One glance into the lively interior of Blue Lotus’ space at Quayside Isle and you know you’re not going to be served your usual Chinese fare here. Founded in 2013 by Ricky Ng, the casual restaurant is celebrated for its mod Chinese and local food. While most of its dishes are interesting, one you definitely have to order is the signature Chilli Pomelo Crab ($9 per 100g). This is not your usual ketchup-heavy Singaporean chilli crab — meaty Sri Lankan crab is cooked in a fragrant and fiery concoction of chopped herbs and chilli, then topped with pomelo pulp for a refreshingly bittersweet, tangy punch. 

#01-13 Quayside Isle, Tel: 6339-0880.

We know and love Thai pineapple fried rice, but how would you feel about watermelon fried rice? Find out at Gin Khao Bistro, a cosy eatery that serves up Sino-Thai dishes with a twist, one of them being the aforementioned Watermelon Fried Rice ($14.80 for one pax; $25.80 for two pax, served in a watermelon rind) where juicy watermelon cubes are wok-fried with rice and eggs and topped with seafood, chicken floss, cashew nuts and beancurd strips. Inspired by a similar dish found at a small food stall in a secluded part of Thailand, the dish was brought back to Singapore with some tweaks to suit the local palate, including a greater emphasis on wok hei and the addition of a secret sauce for more flavour. It might be hard to wrap your head around the unusual combination, but the mix of sweet fruit and savoury rice makes for a surprisingly yummy bite.

#01-12 Quayside Isle, Tel: 6570-2208.

Adding to Cedele’s chain of eateries championing wholesome food is Greater Lot, a food and retail concept that combines a bakery, retail store and dining space. After stocking up on homemade bread and jams at the store, take a seat and power up with its wide range of healthy dishes spanning full superfood meals to refreshing smoothie bowls, all made with fresh, natural ingredients. They also serve all-day breakfast here. Kickstart your day right no matter what time you finally get out of bed with the Full Cove Plate ($22), a hearty breakfast with toast, eggs done your way, thyme-roasted seasonal vegetables, sauteed mushrooms, grilled bacon, Boston baked beans, grilled sausage, the homemade jam of the day and a knob of butter.

#01-08 Quayside Isle, Tel: 6262-1512.

What better way to complement waterfront views than with a seafood meal? Get your fix at Greenwood Fish Market, a family-run joint that’s both a seafood retailer and a restaurant that offers fresh sea-to-table seafood. On the menu is a wide range of farmed and wild fish, shellfish, crabs, lobsters and oysters that can be prepared and cooked to your preference. If you’re spoilt for choice, however, just order one of the sharing platters, chockfull with enough food to feed four. You can’t go wrong with the Cold Seafood Platter ($99), a medley of half a steamed Boston lobster, yellowfin tuna with Japanese furikake seasoning, freshly-shucked oysters, New Zealand green-lipped mussels and littleneck clams, tiger prawns, and in-house applewood-smoked salmon. If you prefer meat from the land, don’t worry, there is also a selection of red meats, pastas, pizzas, and burgers to fill you up.

#01-04/05 Quayside Isle, Tel: 6262-0450.

With a few stores in the heart of the city, Danish franchise Joe & the Juice has become the nine-to-fiver’s go-to for freshly-pressed vegetable and fruit juices with cheeky names like Sex Me Up and Young Blood. If you want to enjoy your juices without being reminded of the stresses of daily life, head to Joe & the Juice’s outlet at Quayside Isle. Fuel up fully for a day of relaxing by the water and pair your juice with its selection of sandwiches, including the Joe’s Club Sandwich ($9.90). The ‘Joe’ take on the club sandwich has chicken slices, tomato, avocado and pesto between thin toasted flatbread slices, instead of the usual chicken, lettuce and bacon.

#01-09 Quayside Isle, Tel: 6262-1468.

