Guess the artist: We tried 7 Paintings at Conrad Singapore Marina Bay
You might have seen clips of interactive dining experiences on social media, where guests get to play with their food while projections on their table become the focal point of the dinner.
If you are someone who enjoys that kind of flair, Conrad Singapore Marina Bay has just brought the 7 Paintings experience to Singapore.
It is an art-focused interactive dining experience that originated from Dubai, but has spread to 19 countries around the world, including the UK and even to Bali in Indonesia.
How 7 Paintings works
7 Paintings will be hosted at Conrad Singapore Marina Bay at Lounge by the Pool at level four, and is available for dinner only.
As the name suggests, 7 Paintings is a seven-course experience based on seven artists.
There are a few menu options available:
- Classic ($190): The signature seven-course journey
- Premium ($230): Same journey and artist inspirations as the classic, but with premium Singapore-exclusive dishes
- Vegetarian ($190): The same journey, but with vegetarian dishes instead.
- Children’s Menu ($99): Dishes are tweaked for children aged six to 12.
We had the premium menu on our visit, which included some elevated ingredients in two dishes that are exclusive to Singapore.
The lights in the lounge are dimmed, and each table comes with a painting of Mona Lisa affixed on an easel. Each diner has a canvas laid in front of them on the table, face up.
When the dinner experience starts, the projections will come to life, and you will have a few “guides” bringing you through all seven courses of 7 paintings — we won’t reveal who they are, so you’ll just have to experience it for yourself!
Art lovers, put on your thinking caps, and guess which dishes represent which artists!
7 Paintings Singapore’s seven courses
First course
First course: Brown crab with curry emulsion, nashi pear, caviar, organic lemon & dashi, tartlet
The 7 Paintings experience starts off with a cute little puzzle to open the chest containing your starting snack — a tart.
The flavours of the crab, pear, and lemon are quite crisp and refreshing, but this was overwhelmed by the strong flavours of the curry. We also found the tart a bit stale, probably since it had to be prepared beforehand to be placed within the chest.
Can you guess which artist this is? Our hints:
- M*c**lan**lo
- Italian
- A man highly connected to the renaissance and the Holy See
Second course
Second course: Veal carpaccio with truffle mayonnaise, sakura cress, olive & rucola
The course is also hidden somewhere on your table, and you’re given an apparatus to “reveal” the dish!
The veal is sliced nicely thin and the ensemble of ingredients do add a bit of nice contrast to the mix.
Can you guess which artist this is? Our hints:
- B***sy
- English, though his identity is not public
- His most famous artwork is not currently in one piece
Third course
Third course: Flamed Murray River cod with lemon beurre blanc, charred broccolini, potato pave, tomato chutney
This dish is a Singapore-exclusive, crafted by Conrad Singapore Marina Bay executive chef Thomas Jakobi using a more premium fish. In the classic version of this menu, red snapper is served instead.
It comes served with an edible painting in a very distinct style that should point you towards the artist in question. Diners are told to pour lemon beurre blanc onto the painting to make it “weep”, replicating one of the artist’s most iconic works.
This was our favourite dish on 7 Paintings Singapore’s premium menu, owing to the soft and delicate cod and hearty potato pave (a compressed block of thinly sliced potatoes).
Can you guess which artist this is? Our hints:
- **blo P**ass*
- Spanish
- A pioneer of an art-style known for its abstract geometric silhouettes
Fourth course
Fourth course: Vegetable painting with spinach coconut, beet, pumpkin puree, and goma dressing
The fourth course is probably the most interactive course of the 7 Paintings experience, since you “paint” your own dish from scratch.
You are given a bowl of veggies, four different sauces, and a basket of bread to use to make your artwork on a silicone “canvas” — a pretty interesting way to introduce a palate cleanser between heavy courses.
Can you guess which artist this is? Our hints:
- Ja**s*n P*llo*k
- American
- Renowned for a chaotic style where he often drips or pours paints directly onto the canvas
Fifth course
Fifth course: Wagyu beef tenderloin with creamy smoked morels, asparagus-hazelnut, fermented garlic, rutabaga-cress.
The big main and final savoury dish. It’s another 7 Paintings Singapore-exclusive that uses a more opulent wagyu cut instead of the black angus on the classic menu.
The dish is served with two identifying items: The first is a glass cola bottle with a dark-coloured sauce in it, and the second is an oversized vintage tomato soup can to cover the beef.
The beef was undoubtedly really tender and enjoyable — though the beef itself needed a touch more seasoning.
Can you guess which artist this is? Our hints:
- A*d* W*r*o*
- American
- Two random things he is connected with are a banana, and Marilyn Monroe.
Sixth course
Sixth course: Crema catalana with mint & berries, salted caramel ice cream
As the meal comes to a close, 7 Paintings brings a rather whimsically designed box to the table, which opens to reveal a torched custard dessert and a scoop of ice cream.
You are also given some mint and berries to pair with the dessert duo if you wish — we enjoyed the acidity against the richness of the crema catalana and ice cream!
Can you guess which artist this is? Our hints:
- S*l*ad*r D**i
- Spanish
- This man is not only a Marquess, but is also remembered for his outlandish moustache
Seventh course
Fourth course: Chocolate painting on citrus cake with chocolate chilli, white chocolate raspberry & tart strawberry sauces
Let’s be honest: The artist is obvious and there’s no hiding it. To end it off, 7 Paintings serves you a citrus sponge cake with an edible painting of The Starry Night on it.
In the painting, the celestial bodies in the sky and the cypress tree on the bottom left are whited-out, and you can paint it on with any of the three accompanying sauces.
The sauces don’t do much in terms of taste, since there’s really not enough to go around, but it’s a fun activity to end the meal.
Did you guess correctly?
- Vincent Van Gogh
- Dutch
- He sold only one painting in his lifetime, and it’s not any of his most iconic works, such as The Starry Night or Sunflowers.
Did you guess right?
Click here to reveal the artists!
1. Michelangelo
2. Banksy
3. Pablo Picasso
4. Jackson Pollock
5. Andy Warhol
6. Salvador Dali
7. Vincent Van Gogh
This was a hosted tasting.
For more ideas on what to eat, read our stories on the yummy hawker finds at the underrated Berseh Food Centre and the places where you can find the heartiest kway chap.
Fri 7pm
Sat 5pm, 8.30pm
Sun 7pm
- Promenade
- Esplanade
Evan started off writing about food on Instagram, before joining outlets such as Buro and Confirm Good to pursue his passion. His best work usually comes after his first whisky shot in the morning.
Read more stories from this writer.
