The best pasta bars to visit in Singapore

Being the sister outlet of Michelin-starred Italian restaurant Buona Terra should mean something. Locanda, which translates to “inn” in Italian, promises hearty and approachable Italian dishes—especially pasta—in a charmingly rustic atmosphere. Our pick, the pappardelle ragu Genovese, is sure to please meat lovers; think a slow-cooked textural mash-up of Australian beef cuts—cheek, tongue, and ribs—swimming in a soulful braise, flavoured by tomatoes, mushrooms and Italian herbs before tossing it with al dente pappardelle. Sheer comfort in a bite.

Other standouts include the simple but no less satisfying tagliolini, featuring fresh crab, tomatoes, and the vibrance of lemon zest. For sharing, consider the luxurious spaghetti ai frutti di mare, promising a treasure trove of sauteed seafood such as lobster, gambero rosso, and mussels.

Locanda
Address: 109 Rowell Road, S(208033)

Pasta isn’t an afterthought at Acqua e Farina. Trust Italian chefs Antonio Manetto from Naples and Milanese native Roberto Galbiati to whip up a diverse range of regional pasta classics. From the rich and hearty flavours up North to the light and vibrant down South, the cosy restaurant’s gastronomic identity is poised to marry the best of both worlds. Our favourite? The handmade cocoa tagliatelle. These springy strands are tossed in a velvety sauce seasoned with spicy nduja salami paste, and bejewelled with meaty portobello mushrooms, and plump grilled shrimp.

The squid ink fettuccine and angel hair carbonara also deserve applause. Note that the pasta menu refreshes frequently—a testament to the chefs’ creativity—to please regular patrons and pasta lovers.

Acqua e Farina
Address: 35A Keong Saik Road, S(089142)

Experience Italy while in Singapore at Fico. Helmed by chef-partner Mirko Febbrile, the restaurant pays tribute to chef’s Puglian roots and is inspired by Cucina Povera, a traditional cooking approach that uses simple ingredients and techniques to create bold flavours. While the menu rotates on a seasonal basis, anticipate hearty pasta plates like the Mafaldine which comprises ossobuco, almonds and Primitivo di Puglia. While waiting for your dishes to arrive, check out the pasta counter and watch as fresh pasta is created before your eyes.

Fico
Address: 1300 East Coast Parkway, East Coast Park Area F, S(468964)

Chef Willin Low’s latest concept Pastaro offers a unique twist to the classic Italian dish. Aligned with his Mod Sin philosophy, his creations blend nostalgic local flavours with Italian techniques—think creamy carbonara topped with deep fried crunchy lard. Low’s iconic laksa pesto spaghetti makes an elevated return, swapping its tiger prawns for slipper lobster. While pasta remains in the spotlight at this quaint bistro, you don’t want to miss out on the har cheong fritters, featuring pork belly coated with fermented shrimp paste batter.

Pastaro
Address: 36H Dunearn Rd, 02-45 Chancery Court, S(309433)

Chef Massimo Bottura opened his highly anticipated restaurant Torno Subito earlier this year, serving up Italian classics that celebrate the best of the Emilia-Romagna region in Italy. Dig into innovative takes on the classic pasta dish like the Cavatelli Riviera, comprising handmade pasta, Sicilian red prawn, lemon, and smoked paprika. The tortellini is another favourite that comes stuffed with a blend of meats and bathed in a 36-month-old Parmigiana Reggiano cream.

Torno Subito
Address: 26 Dempsey Road, 01-02, S(249686)

Indulge in homemade pasta at Chicco Pasta Bar. An extensive selection of handmade pasta are available like conchiglie (shell-shaped pasta), gigli (cone-shaped pasta) and gramigna (curlicue-shaped pasta). Some standouts include the mafaldine that’s topped with spanner crab and glazed in a savoury bisque, and the conchiglie served with tenderly slow-cooked beef and smoked tomatoes. Vegetarian-friendly plates are available too—the gigli that comes tossed in truffle ricotta and field mushrooms is a popular choice.

