April 28 (Bloomberg) -- If Singapore has a national sport, it is dining out. The tiny island has an incredible array of food -- from local Peranakan cuisine to Japanese sushi bars, chili crabs to molecular gastronomy. Here, in alphabetical order, is a sample of the variety available.

1. Au Petit Salut: 40C Harding Rd., Singapore. Information: +65- 6475-1976; http://www.aupetitsalut.com

What: French country cooking.

Why: The pick of the foliage-surrounded eateries in the Dempsey Road enclave. Chef Patrick Heuberger serves up 1 kg. steaks, duck leg confit and braised beef cheeks, or three-course set dinners during the week.

Where: In a three-story villa in the Dempsey Road dining cluster off Holland Road.

When: For a formal meal upstairs or a more relaxed rendezvous on the outdoor terrace downstairs in the evening.

Bar: Yes.

Private Room: Yes, with an open kitchen and a grand piano.

2. Ember: Hotel 1929, 50 Keong Saik Rd., Singapore. Information: +65-6347-1929; http://www.hotel1929.com

What: Modern European-inspired dishes with Asian twists, such as marinated cod with black miso.

Why: Even though it’s a bit removed from the main shopping and business districts, Ember’s small, angular dining room is consistently packed for lunch and dinner as chef Sebastian Ng’s talent and attitude are an ill-kept secret. Food, presentation and decor are simple and elegant.

Where: Inside Loh Lik Peng’s boutique Hotel 1929 in the ailing red-light district of Keong Saik Road.

When: The set lunch at S$38 (about US$25) with a choice of more than a dozen dishes is a steal, or come for an evening with friends.

Bar: No, not even in the hotel.

Private Room: No, though the restaurant’s small enough to hire the whole thing.

3. Flutes at the Fort: Fort Canning Park, Singapore. Information: +65-6338-8770; http://www.flutesatthefort.com.sg

What: Australian ingredients and Asian ideas.

Why: The old firemaster’s villa is the perfect escape, perched on the hill in the heart of the city. Australian stalwarts like the roasted rack of lamb mix with Japanese- influenced dishes such as tuna tataki.

Where: Above the Hill Street Fire Station. The entrance is next to the Singapore Philatelic Museum at 23B Coleman St.

When: Better for dinner, when you can sit out on the balcony among the frangipani trees.

Bar: Al fresco on the lower deck.

Private Room: Two, seating up to 16, though larger sections of the main restaurant can also be hired.

4. Garibaldi Italian Restaurant and Bar: 36 Purvis Street #01- 02, Singapore. Information: +65-6837-1468; http://www.garibaldi.com.sg

What: Italian with good old home-made pasta dishes such as cannelloni stuffed with Wagyu beef, cheese sauce and leeks confit.

Why: Some of the city’s best Italian food, brought to Singapore by chef Roberto Galetti via London, Salzburg, Buenos Aires and Tokyo, from the S$28 linguine with crab and vodka to the S$48 “Orecchia d’ Elefante” veal chop.

Where: A block away from Raffles Hotel and next to partner restaurant Gunther’s.

When: The S$38 set lunch is hard to beat for value, or in the evening, when you just want a decent lychee prosecco cocktail and vanilla, chocolate and sabayon panna cotta under the same roof.

Bar: Yes.

Private Room: Yes.

5. Gunther’s: 36 Purvis St. #01-03, Singapore. Information: +65- 6338-8955; http://www.gunthers.com.sg

What: Belgian chef Gunther Hubrechsen’s take on modern French.

Why: Roberto Galetti tempted Hubrechsen to quit his post at Les Amis and set up his own place next door on Purvis Street in 2007 and Gunther’s has been among the city’s top eateries since. Slow cooking and attention to detail produce meticulously crafted dishes such as the braised rabbit with prunes, brown beer and Valrhona chocolate (S$48). Choose your dinner not from the menu, but from the tray of raw meat cuts and seafood brought to your table for selection.

