Level 33, out from the hustle and bustle of Singapore
I will admit, this restaurant was not on a list or on an Instagram reel that I watched. It was recommended to me by my partner when they visited Singapore as an alternative, because we couldn’t find another restaurant with a classy interior and a gorgeous backdrop while maintaining the integrity of our wallets. However, it was an amazing find so I thank them for it.
LeVeL 33 is described as the world’s highest urban microbrewery with a unique rooftop dining experience. They offer a unique selection of beers that are locally brewed with sustainability in mind, serving straight from tank to tap with no packaging whatsoever. The first thing to note when heading into LeVeL 33 is the location. Although it’s located near Raffles Place and downtown, it is situated up on level 33 of the Marina Bay Financial Center where it overlooks the Marina Bay Sands towers and the Singapore River. If you squint a bit, you can even see the Gardens by the Bay at night when the Super Trees are lit up.
High above the noise of a thriving metropolis sits LeVeL 33, where fine dining meets the beautiful backdrop of the Marina Bay Sands towers
For our dinner reservation at LeVeL 33, we were sat indoors due to the lack of seating out on the terrace, but that didn’t stop us from leaving our seats to admire the beautiful evening view, more on that later. We were shown the dining room menu with some delectable choices on offer, for example the Beef Tartare, and their signature raw and chilled seafood platter. In the end, we were convinced by our server to try out the Sharing Cut of the Day, consisting of a steak cut, slow roasted tomato, IPA & honey roasted garlic, 3 house made sauces and our choice of 2 sides. Along with our sharing cut was a side of their Housemade Spent Grain & Herb Focaccia and a lobster bisque for myself.
Doesn’t that sound delicious? Just thinking about it makes my mouth water.
Let’s start with the basics. The bread. Personally, I’m of the opinion that bread is there as an accompaniment. By itself, they can be delicious provided they are made with great care and love. This was indeed the case with LeVeL 33’s Focaccia bread. It was fluffy and warm, when drizzled with the balsamic and evoo pairing they serve as a great appetizer and lead you perfectly into wanting more. Which incidentally, leads me to the lobster bisque.
The presentation of the lobster bisque was already different from what I had imagined. I would’ve expected the bisque to be in the bowl when served, but LeVeL 33 was no ordinary fine dining restaurant. Our server slowly poured the bisque around a portion of poached lobster with it’s caviar and fennel partner in the center of the bowl. My immediate thought to myself was, I’m not sure if I should gracefully taste this bisque, or devour it immediately. I opted for somewhere in the middle. The bisque was flavorful, like an ocean breeze in the summer. With every spoonful, I could taste the lobster umami in the bisque. No, I didn’t forget the poached lobster, that was equally delicious, although my only gripe with it was that it wasn’t hot, but I think that was intended. The contrast in temperature between the bisque and poached lobster provided a very interesting dynamic, allowing you taste the texture of both. The bisque also went very well with the focaccia bread, although the bread did turn cold pretty quickly.
On to the highlight of dinner, well, it is indeed a showstopper.
The Sharing Cut. Oh my, if only technology was so advanced that you could have a quick taste of the food. Today’s particular cut was a tomahawk,, matched with roasted tomatoes, and honey roasted garlic. Cooked to medium rare perfection, they were tender and delicious. You may think the portion may be a bit small for 2 adults, but with the mashed potatoes and fries with parmesan cheese they were more than enough to fill our hungry stomachs. The 3 sauces included were Chimichurri, Red wine & Stout jus and an IPA onion & roasted yeast. Each of the sauces paired delightfully with the steak and, while unconventional, the fries as well. The chimichurri sauce was minty, giving the steak a different taste, while the red wine and stout jus was as you’d expect with red wine and steak; traditional and well paired. I can’t describe the final sauce as I’m not 100% sure if I actually enjoyed it.
There’s nothing more I can say about the food apart from the fact that I will definitely return to try out the rest of the menu. Given LeVeL 33 is high above the city, the ambiance and serenity is not something you experience every day. The views were outstanding, the only unfortunate part about our experience was not being able to sit on the terrace to fully soak in the views of Marina Bay Sands. On a different day, I would definitely request a table outside and at sunset. Similarly, the service was great. Our server was very warm and welcoming when we arrived, and slowly explained the day’s specials and recommended us our incredible dinner. As dinner service got busy, they still came around to check on us to make sure everything was okay.
The dining room however, is not big and you may find your conversations being overheard by others unless you decide to speak softly. Toward the end of the night, a large group of diners were seated behind our table. I found that the space between tables were minimal and as the dining room got busier, it would get harder to have conversations without raising your voice. I also don’t remember the outdoor terrace having any coverings in case it started to rain, so do beware if you happen to sit outside on a day forecasted with rain.
Overall, I would definitely rate this dining experience a high 8/10. Definitely would go back and try their seafood and beers next time.
