Singapore

Singapore has one of the deepest Italian dining scenes in Asia, shaped by decades of Italian chefs who arrived to cook in the city's grand hotels and stayed to open places of their own. Today the range runs from Michelin-starred tasting menus in colonial bungalows off Orchard Road to wood-fired pizzerias in Tanjong Pagar shophouses, seaside trattorias at East Coast Park and leafy enotecas in Joo Chiat.

For a special occasion, the city's Michelin-starred Italian rooms offer seasonal set menus with serious wine pairings, while Sentosa's resort restaurants are made for long weekend lunches and champagne brunches. Pizza lovers are spoilt: several Singapore pizzerias now feature in the 50 Top Pizza rankings, turning out properly blistered Neapolitan-style pies. For something more relaxed, look to the east of the island, where Katong and Joo Chiat hide some of the most charming garden dining in the city.

Expect to pay S$30 to S$60 a head at a good pizzeria or trattoria, and S$200 or more for a tasting menu with wine. Most restaurants take bookings online through SevenRooms, TableCheck or similar, and weekend tables go quickly, so it pays to reserve ahead.