WHY isn’t Saturday brunch de rigueur? It’s the perfect way to kick off a weekend, and Sundays are getting somewhat crowded as the brunch culture solidifies. To prove we’re making a case for it, we’ve picked some of the best restaurants in Singapore for Saturday brunch.

01: The Summerhouse

Now an institution in the formerly sleepy Seletar countryside, The Summerhouse is surrounded by foliage yet boasts ample parking space. The farm-to-table restaurant spotlights fresh, seasonal produce — these are sourced from farmers, producers and growers as well as the space’s own edible garden — made refined with inventive techniques. Befitting its farm-style setting, brunch is done communal style, with elevated staples such as short ribs with hash, Gravadlax bagel, and mud crab omelette.

Summerhouse. 3 Park Lane, Singapore 798387. Tel: +65 6262-1063.

02: Dolce Vita

Meaning ‘a life of heedless pleasure and luxury’, Dolce Vita retains the authenticity of traditional Italian flavours using seasonal ingredients and fresh produce. Start your meal with an antipasti platter, seasonal oysters, or cured salmon before you move on to the mains — these include homemade orecchiette pasta, seared barramundi bites and angus beef tagliata. You’re going to want to save room for dessert.

The buffet includes miniature pastries, tarts and cakes, warm apple turnover and an assorted cheese platter, best enjoyed with an upgrade of free flow of Ruinart “R” Champagne. Flanked by floor-to-ceiling windows leading out to an alfresco area, the spacious dining area is the perfect setting for a sophisticated Saturday brunch, with its stone finish backdrop and black granite countertops.

Dolce Vita, Level 5, Mandarin Oriental Singapore. 5 Raffles Ave, Singapore 039797. Tel: +65 6885-3500.

03: Corner House

Since its debut in 2014, Corner House has won over critics and gourmands alike with its signature ‘Gastro-Botanica’ cuisine. Chef Jason Tan champions botanicals — plants, ranging from tubers, roots and fungi, to vines, fruits and herbs, are given equal shares in the spotlight with meaty proteins.

Tucked away in Botanic Gardens, the two-storey black and white conserved bungalow is cosy and intimate, with four different dining areas. Its brunch menu isn’t exclusive to Saturday, but is a sumptuous four-course meal that offers mains such as Iberico pork jowl served with mushroom, romaine lettuce and Indonesia long pepper jus and Corner House egg benedict with vin jaune, tobiko and rice.

Corner House. 1 Cluny Rd, E J H Corner House, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Singapore 259569. Tel: +65 6469-1000.

04: Keyaki

Bubbles and brunch come together at Keyaki. In kaiseki (a traditional multi-course dinner) style, the brunch menu features 40 dishes in an eight-course set, with each made up of Japanese classics. Each course allows you five options, allowing for flexibility. Choose from a variety of meats for teppanyaki, grilled fish for yakimono, and assorted fish for sashimi and complement your experience with a selection of unlimited alcohol, such as Laurent Perrier Brut NV Champagne, Sparkling Akazaru Shochu and Mio Sparkling Sake.

Keyaki, Level 4 Pan Pacific Singapore. 7 Raffles Boulevard, Singapore 039595. Tel: +65 6826-8240.

06: Garibaldi

Italian restaurant Garibaldi’s is the epitome of a modern, stylish Italian eatery. You’re getting the real deal here — ingredients are imported from Italy. The menu switches up every week, but dishes sticks to classics. Meals begin with Italian cold cuts, beef carpaccio, and signatures such as orecchiette with truffle pumpkin sauce and linguine “puttanesca”. Mains include braised Kurobuta pork collar with prune, and poached Norwegian salmon.

Garibaldi. 36 Purvis Street, Singapore 188613. Tel: +65 6837-1468.

07: Forlino

Elegantly perched on One Fullerton with sweeping waterfront views is Forlino. Themed as a journey to Italy, the restaurant puts out top-notch Italian cuisine. Head straight to the Tre Formaggi Live Station for brunch highlights — this includes spaghetti carbonara with pork guanciale and egg yolk sauce, as well as penna arrabiatta served with san marzano tomatoes and Calabria chili.

There’s plenty more in the charcoal grill section, which offers a choice between a grilled seabass fillet, grilled Argentinian beef sirloin rosemary and garlic roasted baby potatoes or grilled half spring chicken. In typical Italian style, the meal ends with sweets— in this case, it’s traditional cocoa and Amaretto caramelised pudding and green apple tart.

Forlino, Level 2 One Fullerton. 1 Fullerton Rd, Singapore 049213. Tel: +65 6690-7564.

This article was first published on Prestige Online. PHOTOS: Respective restaurants.