The buzz: A collaborative effort between A Thousand Tales Pte Ltd (ATT)—the folks behind Bar Stories and MAD—and Timbre Group, this new French restaurant (named after Sir Stamford Raffles’ first wife Olivia Cassivelaun Fancourt) is a charming 60-seater with clear views of the Singapore River.

The vibe: A sophisticated grey hued space flanked with Roman ionic columns, the establishment on the second floor of The Arts House has a definite period feel. But jazzy beats and live music shows by local acts such as Michaela Therese, Dawn Ho and Alicia Pan keep the place from getting too stuffy.

The food: French-trained chef Jonathan Koh presents precise and pretty a la carte plates including starters like Encornet ($30), Brittany squid, black rice cremeux and mussel vinaigrette, plus mains such as dry aged American prime striploin with parsnip puree ($65). There’s also an affordable set lunch ($38), in addition to more extensive degustation sets including the four-course Menu Olivia ($118), the six-course Menu Stamford ($148) and a vegetable-focused tasting menu inspired by the “colors of the land” ($148). All dining options change seasonally.  

The drinks: Maitre’d Novalan Dorasamy curates an extensive list of wines (from $16/glass, $75/bottle), with a particular focus on boutique French tipples. The restaurant is also home to Singapore’s first whisky highball machine, which carbonates the spirit without diluting its flavor. And they stock a wide range of whiskies (from $20/glass, $220/bottle) from Japanese labels like Yamazaki and Hibiki, to Scottish specimens arranged by region: Speyside, Highland, Campbeltown, Islay and Lowland.

Why you’ll be back: It’s a polished spot—in terms of both food and service—that should impress everyone from deal-making execs to ladies who lunch.

Eat this at OCF: Encornet. It's one of I-S Magazine's 50 things to eat before you die (2013).