Follow Singapore investment immigration and Singapore life: Dining in Singapore is one of the key features promoted by the local tourism department. In several of Singapore's famous hotels, the dining establishments are truly the "best of the best" in the local culinary industry. Furthermore, Chinese restaurants within Singaporean hotels emphasize the Chinese characteristic of "finding emotional resonance in landscapes," invariably incorporating outdoor greenery and occupying prime locations within the hotels. Western-style restaurants, by contrast, use creativity to shape distinctively different decorative styles, with open-concept show kitchens being a common feature. Compared to the Chinese restaurants' focus on the "taste of food," Western restaurants clearly highlight the visual effects of the dining experience!
The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore: Aerobic and Organic
The Summer Pavilion, the Chinese restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore, is located across three levels, nestled within a picturesque garden. Enveloped by floor-to-ceiling glass walls, the restaurant's high ceilings and open space facilitate the entry of natural light, allowing bright light and shadows to grace every corner. The tables and chairs, crafted from soft-textured fabrics and leather, further emphasize an elegant and refined quality. The arrangement of the dining tables also follows a specific pattern, scattered as if to preserve the pure and bright temperament of the outdoor garden, yet echoing one another, allowing guests to enjoy absolute privacy while possessing an expansive view. Every time you look up during your meal, you are met with a view full of greenery.
The Greenhouse café, located on one side of the Summer Pavilion, is the hotel's all-day dining restaurant, serving both Asian delicacies and traditional Western flavors. The visual highlight of the café is undoubtedly the giant glass-blown art piece "Sunset" suspended above the main hall. It was custom-made for the restaurant by master glassblower Chihuly and stands in contrast to another set, "Sunrise," which hangs on the east side of the hotel atrium at the Chihuly Lounge. Both works consist of over 100 pieces of hand-blown glass, and their brilliant colors and magnificent shapes make one strongly feel the immense charm radiated by the sun. At the Chihuly Lounge, a grand piano replaces the open kitchen, making it more suitable for small groups of friends to relax and chat in the afternoon or evening.
The Regent Singapore: Expressive Creativity
At The Regent Singapore, the Summer Palace Chinese restaurant on the third floor can be said to enjoy the privilege of "sunlight." To allow natural light to enter without obstruction, the restaurant adopts a transparent and open design. Aside from using striking gold and red colors to highlight Chinese characteristics, the restaurant has few other decorations. However, such a design further sets off the beauty of the outdoor nature. On that day, we were arranged to dine by the window, where we could admire the beautiful scenery of greenery gently swaying in the breeze. Although separated by a wall of glass, it felt as if a breeze was brushing against our faces and the rustling sounds were entering our ears. More importantly, the "unadorned" Chinese restaurant allows guests to focus their attention on enjoying the food, highlighting the Chinese emphasis on "flavor"! Of course, the chefs do not forget to entice with color and use it to enhance the deliciousness of the food; both the presentation of the dishes and the choice of tableware are very exquisite.
The Italian restaurant "Basilico," which occupies most of the atrium on the second floor of The Regent, was designed by the famous Japanese designer Yasuhiro Koichi, with inspiration drawn from Italian piazzas! Through clever conception, the restaurant extends in all directions from a central show kitchen and buffet counter, shaping various dining areas with distinct themes that echo one another. Whether it is the two "secret rooms" surrounded by wine at the entrance, or the semi-open dining areas on the wings of the restaurant with brick-paved walls, they are all symmetrically arranged in the same format. The romantic outdoor dining area by the pool is the most popular in the evening; if guests dislike the hot outdoors but still want to experience the natural atmosphere, the dining area in the hotel atrium is an ideal choice... Such an open and unified style is indeed identical to the emphasis on spatial symmetry in Italian piazzas!
Four Seasons Hotel: Deep Meaning Hidden in Simplicity
The Jiang-Nan Chun Chinese restaurant, which specializes in traditional Cantonese cuisine, is located on the second floor of the Four Seasons Hotel Singapore. Its design, which features a Neo-Art Deco style, recreates the artistic beauty of the old days when members of the imperial family or nobles would indulge in poetry along the banks of the Yangtze River during spring. To walk in harmony with nature, the restaurant also adopts an open design layout, allowing guests to take in the greenery outside the window between meals. The interior furnishings present a sense of scattered order and the revival of all things: a red jacket is embedded in the rosewood screen in the center of the restaurant, which is very vivid; slightly lower cabinets are also decorated with traditional lacquer handicrafts, echoing the scene; in addition, the tables covered with white tablecloths are also filled with various decorations of different heights—floral arrangements, plates, wine glasses, candlelight... A layered appearance, as if it were a beautiful mountain landscape that stretches endlessly during a misty, rainy season...
The all-day dining restaurant One-Ninety is located in the hotel lobby. Its location is a must-pass area for guests moving between the fitness and shopping areas, so the restaurant uses a floor level slightly higher than the lobby to distinguish it from other open spaces. After guests step up, they feel as if they are on the streets of a European country. The absolutely open design layout is dotted with green plants and wooden tables and chairs, presenting a light and casual atmosphere. The show kitchen is placed along the aisle, becoming the best decoration while also adding a touch of afternoon laziness to the restaurant.
Swissôtel The Stamford: Looking Afar from a Height
The modern Swissôtel The Stamford is located in the city center and is one of the tallest hotels in Southeast Asia. The Equinox Complex dining and entertainment center occupies the 70th floor at the top of the hotel, offering an unparalleled panoramic view of Singapore. It is the most exciting place in the city, and JAAN, a restaurant serving "New French" cuisine, is located within it. Chef Julien Royer grew up on a French farm and is familiar with the natural growth state of vegetables and fruits as well as the growth process of livestock. Subsequently, the first Michelin-starred restaurant he joined, Michel Bras, was famous for providing authentic dishes. Therefore, ensuring the fresh taste of food while making the dishes more pleasing to the eye is the innovation of Julien and the JAAN restaurant.
As night falls, the twinkling lights of Singapore are particularly alluring. Correspondingly, the colors between the cups and plates are equally bright, making it hard to imagine that the food being eaten could be so vivid. A plate of food looks very much like a scene in the countryside, and the movement of knives and forks between them inevitably carries a suspicion of exploration.
Although another Equinox restaurant also focuses on continental flavors, its interior decoration is a different story. It extensively uses Chinese Ming Dynasty-style lattice wood to isolate multiple dining areas with different atmospheres, which is full of design sense. If it were a Chinese restaurant, I am afraid it would not be able to make such a big splash. If JAAN highlights the nobility of the restaurant with enchanting palace purple, then Equinox uses rich Chinese red to express a full sense of modernity and international style.