Where: A block away from Raffles Hotel and next to partner restaurant Garibaldi.

When: Dark chocolate colors and dim lighting make this an obvious venue for a romantic evening or brokering a secret bailout.

Bar: A tiny one to sip champagne while you’re waiting for a table.

Private Room: Two, with private entrance.

6. Iggy’s: Level 3, The Regent, 1 Cuscaden Rd., Singapore. Information: +65-6732-2234; http://www.iggys.com.sg

What: Modern European restaurant with Asian influences that show up in dishes such as marinated salmon roe, orange jelly, egg royale. Half the seats are at a counter.

Why: Iggy’s was named Asia’s best restaurant in the inaugural Miele Guide to the continent’s restaurants in November, so the venue is becoming a must-destination for foodies. Dinner features a lengthy gastronomic menu, so don’t think about it if you are in search of a quick bite.

Where: In the Regent hotel, in downtown Singapore.

When: Evenings for the full Iggy’s experience. There is a shorter menu for lunch.

Bar: No.

Private Room: There’s a chef’s table off the kitchen for as many as six diners, plus a private room for up to 24 people. The room can be split into two.

7. Jaan: Level 70 Equinox Complex, Swissotel The Stamford, Singapore. Information: +65-6431-6156; http://www.fairmont.com/singapore/GuestServices/Restaurants

What: Modern French.

Why: Chef Andre Chiang’s seasonal menus would be reason enough to visit, but Jaan’s dining room also offers a unique vantage point to show visiting colleagues and clients the Singapore skyline, from the skyscrapers of the central business district to the new casino complex rising across the bay. Where: 70 levels above the city.

When: Lunch, or dinner for a nighttime view of the city lights and the Singapore Flyer, the world’s largest Ferris wheel.

Bar: Not in the restaurant.

Private Room: No.

8. Jumbo: Riverside Point, 30 Merchant Rd., Singapore. Information: +65-6532-3435; http://www.jumboseafood.com.sg

What: Seafood.

Why: No visitor to Singapore is allowed to leave town without tasting the nation’s chili and black pepper crab.

Where: While Jumbo has seven venues around the island, the most convenient for the business district is by the Singapore River at Clarke Quay.

When: A messy dinner to introduce folks from overseas to Singapore dining.

Bar: No.

Private Room: At the nearby Riverwalk branch.

9. Kha: Hortpark, 33 Hyderabad Road, Singapore. Information: +65-6476-9000; http://www.kha.sg

What: Modern Thai.

Why: In the recently opened Hortpark -- a cross between a botanical garden and a plant shop -- Kha offers cocktails and dishes such as deep-fried banana flower or soft-shell crab in yellow curry in a stunning setting.

Where: Off Tanglin Road to the west of the city center.

When: The outdoor sofas by an infinity pool overlooking the gardens are the perfect setting for a sunset cocktail. Kha is good for a romantic dinner or to mix and mingle a big group on the outdoor deck before sitting down in the glass-walled restaurant.

Bar: Yes.

Private Room: No.

10. Les Amis: 1 Scotts Rd. #02-16 Shaw Centre, Singapore. Information: +65-6733-2225; http://www.lesamis.com.sg

What: French fine dining with a bit of pickled cabbage.

Why: With Chef Thomas Mayr off to Les Amis Group’s venture in Hong Kong, Austrian-born Armin Leitgeb has taken over the kitchen at its flagship Singapore restaurant. Leitgeb maintains the meticulous French-style cuisine that has kept Les Amis among the city’s top dining destinations, while adding a few central European touches of his own. Signatures include the ciabatta- wrapped crispy Japanese egg with San Daniele ham, spinach and black-truffle ragout.

Where: In the Shaw Centre at the heart of Singapore’s Orchard Road shopping district.

When: A safe bet for a formal business lunch with three courses at S$48 per person or an anniversary dinner running to about S$600 per couple while you still have a company credit card and a bonus.

