A review of all the Marina Bay Sands Italian Restaurants. (Unsponsored- I paid for my own meals!)
Marina Bay Sands Singapore has its fair share of celebrity restaurants, such as Wakuda and Koma. However, the best Italian restaurants in Singapore are definitely not found here!
To summarize, the 3 Italian eateries are:
- Lavo: rooftop restaurant with an amazing view. Meh food but good for drinks.
- Da Paolo: waterfront cafe.
- Robertas: more like an American diner that serves pizza
I've summarized the 3 places above-sadly none have great service, unlike the other MBS restaurants such as Blossom- but scroll down for more detailed reviews to find out exactly what I didn't like.
Da Paolo Gastronomia
This Italian cafe is located on the waterfront. It's part of the Da Paolo chain in Singapore. (They have quite a few outlets, at Holland Village, Paragon etc) When the chain first opened, I loved the food, but as they expanded.....
The Da Paolo Menu at MBS offers salad, pasta, gelato etc. The service isn't great and the food is quite hit-or-miss. (The pasta can sometimes taste like microwaved food!)
Still if you're looking for the cheapest Italian at MBS, then this is probably it!
Address: L1 - 87, The Shoppes
LAVO Italian Restaurant & Rooftop Bar
We had lunch at Lavo Singapore, which is a lovely looking restaurant on the top floor of MBS. There is a floral trellis outside the entrance, which makes for a nice welcome.
Unfortunately, the lunch didn't get off to a good start, as the receptionist was pretty snooty and unfriendly. By far the worst service we've received at a restaurant in MBS.
We ordered from the a la carte menu: specifically, the truffle fries, pasta, the famous LAVO Meatball with ricotta cheese topping (it's a big portion), before ending with the tiramisu. (We did not try the other signature dishes, such as the Charred Octopus, as what we ordered was more than enough for 2 people. We couldn't finish!)
All the dishes we tried were uninspiring enough that I would not return for the food. The prices weren't too bad (for MBS- it's cheaper than CUT, for one!), but the taste of the food just isn't good enough. Even something as simple to make as french fries didn't taste great. (The truffle fries had no truffle taste.)
Unfortunately, I didn't take many photos of the food and surroundings- but the experience was so bad, I can't bring myself to return to take them!
All in all, it wasn't a great lunch. If you're looking to dine at a rooftop restaurant at MBS, I highly recommend Spago instead- good food and good service! Alternatively, if you're a hotel guest and looking for something casual, why not dine by the pool? (For good Italian food in Singapore, try Garibaldi at Purvis Street instead.)
The view of the city skyline was great though (It's on the same level as the iconic Marina Bay Sands Skypark and inifinity pool.)- better than Spago- so I'd recommend visiting Lavo for drinks, but not for Italian cuisine!
They also sometimes have live DJ sets on the weekend, so it's a good place to party over a cocktail.
Address: @ L57, Hotel Tower 1
Central (Orange Zone)
Roberta’s Pizza
This New York pizzeria is famous for its wood-fired Neapolitan-style delicious pizzas, and the 44-seater MBS outlet is its first (and, at the time of writing, only) one in Singapore. The American outlet is said to have served the likes of Beyonce and Jay-Z.
The all time favorites are the Famous Original and Bee Sting Pizzas. The pizzas are pretty good: full of flavor, with a thin crust and fresh ingredients. I would say it has the best food of the 3 places on this list.
If you're not in the mood for pizza, the Roberta's Menu also has a few pasta dishes, wood roasted prawns, ribs, and oxtail stew. (A meat-lover's dream!)
Don't expect any table service here: you order and pay at the counter. It reminds me more of an (upmarket) American diner, than an Italian restaurant. For example, the drinks menu has lemonade and beer, not Italian drinks. I tried the lemonade and it was good but not so good I crave it.
Note: walk-ins only. No reservations.
Address: B1-45, The Shoppes
Nearest carpark: North (Green Zone)
This is the closest Italian place to the theatre, so works well for a pre or post theatre meal.
Any questions about the italian restaurants at MBS? let me know in the comments!
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