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.

Sperindio will also close Gemma – a steakhouse located one level below Art – as the two restaurants share a kitchen and the same lease. Both eateries are under the I’WA Group – a partnership between Sperindio and restaurateur Beppe de Vito of the ilLido Group. With the closure of Art and Gemma, the two will part ways as Sperindio strikes out on his own with I’WA. 

He is working with new partners on ventures that may include a bakery and a reimagined Art, although he declines to reveal specifics. “I have several concepts in the pipeline which will begin rolling out from 2025. The timeline depends on location availability – choosing the right location is critical so it can’t be rushed – but progress is under way and I expect the new Art to reopen in the third quarter of 2025.”

While this will mean starting from scratch without a Michelin star and in an uncertain economy, Sperindio is optimistic that things will start to improve in the new year. For now, Art joins several Michelin-starred restaurants that have closed this year including Sommer, Beni, La Dame de Pic, Sushi Kimura and Matera. 

SEE ALSO

Michelin-starred Sushi Kimura to close over rent and manpower issues

Asean Intelligence

Get insights into businesses across South-east Asia

Get the free report

Still, Sperindio – who took over the helm of Art four and a half years ago – feels the time is right to relocate and rebuild Art from scratch according to his vision. But for now, he plans to take a two-month break with his family, as “I don’t recall taking any kind of break since high school”. After which, “it will be time to dive straight back in – there’s a lot of work to do”.