Gucci Opens Pop-Up Restaurant In Singapore This May, Its First Eatery Outside Italy

The gastronomic experience is a collaboration between the fashion house, award-winning chef Massimo Bottura of three Michelin-starred Osteria Francescana, and Mexican Chef Karime Lopez, who helms the kitchen at Gucci Osteria and leads the charge at the pop-up here in Singapore. Massimo Bottura isn’t exactly new to Singapore — he had a short-lived casual pasta restaurant called Bottura in Suntec City, which opened in 2015. The Italian native is most famous for his experimental take on Italian food at Osteria Francescana, controversial for cuisine that’s staunchly traditional. You’ve also probably gotten hungry watching his feature on the first season of Netflix’s Chef’s Table.

Combining both chefs’ creative minds, their respective Italian and Mexican roots, and international influences, the menu promises eclectic global flavours. Highlights include the quirkily named The Crunchy Part Of The Lasagne (above), made with pasta chips on ragu and creamy bechamel sauce to mimic the crisp, flavourful crust (aka the best bit) of a lasagne.

There's also the Taka Bun (above), sweet-and-sour pork belly, balsamic-miso sauce, marinated coriander, yuzu, raspberry vinegar and apple bits stuffed between steamed mantou buns. Save space for dessert — the Charley Marley, with layers of kaya cream and dark chocolate ganache in a sandwich, sounds like a delish, fancy version of our local breakfast fave. Choose between a four-course lunch ($128), seven-course lunch ($228) and seven-course dinner ($278).

Everything is, of course, served on opulent Gucci dishware crafted with Richard Ginori porcelain and emblazoned with the brand’s iconic Herbarium motif. The 60-seater space, located in the separate Annex Building at The Arts House and touted to have a “contemporary Renaissance vibe”, will also be fully decked out in Gucci Herbarium wallpaper. Fancy schmancy.

You’ll unfortunately not be able to take home a memento from the experience (tempting, but no, please don’t). The exclusive Gucci-branded cutlery, specially made for the dining concept, is only available for purchase at the Gucci Garden in Italy. So head in with a fully-charged phone to ‘gram it all.

Gucci Osteria is open from May 1 - 26 at The Arts House, Annex Building, 1 Old Parliament Lane, S179429. Snag your spot from 20 April at savour.sg/gucciosteria.

Photos: Gucci