Elegant new restaurant embraces local hawker food culture- set within magnificent restoration of historic pier
June 29th, 2014
Superbly located on the waterfront of Singapore’s Marina Bay, the recently launched The Clifford Pier restaurant deftly blends historical and contemporary influences in both its design and cuisine, offering exceptional dining experiences. A prominent presence on Singapore’s waterfront since its construction in the halcyon late-colonial era of the 1930’s, the iconic Clifford Pier was for decades the main landing jetty for regional maritime traders and immigrants. More recently it has come under the portfolio of the Fullerton Heritage group, and initially re-purposed as the impressive arrival experience for guests at the adjoining luxurious boutique hotel property- The Fullerton Bay Hotel. After an extensive refurbishment, the historic pier structure has been recently transformed into the spectacular The Clifford Pier restaurant- and first opened in May 2014.
Taking inspiration from its pivotal role in the development of Singapore as a major regional entrepôt, and the rich culinary traditions of the hawker food stalls that previously serviced the pier precinct, The Clifford Pier offers diners an extensive selection of local and regional traditional dishes. Authentic renditions of local comfort foods are complemented with fresh seafood, and re-interpretations of popular dishes from neighbouring countries. As South East Asian street-food focused restaurants- serving authentic dishes with contemporary tweaks- gain considerable popularity internationally among knowledgeable chefs and restaurateurs, The Clifford Pier has set an impressive benchmark in Singapore as the local exemplar of this global culinary trend.
Conveniently located adjacent to both the main financial business district, and Marina Bay tourist attractions, The Clifford Pier is an appealing destination for all-day dining- serving an array of menus including Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea, Dinner and Supper & Cocktails. Live music from a jazz ensemble adds a glamorous element to the luxurious dining experience. The expansive main dining space accommodates around 200 guests, with a further 64 seats on the open-air terrace across the front of the pier. Reservations are recommended for peak periods- particularly weekday lunches and weekend dinners.
The Clifford Pier- restaurant design
A harmonious meld of historical references and contemporary elegance defines the superbly executed refurbishment of the original Clifford Pier structure. Hong Kong-based designer Andre Fu, who previously created the stunning interiors of the dining spaces within The Fullerton Bay Hotel– Lantern rooftop bar, Clifford and The Landing Point– has deployed a maritime influenced palette of blue, warm tangerine and soft beige, within the dramatic proportions of the high arched 2,400 square metre open space of the original pier structure. Occupying the front section of the cavernous space, the restaurant is delineated with plush silk carpets, and various arrangements of generously spaced dining settings that offer discrete zones of privacy within the overall open floor plan.
The Clifford Pier- authentic Asian dishes
Local chefs with multigenerational cooking backgrounds ensure the authenticity of technique and ingredients for the hawker inspired local cuisine. Familiar local favourites from the extensive assemblage of dishes include Fried Carrot Cake- wok-fried turnip cake in sweet and spicy soy sauce, with prawns and scallions; and Rickshaw Noodles- stewed yellow Hokkien noodles in pork broth and traditional condiments. Other notable regional dishes include Wagyu Beef Redang; Massaman Lamb Rack; and Porchetta– a slow roasted, spice infused crispy suckling pig.
Signature cocktails that reference the local culinary influences include- Kumquat Mojito with rum, mint, kumquat, calamansi and lime; and St. John’s Island with gin, bitters, pineapple juice, lychee, galangal, cinnamon and raspberries.
(Food images courtesy of The Clifford Pier)
