Les Amis
1 Scotts Rd, #01 – 16 Shaw Centre,
Singapore 228208
+65 6733 2225
Official Site
It’s hard to fathom that in a wealthy, cosmopolitan city like Singapore—where there’s no shortage of top-tier and expensive dining options—fine dining was once confined almost exclusively to luxury hotels. That only changed in 1994, when a group of friends with a shared passion for haute French cuisine opened Les Amis (which fittingly means “friends” in French). It became Singapore’s first independent fine dining restaurant, and its success paved the way for the creation of the Les Amis Group, which now operates a collection of restaurants in Singapore and abroad. Over time, Les Amis has become nothing short of a Singaporean institution.
When the Michelin Guide launched its inaugural Singapore edition in 2016, Les Amis was immediately awarded two stars. Three years later, in 2019, it joined Odette in receiving the coveted third star. The restaurant also holds a prestigious five-star rating from the Forbes Travel Guide and has been a regular fixture on the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list.
Much of this acclaim can be credited to Chef Sébastien Lepinoy, who took the helm in 2013 after the closure of Cepage, a one-Michelin-starred restaurant in Hong Kong also run by the Les Amis Group. A protégé of the legendary Joël Robuchon, Chef Lepinoy trained at several Michelin-starred restaurants in France, including the iconic Jamin in Paris. He eventually became Robuchon’s right-hand man, later serving as chef de cuisine at L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon in Hong Kong, which earned two Michelin stars under his leadership in 2009.
Les Amis is located in the Shaw Centre, a shopping mall, but has its own street-level entrance. The bi-level dining room exudes understated elegance, with soaring ceilings, glittering crystal chandeliers, velvet red walls, polished granite floors, and thick carpeting that softens the space. Round tables, dressed in crisp white linens, are paired with plush beige leather chairs, an interior that radiates quiet sophistication.
The restaurant offers a three-course lunch, along with a four-course prix fixe, tasting, and special menus available during both lunch and dinner. For this visit, I chose the four-course prix fixe, priced at $415 SGD. As I looked over the menu, a warm loaf of freshly baked bread and French butter arrived, followed by a canapé of tomato tart, made with Le Jardin de Rabelais tomatoes from the Loire Valley, confit with cauliflower, and seasoned with thyme, basil, and sea salt. It was juicy and bursting with flavor.
Next came the amuse-bouches. The first, a Les Amis signature: chilled angel hair pasta topped with Kristal caviar. The noodles were al dente, dressed lightly with chives, seaweed, sherry vinaigrette, truffle, and crowned with a generous scoop of caviar for that luxurious, buttery salinity. A delicate shiso blossom added a subtle floral touch. The second amuse revisited the same premium tomato in the form of a cold soup layered with cucumber jelly and diced cucumber for crunch, topped with tomato foam, peppercorn, and olive oil. I was instructed to scoop from the bottom to get every layer in one bite, each spoonful was bright, fresh, and textured. On the side, a tiny croissant filled with anchovies added just the right touch of savory salinity.
My first course was Caviar on Roseval Potato Petals with Condiments and Fresh Herbs. The presentation was striking, a generous mound of caviar atop thinly sliced, slightly sweet Roseval potatoes. Sour cream and capers brought tang and acidity, while smoked salmon added a gentle smokiness. Every element played harmoniously together in this luxurious, well-balanced dish.
The next course was Sea Urchin Soufflé with Tarragon and Dill, served with a Crustacean Sauce. The sauce, made with cognac and tomato, was rich and aromatic, perfectly complementing the light, airy soufflé. Delicate yet deeply flavored, it was pure indulgence for uni lovers.The kitchen then sent out a complimentary vegetable course—silky, sweet Nantes carrots from Brittany glazed with finesse. Simple, but a standout in its own right.
For the main course, I chose Roasted Challans Duck Breast from Vendée with glazed Mont Ventoux cherries, one of Les Amis’ signatures. Cooked to an ideal medium-rare, the duck was tender and succulent, its skin crusted with juniper, coriander, bay leaves, honey, and sake for an aromatic, subtly sweet profile. The duck jus added depth, while the glazed turnips with peppercorn and scallions brought a gentle spice. The warm, dark cherries from Provence added a lush, fruity sweetness that tied the dish together.
A sorbet cart arrived to refresh the palate, and I sampled an array of flavors, coconut, strawberry, melon with white wine, lemon yogurt, raspberry, and herb. Each was crisp, bright, and wonderfully refreshing after the rich courses before it.
Dessert was Baba infused in aged rhum agricole & citrus, accompanied by a lightly whipped creme fleurette or “Rum Baba”, Les Amis’ take on the French staple. The sponge cake was soft and moist, infused with cinnamon honey and lemon, glazed with apricot, and soaked with aged rhum agricole from Martinique. Inside was a cloud of crème fleurette flavored with Tahitian vanilla from Bora Bora—a wonderful sweet, boozy finish to the meal. The petit fours, canelé, apricot tart, and housemade chocolates, closed things out beautifully.
Though technically a four-course menu, the experience felt closer to eight courses with the amuse-bouche and extra touches. The cooking was precise yet never fussy—classical French flavors with modern refinement. Every dish showed an incredible attention to quality, sourcing, and execution. Even the bread program stood out for its craftsmanship.
While there’s no official wine pairing for the prix fixe, I asked the sommelier to curate one. The selections were spot-on: IWA 5 Sake with the sea urchin soufflé, and Monthélie Premier Cru Domaine Jean-Claude Ramonet 2020 with the duck both excellent pairings.
Service was impeccably polished. At first, the tone felt a bit formal, but as the meal progressed, it relaxed into a natural, comfortable rhythm. The staff were attentive without being intrusive, timing each course seamlessly and anticipating needs before I could ask. Watching them operate with such precision across the dining room was impressive.
Wine Paring:
There’s no question that Les Amis is a special-occasion destination. At SGD 415 for lunch, it’s among the priciest meals in Asia, but it delivers an experience that easily matches the world’s best three-star restaurants. The cooking, service, and sense of occasion make it a meal to remember.
Three decades in, Les Amis remains at the forefront of Singapore’s fine dining scene, an enduring institution that continues to evolve while staying true to its French roots. In a city where restaurants open and close in a blink, its longevity is proof of something rare: unwavering excellence. It’s the kind of restaurant worth flying halfway across the world for easily one of the best meals anyone can have.