Bar: No, but there are two temperature-controlled wine cellars with about S$5 million of wine.

Private Room: Five, with a maximum party of 30.

11. Min Jiang: Goodwood Park Hotel, 22 Scotts Rd., Singapore Information: +65-6730-1704; http://www.goodwoodparkhotel.com/dining-minjiang.htm

What: Sichuan cuisine with dim sum at lunch and an outdoor barbeque grill in the evening.

Why: Min Jiang, named after a river in the province, has some of the city’s best Sichuan food with dishes such as diced chicken with dried chilies, Sichuan chili prawns, venison noodles and mapo tofu. This is also the place to try durian pudding if you can get past the pungent odor.

Where: By the pool of the Goodwood Park Hotel.

When: When you want to sit outside on a warm evening and savor good, spicy Chinese food.

Bar: Next door in the hotel.

Private Room: Yes.

12. Rang Mahal: Level 3 Pan Pacific, 7 Raffles Blvd., Marina Square, Singapore. Information: +65-6333-1788; http://www.rangmahal.com.sg

What: Indian haute cuisine with dishes from around the South Asian country.

Why: With a subcontinent community that goes back almost to the birth of the city and good Indian meals available for about $10 from the ubiquitous food stalls, it takes something special to make it worth paying S$120 per person for an Indian meal in Singapore. Rang Mahal has what it takes, from bread that’s baked to-order, to excellent kachori, to dishes such as tawa-seared foie gras.

Where: In the Pan Pacific Hotel.

When: For those times when you want more than a decent curry and are prepared to pay for it.

Bar: In the hotel.

Private Room: Yes, though you probably won’t need one in the dim cavernous interior.

13. Tatsuya: Goodwood Park Hotel, 22 Scotts Rd., Singapore. Information: +65-6737-1160; http://www.sushinogawa.com.sg/index.asp

What: Japanese sushi and kaiseki.

Why: Ronnie Chia relocated his flagship Japanese restaurant to Goodwood Park after Christmas and now offers a 23-seat pinewood sushi bar. The fish is flown in from Tokyo’s Tsukiji market two or three times a week and the lunchtime bento boxes start from just S$20.

Where: Goodwood Park Hotel.

When: For a quick, good-value lunch near Orchard Road.

Bar: Only a sushi one.

Private Room: Two, for four-five people.

14. The Tippling Club: 8D Dempsey Rd., Singapore. Information: +65-6475-2217; http://www.tipplingclub.com

What: Molecular gastronomy.

Why: Ryan Clift’s deconstructed creations (think foie gras frozen in liquid nitrogen) and Matthew Bax’s smoking cocktails.

Where: In the bustling Dempsey Road dining park on the edge of a stretch of jungle. Look for “House” when coming by taxi.

When: While set lunches are offered, it’s better for dinner when you have the chance to swallow a few cocktails and the few hours needed to work through the 10-course tasting menu.

Bar: No.

Private Room: No.

15. Tiffin Room: Raffles Hotel, 1 Beach Rd., Singapore. Information: +65-6412-1816; http://www.raffles.com/EN_RA/Property/RHS/Restaurants_Bars

What: Indian buffet.

Why: Raffles is Singapore’s most famous destination and it’s hard to fail to be charmed by the beautiful colonial architecture and the world-class service. The Tiffin Room has all that, plus Indian salads, mains and desserts that taste remarkably good and fresh for a buffet.

Where: Just off the lobby of Raffles Hotel.

When: It’s a cool refuge from the blazing midday sun and also handy for a drink at night in the hotel’s Writers Bar, where a pianist plays. Happily, neither venue welcomes guests in shorts.

Bar: Not in the restaurant.

Private Room: No.

(Adam Majendie writes for Bloomberg News. The opinions expressed are his own.)

To contact the writer on the story: Adam Majendie in Singapore at amajendie@bloomberg.com.

Last Updated: April 27, 2009 12:01 EDT