Chicco Pasta Bar (multiple locations)
Address: 208 Telok Ayer Street, S(068642)

Opened by Colombian chef Fernando Arevalo, Capasso is inspired by his memories of growing up in Botoga, Colombia. An extensive selection of pasta dishes is available here, complemented by the family’s traditional homemade sauce. Look forward to unique creations like the fagottini, homemade pasta stuffed with duck leg confit and a four-cheese fondue. Match these decadent plates with a glass of vino, picked from its storied collection of wines.

Capasso
Address: 92 Telok Ayer Street, S(048472)

Pasta Fresca Da Salvatore can claim over 35 years of experience serving up fresh pasta since 1988, making it one of the most essential pasta bars to visit in Singapore. Classic flavours are to be expected, of course, but look out for signatures like the polpa di granchio (crab meat) pasta, where crab meat is sautéed with cherry tomatoes and garlic before being tossed together with pasta in a white wine and tomato sauce. Don’t know what to choose? Create your own pasta dish instead, where you can choose your pasta shape and your sauce. Just be sure to consult the restaurant’s pasta pairing guide—you don’t want to use the wrong shape with the wrong sauce.

Pasta Fresca Da Salvatore (multiple locations)
Address: 30 Boat Quay, S(049819), +65 6532 6283

The best Italian restaurants always make you feel like you’re in a home away from home. From the family photos on the wall to the handmade pasta at Pastaria Abate on Neil Road, this cosy pasta bar does exactly that. Here, its extensive pasta menu is helpfully categorised by sauce—red, white wine, and cream—as well as signatures. There are gems you’re unlikely to find anywhere else, like the Sicilian anchovy pasta with caramelised onions, or the ravioli stuffed with gorgonzola and prawn and tossed in a burnt butter sauce for a powerful dish boasting of complexity. 

Pastaria Abate
Address: 86 Neil Road, S(088846), +65 8201 5155

Fortune Centre may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of pasta bars with fresh pasta, but you have to see (and taste) it to believe it. Pasta & Co keeps the menu offerings simple, with plenty of classic options such as carbonara, bolognese, and cacio e pepe. But the pasta dishes with Asian twists are not to be missed either—take the laksa pasta, cooked in a laksa broth and served with tiger prawns, or the Japanese-inspired clam pasta, which uses mirin, sake, bonito flakes to create a powerful dashi clam stock that’s worth slurping up.

Pasta & Co
Address: 190 Middle Road, 02-17 Fortune Center, S(188979)

Founded in 1993 by former hotelier Rolando Luceri, Pasta Brava is a family-run Italian restaurant that can boast decades of experience serving fresh pasta. Its range of classic pastas are premium—look at the Wagyu meatball rigatoni, or the half-lobster spaghetti in a lobster and sauce—but for a dash of creativity, its house signatures are a breath of fresh air. The tortellini stuffed with Ibérico pork is an excellent choice, tossed in a mint olive sauce for an unexpected, briny tang, studded with crispy parma and topped with lime zest. 

Pasta Brava
Address: 33 Erskine Road, 01-13 Scarlet Hotel, S(069333), +65 6222 0879

Dig into hearty bowls of pasta at Forma, the latest trattoria by The Cicheti Group and local pasta artisan Lee Yum Hwa. Here, pasta takes centre stage, and comes in various shapes and sizes. If you enjoy seafood, go for the Lorighittas al Sugo di Polpo. A rich seafood pasta, this dish comprises lorighittas (braided pasta) mixed with juicy octopus and tomato sauce. But, if you prefer a cream-based bowl, the Maccheroncini di Campofilone sees paper-thin sheets of egg pasta bathed in a white ragu of tenderly braised duck leg, white wine and fragrant soffritto (flavour base of sauteed carrots, celery and onion). 

