Food

Few other things are as evocative of the leisurely life as spending the afternoon socializing with friends and family over scones, cakes and finger sandwiches laid out nicely on a three-tier stand. Afternoon teas have only increased in popularity following the new normal as more folks take it slow and focus more on personal wellness. 

In this article, I try to show all the updated afternoon tea offerings at the moment. Afternoon tea sets tend to get refreshed every few months so without further ado, these are the promotions you can check out this month. 

As WFH becomes less common, afternoon teas are reverting to their original place as mainly weekend affairs so it is advisable to book ahead if you wish to come on a Saturday or Sunday. Weekday seatings are usually not booked out, but it is advisable to check ahead as there are hotels that have made their afternoon tea sets available only on weekends.

You can also join our telegram channel here and receive updates on NEW afternoon tea offerings, exclusive promotions not found anywhere else as well as other F&B flash deals.

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There is a new Chinese restaurant in town. The Black Pearl occupies the rooftop space of Odeon 333 along North Bridge Road. It is one of the concepts of Gaia Lifestyle Group, a chain that also includes Social Place and Gyutan-tan. The Black Pearl is helmed by Executive Chef Dee Chan. 

The space is impressive and features panoramic views of Singapore’s skyline, including the iconic Marina Bay Sands. The 80-seater main dining hall is inspired by the beauty of the pearl and evokes the spirit of the Qing imperial banquet.

Aside from the main dining hall, there are also private rooms as well as a chef’s table with a particularly noteworthy ceiling. Overall, it is quite an enchanting venue – one that I’d imagine suit business lunches and family gatherings. 

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For the month of February, many hotels are offering the tail-end of their Chinese New Year themed buffets, with most ending by mid-February. Despite the seasonality, I find that most of these hotels don’t deviate too much from their mainstays, while still offering a few CNY-themed items here and there. A common pattern seen are bak kwa-infused dishes such as pizza.

You can also join our telegram channel here and receive updates on NEW buffet offerings, exclusive promotions not found anywhere else as well as other F&B flash deals.

Without further ado, here are some noteworthy hotel buffet dining promotions to check out for the month of February 2025:

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One of the longest standing omakase restaurants in Singapore, Ki-Sho has been around since 2012 which is quite a feat considering the highly competitive dining scene here. Set in a colonial black-and-white bungalow, Ki-sho offers a contrast to the squeezy omakase joints elsewhere. Although the main dining hall is of a regular layout, Ki-sho boasts of an elegant entrance and waiting area as well as a second floor. 

Ki-sho has recently brought in a new chef – Kawaii Hideki – who possesses close to 40 years of experience. With him, he brings a new kappou-style omakase experience in Ki-sho. During my dinner, I found him to be rather quiet – with not a single hint of theatrics and leaving the entirety of the explanation to the wait staff. 

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Yu sheng (鱼生) is an especially popular dish to have in Singapore during Chinese New Year. While the raw fish salad was thought to have originated somewhere in China, the yu sheng that we know today is a primarily Singaporean / Malaysian innovation.

Yu sheng is an especially symbolic dish with each ingredient representing something auspicious for the coming lunar new year. Highly competitive yu sheng offerings by hotels and Chinese restaurants have led to somewhat innovative ingredients, but at its heart, yu sheng traditionally includes the following: raw fish (usually salmon), pomelo, pepper, oil, carrots, green and white radish, peanut crumbs, sesame seeds, dressing (usually plum sauce) and finally, deep fried golden pillows.

Auspicious phrases are supposed to be uttered while each ingredient is being sprinkled into the salad. Tossing of yu sheng is known as lo hei. I won’t go into the specifics of the phrases to be uttered as my main aim here is to show you the best selection of yu sheng for this year. Without further ado, here are the top yu sheng to have in 2025:

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The coming Chinese New Year in 2025 – the Year of the Snake – will fall on the 29th January 2025. Given the current situation, you can expect an abundant selection from some of the top Chinese restaurants and hotels for pen cai  for your reunion dinner. As with previous years, there are establishments offering takeaway or islandwide delivery services for Chinese New Year reunion dinners. If you choose to dine-in, try to reserve early as many of the popular restaurants get booked out weeks in advance. 

Pen cai or Poon Choi is a traditional Cantonese dish comprised of a number of ingredients including meat, seafood and vegetables. Contrary to popular belief in Singapore, pen cai is not just consumed during Chinese New Year by Cantonese communities. Traditionally, pen cai is eaten during major festivals, religious rituals and even wedding banquets. In Singapore however, it is mostly eaten during the Lunar New Year as a symbol of harmony.

Without further ado, I’ve tried my best to list them down here for your convenience. This list will be expanded over the next few days as new establishments come onboard with their pen cai for CNY 2025 so bookmark this page for future reference.

You can also join our telegram channel here and receive updates on price drops, exclusive promotions not found anywhere else as well as flash deals for CNY dishes and other F&B promotions.
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Pineapple tarts rank among the most popular type of CNY goodies. It is commonly offered to guests who visit during CNY or as gifts to loved ones and friends. In Singapore, there are a few types of pineapple tarts that one commonly finds – from open-faced pineapple tarts to pineapple balls to roll tarts or even Taiwan-style rectangular pineapple cakes. Whichever style you prefer, I aim to list some of the best pineapple tarts I have found for CNY 2025, for your perusal. This list will also be updated as the season progresses.

You can also join our newly-launched telegram channel here and receive updates on price drops, exclusive promotions not found anywhere else as well as flash deals for CNY goodies and other F&B promotions.

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Whether presented as gifts or left at home as snacks to offer guests, delectable goodies usually come to define CNY celebrations at home. These snacks are undoubtedly good to eat but there is actually a reason why people mainly have them during Chinese New Year. There are many popular CNY goodies and snacks and these are the major ones:

• Pineapple tarts – In Hokkien, pineapples are called “ong lai” which also means “luck is coming.” Because of this, pineapples are frequently displayed in homes during the Lunar New Year period and pineapple tarts / balls are frequently eaten or given as gifts as a means of bringing in the luck. You can check out my more detailed guide on this topic here.
• BBQ pork – This is probably the most sought after goodie to try during CNY, especially in Singapore. Although available year round, strips of BBQ pork are most popular during Chinese New Year because of their red color, symbolizing luck. This tasty snack also originated as an expensive food item and as such, people consume them during this period to signify prosperity for the coming year. You can check out my separate guide on the best BBQ pork to try in Singapore.
• Nian gao – Literally translated as the “year cake,” nian gao is usually eaten during Chinese New Year because its sticky and glutinous quality is traditionally believed in Chinese mythology to seal the Kitchen God’s mouth shut. Offering nian gao keeps him from badmouthing you to the Jade Emperor in his annual CNY report. 
• Shrimp rolls – Cylindrical-shaped snacks such as shrimp rolls are also popular during Chinese New Year. Their golden color coupled with the cylindrical shape are akin to gold bars and as such, symbolize wealth.
• Radish cake – This savory goodie is another popular food to eat during CNY because its Hokkien name (“chai tow”) sounds similar to the Hokkien word for prosperity and rising fortunes.

You can also join our newly-launched telegram channel here and receive updates on price drops, exclusive promotions not found anywhere else as well as flash deals for CNY goodies and other F&B promotions.

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