Restaurants to Celebrate Singapore’s National Day 2023

National Day is just around the corner, and there’s no better way to commemorate the occasion than with the one thing that brings all Singaporeans together – good food. From elevated hawker fare and traditional classics to local dishes given a creative spin, these restaurants offer excellent fare to celebrate how far we have come as a nation.

Peppermint, PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay

Take pride in the diversity of our local cuisine at Peppermint’s “Go Lokal” buffet spread, as they present a slew of Singaporean classics alongside bold dishes that feature familiar flavours with a twist. Must-tries include the chicken bak kut teh, DIY kueh pie tee, seafood otak in banana leaf, and BBQ chicken wings. Seafood lovers can dive into a smorgasbord of seafood options, from Singapore-style chilli lobster and steamed Hokkaido scallops with vermicelli and scallion ginger garlic to new additions such as lychee prawn ball with durian cream dip and crab claypot rice.

Meat lovers will not want to miss unique dishes that pair the best of East and West, like the Truffle Black Angus Minced Beef Roti John – an omelette baguette filled with minced beef and truffle – as well as the grilled Australian baby lamb rib satay. Dessert options are also aplenty, with refreshing selections like grated coconut and sesame muah chee, chendol gelato, and an assortment of potong (popsicle) ice creams that will surely evoke nostalgic memories.

“Go Lokal” at Peppermint is available from now until 12 August 2023, priced at $68 for lunch and $98 for dinner on weekdays. Weekend lunch on Saturdays and Sundays is priced at $78, while weekend dinner on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays is priced at $118. For reservations, visit Peppermint 

Lime Restaurant, PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering

It’s seafood galore at Parkroyal Collection Pickering’s Lime Restaurant, as their popular Lobsterfest rolls out a buffet dinner comprising unlimited servings of lobster and an alfresco barbeque experience, served by a stellar line-up of renowned grill masters on selected weekends.

Be spoilt for choice with myriad offerings, from succulent steamed lobsters to fiery chili-doused delights. Venture outdoors to the alfresco barbeque station and watch as chefs masterfully draw out the full flavours of ocean’s bounty, infused with the smoky char from the grill’s roaring flames.

Over at the open kitchen, be prepared for a showcase of hit dishes such as steamed lobster with ginger garlic paste and Chinese wine, Singapore chilli lobster, and kam heong lobster. also not to be missed are signatures like lobster laksa, lobster mac and cheese, and baked Boston lobster thermidor. Seafood lovers who prefer to enjoy the natural sweetness of lobster in its freshest form can indulge at the Seafood Bar, where you’ll also find other staples such as live prawns, black mussels, and golden clams.

Lobsterfest runs until 13 August 2023, and is priced at $166 per person. For reservations, visit www.panpacific.com/lime-reserve

White Rose Café, York Hotel Singapore 

This National Day, White Rose Cafe pays homage to the diverse melting pot of cultures that make up Singapore – with the “Best of Singapore Favourites” bottomless lunch buffet featuring a slew of well-loved classics prepared fresh and piping hot from ten live stations.

Feast your way through tempting starters such as roti prata with chicken curry, oyster omelette with bean sprouts and scallion, and Singapore rojak; or tuck into savoury hawker staples like assorted deep-fried ngoh hiang with bee hoon. another highlight from the menu is deep-fried tau kwa pau with braised duck, which marries sweet and savoury flavours with a medley of textures.

Moving on to mains, indulge on plates of laksa lemak, fried spiced chicken, mutton masala, nasi biryani with shorba, assam pedas, and more. For a sweet finale, a line-up of desserts awaits, from red bean soup with lotus seed and dried tangerine peel, to coconut gula melaka egg tart, chendol pudding, and durian pengat profiterole.

The buffet is available from 12pm to 3pm on August 9, 2023 and is priced at $58 per person. For reservations, visit White Rose Cafe

Lobby Lounge and Man Fu Yuan, InterContinental Singapore

InterContinental Singapore’s National Day exclusive offerings encapsulate the flavours and traditions that make Singapore a gastronomic paradise.

From 7 to 13 August 2023, The Lobby Lounge presents a menu inspired by the vibrant local hawker scene, with  bar bites that feature a local twist. Sink your teeth into moreish morsels like the ‘Chicken Rice’ French Fries – crispy fries accompanied by an umami chicken rice sauce – as well as Peranakan spicy kueh pie tee, homemade chicken popiah, and satay pulled lamb slider, made with lamb shoulder braised for 24 hours until the meat is melt-in-the-mouth tender. Raise a toast to the nation with a specially curated Bugis Tiger, a beer-based cocktail comprising Tiger Beer, mango, and calamansi.

Alternatively, tuck into a scrumptious four-course Cantonese-Singaporean set menu at Man Fu Yuan, available for three days only from 7 to 9 August 2023. Start off with appetisers like the wok-fried pork ribs with pineapple salsa and satay sauce, before digging into hearty mains of steamed marble goby fillet with spicy Nyonya sauce, and braised chicken with spicy tomato sauce, lime leaf, and Chinese ramen. round off the meal with a sweet and refreshing cream of red bean with orange peel, lily bulb, and lotus seed.

For reservations, visit thelobbylounge.sg or manfuyuan.sg

Mr Stork, Andaz Singapore  

Enjoy a bird’s eye view of the National Day parade and its fly-by jet shows and fireworks at Mr Stork, Andaz Singapore’s rooftop bar destination. Soak in sweeping views of the city’s glittering skyline as you dig into a specially curated “NDP” food and drink menu featuring locally-inspired bar grub–chicken rice arancini, chilli crab cake, prata pizza, tandoori chicken satay, and salted egg prawn toast, served in a platter at $58 and individually at $20.

For drinks, raise three toasts with a trio of Singapore Sling, Temasek Sling and Simha-Pura cocktails, available as a bundle for $58. Or go for three Gin and Tonic cocktails (Tanglin Singapore gin, Tanglin Black Powder gin, and Tanglin Orchid gin), made with spirit from Tanglin Gin, Singapore’s first gin distillery.

A cover charge on parade day applies and includes a glass of Gin and Tonic or Singapore Sling. There will be three seatings, from 5pm to 7pm, 7.15pm to 9.15pm, and 9.30pm to closing. The iconic teepee huts, which seats three persons, are also available for booking at $200. If you can’t make it on 9 August, the NDP food and drink menu specials are available until 31 August 2023.

For reservations, visit: Andaz

Paradise Group 

Paradise Group invites diners to usher in the nation’s birthday with a myriad of national day exclusives across its restaurants, inspired by Singapore’s melting pot of culinary influences.

At Taste Paradise, seafood lovers can go for Steamed Dragon Grouper with Singapore’s Special Sauce in H.K Style. The sauce is made from eight herbs and spices, including lemongrass, ginger, and chillies – providing a tangy and spicy flavour that highlights and complements the natural sweetness of the fish. Another intriguing dish is the Nanyang Kopi-O Honey BBQ Spanish Iberico Pork, baked over high heat and infused with the robust, full-bodied notes of coffee.

Over at Paradise Teochew, classic dishes are given a creative twist. The braised sliced Irish fat duck with black vinegar in casserole presents a different take on the traditional pork trotters, with tangy black vinegar and bentong ginger providing the dish with the perfect balance of sweetness and acidity. Singapore’s iconic chilli crab is another must-try, featuring meaty mud crabs immersed in a velvety sauce and encased within a thin-layered egg white crepe.

Paradise Group’s National Day menus will be available until 31 August 2023.  For more information, visit Paradise Group 

Text: Eris Choo