Michelin-starred Art is closing down and looking for a new home

As the closure of Michelin-starred restaurants in Singapore continues, one-star Art di Daniele Sperindio is serving its last meal on 30 November when its lease at the National Gallery expires. But while chef-owner Daniele Sperindio, who shares the restaurant’s name, plans to find a new location for his fine Italian restaurant, he says closing down would not be good.

This came after Sperindio failed to reach an agreement with the National Gallery over the future of the roof space currently occupied by Art. He had been in talks with his landlord for months to renew his lease with a new concept, in line with a proposed renovation of the food and beverage outlets in the iconic arts space, but ultimately decided it would be best to start over elsewhere. .

Sperindio says the closure is not due to poor business or market sentiment, as Art has generally remained viable. This is despite a summer “bloodbath” from June to August, when “Singapore is almost a ghost town with foreigners on holiday and many Singaporeans travelling”. Event catering has helped support the business, and in August the restaurant began offering an a la carte menu to attract more value-conscious customers. Thus, it managed to make a small profit since the beginning of the year.