10 European restaurants that will transport you to Europe

HaPiHa means eat-drink-eat in Albanian and the restaurant is the brainchild of Albanian-born Klevis Shima. The Singaporean PR had escaped the country as a refugee during the civil war and later worked his way up the kitchen in Italy before moving to Singapore to be with his wife, Ali Wong, and son. HaPiHa serves up Albanian and Mediterranean food so you will find familiar dishes from Greece and Turkey as well, ranging from Beef Cevapi (grilled minced meat) and Borek pie (above) to various Souvlaki skewers and grilled seafood). Kebabs, pizza and pita breads with a variety of dips are available too. Ingredients are sourced from Italy or Turkey and the brand promises not to use MSG.

HaPiHa Mediterranean Taverna is at Ridgewood Cl, G1 Ridgewood Condominium, Singapore 276696. Visit its Instagram for more information.

For a taste of Germany without the long-haul flight, Der Biergarten brings hearty German fare and a laid-back beer garden-inspired atmosphere to Prinsep Street. The menu covers plenty of familiar favourites, including a Sausage Platter with cheese sausage and bratwurst, served with mashed potatoes and sauerkraut. For something even heartier, go for the Roast Pork Knuckle, which comes with dark beer gravy, mashed potatoes and sauerkraut.

There are also German-inspired picks such as the Crispy Pork Schnitzel Salad, alongside more European dishes and bar bites, making this an easy spot for a casual dinner with friends over drinks.

Der Biergarten is at 48 Prinsep St, #01-01, Singapore 188677 .

Molly Malone’s touts itself to be the first Irish pub to open in Singapore back in 1995. To date, they continue to serve up Irish favourites alongside live music and sports viewings. Because Irish and English food are almost identical, you can find familiar dishes such as Bangers & Mash, Fish & Chips, Pork Scotch Egg and Beef & Guinness Pie. Besides the Irish beer Guinness, Molly Malone’s has a range of Irish whiskey too.

Molly Malone’s Irish Pub is at 56 Circular Rd, Singapore 049411. Visit its Instagram for more information.

Get a taste of Portugal at Lusitano Restaurant, a Portuguese and Mediterranean spot helmed by chef Tiago Martins, formerly the head chef of Tuga Singapore. The menu is rooted in traditional Portuguese flavours, with plenty of seafood and hearty meat dishes to choose from.

Start with the Mussels D. Rosa or Garlic Prawns before moving on to the Codfish Narcisa, which uses bacalhau, the salted and dried cod that’s a staple in Portuguese cooking. Another classic worth trying is the Pork and Clams Alentejana, which pairs tender pork with briny clams. And, of course, no Portuguese meal is complete without a pastel de nata to finish.

Lusitano Singapore is at City Gate, 371 Beach Road, #01-29 City Gate, Singapore 199597. Visit its Instagram for more information.

Shashlik Restaurant doesn’t serve up purely Russian food. Instead, it prides itself on “Russian favourites” made with “Hainanese flair” as the brand offers Russian and continental cuisines made by Hainanese chefs that can trace their origins back to the Troika Restaurant. But if you’re here for Russian flair, start with the Blinis Caviar (pancakes with caviar) and Borshch Soup then tuck into the Shashlik grilled skewers and Russian Salad. There is also a menu for children here, with offerings such as Baby Stroganoff, Mac and Cheese and Hawaiian Blinis.

Shashlik Restaurant is at 545 Orchard Road, #06-19 Far East Shopping Centre, Singapore 238882. Visit its website for more information.

Swedish furniture giant Ikea isn’t the only place to get Scandinavian food in Singapore. Instead, cross the road from its Redhill location for Overbrød. The cafe and deli were opened by Singaporeans who had spent time in Sweden and Denmark with the aim of introducing foods from the region to us. Smørrebrød, or an open-faced sandwich made with rye bread, is one option here, with toppings such as Gravadlax (or cured salmon) and Toast Skagen (or shrimp). Meatballs, no surprise, are also on the menu as well as Potatoes with Hay Smoked Butter and Kanelbullar (cinnamon bun).

Overbrød is at 370 Alexandra Rd, #01-14A Anchorpoint, Singapore 159953. Visit its website for more information.

Missing the food that he grew up eating, Russian-born, Ukraine-raised Vadim Zubovskyy and his wife Alena Zubovska decided to take a leap of faith to offer Slavic food at their restaurant Kapitan.sg. The specialities here are the Russian pelmeni and Ukrainian vareniki. The former usually comes stuffed with meat ranging from beef and pork to salmon and mutton while the latter is filled with mushrooms, sauerkraut and curd cheese. There are also Polish Bigos (Hunter’s Stew), Ukrainian Borscht, Blinis and more.

Kapitan.sg is at 32 Maxwell Rd, #01-05 Maxwell Chambers, Singapore 069115. Visit its Instagram for more information.

For a taste of France, L’Angélus has been serving traditional French fare in Singapore since 1998. The cosy Club Street restaurant keeps things classic with dishes such as escargots, French onion soup, duck confit and steak frites, alongside an extensive selection of French wines. Save some room for dessert, with favourites like crème brûlée to round off the meal.

L’Angélus is at 85 Club St, Singapore 069453. Visit its website for more information.

Get a taste of Switzerland at CouCou, a cosy restaurant along Craig Road serving up Swiss classics. Cheese lovers can tuck into its signature fondues, while other favourites include rösti, raclette and Zurich-style veal ragout. Don’t skip dessert either, with Swiss meringues and other sweet treats rounding out the menu.

CouCou Authentic Swiss Restaurant & Bar is at 9 Craig Rd, Singapore 089669 Visit its linktree for more information.

Situated within Kampong Glam, Alaturka has been serving Mediterranean and Turkish fare since 2005. The brand was also awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2016. Kebabs and boat-shaped Pide flatbread made in-house are must-tries, which you can pair with your choice of dips, salads and appetisers like Falafel and Börek. Traditional fare such as Tas Kebab (beef stew) and Musakka are other quintessential picks too.

Alaturka Mediterranean & Turkish Restaurant is at 15 Bussorah St, Singapore 199436. Visit its website for more information.

This article was originally published in Singapore Women's Weekly