Must-try Italian restaurants and wines

Hankering for a taste of Italy? We’ve gathered some of the top Italian restaurants and wines to bookmark for your next special occasion!

Dolce Vita

For a bellissimo brunch in the heart of the city, complete with resplendent bayside views, we recommend 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, plus salads such as a 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

For chic and casual Italian fare 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, D.O.P. also serves a small selection of pizza, as well as mains like a grilled fillet of red snapper ($28).

#01-04A, The Quayside, 60 Robertson Quay

6908 0830 | dop.restaurant