Outlook for the F&B industry

TO SAY that 2023 was a challenging year for Singapore restaurants would be an understatement. After shaking off the final remnants of the Covid pandemic, local eateries have had to contend with another bug – the travel one – as Singaporeans made a beeline for overseas destinations, leaving fewer of them to dine at home. On top of that, rising costs and less bullish sentiment saw many tightening their wallets, while inbound tourist numbers weren’t quite as high as expected.

In Friday’s edition of BT Lifestyle, we speak to restaurateurs about the ups and downs of the year as well as what to look out for in the new year. We’ll also look at food trends, and peer into our crystal ball to see what people will be eating in 2024.

In the Arts, an upcoming exhibition promises to be an exciting one. Titled Translations: Afro-Asian Poetics, it draws parallels between African and Asian art, and features 100 globally renowned artists from the two continents.

In Dining, we head out to Sultan Gate to Harummanis, a new restaurant with a modern bent that’s also inspired by Malay heritage cooking.

Find out more in Friday’s issue of BT.