Forma
Address: 128 Tembeling Road, S(423638), +65 6513 2286

While this Californian-Italian restaurant is known for its light and airy pizzas, its pastas are also worth a try. For something exclusive to Singapore, go for the Cencioni (petal shaped pasta), crowned with Dungeness crab and saffron. Or, for simple yet rich flavours, the Fonduta Ravioli sees pasta parcels stuffed with ricotta cheese. It's complete with a generous drizzle of 25-year-old Modena balsamic vinegar. 

Osteria Mozza
Address: 333 Orchard Road, Level 5, Hilton Singapore Orchard, S(238867), +65 6831 6271

You can’t call yourself a pasta lover if you haven’t heard of Tipo Pasta Bar yet. Run by The Black Hole Group, Tipo is a spot that offers up freshly made artisanal pasta and a variety of customisable options.

No two days are the same and you can find different pasta shapes of different colours at all times. Guests can also choose their favourite sauce, protein and add-ons to really customise their dishes. 

The best part is that you pretty much can’t go wrong, no matter what combination you pick. 

Tatler Tip:

Get the pink sauce. It’s a blend of Tipo’s alfredo and tomato sauces and provides a tangy and rich flavour to any protein or pasta shape you may choose.

Tipo Pasta Bar
Address: 28 Aliwal Street, 01-07, S(199918), +65 8768 0785

Crafted by the Les Amis Group, Lino Pizza & Pasta Bar is a great spot if you enjoy fusion or more unique flavour combinations when it comes to your pasta.

The restaurant offers up gems such as its Penne Japanese Curry Bolognese, which is creamy, spicy and topped with grated parmesan. It also has dishes such as its Linguine Vongole, which is served up in a white wine sauce and topped with garlic chips and its secret ingredient, Lao Gan Ma chilli crisp. 

Lino Pizza & Pasta Bar
Address: 1 Scotts Road, 03-23/24 Shaw Centre, S(228208), +65 8940 3873

We absolutely cannot have a list of pasta bars without including the Pasta Bar. A pasta lover’s dream, Pasta Bar offers up a selection of handmade pasta dishes that are freshly made and cooked to absolute perfection. No matter if you’re craving a heavier cream-based pasta or a light olive oil-based one, Pasta Bar has it all. 

Some of its specials include the crab pappardelle, which is doused with saffron cream and features juicy chunks of crab meat sprinkled over thick pasta. Another favourite of regulars is the indulgent lobster ravioli, which is cooked to tender perfection in mentaiko butter and served with tobiko and watercress. 

Tatler Tip:

When making your reservation, ask for a seat at the bar so you can watch your pasta being made right in front of you.

Pasta Bar
Address: 55 Keong Saik Road, 01-05, S(089158)

Simple but utterly flavourful, Bella Pasta offers up fresh and handmade pasta paired with rich and addictive sauces. If you are looking for something more classic, you can try its tagliatelle bolognese which comes with flat ribbon pasta served up with a tender and tangy beef ragu. For something more adventurous, try the pansotti burrata, featuring homemade egg pasta stuffed to the brim with fresh burrata and served with fresh tomatoes and basil. 

Bella Pasta
Address: 30 Robertson Quay, 01-09, S(238251), +65 6836 5692

A favourite amongst pasta lovers, Bar Cicheti is well-known for its traditional and authentic approach to Italian fare and its love for good wine and pasta. 

One of the many things we absolutely love about Bar Cicheti is that when it comes to its pasta menu, you can choose between tasting or full portions. This means that you can try a whole variety of their dishes rather than just committing to one (the best option in my opinion)

Some of their menu highlights include its spaghettini nero, which features tender Argentinian red prawns and passata doused in a slightly spicy bisque made with white wine. Another must-try is its blue swimmer crab tagliolini, which has chunks of crab tossed in a bisque made with fresh lemon juice, confit garlic, parsley and butter. 

Bar Cicheti
Address: 10 Jiak Chuan Road, S(89264), +65 6789 9801

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