For many Chinese restaurants, the start of the Chinese New Year is a time to “rest the wok”. But there are still many that choose to remain open during the first two days of Chinese New Year.
Chinese restaurants such as those in hotels, for example, will be open. These include Summer Palace at The Regent Singapore, Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant at Holiday Inn Atrium and Cassia at Capella Singapore.
Prosperity Truffle Duck Yu Sheng at Summer Palace – the restaurant will stay open on the first two days of the Lunar New Year. PHOTO: REGENT SINGAPORE
Others, such as Pu Tien, with eight restaurants islandwide, will also be open throughout the 15-day festive period.
Even some of Imperial Treasure’s outlets, including those at Marina Bay Sands, Resorts World Sentosa and Changi Airport Terminal 3, will also be open, although most of the group’s other outlets will be closed.
But diners looking for other options can have everything from French fare to international buffet spreads with a handful of Chinese New Year offerings.
Bar-roque Grill, a French restaurant at Amara Singapore in Tanjong Pagar, for example, will be open to give more dining options during the Chinese festival, says its co-owner Kori Millar.
Fortune pot from Li Bai’s Chinese New Year menu. PHOTO: SHERATON TOWERS SINGAPORE
Traditionally, Chinese restaurants usually close either on the first day or the first two days of the Chinese New Year to let their employees spend it with their families. And non-Chinese restaurants, too, take the chance to give their staff a well-deserved break during the season.
Sushi Tei’s outlets islandwide, for example, will close from 3pm on Chinese New Year’s Eve and remain shuttered on the first and second days.
Japanese restaurants Akanoya Robatayaki and Akashi at Orchard Parade Hotel will be closed from the eve to the second day of Chinese New Year.
Still, those that open throughout the festive season say it is important to recognise and reward their employees for working during Chinese New Year.
Mr Sebastien Lim, Pu Tien’s brand vice-president, says staff who work during the Chinese New Year holidays will get a day off in lieu.
He adds: “We also arrange an after-hours hot pot party for the staff and their families to make up for their time spent working, so they can usher in the New Year together.”
Open on the first two days of Chinese New Year
1. Sin Hoi Sai Seafood Restaurant
Where: Block 55 Tiong Bahru Road, 01-59, tel: 6223-0810 or 6224-3905
2. Peach Blossoms
Where: Marina Mandarin Singapore, 6 Raffles Boulevard, Marina Square, tel:6845-1118
3. Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant
Where: Holiday Inn Atrium, 317 Outram Road, tel: 6731-7173
4. Yan Ting
Where: The St Regis Singapore, 29 Tanglin Road, tel: 6506-6887
5. Summer Palace
Where: The Regent Hotel Singapore, 1 Cuscaden Road, tel: 6725-3288
6. Street 50 Restaurant & Bar
Where: Bay Hotel Singapore, 50 Telok Blangah Road, tel: 6818-6681
7. TungLok Heen
Where: Resorts World Sentosa, Hotel Michael, Lobby Level, 26 Sentosa Gateway 02-142/143, tel: 6884-7888
8. Cassia
Where: Capella Singapore, 1 The Knolls, Sentosa, tel: 6591-5045
9. Hua Ting Restaurant
Where: Orchard Hotel Singapore, 442 Orchard Road, tel: 6739-6666
10. Jiang-Nan Chun
Where: Four Seasons Hotel Singapore, 190 Orchard Boulevard, tel: 6831-7220
11. Li Bai Cantonese Restaurant
Where: Sheraton Towers Singapore, 39 Scotts Road, lower lobby level, tel: 6839-5623
12. Szechuan Court
Where: Fairmont Singapore, 80 Bras Basah Road, tel: 6431-6156
Open for dinner only on the first day of Chinese New Year, and for lunch and dinner thereafter
Chui Huay Lim
Where: 190 Keng Lee Road, 01-02, Chui Huay Lim Club, tel: 6732-3637
JPot
Where: Two outlets – VivoCity, 1 Harbourfront Walk, 01-53, tel: 6273-3536, and Tampines 1, 10 Tampines Central 1, 03-16, tel:6532-3536
Jing
Where: One Fullerton, 1 Fullerton Road, 01-02/03, tel: 6224-0088
Singapore Seafood Republic
Where: 26 Sentosa Gateway, 01-292 Waterfront, Resorts World Sentosa, tel:6265-6777
Closed on the first two days of Chinese New Year
- All Crystal Jade outlets islandwide
- Imperial Treasure restaurants islandwide such as Imperial Treasure Nan Bei, Imperial Treasure Super Peking Duck and Imperial Treasure Steamboat. Some outlets, such as the ones at Resorts World Sentosa, Changi Airport Terminal 3 and Marina Bay Sands, remain open throughout Chinese New Year.
- Holland Village XO Fish Head Bee Hoon, Dover Crescent
- Keng Eng Kee Seafood Restaurant, Alexandra Village
- Ah Orh Seafood Restaurant, Bukit Merah
- Beng Thin Hoon Kee, OCBC Centre
- Ng Ah Sio Bak Kut Teh in Rangoon Road, Tanjong Katong and Chui Huay Lim Club. The Marina Bay Sands outlet is closed on the first day of Chinese New Year, but open on the second day.
This article was first run in The Straits Times newspaper on January 12, 2014. For similar stories, go to sph.straitstimes.com/premium/singapore. You will not be able to access the Premium section of The Straits Times website unless you are already a subscriber.
