新加坡莱佛士酒店

Where better to find a priceless jewel of the Singapore dining scene than in The National Gallery? Chef Julien Royer and his highly accomplished kitchen make wonderful use of luxury ingredients of unimpeachable quality. Creative combinations, impeccable techniques and exquisite plating result in dishes that are as elegant as they are memorable. The understated and graceful room, overseen by a highly polished service team, provides the perfect backdrop.

The space is simple yet elegant, befitting the hotel that houses it. There is a 10-seat counter made from a 200-year-old cypress tree from Nara, Japan, plus a private room. Chef-owner Sakuta works closely with the all-Japanese kitchen team, creating a season-driven omakase menu based exclusively on Japanese fish. Even the rice is a blend of two Japanese cultivars in a precise ratio for the perfect texture. Every item is prepared with utmost care.

Unlike other branches in the group, this one has a European décor echoing the colonial style of the building that hosts it. That said, the menu remains the same as the others. Apart from the main menu, make sure you check out the chef’s selection menu. Double-boiled soups, flavourful and hearty, are unmissable. Deep-fried spare ribs marinated with shrimp paste are crispy and loaded with umami.

Hailing from Nagoya, the Japanese head chef champions a refined, elegant approach to sushi. The menus emphasise freshness and star white fish alongside other luxury seasonal produce. Ingredients are shipped from Japan four times a week and sushi rice from Yamagata and Ishikawa prefectures is mixed in a specific ratio to the best effect. Sushi is served with two sauces to accentuate the umami of the fish. The extensive sake list offers pairing options by the glass.

The modern French cuisine with Asian overtones is not to be outdone by the unobstructed views of Marina Bay, smart decor and discreet service. The chef team knows the Asian F&B market inside out and the single tasting menu showcases premium seafood from all over the world, especially Japan. Natural flavours are accentuated in mindful preparations underpinned by solid skills. Closed on some public holidays, so call ahead to check.

Chef LG Han takes recognisable local flavours and tastes remembered from childhood as his starting point – and then reimagines and reinterprets them, using superlative ingredients from across Singapore. The result is an exciting, original and unforgettable set menu that surprises, amuses and satisfies. The restaurant’s black canvas is punctured by razor sharp lighting, while the service team are clued up and very well organised.

An alumnus of prestigious establishments in France, the U.S. and Singapore, Chef Kevin Wong opened Seroja in 2022 to pledge his love to the Malay Archipelago. His seafood-focused tasting menus pay tribute to Malaysian culinary traditions with a generous use of local produce, spices and techniques. The plating is meticulous and artful and the flavours subtle and finely balanced. Ask about the food and wine or non-alcoholic beverage pairing.