Dining Reviews

Review Dolce Vita restaurant Singapore:  It’s truly a delight to return to Mandarin Oriental Singapore’s Italian attraction! This flagship dining hotel ristorante is also somewhat of a “hidden secret”, in the sense that it’s away from any passers-by along streets or in malls, and rather unique due to its location. To find Dolce Vita guests have to enter the hotel and navigate their way to the outdoor pool area – where the restaurant sits poolside as a stand-alone building. 

 

In doing so, guests also get to discover the impressive atrium that, following the complete overhaul of the hotel, now also is much brighter thanks to white-painted surfaces. It all look astonishing!

 

As for Dolce Vita it has also undergone a makeover, and where restaurant chef Roberto Zorzoli, in 2025, has introduced a refreshed menu showcasing innovative twists on Italian classics.  

 

Its leisurely setting to some extent impacts the type of Italian dining we are looking at here; its position makes it more casual for sure. But, albeit slightly informal, it is more of a genuine Ristorante (than Trattoria), given the wine cellar and the refined dining experience, also boasting weekend brunches. It is really up to the guests, but coming dressed up for the occasion, and any celebrations with friend and love ones, you’ll certainly feel like having come to the right place. The contrasting experience one also gets here is to overlook the action in the pool, with many active guests also after sunset.  Hotel guests absolutely love spending time here overlooking the Singapore skyline while enjoying the pool – with services.

 

Dolce Vita’s indoor seats as well as alfresco dining, flanked also by a bar, overlook Marina Bay and the Central Business District. So, being close to the water – and with unobstructed views – this is also a great spot where to enjoy panorama views and get photos taken. Pre- or post-dinner drinks can be enjoyed either at alfresco lounge Bay@5, or indoors at the discerning MO Bar.

 

The renovated Dolce Vita façade, along with an indoor ceiling and pillars, are distinctly peach/rosé-hued. This is also matched by the food and drinks menu in the same colour. One of the rosé wines (Chateau D’Esclans ‘Whispering Angel’, RV Côtes de Provence, France, by the glass) in turn also pairs up nicely with that menu colour. 

 

The indoors furniture and materials also offer a more vacation/mediterranean feel – with a partly black-and-white mosaic flooring, padded brown wooden chairs with a dot pattern, and blonde wood dining tables.

 

The resort style outdoor furniture offer black rattan chairs, with another Italian classic: round quartz surface dining tables.

 

The waiters/waitresses are smartly dressed in white shirts with braces – offering prompt and friendly service.

 

The first suggestion is of course: Fancy starting off with an aperitivo? Sure thing; choose from Negroni, House gin, Campari Sweet vermouth, Mojito, Bacardi Carta Blanca, Aperol Spritz, Aperol or Classic gin martini!

 

Digging into the food, the new menu offers the essence of Italy, where “every curated dish is elevated with a harmony of flavours and textures.” Photos seen of some of the dishes are just mouth-watering.  

 

Begin the culinary odyssey to Italy with a curation of antipasti that is set to delight every taste bud!

 

If wishing to start with some assorted Italian cold cuts and cheese, there is the E Formaggi option. Then, there are some irresistible delights, such as Burrata caprese (Burrata cheese from Puglia, parma ham, rocket leaves, heirloom tomato, basil); Carpaccio Di Manzo (Beef tenderloin carpaccio, rocket salad, parmesan, aged Modena balsamic vinegar); or Polpette (Classic Italian chicken meatballs, slow-cooked tomato sauce)!

 

Opting for Polipo Scottato (Grilled Mediterranean octopus, nduja mayonnaise, artichoke), the dish is not only good-looking; it’s also delicious! As presented by the chef this dish offers a fusion of spicy, tangy notes from nduja mayonnaise, combined with the earthy flavour of artichokes that add a flavourful burst with the tender and slightly charred texture of the grilled Mediterranean octopus! And that French rosé ‘Whispering Angel’ pairs up superbly with the splendid antipasti. 

 

Nduja mayonnaise is a condiment that combines the creamy texture of mayonnaise with the spicy, spreadable Calabrian salami, ‘nduja. It offers a rich, savoury, and spicy flavour profile, with the ‘nduja’s heat complementing the creamy base. 

 

It is also tempting to try a soup, where the vegetables and tomato broth of the Minestrone Alla Genovese is poured onto the plate at the table. A second soup on the menu offers Hokkaido scallops as main ingredient.

 

Many guests will also be keen on a risotto creation, where Dolce Vita offers two options: Risotto Cacio e Pepe (Pepper, green asparagus, spinach, stracciatella cheese) – inspired from the traditional Roman pasta recipe with cheese and black pepper; or Risotto Allo Zafferano e Guanciale – an appealing take on the classic, topped with braised beef cheek. Its zesty gremolada is infused with a blend of lemon zest, garlic, and herbs that marries perfectly with the subtle floral hint of saffron.

 

On the pasta front there are Pasta Fresca handcrafted artisan as well as traditional Pasta Di Gragnano. Pasta Fresca offers for example: Tagliolini Al Pomodor (Fresh San Marzano tomato sauce, basil), and Raviloi Spinaci E Ricotta (Baby spinach, ricotta stuffed ravioli, sage butter sauce).

 

For Gragnano find Casarecce Alla Norcina (Short twisted pasta, sausage, porcini cream, black truffl¬, and Orecchiette Alla Zucca (Little ears pasta with pumpkin sauce, sun-dried tomatoes

and rocket pesto).

 

Also, chef Roberto’s rendition of Spaghettini Vongole e Gamberi with homemade spaghettini tossed with sweet prawns, clams, garlic and white wine sauce, and a light, citrusy lemon finish – is recommended. 

 

Making one’s choice is hard with so many tempting Italian dishes, but this time the choice falls on a Pinse Romance oven-baked Italian bread (four to choose from): the Piccante (Mozzarella fior di Latte, Mildly spicy Calabrian salami, taleggio). Served on a wooden board it’s an Italian beauty on a “plate” and irresistible to eat, with that salami and cheese! As wine pairing, Lis Neris Pinot Grigio RV, is a refreshing counterpoint to the flatbread ingredients.

 

As for other secondi… We have all been there: looking at restaurant menus where we have sometimes struggled to really find appealing dishes to order. At Dolce Vita it is rather the opposite, where one will want to return for more, such as: Tagliata (Black Angus beef tenderloin, baby spinach, parmesan, black tru¬ffle), Agnello (Sous vide grilled lamb rack, creamy garlic potato, cardoncelli, herb jus), or Filetto Di Pesce Al Cartoccio (Chilean sea bass in parchment, caponata, homegrown herbs)!

 

Some other wines by the glass to go with your choice of dish may be Marqués de Riscal Verdejo (white), Marqués de Riscal Arienzo Crianza RV (red), or Verrazzano Chianti Classico RV (from Tuscany).

 

And dining at Dolce Vita can of course not end without Dolce! The classic custard Torta Della Nonna (Citrus con¬ture, vanilla ice cream), Millefoglie (Italian custard and puff pastry cake, and similar to its French name, mille-feuille), Tiramusi, Panna Cotta and Gelato compete for guests’ attention. 

 

Do also note that Saturday Brunch is a tradition here, with free-flow packages that either includes prosecco, wine and Aperol cocktails, or comes with champagne! That’s a splendid way to spend an early afternoon – living la dolce vita – and that can then be continued afterwards with some vibrant shopping within the adjacent shopping malls. Enjoy things Italian at their absolute best!