hours:
- Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 6pm to 11pm
- Friday and Saturday, 12pm to 3pm and 6pm to 11pm
- Closed on Sunday and Monday
If you’re interested in making a reservation for Araya, you can do so on Araya’s official website! For more information, head to their socials on Facebook and Instagram.
Pangium
Another restaurant that bagged its first MICHELIN Star this year is Pangium, a restaurant that’s a little closer to home in terms of the cuisine it brings to the table. Named after the pangium plant that produces a key ingredient in Peranakan cooking called the buah keluak seed, Pangium honours family recipes passed down from generation to generation.
While Pangium’s tranquil vista of the verdant Singapore Botanic Gardens is one good reason to visit, Singaporean chef-owner Malcolm Lee’s exquisite contemporary Peranakan tasting menu is what reveals the untapped potential of Straits cuisine that makes the experience worthwhile.
Additionally, Pangium isn’t Chef Malcolm Lee’s first MICHELIN award under his belt! Having previously achieved one MICHELIN Star for Peranakan restaurant Candlenut, Pangium is his second; making him the first Singaporean chef to have two restaurants with MICHELIN Stars in a year! Both Pangium and Candlenut’s wins truly mark a significant milestone for Singapore’s heritage cuisine.
📍Location: 11 Gallop Road Gallop Entrance, Singapore Botanic Gardens, 259015
⏰Opening hours:
- Wednesday, 6.30pm to 10pm
- Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, 12pm to 2.30pm and 6.30pm to 10pm
- Closed on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday
Pangium offers reservations, so book your seat today on Pangium’s official website! For more information, check Pangium’s Facebook and Instagram accounts.
Matera
Pangium isn’t alone in presenting scenic views of our little red dot and good food on this list. Matera, an Italian restaurant, is a stone’s throw away from various Singapore tourist attractions, and this year, it won its first MICHELIN Star as well!
The restaurant’s dining concept not only pushes the boundaries of Italian cooking with bold Asian influences but also allows diners to watch the chefs in action in the open kitchen, while the Marina Bay Sands and the Esplanade offer a stunning waterfront backdrop.
One must-try the MICHELIN Guide gives prominence to is Matera’s signature whole red prawn, which features the perfectly smoked, juicy prawn alongside a crispy prawn toast for contrasting textures.
📍Location: 3 Fullerton Rd, #02-01/02/03 The Fullerton Waterboat House, Singapore 049215
⏰Opening hours:
- Tuesday, 6pm to 10.45pm
- Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, 11.45am to 2pm and 6pm to 10.45pm
- Closed on Sunday and Monday
Book a reservation today on Matera’s official website! For more information, you can check out Matera’s socials on Facebook and Instagram.
MICHELIN Guide Singapore 2024
As the curtain falls on the unveiling of the MICHELIN Guide Singapore 2024, it’s clear that Singapore’s culinary landscape continues to evolve, delight, and inspire! From many historic milestones to incredible firsts, this year’s guide has allowed many restaurants, both new and old, to become stars in Singapore’s culinary scene!
Hopefully, through this guide, a restaurant or two managed to pique your interest, and you’ll find your next favourite food haunt!
For the complete list of the MICHELIN Guide Singapore 2024, you can head over to MICHELIN’s official website.
Visuals courtesy of Araya.
