Service Residence at Stevens

Haute cuisine is increasingly about the chef embracing creative freedom and dictating the whole experience. At the longstanding, singularly sophisticated and world-renowned Les Amis, the choice is yours. The prix-fixe menus present a wide range of modern French classics with occasional Asian twists, in which simple ingredient combinations and seasoning highlight the natural flavours. Consider booking the chef's table for an intimate experience.

The entrance to this intimate restaurant in a refurbished colonial house is flanked by an imposing display of wine bottles, including many interesting Italian vintages. The interior is elegantly furnished with refined contemporary charm. They serve set menus comprising impeccably executed dishes. Signatures include house-made tagliatelle with freshly shaved and intensely aromatic white truffle. Wine list comes with options of Italian labels, natural wine and whisky flyer.

A picture window in this elegantly furnished room gives diners a front-row view of the kitchen team in action. The tasting menu served at dinner features multiple courses that showcase top-notch produce from Japan and France, such as Miyazaki Wagyu and Bresse pigeon, deftly crafted with European techniques. There is also a plant-based menu for vegans. With thousands of labels from Burgundy, the wine list is worth perusing.

The serene interior is furnished in contemporary Chinese style, in a palette dominated by warm whites and muted tones. On the menu, wok hei-laden stir-fries such as crocodile fillet in brown sauce, and venison with Chinese kale feature alongside Cantonese classics including baked stuffed crab shell, steamed Chinese marrow rings stuffed with shrimp, and spinach and tofu in crabmeat sauce. Be sure to try the exquisitely crafted dim sum, too.

The silky smooth and tactile counter was fashioned from a 300-year-old cypress and the wooden ornaments on the wall were handmade by a famous carpenter in Nara. Traditional Edomae sushi is made with seasonal seafood and vegetables from Japan. Only the best rice, marinated with red or white vinegar, makes it to the counter. Even the sauces are shipped from their flagship store in Japan to maintain consistency. The omakase menu is recommended.

Further to a recent refurbishment, the interior still exudes luxury and elegance, but in an updated, understated manner. The head chef, who honed his craft at the Tokyo branch for over 12 years, champions a refined take on Chūka Sichuan cooking. Try his signature mapo tofu, or the stir-fried Hokkaido Mangalica pork – packed with bold flavours, it is also bursting with umami, thanks to the fatty pork belly and a blend of fermented bean sauces.

The view of the lush green in the garden is one good reason to visit. But owner-chef Malcolm Lee's exquisite tasting menu that explores the untapped possibilities of Straits cuisine is what makes the experience of dining here unforgettable. Named after the plant that produces buah keluak seeds, a key ingredient in Peranakan cuisine, Pangium pays homage to family recipes passed down for generations with carefully crafted dishes that taste exceptional.