Restaurant Within a Hotel - Global 2024 winner
Location: Singapore
Architect: LT&T AVID Architects Pte Ltd
Interior Designer: Silverfox Studios Pte Ltd
Hotel Group/ Developer: Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
Photographer: Matt White
Silverfox Studios Pte Ltd has reimagined embu, the stunning 365-seat three-meal outlet at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Singapore. Embu, inspired by the resilient Singapore Tembusu Tree, is beautifully situated on Level 3 adjacent to the Guestroom Atrium. The visionary redesign by Silverfox Studios removed bulky cabinetry, extended the front aspect to the atrium edge, and added an additional 50 seats at the rear, opening it to a lush terrace garden.
The vibrant transformation opens the façade to the atrium, seamlessly connecting the interiors with the exterior through a clear glass façade that reveals the landscaped terrace and gardens. The terrace features 45 seats, an outdoor grill, a pizza oven, and a delightful children’s playground, creating a dynamic dining experience.
Inside, the design celebrates Singapore’s “Garden City” concept with striking curved timber louvres over structural columns that merge into a stenciled backlit ceiling depicting forest canopies. Embu boasts 11 exciting culinary stations, including seafood ice stations, Asian, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, and Western counters, a carvery, bakery, pizza oven, and dessert and fruit counters.
The restaurant is thoughtfully divided into intimate zones, each containing no more than 50 seats. These zones are created with garden scape metal screens featuring shelving and integral lighting. Filled with locally sourced books, artefacts, and dried flowers, these screens evoke a greenhouse atmosphere and seamlessly blend the various sections.
Flooring materials flow from the atrium entrance through the restaurant and onto the terrace, uniting the interior and exterior with porcelain timber, printed penny tiles, tumbled marble, and Peranakan porcelain. Tables are crafted from hardwood-edged white marble with black hairline stainless steel pedestals, enhancing the sophisticated yet natural ambiance.
