Beloved Cantonese restaurant Yan closes after nine years at National Gallery Singapore

There’s been a bit of a stir in National Gallery Singapore recently — the restaurants are clearing out.

We’d seen Michelin-starred Art di Daniele Sperindio close towards the end of last year, after its lease ran out.

In March, we’ll be seeing iconic rooftop bar Smoke & Mirrors and beloved Cantonese restaurant Yan close, too, after their leases expire.

Mar 15 will be the final day of operations for both Yan and Smoke & Mirrors.

The sibling establishments have enjoyed a spectacular nine-year run at National Gallery and it’s undoubtedly a poignant moment for the local F&B scene.

It seems like the spate of closures hasn’t come to an end yet, either. After all, 2024 saw the demise of numerous restaurants, with many citing issues of rising costs. 

However, on the bright side, it seems Yan is exploring potential locations to reopen, if possible.

Maybe we’d see something exciting coming our way at National Gallery Singapore? These are big shoes to fill — only time will tell.

Yan signatures

To mark the occasion, Yan is offering a special a la carte menu with nine of its signature dishes — so customers can reminisce about the good times, one final time.

It will only be available from now until Mar 15, the final day of operations.

On top of that, customers who order any of the nine signature dishes will get a special 15% discount on select wines and champagne. 

What can you expect from this signature menu?

Well, first of all, if you’re the kind who enjoys delicately crackling textures, it includes signature crispy roast suckling pig (from S$194) and Yan Peking roast duck (from S$48) in all their crispy glory.

Other than that, wok-fried Sri Lankan crab with cheong fun in special lard sauce (S$11 per 100g, S$2 per piece of cheong fun) and house special Australian lobster porridge with clams and puffed rice (S$24 per 100g) are also available, for anyone who fancies some crustacean-y decadence.

But if you prefer other forms of the seafood, then there are also options of  poached soon hock fish fillet with superior prawns stock and crispy rice ($20 per 100g) and braised South African whole abalone with fish maw, vegetables and oyster sauce ($88 per diner).

Although the menu is rather seafood heavy, Yan also has a steamed kampong chicken with ginger and spring onion (from S$30) that uses free-range kampong chicken, in case you aren’t in the mood for treasures from the sea.

Those who order from Yan’s signature menu will also receive a complimentary dessert of handcrafted peanut-coated tang yuan with black sesame filling to end things off on a sweet note.

Two other traditional desserts, chilled mango cream topped with vanilla ice cream and oats served in coconut (S$15 per diner) and double-boiled bird’s nest in almond cream (S$68), are also available on the menu, if you want to round off the sweet memories!

HungryGoWhere does understand that Yan is exploring potential locations to reopen, so this may not be the last we see of them!

If you’re a fan of Yan, or it has been on your shortlist for a while, maybe it’s time to swing by for one last hurrah?

For more ideas on what to eat, read our stories on the best spots to pop by for a cup of fragrant, earthy matcha and how local brand Jin Kimchi keeps Korean food authentic but affordable.

Enjoy up to 50% off when you dine with GrabFood Dine Out.

You can also book a ride to Yan at National Gallery Singapore