10 Italian restaurants in Singapore where handmade pasta lives up to the hype

Scarpetta

Credit: The Straits Times

1/10

Scarpetta’s long queues are no surprise, and well worth the wait. This charming pasta bar is tucked away on Amoy Street, with just 30 seats that keep things intimate. Sixteen of those are at the Chef’s Table, where diners get a front-row view of the open kitchen, a little bit of theatre as you watch fresh pasta being rolled, cut, and plated right before your eyes. Take the Cacio e Pepe with crispy guanciale: perfectly twirled pici noodles coated in a creamy, cheesy sauce, with a salty crunch that takes the classic to the next level.

Scarpetta is located at 47 Amoy Street, Singapore 069873.

Kucina

Credit: Kucina

2/10

Helmed by Chef Gero, Kucina is Singapore’s first halal Italian restaurant. With more than two decades of experience cooking in the kitchens of Da Paolo and the Garibaldi Group, Chef Gero opened his own restaurant after becoming a Muslim. Be sure to try the signature Tortellini Di Manzo, which is basically an Italian version of the wanton. It is handmade daily and delivers a satisfying bite with just the right amount of thickness.

Kucina is located at 11 Tanjong Katong Rd, #B1-09/10, KINEX 437157, Singapore 437157

Bar Cicheti

Credit: Bar Cicheti

3/10

With a menu dedicated to pasta, wine and antipasti, Cicheti’s sister bar-restaurant is clearly serious about its pasta. This upscale hideout along the buzzy Jiak Chuan Street prides itself on its handmade pastas and original Italian flavours. The unassuming Cacio e pepe is a robust Roman dish that involves simply black pepper and grated cheese. The servings are pretty significant, so you might want to go for smaller sizes to make more room for other options.

Bar Cicheti is located at 10 Jiak Chuan Rd, Singapore 089264

Pasta Bar

Credit: Pasta Bar

4/10

If you think traditional Italian pasta is boring, Pasta Bar will certainly change your mind. With its handmade pasta Its pasta is freshly handmade daily using an age-old technique passed down from generation to generation. Chef Alessandro Guistetti uses semolina flour with whole eggs, egg yolks and/or water to create his pasta and serve classic dishes like squid ink tortelli and carbonara, as well as regional cuisine such as the Fileja alla Toranese.

Pasta Bar is located at #01-05, 55 Keong Saik Road, Singapore 089158

Publico Ristorante

Credit: Publico Ristorante

5/10

Looking for a place to unwind on Friday evening? Head down to Publico at InterContinental Robertson Quay with your colleagues or best buds. The restaurant serves up wood-fired pizzas, charcuterie and cheese boards, and outstanding pastas, such as the Tuscan Truffle & Wagyu Beef Tagliatelle (pictured), featuring handmade strands of tagliatelle sauteed with black truffle emulsion and wagyu beef fillet.

Publico Ristorante is located at 1 Nanson Road, Singapore 238909

Da Paolo Dempsey

Credit: Da Paolo Dempsey

6/10

What started in 1989 as a humble casual trattoria has now evolved into a full-fledged Italian restaurant, bar and even gourmet shop. The family-run restaurant brings a contemporary twist to traditional Italian cuisine, including handcrafted pizzas made with an Italian wood-fire oven. It also has a curated beverage and dessert menu (housemade gelato, anyone?) and a pasta making counter, where hearty favourites like cuttlefish ink pasta and Carbonara Calabrese are made from scratch.

Da Paolo Dempsey is located at Dempsey Road, Blk 8, #01-13, Singapore 247696

Tipo Pasta Bar

Credit: Tipo Pasta Bar

7/10

This halal pasta bar located along North Bridge Road emphasises aesthetics as much as its food. From its pastel-coloured interior to handmade pastas by the window, it’s a treat for the senses. You can even design your own pasta dish and choose from artisanal pasta like Beetroot & Garlic Angel Hair to Paprika Caserecce to Lemon Malfade, although you can also go for standard dishes like Prawn Aglio, Creamy Chicken & Mushroom and Seafood Pomodoro.

Tipo Pasta Bar is located at 785 North Bridge Road, Singapore 198753

(Read also "RECIPE: 18 Quick And Easy Pasta Recipes For Weeknight Dinners")

Cacio e Pepe

Credit: Cacio e Pepe

8/10

Named after the popular Italian dish, Cacio e Pepe is a modest restaurant that provides a relaxed ambience and authentic Italian fare. This restaurant tucked away in tranquil Bukit Batok comes up with chef specials and off-menu dishes that surprise in the best possible way. A highly recommended dish is the Tagliatelle al Tartufo, homemade pasta in truffle cream sauce topped with prawns and scallops.

Cacio e Pepe is located at 3 Chu Lin Road, Singapore 669890

Tucked away in Novena, Da Luca and its fresh pasta has flown under the radar for the last ten years with consistently good reviews. The menu is kept simple and concise on purpose, allowing the kitchen to perfect their signature dishes such as the Chilled Angel Hair Pasta and Burrata Ravioli. Beyond the pasta, guests can enjoy high quality meats such as Wagyu Miyazaki A5 Ribeye as well as authentically delicious Tiramisu to finish off the meal.

Da Luca Italian Restaurant is located at 1 Goldhill Plaza, Singapore 308899

Priding itself as one of Singapore’s oldest Italian restaurants, Pasta Brava has been a mainstay in the Tanjong Pagar area since 1993. Their menu reserves a special section for their homemade pasta and includes delicious options like handcrafted spinach ravioli with ricotta, sun-dried tomatoes and capers, Mezzeluna (half-moon shaped pasta) with pumpkin in a capsicum cream sauce and homemade cannelloni with minced lamb.

Pasta Brava, 11 Craig Road, Tanjong Pagar, Singapore 089671