A departure from the brand’s previous food and beverage concepts, Empress is The Prive Group’s first Chinese restaurant, but one that is atypical of a Chinese dining establishment.


A departure from the brand’s previous food and beverage concepts, Empress is The Prive Group’s first Chinese restaurant, but one that is atypical of a Chinese dining establishment.

Named after its street address (it is housed in the Asian Civilisations Museum), it serves traditional Chinese fare in polished and refined Art Deco-inspired interiors. However, the restaurant exudes a casual, relaxed vibe, thanks to its contemporary styling. Designed by design studio Takenouchi Webb, Empress features a mix of oriental elements and European-inspired details, with brass and bronze highlights contrasting with dark wood and stone finishes. Geometricpatterned screens feature throughout the space; and the main dining area is anchored by a 6m-long marbleclad bar cleverly set against the museum’s white masonry walls to reference the rich heritage of its location.


Menu highlights include the triple roast patter ($28) – Spanish Duroc pork done in both sweet and savoury styles – and teapot soup ($14), a flavourful broth infused with pumpkin. The restaurant also offers Asian-inspired salads and desserts, such as aromatic duck salad ($18), and sticky date and longan pudding ($12). Empress’ waterfront location makes it the perfect spot for admiring the city skyline and Boat Quay shophouses; in the day, from the inside, and in the evening, sitting in the al fresco area, while dining or sipping Asian-inspired cocktails from the bar.