Experience the islands of Greece without leaving the country at Mykonos On The Bay. With its waterfront view, white and blue furnishings and paintings of the Aegean islands, a meal at this Mediterranean restaurant is as close to dining in a Greek taverna as you can get. The food is also a reflection of authentic Greek home-cooking. For something that will warm your tummy and your soul, get the traditional Mousaka ($27), a robust casserole with layers of tender eggplant and braised beef topped with creamy béchamel sauce baked in the oven until it is golden-brown.

#01-10 Quayside Isle, Tel: 6334-3818.

Clear your schedule for a satisfying food-coma-inducing meal at Rock Bar - Burger & Steakhouse. The establishment boasts an extensive menu that features both American and Italian comfort food from burgers to grilled meats and pasta at pocket-friendly prices, including a Prime Striploin ($32 for 300g) from 200-day grain-fed cattle. Get yours served with your choice of sauce (there’s green peppercorn, bearnaise, chimichurri, red wine jus or truffled mushroom) and two sides (a choice of baked jacket potato, garlic mashed potato, broccolini, sauteed brussel sprouts, truffle fries, rocket salad, green asparagus or grilled vegetables). Finally, wash it all down with a tipple or two from the equally large drinks menu. 

#01-06 Quayside Isle, Tel: 6694-0994.

If Sabio sounds familiar to you, you might recognise it as one of the first restaurant concepts to bring the authentic Spanish tapas experience to Singapore. At their stunning seaside branch at Quayside Isle,  the menu has expanded to include larger grilled dishes along with tapas. What sets its grilled items apart is the use of the Josper Grill, a lean, mean premium indoor barbecue machine beloved by chefs around the world for its ability to imbue food with the smokey goodness of charcoal grilling without all the fuss. Aside from meat and fish, also flame-kissed on the grill-oven is their signature Paella de Pescado ($29 for a small portion, $49 for a large portion), vibrant saffron-tinted rice with fresh squid, sea bass, mussels, clams and shrimp.

#01-02 Quayside Isle, Tel: 6690-7568.

For a truly Italian pie, make a stop at SolePomodoro Trattoria Pizzeria. The restaurant's wood-fired pizza oven, handcrafted and custom-made in Italy, churns out pizzas with a Neapolitan-style crust that has a puffy, crunchy outer rim and a tender, chewy middle. For toppings, pick the Pizza Crudo e Rucola ($25) with tomato sauce, mozzarella, Parma ham and a fresh rocket salad, and pair your meal with a glass of Italian wine from the extensive wine cellar. The authentic food, al fresco space, and serene setting makes this a true trattoria dining experience.

#01-14 Quayside Isle, Tel: 6339-4778

Whether you’re gluten-free, pescatarian or on a keto diet, there’s something for every dietary restriction and palate at Two Chefs Bar. The casual restaurant-bar has a substantial selection of Mexican and Italian dishes including pork carnitas, chimichangas, wagyu beef steak, pasta, grilled fish and more. Not sure what to get? A popular choice is the Chicken Fajitas ($26) with chicken chunks, mixed bell peppers and onions in a house-special marinade served on a hot plate, with a side of guacamole, red salsa, shredded cheese, sour cream and warm wheat flour tortillas.

#01-11 Quayside Isle, Tel: 6268-8633.

Here’s a hot tip for making the most out of your trip to Quayside Isle: be sure to stay until 7pm and snap a photo against the picture-perfect light installations, inspired by the colourful marine life. For two hours every evening, the light installations will be on display to add to the already enchanting marina view.

We know Sentosa, let alone Quayside Isle, can seem like a pain to travel to from mainland Singapore. But there are actually plenty of convenient (and sometimes free) ways to make your way there. For drivers, Quayside Isle is accessible by car and has free weekday lunchtime parking (noon-2pm, T&Cs apply) and ample parking spaces. There are also shuttle buses from HarbourFront Bus Interchange at $2 per trip or free Sentosa Bus services from Sentosa’s Beach Station that take you to the enclave within 10 minutes. Find out more at quaysideisle.com or check out their Instagram page: www.instagram.com/quaysideisle_sg/ 

Quayside Isle - 31 Ocean Way, Sentosa Cove, S098375.

*Prices above may be subjected to prevailing GST and service charge, please check with individual outlet for more details.