Dinner in a dome? It’s the coolest, cosiest way to dine right now.
Restaurant igloos have been popping up around London and Europe – and all over Instagram lately – and now Singapore has three dining domes of its own, in the edible garden of gorgeous black-and-white bungalow turned restaurant, The Summerhouse.
The igloos, originally conceived as warm, winter-defying ways to enjoy al fresco dining, are the last thing you’d expect to find at Singapore’s aerospace, in the Seletar countryside. Of course, The Summerhouse’s Garden Domes are all about keeping cool while enjoying a languid lunch in a sunny garden, or even better, dinner under the stars.
The edible garden, from which the restaurant harvests ingredients to in its dishes, is at its most lush. Amongst the wild strawberries, swaying lemongrass and twinkling lights, are those three igloos: each with a different theme – Bohemian, Scandinavian and Lounge – nestling up to eight guests. You can chill at the Lounge igloo by the Wildseed Garden Bar, or settle in amongst the greenery for something more intimate.
Their arrival signals just how much The Summerhouse has evolved since it opened a year ago. The black-and-white beauty, in the former RAF airbase and once the home of an air force commander, is still a farm-to-table restaurant – but its menu has shifted to a heartier offering. There’s a cellar door, where you can pick up bottles of hand-chosen and biodynamic wine to quaff with your meal, or take home. The colonial chic upstairs Dining Room now has a tempting central bar table, heaving with gin, and opens up to the balcony – the perfect spot to nurse a cocktail while looking out at the trees.
We were one of the first in Singapore to dine in their Scandinavian-themed Garden Dome – and this is the kind of experience that makes even the most jaded of journalists swoon. Just look at this:
Let’s tear ourselves away for a second and talk about the food. The Summerhouse draws on its collective of local and Malaysian growers with Australian produce in the mix, and its new menu is a satisfying spread. It’s all about provenance and seasonality here –original Summerhouse fave, that smoky eggplant panzanella with goat’s cheese, makes a return, and there are more standout dishes.
Go for the Aussie avocado with sous vide egg yolk from Freedom Eggs in Johor and truffle, blended into the restaurant’s homemade butter; the juiciest grilled prawns wrapped in lardo; pickled and slow-cooked lamb shoulder from Singapore’s very own Oh Farm; sweet potato leaves from the garden with a punchy anchovy crème fraiche; and the silky smoked potato puree with abalone mushrooms from Kin Yan Agriculture here in Singapore. We haven’t gotten this excited over potatoes in a long, long time. And the cocktails? The lychee and thyme martini is the one for sipping in this setting.
It’s a night spent in your own little bubble. And yes, it’s magic.
The Summerhouse; Level 2, 3 Park Lane, Seletar Aerospace Park Singapore 798387
Guests can choose from the dinner menu from The Summerhouse Dining Room at $300++ per couple, and $150++ per additional guest, or pre-book from the Wildseed Garden Bar with a minimum spend of $300++. Call 6262 1063 or email [email protected] to book.
