Michelin Guide Singapore unveils newly starred restaurants and first Young Chef award

Singapore now has three three-starred Michelin restaurants - Zén, Odette and Les Amis - with the unveiling of the fifth edition of the Michelin Guide Singapore on Wednesday.

European contemporary restaurant Zén was promoted to three Michelin stars - the highest accolade in the Michelin Guide - this year, after making its debut in the 2019 edition with two Michelin stars. Sister restaurant to three-star Frantzén in Stockholm, Zén was recognised for its dishes created using premium ingredients from Europe and Japan and its thoughtful dining experience.

Odette and Les Amis received their three stars in 2019 and kept their ranks.

The Michelin Guide also marked its fifth anniversary in Singapore by launching its first Michelin Guide Young Chef Award, which was awarded to Mark Tai of Cloudstreet, a restaurant which incorporates Sri Lankan heritage in its innovative dishes served omakase-style.

The award recognises young chefs working in a Michelin-starred restaurants with exceptional talent and great potential.

This year's Michelin Guide Singapore returned after having given 2020 a miss due to prolonged restaurant closures amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Five restaurants received two stars this year, the same number as in 2019, and 41 eateries received one star, which is four more than two years ago.

British contemporary restaurant Jaan by Kirk Westaway received its second star in 2021 for its modern reinterpretation of British gastronomy. The other two-star restaurants were Saint Pierre, Shisen Hanten, Shoukouwa and Waku Ghin.

Of the 12 new restaurants in the one Michelin star category, four restaurants including Art, Cloudstreet, Oshino and Sommer had made their debuts. Meanwhile, Basque Kitchen by Aitor, Lerouy and Whitegrass earned the one Michelin star for their new openings.

Five including Cure, Esora, Shang Palace, Thevar and 28 Wilkie were promoted from Michelin Plate.

There were also 14 restaurants across a wide range of cuisines that have newly entered the selection with a Michelin Plate distinction. This brings the total number of Michelin Plate restaurants in Singapore to 68.

Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the Michelin Guides, said in statement: "Despite the challenges posed by 2020, it has been impressive to observe how the chefs and their teams were able to reinvent and adapt to the unfolding situation. On top of managing their restaurants, they also came together in looking out for those who were in need in their communities, from feeding migrant workers and frontline workers to setting up welfare funds for displaced F&B staff."