Chinese. French. Mediterranean. This December, get ready to feast on a multitude of cuisines as we bring you the 10 hottest picks of newly-opened places in town!

1. The Populus Coffee & Food Co

If we were to judge a café by its Instagram-worthy shots, The Populus Coffee & Food Co would pass our test with flying colours. Starting from $17, their mains are definitely worth the price tag and the wait. The Spring Pancake & Fried Chicken ($21, pictured) is one of their many sinful offerings, where the chewy spring onion and corn pancake lends extra texture to the crispy and succulent chicken that is drizzled with a house special ranch dressing. Their Caffé Latte ($5.50, pictured), however, was lacklustre. Despite the gorgeous latte art, the coffee was too acidic and had a slightly watery aftertaste. The Populus Coffee & Food Co , 146 Neil Road Singapore 088875 (Image: Rachel Wong)

2. Ciao@

Looking for delicious Italian food? Ciao@ is the place to go! Featuring Italian home-cooked mainstays, diners will get to choose from a wide selection of pastas, pizzas, desserts and premium Italian wines. Go for the Penne Alla Vodka ($24, pictured), where smoked salmon sits on a bed of penne pasta that is drenched generously with vodka and cream sauce. For something unusual, choose from one of the nine flavours of Pizzawich ($15), a cross between a pizza and a sandwich. Ciao@, 8 Haji Lane #01-01 Singapore 199738 (Image: Ciao@)

3. Odette

Opening to rave reviews, Odette focuses on making fine-dining comfortable and serving produce-driven food. The modern French restaurant - named after Chef-owner Julien Royer’s grandmother – does not offer an a la carte menu. Diners can choose between four and six-course lunch menus ($88, $128) and six and eight-course dinner menus ($208, $268). Executed with finesse, the new Challans Guinea Fowl (pictured), is served two ways – leg confit and breast grilled over charcoal, accompanied by a celeriac risotto, foie gras coulant and Swiss chard with sauce albufera, a traditional French cream sauce. Odette, National Gallery Singapore, 1 St Andrews Rd #01-04 Singapore 178957 (Image: Odette)

4. Artemis Grill

For health-conscious eaters willing to splurge on a great meal, visit Artemis Grill. Located on the 40th floor, the organic Mediterranean restaurant boasts a spectacular rooftop view and features a 200 year old olive tree at their outdoor rooftop bar. Offering gluten-free and vegetarian options, Artemis also uses sustainably sourced seafood and grass-fed, hormone-free meats. Order their signature Beetroot Tortellini ($20, pictured) if you’re craving for pasta or Spicy Iberico Pork Presa ($40) if you prefer meat. Save space for dessert and get their Apricot & Lavender Souffle ($20). Artemis Grill, CapitaGreen, 138 Market Street #40-01 Singapore 048946 (Image: Artemis Grill)

5. Caffebene

Caffebene, the best coffee brand from Korea, has arrived on our sunny shores. The café offers an extensive menu - toasts, waffles, bingsu, gelato and of course, coffee. Try their Garlic and Cheese Honey Bread ($13.90) and Green Tea Bingsu ($15.90). Be warned - those addictive treats will have you going back for seconds! For drinks, get their Misugaru Latte or all-new Caramel Cinnamon Misugaru Frappe. Caffebene, VivoCity, 1 HarbourFront Walk #02-150 Singapore 098585 (Image: Caffebene Facebook Page)

6. Empress

With a focus on elevated and authentic Chinese cuisine, Empress has opened for business in the Asian Civilisations Museum, along with the declaration that they have one of the best roast meats in town. Try out their signature Triple Roast Platter ($28/ $42/ $56) to see if their promise rings true. For diners in a rush, order their Express Set Lunch ($18), where you get a choice of one meat, one grain and a standard wanton soup. Available only during lunch is their assortment of sweet and savoury Dim Sum. Empress, Asian Civilisations Museum, 1 Empress Place #01-03 Singapore 179555 (Image: Empress Facebook Page)

7. Kite

With the opening of Kite at Craig Road, you can expect Asian-inspired dishes with a twist. Case in point: Their Somen ($14) is a refreshingly cold noodle dish featuring Lap Cheong (Chinese Sausages) oil, leek flowers and Tiger Prawns. The restaurant’s dinner menu is a la carte. Their lunch menu, however, is served dim-sum style. Customers can order dishes from three sections - Cold, Hot and Sweets (3 dishes for $25, 4 dishes for $35) - and pair it with an inclusive coffee or tea. Some choices include: Salmon 42deg, Saba Rillette and Sugee Cake. Kite, 53 Craig Road Singapore 089691 (Image: Kite Facebook Page)

8. Bird Bird

After the success of Artichoke and Neh Neh Pop, Chef Bjorn Shen’s newest venture is an ode to Thai chicken, aptly named Bird Bird. Décor wise, the Thai Chicken restaurant grabs your attention with its graffiti-stained walls, gaudy tablecloths and a smattering of grammatical errors on the menu. For food, Bird Bird aims to delight with its signature Gai Tod (Fried Chicken, $25) and Gai Yang (BBQ Chicken, $25), among other items. For a refreshing end to your meal, quench the heat from the chicken with some Thai Milk Tea Slushie ($5). Bird Bird, 18 Ann Siang Road Singapore 069699 (Image: Bird Bird Facebook Page)

9. 20F Specialty Coffeehouse

If there is one dish you must try at the newly-opened 20F Specialty Coffeehouse, it is their Duck & Waffle ($22). Despite its simple name, the dish is a perfect blend of sweet and savoury. The chewy buttermilk waffle turns soft as the tangy mixed berries sorbet melts, thus intensifying the flavours of the savoury duck confit. Do yourself a favour and order this. 20F Specialty Coffeehouse, 20 Foch Road Singapore 209261 (Image: Rachel Wong)

10. Hua Ting Steamboat

The latest addition heating up our local steamboat scene is Hua Ting Steamboat, the sister outlet to Orchard Hotel's reputable Cantonese restaurant, Hua Ting. Other than hotpot soup bases such as Shark's Bone Cartilage Soup With Fresh Bean Curd Sheets ($28) and Superior Fish Soup With Winter Melon & Conpoy ($34), Hua Ting Steamboat also caters to dry pot lovers with their dry pot set lunch ($26). Options include spicy chicken, Kurobuta pork belly and sea perch. Hua Ting Steamboat, Claymore Connect, 442 Orchard Road #01-03 Singapore 238879 (Image: Claymore Connect Website)

Written by Rachel Wong