Beaulieu House

Beaulieu House is a Chinese zi char and seafood restaurant inside a conserved colonial house in Sembawang Park. Zi char means dishes cooked to order and shared at the table. The menu also has a few Western plates. The house stands by the water on Singapore's far northern coast, looking across the Straits of Johor to Malaysia.

It is a long way from the city centre, so most people make an outing of it. Come for a slow meal, then walk along the shore in the park. The restaurant is also popular for group meals and private gatherings.

A house with a long history

The house was built in the 1910s as a holiday home for Joseph Brooke David, a Jewish businessman. Its name means "beautiful place" in French. The colonial government bought it in 1923 while preparing the Sembawang naval base. Senior naval officers then lived here, including Vice-Admiral Sir Geoffrey Layton in the early 1940s. Officers used to salute visiting ships from Beaulieu Jetty, a small pier below the house.

After British forces left in 1971, the grounds became Sembawang Park, which opened in 1979. A restaurant has run in the house since 1981. The building was given conservation status in 2005. Look out for the plaster details, the cast-iron railings on the verandah and rooftop patio, and the patterned floor tiles in the main hall.

What to order

The menu centres on seafood and Chinese home-style dishes for sharing. Curry fish head is the dish diners mention most, cooked in a rich coconut curry. Other favourites include:

• Asam fish head, cooked Nonya style in a sour and spicy gravy
• Soy sauce chicken
• Homemade beancurd with mushrooms
• Clams, such as lala with ginger and spring onion
• Braised pork knuckle and pipa duck

On Saturdays and Sundays, a separate brunch menu offers lighter plates. It includes a Beaulieu breakfast set with bacon, sausage, baked beans and a fried egg, plus seafood laksa, red grouper fish soup, pasta and fried noodles. The restaurant also offers set menus, plus festive menus around Chinese New Year.

The setting

Inside, the old house has high ceilings and a cosy, old-fashioned feel. There is also an air-conditioned section, plus outdoor tables facing the water. For the full feel of the old building, ask for a table in the main hall. Try to arrive before sunset, when the light over the water is at its best.

Good to know before you go

• You can book a table online through the restaurant's booking page or by phone.
• Takeaway and delivery orders can be placed online.
• Booking ahead is a good idea for groups and festive meals.
• Sembawang Park is far from the centre, so a car or taxi is the simplest way to get here. There is a car park in the park.

Nearby

Make a day of the north with a stop at Sembawang Hot Spring Park. For other meals in the area, try Chong Pang Nasi Lemak, Siam Kitchen in Khatib or Orchid Live Seafood. See all restaurants in Yishun and Sembawang, or more chilli crab and seafood restaurants across Singapore.