Some restaurant renovations attempt to create an entirely new identity. Odette Singapore has taken a more measured approach. After closing for several months in 2025, the restaurant reopened in December with a warmer dining room, a more balanced layout and a menu that reflects its first decade in Singapore.
Located inside the National Gallery Singapore at 1 St Andrew’s Road, Odette remains one of the city’s best restaurants for a romantic fine dining experience. The renovation did not erase its pastel past. Instead, it refined the room, improved comfort and allowed chef Julien Royer to express the restaurant’s connection to Asia more clearly.
Odette Singapore Before and After the Renovation
The original Odette opened in 2015 with pale pink interiors, softly curved screens and a hanging installation by Singaporean artist Dawn Ng. Its delicate appearance distinguished it from darker, more traditional fine dining restaurants.
However, a long bar occupied one side of the dining room, creating an asymmetrical layout. Some tables naturally felt more desirable than others because of their position, sightlines and proximity to the kitchen.
Before the renovation
- Pastel pink and cool neutral tones shaped the room.
- A side bar created an uneven dining-room layout.
- Long, layered tablecloths reinforced a formal mood.
- Dawn Ng’s original art installation hung above the main space.
After the renovation
- Cream, amber and buttery tones created greater warmth.
- The former bar was removed to open and balance the room.
- New banquettes improved comfort, privacy and table placement.
- Updated lighting allowed the atmosphere to shift from lunch to dinner.
- A new hanging installation reshaped the arrival experience.
The changes may appear subtle in photographs, but their effect is practical. Every table now feels more deliberately positioned, which matters in a restaurant where guests expect an intimate and memorable meal.
Fine Dining Made Warmer and More Romantic
Odette remains unmistakably a fine dining restaurant. Brass, glass, timber, velvet and detailed marquetry still communicate luxury, but the room no longer feels dependent on traditional formality.
Shorter single-layer linens have replaced the former double-layered tablecloths. New glass-and-brass table bases feel visually lighter, while upholstered banquettes offer a stronger sense of enclosure. These details help couples settle into the room rather than feel overwhelmed by ceremony.
Lighting is particularly important to the renewed Odette experience. An artificial skylight produces a brighter, more architectural quality during the day. At dinner, the room becomes softer and more romantic without relying on excessive darkness.
Julien Royer Preserves Odette’s Beginning
Julien Royer named his own restaurant after his grandmother, Odette. Her influence remains part of its identity, particularly in its respect for family, seasonal produce and the emotional value of serving food with care.
The renovation nevertheless gives chef Julien Royer room to move beyond the restaurant’s beginning. His cooking remains rooted in French cuisine, but the menu now expresses more of the life he has built in Singapore and Asia.
Rather than presenting Asian ingredients as occasional accents, chef Julien allows them to influence the flavor and structure of each dish. The result feels less like French food visiting Asia and more like modern French cuisine shaped by years of living and cooking in the region.
The National Gallery Setting and New Art
Odette’s location inside the National Gallery Singapore has always influenced how diners understand the restaurant. It does not simply display art as decoration; it uses art to introduce ideas of nature, seasonality and transformation.
Singaporean artist Dawn Ng returned for the renovation with Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall. The new hanging installation draws on the colours of petals, roots, leaves, spices and seasonal produce.
The artwork is now experienced closer to the beginning of the visit rather than dominating the entire room. This quieter placement suits the refreshed interior. The art, lighting, wine counter and curved screens now feel like parts of the same visual sequence.
Three Michelin Stars with a Shorter Menu
Odette holds three Michelin stars and has appeared on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants. Those accolades naturally create expectations of a lengthy, highly formal meal.
The revised menu takes a more flexible approach. Guests can choose a five-course lunch or seven-course menus for lunch and dinner, including a vegetarian option. Chef Julien Royer has recognised that diners may still want fine dining without remaining at the table for five hours.
This shorter structure places greater responsibility on each course. Every dish must contribute clearly to the progression of the meal, whether through flavor, texture, temperature or the story behind the ingredients.
How the Food Reflects the Renovation
The menu follows the same principle as the new dining room: it is lighter in feeling, but not less detailed. French technique remains central, while Singaporean and regional references appear more confidently.
Notable dishes may include:
- Hokkaido botan ebi with dashi jelly, crème fraîche, caviar and citrus-bright yuzu kosho
- Crab Contrast, combining king crab, French sauce work and a chilli-crab-filled bun
- Jeju abalone with foie gras and a broth inspired by bak kut teh
- A langoustine dumpling finished with seasonal truffle
- The signature pigeon dish seasoned with Kampot pepper
The pigeon remains especially important because it demonstrates continuity. The juicy meat, careful seasoning and controlled richness remind diners that renovation does not require a restaurant to discard the dish that helped define it.
Depending on the season, the menu may also feature ingredients such as Scottish blue lobster, alongside bread, sourdough, cheese and dessert courses. Because Odette focuses on sourcing ingredients at their best, guests should expect individual dishes to change throughout the year.
Wine Pairings Become More Visible
A marble-topped wine counter now occupies a more central position in the room. Guests can observe bottles being opened and prepared without the service becoming theatrical or distracting.
The restaurant continues to offer wine pairings, supported by an extensive cellar. Wine remains an important part of the meal, particularly when richer courses such as pigeon, lobster or cheese appear on the menu.
Odette has also developed a non-alcoholic pairing programme using tea, fermentation, vegetables and fruit. Cold-brewed oolong, smoky kombucha and beetroot prepared with koji give non-drinkers a more complete alternative to conventional wine pairings.
Renovating the Kitchen for the Chefs
Not every meaningful change is visible from the dining room. Odette also renovated its kitchen, reportedly raising work counters, improving ventilation and creating more practical preparation space.
These updates matter because the quality of fine dining depends on the people behind each plate. Better working conditions allow chefs to cook with greater consistency while reducing physical strain during long periods of service. This is one of the renovation’s strongest details. The project considered not only what guests would photograph, but also how the culinary team would work each day.
Why Odette Remains One of Singapore’s Best Restaurants
Among Singapore’s best restaurants, Odette stands apart because its design and food now communicate the same idea. Both have become warmer, lighter and more connected to Asia without abandoning their French foundation.
For couples, the renovation improves the romantic experience in practical ways:
- Better spacing supports private conversation.
- Banquettes make the dining room feel more intimate.
- Softer lighting creates warmth without excessive dimness.
- Shorter menus allow dinner to feel complete rather than exhausting.
- More inclusive beverage options let every diner participate fully.
I would not describe the renewed Odette as a new restaurant. It is still shaped by Julien Royer, his grandmother, French cuisine, seasonal produce and the discipline expected of restaurants with Michelin stars. What has changed is the sense of balance. Odette now gives equal attention to the comfort of diners, the working conditions of its chefs, the clarity of each dish and the emotional rhythm of the meal.
For more renovated dining spaces that offer the perfect romantic ambiance, explore our curated list from Restaurant Renovations and choose your next unforgettable dining destination.