Loca Niru

Loca Niru is a fine dining restaurant that serves modern Japanese-French food. It is on the second level of the House of Tan Yeok Nee, a Teochew merchant's mansion on Penang Road. The house was built in 1885 and is now a national monument.

Gaia Lifestyle Group opened the restaurant in November 2025. Within a year it had a Michelin star. In the Michelin Guide Singapore 2026, Loca Niru received one star, and its chef won the guide's Young Chef Award.

The chef

Shusuke Kubota was born in Nagano, Japan, and trained at the well-known Tsuji cooking school. He then cooked in France, at Les Crayères in Champagne and L'Atelier d'Edmond in the French Alps. Back in Tokyo, he was sous chef at Sincere. In 2022 he came second in RED-35, a Japanese contest for promising chefs under 35. Before Loca Niru, he was executive chef at Omakase@Stevens in Singapore.

What to order

The kitchen serves one seasonal tasting menu, so the main choice is what to drink with it. The cooking pairs Japanese produce with French technique. It also brings in herbs, spices, fruit and vegetables from around Southeast Asia, a nod to the mix of flavours found in Singapore.

The dishes change with the seasons. On their visit, the Michelin inspectors praised an abalone chawanmushi and a pan-fried isaki fish with a Nyonya beurre blanc. That sauce shows the idea well: a classic French butter sauce with Peranakan flavours. You can pair the meal with either wine or sake, or order from the wine list and drinks menu. Michelin notes both the wine list and the sake list.

The setting

The interior is by Tokyo designer Keiji Ashizawa. It keeps the old house's wooden roof trusses and adds natural wood with brass details. Japanese artwork sits beside the original Teochew carvings. Kubota has said the fine carving in the house reminded him of the detail in Japanese craft.

You can sit at a 12-seat counter and watch the chefs at work. There are also tables in the main dining room. Private rooms hold groups of six to 12, and the whole restaurant seats up to 36. The Michelin Guide notes that it suits solo diners, and the counter is the natural spot for one.

Good to know before you go

• Book through TableCheck, which you can reach from the restaurant's website. Bookings open 60 days ahead.
• Arrive on time. Tables are held for only 15 minutes.
• Allow two to three hours for the meal.
• Dress smartly. Shorts, flip-flops and singlets are not allowed.
• There is no vegan, vegetarian or seafood-free menu. Share other dietary needs well before your visit.
• Groups of 12 or more should contact the restaurant directly.

Full details are on the Loca Niru website.

Nearby

The house stands on Penang Road near Istana Park, not far from the shops of Orchard Road. For more fine dining in the area, try Restaurant JAG or Shisen Hanten by Chen Kentaro. You can also browse our fine dining restaurants in Singapore, more Japanese restaurants, or all restaurants in Orchard and River Valley.