Contemporary Japanese-French restaurant Loca Niru to open in the newly-restored House of Tan Yeok Nee

When contemporary Japanese-French restaurant Loca Niru opens on November 6, it will not merely mark another addition to Singapore’s fine dining scene — it will be one of a handful of restaurants to reside in a national monument. 

The 36-seat restaurant is housed in The House of Tan Yeok Nee, near Istana Park along Penang Road. The double-storey heritage building re-opens after an extensive restoration that spanned close to four years on November 1. 

The House of Tan Yeok Nee, built in 1885 and once home to the Teochew magnate, is the last remaining of Singapore’s “Four Grand Mansions” that belonged to Teochew tycoons in the 19th century. The house, which was gazetted as a national monument in 1974, boasts Teochew-style architectural elements like an ornamental roof and courtyards.

In March 2022, the 140-year-old cultural landmark was sold to its current owner, the Karim Family Foundation, which has converted it into a lifestyle and entertainment hub.

Against this storied backdrop, Loca Niru, which is run by the Gaia Lifestyle Group, presents a fine dining experience that marries Japanese sensibilities and French technique. The restaurant is led by chef Shusuke Kubota, who was the former executive chef of Omakase@Stevens. 

Loca Niru, which is adapted from a Japanese Zen idiom, is associated with the concept of harmonious and peaceful coexistence. Kubota saw that the intricate Teochew carvings in the heritage house resonated with the finer details in Japanese craftsmanship. 

Kubota applies his French and Japanese training to bring out the best of seasonal ingredients featured in the eight-course tasting menu ($298++), alongside Southeast Asian herbs, spices, fruit and vegetables that are sourced here. 

Food and beverage firm Gaia Lifestyle Group also runs other restaurants including Cantonese restaurant, The Black Pearl, Koko Patisserie and first overseas branch of the popular Udon Shin chain from Tokyo.