18 Singapore restaurants listed in China’s 2026 Black Pearl Restaurant Guide

Three new Singapore restaurants - Pangium, Estiatorio Milos and Sushi Zen - were awarded one diamond. Read more at straitstimes.com.

SINGAPORE – Eighteen Singapore restaurants have been included in the 2026 Black Pearl Restaurant Guide, two more than in the 2025 edition.

Published by Chinese tech company Meituan, it is often seen as China’s answer to the Michelin Guide, which originated in France.

The 2026 edition includes Peranakan restaurant Pangium in Singapore Botanic Gardens, Greek restaurant Estiatorio Milos in Marina Bay Sands and Sushi Zen in Teck Lim Road, all of which were awarded one diamond. 

Pangium chef-owner Malcolm Lee, 42, sees this as a triumph for heritage cuisine. “It gives us encouragement to carry on for the next 10, 20, 30 years. It’s about sustaining, not just the flavours, but also the spirit of the cuisine, its emotions and feelings, for future generations.” 

His other restaurant, Candlenut, a Dempsey establishment that also serves Peranakan food, has been on the list since 2019 – an inclusion that has drawn more Chinese guests to the restaurant. 

“What we see is that the Chinese are interested in seeing how Chinese cuisine has evolved over time, as people moved to Singapore and mixed with the local community. They’re intrigued by how food takes on a different flavour altogether,” he says. He adds that while many guests appreciate his food, some Chinese diners find the flavours too strong or rich.