Celebrate International Women’s Day 2026 with these 8 female-led restaurants and bars in Singapore

From Sofia Beleri at Mediterranean joint Fotia to the multicultural flavours of Quenino’s Sujatha Asokan, it’s safe to say high-end kitchens and bars in Singapore are, more than ever, embracing a wave of women-led culinary and mixological finesse.

As we lead up to International Women’s Day 2026 — themed Give to Gain — on March 8, let’s give the local female gastronomic stars some support by shining the spotlight on the ways they’ve been shaping the next generation of the local hospitality scene.

Read on for a hitlist of eight women-led restaurants and bars this International Women’s Day.

Quenino: Sujatha Asokan, chef de cuisine

Though the fine-dining outfit Quenino at the luxurious Artyzen Hotel is led first and foremost by Melbourne’s Victor Liong (of Lee Ho Fook fame), it is Indian-Chinese chef Sujatha Asokan who runs the ship day to day, spinning Australian ingredients into unmistakable fusion flavours, blending local produce with pan-Asian influences.

Highlights on the restaurant’s tasting menus — which update with the passing of the seasons — range from inspired takes on everything from the tamarind-rich Penang-style assam laksa and white pepper crab to Stone Axe M9 Wagyu accompanied with peppercorns from the old world and new.

Fotia: Sofia Beleri, executive chef

Sofia Beleri left her home country of Greece more than a decade ago in search of a better future — not just for her young daughter, but also for herself as an ambitious female chef. 

She found what she wanted in sunny Singapore, though it was not without its fair share of challenges.

The chef forded gruelling 12-hour days with little English for years before finally starting her own outfit, Fotia, in Duxton Hill. Here, Mediterranean dishes heavy on the seafood reign supreme, with plenty of octopus, prawn, lamb, and other Greek-accented delights to share with friends and family.

Somma: Jeanette Ow, pastry director

After leaving her former life in accountancy, Jeanette Ow went on a whirlwind tour of dessert kitchens at some of Singapore’s best and brightest — Claudine, Dempsey Cookhouse, Fico and most recently, Somma, where she currently rules as its resident pastry director.

The modern Italian fine-diner in the hip New Bahru enclave shines all the brighter thanks to the inspired treats conceived by the avid baker.

This includes a classic wintry pairing of chestnut cremeux and preserved blackcurrant caramel against a backdrop of clementine ice cream, a fittingly sweet finish to Somma’s latest seasonal tasting menu.

Restaurant Zén: Rachel Ezekiel, general manager

As far as rising stars go, Restaurant Zén’s Rachel Ezekiel is probably one of the brightest. At the age of just 28, the woman now leads one of Singapore’s three-Michelin-starred restaurants as its general manager, having previously been recognised as Young Waiter of the Year (Singapore) at an international hospitality competition.

Like many female service champions, her work behind the scenes lays the foundation for the dazzling bites of abalone and ikura-studded chawanmushi and croustade veal that guests have come to expect at Björn Frantzén’s Singapore outpost.

Sago House: Desiree Jane Silva, co-owner

The success of cult darling Sago House was never guaranteed. It opened early on in the pandemic, long before any life had returned to the streets of Duxton Hill, with a simple five-to-six-beverage programme riffing on classic cocktail styles.

But that bar found fame on a simple premise: put experience first, and the guests will follow. Key to that insight was co-owner Desiree Jane Silva, who cut her teeth as host at 28 HongKong Street and knows how to throw a party.

Whether you’re hankering for a daisy, a highball, a sour or something more tropical, you know that a trip to Sago House will never leave you feeling down.

Manhattan: Zana Möhlmann, head bartender

The ritzy Manhattan in Conrad Singapore Orchard has been a consistent entrant in international lists — it even topped out as The Best Bar in Asia on the World’s 50 Best list — and for good reason.

It knows how to pair old-world New York charm with an equally compelling drinks menu put together by Surinamese-Dutch phenom, Zana Möhlmann. Her latest turn: a 30-drink symphony celebrating the seasons of Manhattan itself.

Anti:Dote: Carla Davina, bar manager

Having earned her stripes at the likes of gin-specialist Atlas and London’s Artesian, Carla Davina has now turned her world-class hospitality credentials toward her role as bar manager at Anti:Dote.

The Apothecary-inspired cocktail lounge recently commemorated its tenth anniversary with a refreshed menu featuring 10 signature curatives for every mood.

There’s the indulgence-seeking Main Character Energy, a calming, tea-infused Burnout Brew, and even a colour-switching Curious Chameleon — just speak to Davina, and she’ll set you right.

Cat Bite Club: Erika Danielle, head bartender

Head bartender Erika Danielle is king of the jungle at Cat Bite Club, a grungy Duxton Hill speakeasy with a serious predilection for agave and rice spirits. She transforms an extensive selection of over 300 distillates from Mexico and Asia into experimental, perhaps even rebellious, plays on classic cocktails.

Signatures include the aptly named Cat Bite Margarita (tequila, Los Siete Misterios Espadín mezcal, Cointreau, citrus blend, agave nectar, sherry), and the crisp Soju Sprint.