Milli: New rooftop bar and restaurant to open at National Gallery Singapore on May 31

What does it take to propel Singapore’s dining and nightlife scene to the next level? 

Four players in the food and beverage (F&B) scene have taken on this task together with Milli, a rooftop dining and entertainment destination opening on May 31 at the National Gallery Singapore. 

About Milli

It will be split across two venues that can take a total of 140 diners, both serving the same food and drink menus, and with the same opening hours.

Milli: Sky Dining & Bar on level six – with sweeping views of the Padang and Marina Bay Sands – takes over the former Smoke & Mirrors bar; while Milli: Lounge takes over from Cantonese restaurant Yan on level five. 

Renovations are ongoing for the project, which is a partnership between Mr Leong Sheen Jet, 33, co-founder of home-grown F&B group The Proper Concepts Collective; Mr Dharma Wang, 38, managing director of beverage distributor Coolpotions; Mr Vijay Mudaliar, 37, co-founder of Native Bar in Amoy Street; and chef-partner Han Liguang, 40, owner of the one-Michelin-starred modern Singaporean restaurant Labyrinth at the Esplanade Mall. 

Mr Leong, Mr Wang and Mr Mudaliar are also co-founders of the popular Bae’s Cocktail Club in Tanjong Pagar Road. 

Milli’s name is derived from the word “millennium”, a nod to the evolution of Singapore’s cultural identity across generations. Its concept, says Mr Leong, signals the need to pivot to current consumer trends which focus on both dining and entertainment.

On the menu

Lunch will be served from 11am to 3pm and drinks, 3 to 5.30pm, followed by dinner from 5.30 to 10pm. High tea will be introduced in the next phase. 

With chef Han curating the menu, dishes will have his “personal stamp” on them, sans the formality of dining at Labyrinth. Prices have not been confirmed.

The menu will feature nostalgia-meets-novelty vibes with big-format meats and seafood for sharing such as Whole Grilled Cod Head with Assam Curry Beurre Blanc Sauce, Lobster Laksa Cheong Fun and Dry-aged Tomahawk with Hainanese-style Black Pepper Sauce. 

For the King Crab dish, it will be first presented steamed, then with the option to dip into white pepper or salted egg yolk sauces on the side. 

Chef Han’s familiar signatures will also return. These include starter Chilli Crab Ice Cream – a highlight of Labyrinth’s early menu.

The classic Oyster Omelette with French oysters is given a souffle spin; while the Roasted Spring Chicken Rice Paella reimagines the beloved staple with a mixture of glutinous and Koshihikari rice, cooked in old mother hen stock and finished with a scorched bottom reminiscent of claypot rice. 

There will be a two-course set lunch at $38++ with a la carte options to add on. 

Dessert sets the stage for chef Han and Mr Mudaliar to collaborate on a series of Ice Kachang-goris, a reworking of the local shaved-ice dessert with Japanese techniques. They come in alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions.

The dessert is elevated with a bandung-inspired version with rose liqueur, coconut ice shavings and crisp meringue; as well as a Solero-inspired version, a throwback to the lime and vanilla ice cream combination Singaporeans grew up with.

Late-night clubbing and bites (last order is one hour before closing) will run from 10pm till closing, and the menu is no afterthought. Think Dry Laksa Carbonara, a take on the popular Spicy Carbonara at Bae’s Cocktail Club; Prata Pizza; Ice Cream Pandan Waffles and Goreng Pisang Skewers. 

The food can be paired with local-inspired drinks by Mr Mudaliar such as Peranakan Spritz with blue pea flower, elderflower liqueur and housemade coconut water soda, with a piece of kueh on the side; and The Singaporean Breakfast – a kaya toast-inspired alcoholic slushie with kaya, coconut milk, rum and espresso. 

The Milli – inspired by the Million Dollar Cocktail created by the Singapore Sling’s inventor Ngiam Tong Boon – is another option, made with gin, pineapple juice, sherry and mandarin grenadine.

While Bae’s Cocktail Club is mainly known for its R&B, hip-hop and K-pop hits, Milli will feature a multi-genre format that includes pop, disco and funk. 

So, with these four power players combining resources, expect to see more guest deejays, chefs and bartenders enlivening the entertainment, dining and drinks experience. 

While Mr Leong acknowledges the challenges of rising construction and labour costs in the F&B sector, he says it remains their collective goal to be the next generation driving Singapore’s culinary scene, serving up food and entertainment with a view. 

Chef Han says: “Food in a club or bar may not be that good, or a restaurant may not have good cocktails – we have all three in one. You are assured of quality across the board, good food, drinks and vibes to stay for the night.” 

Other Gallery additions

Following Milli’s debut, another nightlife venue is slated to open at the National Gallery Singapore. 

Called Xava Skybar, it will offer a menu of sharing plates and mains as well as a signature cocktail programme.

It replaces Italian restaurant Art di Daniele Sperindio, slated to re-open at Mett Singapore hotel in Fort Canning Park in the third quarter of 2026. 

The addition of Xava Skybar and Milli is part of the gallery’s broader F&B refresh, says Mr Chris Lee, the gallery’s assistant chief executive (museum experience and operations). 

Other recent additions to the gallery include Korean restaurant Seoul & So, and Gilmore & Damian D’Silva, which specialises in Eurasian and Singaporean cuisine. 

More casual eateries include Rempapa, Bakery Brera, Kopi 1930 and Twenty Eight Cafe, alongside the existing National Kitchen by Violet Oon and three-Michelin-starred Odette. 

“Across this refresh, we’ve focused on curating a mix of concepts that are accessible yet distinctive, with a stronger day-to-night offering. These new spaces will allow visitors to enjoy the gallery and its unique views of the city in a more relaxed and social setting, both during and after museum hours,” says Mr Lee. 

Milli opens on May 31 at the National Gallery Singapore from 11 to 1am (Sundays to Tuesdays), 11 to 3am (Wednesdays to Fridays), 11 to 4am (Saturdays and the eve of public holidays). Reservations are open at www.millisingapore.com 

This article was originally published in The Straits Times.