National Kitchen by Violet Oon

National Kitchen by Violet Oon is the upmarket Peranakan restaurant from Violet Oon, the 'Grande Dame of Singapore cuisine', set in a grand colonial dining room on the second floor of the National Gallery — the former Supreme Court and City Hall. It serves polished, heritage Singaporean food spanning Nyonya, Malay, Chinese and Eurasian influences, with Peranakan tiles and chandeliers to match. The signatures are its dry laksa, beef rendang, kueh pie tee and buah keluak chicken, and there's a sought-after Peranakan high tea on weekends. It's a special-occasion sort of place — refined and pricey rather than hawker-cheap. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for weekends and high tea.