2am:dessertbar

Chef and owner Janice Wong has really hit her stride at this dessert lounge, with innovative creations that often feature unusual ingredients that she incorporates in surprising ways. Try the Kayambe H2O and Basil White Chocolate, with passion fruit puff, coconut sorbet and sea grapes. A real plus in our book is the fact that they’re open till two in the morn’, hence the name; ideal for a late night tête à tête (if you’re lucky).

Chocolate Bar

This is the place to hit for a full-on chocolate feast ($38; 8pm to midnight daily). Brace yourself for a sugar rush with close to 60 items on offer such as rosemary-milk chocolate cappuccino, Jivara chocolate lime tart and dark chocolate pralines, all made with Valrhona. To sweeten the deal, opt for a glass of Piper-Heidsieck bubbly to go with it ($16 supplement). As a bonus, the view from the Marina Bay Sands SkyPark is spectacular.

Jewels Artisan Chocolate

Chocolatier Then Chui Foong has trained with world-renowned pâtissier Pierre Herme, and it shows. Our picks are the Perle Noir (Black Pearl) with champagne ganache, and the Coral, cola and chili (sounds odd, but it works). But it’s not only the hand-crafted chocolates that are scrumptious, they also do some mean macaroons; the unique Black Palm Island Salt and Butterfly Pea Bloom are sure bets. We recommend a teatime set (available from noon-10pm daily); you won’t regret it.

Nick Vina Artisan Bakery

They might be a newbie, but this tidy little bakeshop has been pulling in the crowds. Being close to Tanjong Pagar MRT helps, but it’s their fresh-baked goods that keep people coming back for more. We adore their pastries, cranberry muffins, sourdough bread and pretty cakes.

Tom’s Palette

This quaint (read: tiny) ice cream shop has done so well for themselves, they’ve expanded their premises. Flavors in their portfolio include tangy basil, tofu & dates, pumpkin & winter melon, rosemary-apple, caramelized onion and even seaweed. Less adventurous types can stick with equally gratifying flavors like Granny’s Favorite or Melt & Sizzle, studded with fizzy pop rocks.

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Though still in recovery from all that excess everything thanks to Christmas and New Year (we sure as hell are), you should already be making plans for Spring Festival, which will be here before you can say “gong xi fa cai.” Here are 8 worthwhile options that you can sink your teeth into, so loosen those belts and dig in.

Cherry Garden

Try one of Cherry Garden’s festive menus like the seven-course Blissful Set with dishes such as braised baby abalone with sea cucumber and fish maw, and salmon with XO sauce and surf clams (from $128 per person, min. two people). Add on some Prosperity Yu Sheng with crispy fish skin and salmon (from $68) or, for a healthier rendition, Garden of Wealth with fresh fruits and vegetables (from $48). Jan 9 to Feb 6.

Chinois

At Chef Susur Lee’s first restaurant out of North America, expect six-course menus (from $98 per person, min. of two; from $738 for a table of 10) featuring upscale items like braised fresh abalone drizzled with truffle sauce; there’s also hamachi (yellowtail), hokkigai (surf clam), silver bait and salmon yu sheng (from $68). Through February 6.

Hai Tien Lo

At the Pan Pac they pay homage to this year’s Chinese zodiac animal with Lucky Dragon Yu Sheng ($388), topped with succulent morsels of lobster, salmon, tuna and surf clam (but, unfortunately, no dragon). Set-wise, six courses start at $98 per person (min. two pax). Through February 6.

JING

Here you’re spoiled for choice with eight different set menu offerings (from $98 a person, min. two persons, for a five-course set) from Jan 9 to Feb 6 (closed for lunch on Jan 23). We like the Perfect Menu (from $788 for eight people), which features Hokkaido scallops and prawns sautéed with honey peas, as well as Kurobuta spare ribs with Champagne sauce and truffle jus.

Man Fu Yuan

Aside from their six-course menus (from $108 per person, min. two persons), we recommend Man Fu Yuan’s signature yu sheng, a mouth-watering combination of salmon, hamachi (yellowtail), ikan parang and crispy fish skin ($158) available through February 6.

Min Jiang

Notable dishes include the Claypot Reunion Rice ($108) done in the classic Cantonese style with pork belly, Chinese sausages and waxed duck leg, and their delicious hamachi yu sheng ($118), with tobiko (flying fish roe), homemade taro and sweet potato crisps, jellyfish, pomelo and pine nuts. Set menus start at $88/person (min. two persons), from $788 for a table of 10. Through February 6.

Peach Blossoms

After an extensive million-dollar facelift, Peach Blossoms is back with a newly appointed chef, Hong Kong native Chan Shun Wong. Check out some of his creations for Lunar New Year including Abalone Treasures Pot (from $248) and an unusual charcoal-grilled Wagyu yu sheng with sesame dressing (from $68), from Jan 16 through Feb 6.

Peony Jade Restaurant

Not only is Peony Jade’s Harvest Your Riches Abundantly Lo Hei Yu Sheng ($288) shaped like a dragon, it’s also loaded with ingredients like lobster, salmon, tuna, swordfish and abalone. But wait, there’s more: It’s topped with edible golden leaves. If that isn’t exciting enough then try Executive Chef Ryan Shiu’s Golden Dragon Egg ($298), which you have to smash to get to the stuffing: we won’t ruin the entire surprise but we will say there’s black truffle, Korean ginseng and whole Australian abalone waiting. February 6.