The best restaurants and cafés at Sentosa

Uniquely housed within the world’s largest oceanarium at Resorts World Sentosa, Ocean Restaurant has a breathtaking front-row seat to the massive undersea habitat. Headlined by an immensely likeable celebrity chef, Cat Cora, lauded for her philanthropy and sustainable approach to cooking the restaurant doles out Asian-inspired dishes such as its braised-seared short rib and responsibly caught seafood.

Inspired by the beaches of Barcelona, FOC Sentosa is the sister outlet to the popular restaurant on HongKong Street but with a more laid-back vibe. The two-storey beach house is split into two wings, one with a focus on food and the other on drinks. Laze by the side of its private pool, cocktail in hand, and take in the sunset before heading in to enjoy a feast of grilled seafood and paella. Try the codfish and spinach caldoso rice, a variation of the traditional paella cooked over a low fire on a cast iron pan. Instead of attaining a crispy base with the rice, this dish has a creamy, almost risotto-like texture that soaks up the flavours of the cod tripe. 

Teppan combines theatrics with French-Japanese cuisine to create an incredible dining experience you won't soon forget. Conceived by chef Masayasu Yonemura who runs one-Michelin-starred Restaurant Yonemura in Kyoto, Teppan is the chef's first venture outside of Japan and is also the first time he's placing a focus on the intricacies of teppanyaki dining. There are two multi-course kaiseki menus available: a five-course priced at $168 and an eight-course priced at $198 per person. Each gets you an intimate showing in front of the grill where a skilled teppanyaki chef dazzles you with tricks while preparing dishes such as steamed crab meat with rice and the restaurant's signature Japanese wagyu beef fillet served with turnip, zucchini, onions and fried garlic.

A grand chandelier in the middle of the room, plush black sofa seats with beige-, yellow- and golden-hued cushions, and an indoor winter garden with a fully grown tree (yes, a tree). It all sets the tone for an intimate, opulent meal. Lavish decor aside, the real draw of this two-sectioned classic French fine diner is the 16-course degustation menu. Also sure to set the Singaporean dining crowd scrambling (for both reservations and cameras) are the bread, cheese, dessert, ice cream and tea trolleys, as well as the extensive wine cellar that houses over 1,200 labels.

Island life is a whole lot more interesting with Ola Beach Club, Singapore’s only Hawaiian-themed lifestyle venue. Not only can you savour Hawaiian-style dishes like ahi poke bowls served with your choice of marinated tuna and Kalua pig tacos, the beach shack also rents out a host of water sports equipment like water-propelled jet packs for daredevils who want to try their hand at flying up to nine metres in the air.

Australian celebrity chef Scott Webster has designed an innovative à la carte menu inspired by fresh Australian produce, combining Asian influences with Western grilling techniques. Meats like the Byron Bay Berkshire pork rack, Kühlbarra barramundi fillet, Grainge Black Angus New York steak are grilled in a stone hearth and comes with chutneys, pickles and sauces. For an appetising start to your meal, order from a wide array of fresh seafood, including ceviche cured with refreshing citrus juices and vibrant spices. 

Set up by Enrico and Roberto Cerea from the three-Michelin-starred Da Vittorio restaurant in Italy, Fratelli serves piping hot pizzas made from scratch and authentic Italian dishes that are also served at its Italian outfit. The menu focuses on family recipes that have been handed down through the decade such as the paccheri alla Vittorio ($30), an heirloom recipe of paccheri pasta tossed in tomato and basil sauce, finished tableside with a generous heap of aged Parmigiano Reggiano DOP cheese.

What’s a trip to the beach without lazing on a deckchair, Mai Tai in hand? At this sprawling seaside restaurant in Sentosa, you can do just that. Besides tropical cocktails, Coastes stocks a formidable array of draft and bottled beers and the nosh is unfussy yet vibrant enough to live up to the restaurant’s beachy vibe. Go for the refreshing citrus crab salad or, if you’ve little ones in tow, one of the many pizzas on the menu.

It's all about the family at Forest, celebrity chef Sam Leong's regionally focused Chinese eatery. Chef Joe Leong joins his father as Forest's junior sous chef and will be helming the restaurant's dessert station. The family of cooks serves up Chinese cuisine that's rooted in tradition despite its modern approach to plating.

The steakhouse serves beef from Argentina, Australia and the US, which is grilled Latin-style on a parrilla grill – try the Brandt USDA prime corn-fed Angus or opt for the tasting platter of five breeds. There’s also plenty of seafood on the menu, too, including Petuna ocean trout tartare and Maine lobster salad.

Inspired by coastal cuisine from around the world, chef Jason Jones all-day menu includes dishes such as Mediterranean-style barbecued octopus salad and a snapper ceviche reminiscent of Mexico. For mains, opt for the lobster bun: half a lobster cut into chunks, tossed in lime and avocado mayonnaise dressing served between lightly toasted burger buns. And of course, what's TBC without its breezy weekend brunches? Aside from the typical eggy offerings, there are a few waist-friendly options, like the chilled melon salad and acai bowls.