Here’s a shortlist of everything you need this Lunar New Year, from dim sum and cocktails to gifts for luck
Madame Fan
For an excellent meal with all-you-can-drink cocktails in a sleek yet cosy setting, dim sum at Madame Fan is always a good idea. Its special Lunar New Year Dim Sum, Drink Sum brunch (S$118) promises a great time over Steamed Black Truffle Dumplings, Crab Roe Har Gao, Braised Irish Duck and for the sake of the season, Salmon Yusheng; available from 10 to 12, 17, 18, 24, 25 February 2024.
One can also enjoy Madame Fan creations from the comfort of their home, with the Prosperity Poon Choi (from S$438) and Bountiful Family Set Menu (S$1,388) available for island-wide delivery until 25 February 2024.
5 on 25
There is plenty on offer at 5 on 25: excellent Cantonese food, a great view and friendly service. Head chef Lim Hong Lih has also curated a menu of à la carte dishes, dim sum and more, specially for this Lunar New Year. Look forward to Steamed Black Cod, Braised Jade Tiger Abalone Tarts, Dang Gui Roasted Duck, and even Pen Cai for home reunions of four to eight guests. For gifting, try your luck with the 13 Wonders Mahjong Set (S$48), a winning hand of 13 peach chocolate-flavoured tiles, centred by a piece of spicy Mandarin dragon praline. More here.
Cassia
Exit the main island for a little peace and quiet at Capella Singapore, where refined Cantonese cuisine at Cassia awaits. The restaurant, built with stylish interiors by André Fu, enjoys taking the unexpected route, serving traditional Cantonese dishes with a modern twist. Two dinner seatings on Lunar New Year’s Eve are available, while lunch and dinner are up for reservations from 10 to 24 February 2024. Go à la carte or sign up for one of the various set menus, such as Dawn of Spring (S$258 per head), which includes Suckling Pig with seafood and Kaluga caviar, Boston Lobster and egg noodles, and fried Kagoshima A5 Wagyu Beef. And if you wish to extend your stay Capella a little longer, consider the Lunar New Year Getaway package, which includes accommodation of your choice, US$100 credit, daily breakfast and complimentary resort activities. More here.
Art di Daniele Sperindio
Not everything needs to be pineapple and bakkwa during the Lunar New Year. Break tradition a little and opt for a box of gianduiotto by Art di Daniele Sperindio, a one-Michelin-starred restaurant known for progressive Italian food. Its exclusive Chinese New Year Gianduiotto 2.0, made with the finest hazelnuts from Piedmont, makes for great gifting and a gesture of wishing good luck and fortune. Available by the box, each gianduiotto is individually wrapped in gold foil, symbolising wealth, and on top of it all, a ribbon in red, for obvious reasons. Yours for S$52.32, with 10 per cent off on orders of 10 or more.
Shisen Hanten by Chef Kentaro
There’s more to Sichuan cuisine than spicy, tongue-numbing mala xiang guo, and you would agree, if you have been to Shisen Hanten, a well-loved Sichuan restaurant from Japan. Introduced in 2014, it continues a legacy that began in 1958 with the founding of Japan’s first Sichuan restaurant, and has largely held out against the competitive culinary scene in Singapore. Experience Shisen Hanten by the dish—signatures include the Roasted Whole Boneless Suckling Pig and Foie Gras Chawanmushi with Crab Roe Soup—or go easy on yourself and simply go with one of the eight set menus, good for couples or large groups. Those who choose to stay home may instead order in the Abundance Fortune Pot, Roasted Dang Gui Whole Duck, and other festive treats like Duo Flavour Nian Gao, Golden Pineapple Ingots and Steamed Pumpkin Cake.
Entrepôt
Entrepôt at The Robertson House celebrates the Lunar New Year with its first-ever version of yusheng. The restaurant, known for its Anglo-Asian cuisine, has created Chasing The Dragon, a delicious platter of in-house cured salmon, ikura, candied pecans, popping candy and dragon fruit-plum dressing. Available in portions good for two or three persons (S$58), or four to six (S$88), and paired with a Year of the Dragon-inspired cocktail from the hotel’s speakeasy bar, Chandu.
Glenfiddich 21 Year Old Gran Reserva
A grand bottle of Scotch is always a good gift, and sometimes, so good you’d want to keep it for yourself. Case in point, the Glenfiddich 21 Year Old Gran Reserva. Matured in casks that once held Caribbean rum, and finished in Gran Reserva barrels for four months, this is one hell of a single malt with notes of vanilla, banana, toffee and peppery oak. Yours for S$395 at William Grant & Sons or at Glenfiddich’s Chinese New Year pop-up at Suntec City, happening until 4 February 2024. The whisky will come with complimentary label personalisation, a set of red packets, gift bag and limited-edition case designed by multidisciplinary artist, Raku Inoue.
Jiang-Nan Chun
Lo hei is always a fun tradition to be had over the Lunar New Year, but only with the right ingredients and the right crowd. Cantonese fine-dining restaurant, Jiang-Nan Chun, does it right with Lobster Yu Sheng (starts at S$198), packed with flavours of the sea (lobster, abalone, smoked salmon and organic ice plants) and dressed in plum sauce and pineapple paste. Available until 24 February 2024 and best had in the Jin Yu Man Tang set menu (S$8,888 for 10), which comes with Double-Boiled Chicken Soup, Sautéed Pacific Geoduck and a bottle of Dom Pérignon.
Baker’s Brew
Addictive, spicy and savoury, these Hae Bee Hiam Cookies are little bites of umami heaven. Possibly our favourite among the Baker’s Brew festive lineup, the cookies come packaged in classic biscuit tins and go for S$29.80 each. But if you’re looking to gift a bunch of people (three or more), make use of the early bird discount going on until 4 February 2024.
Chin Mee Chin Confectionary
For a classic Singaporean kopitiam (coffee shop) breakfast, Chin Mee Chin is a go-to for many. It’s been serving the Katong neighbourhood well since 1925, doling out coffee, kaya toast, old-school pastries and more. Not exactly ‘luxury’, but if what you’re looking for is flavour and heritage, you might be pleased to hear that there are three kinds of confectionaries on the festive menu: Salted Egg Cookies (S$9.50), Peanut Butter Cookies (S$8.50) and the classic Pineapple Cake (S$11), baked to a slight crunch. Available online till 23 February 2024 and in-store till 25 February 2024.
