Michelin-starred Art closing, looking for new home

THE shuttering of Michelin-starred restaurants in Singapore continues, with the one-starred Art di Daniele Sperindio serving its last meal on Nov 30 when its lease at the National Gallery expires. But the closure will not be for good, says its eponymous chef-owner Daniele Sperindio, as he plans to find a new location for his fine-dining Italian eatery.

This comes after Sperindio failed to come to an agreement with the National Gallery over the future of the rooftop space that Art currently occupies. He had been in talks with the landlord for months to renew the lease, with a new concept in line with a proposed revamp of the food and beverage outlets at the iconic art space, but ultimately decided that it would be best to start afresh somewhere else.

The closure is not because of poor business or market sentiment as Art has remained viable overall, says Sperindio. This is despite a “bloodbath” over the summer months from June to August when “Singapore was virtually a ghost town, with expats on holiday and many Singaporeans travelling”. Event catering has helped support the business, and in August the restaurant introduced an a la carte menu to attract more value-conscious diners. Thus, it was able to achieve a small profit for the year to date.