Although the start of Chinese New Year is usually a time to "rest the wok", there are still many Chinese restaurants that choose to remain open during the first two days of the festive season.
Last year, Jing at One Fullerton was open only for dinner on the first day of Chinese New Year. But this year, it has decided to stay open on both the first and second days.
Restaurant manager Bong Kwan Guan, 33, said: "We received lots of requests for lunch on the first day of the Chinese New Year. Our staff will have high tea or supper together to celebrate."
Diners looking for other options can have a meal at P.S. Cafe in Harding Road, or even Nepalese food at Everest Kitchen in MacPherson Road.
However, for the first time in five years, all nine Pu Tien restaurants will close on the first day of Chinese New Year and open thereafter.
"Although sales on that day usually accounts for a substantial part of our revenue, we believe that our staff deserve the day off after a year of hard work," Mr Fong Chi Chong, founder of the Pu Tien restaurants, said.
As for supermarkets, all of Giant's outlets will remain open on both days.
Twenty-one FairPrice supermarkets will remain open on the first day of Chinese New Year, like the ones at Block 279 Bishan Street 24 and Block 498 Jurong West Street 41. Seven of its supermarkets, including those at Downtown East and Shaw Plaza, will operate as usual on the second day. Go to www.fairprice.com.sg for more information about each outlet's opening hours.
Most Cold Storage supermarkets will remain open throughout the first two days of Chinese New Year, except for those at China Square, Funan DigitaLife Mall and Takashimaya.
All Sheng Siong supermarkets will close by 3pm on Wednesday, the eve of Chinese New Year, to allow staff with families in Malaysia to attend their reunion dinners, its director of retail operations Alvin Ho said. The outlets will remain closed on the first two days of Chinese New Year as well.
WHAT OPENS WHEN
Open on the first two days of Chinese New Year
- P.S. CAFE AT HARDING ROAD
Where: 28B Harding Road, tel: 9070-8782
- EVEREST KITCHEN
Where: 518 MacPherson Road, tel: 6844-4170
- SIN HOI SAI SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
Where: 01-59, Block 55 Tiong Bahru Road, tel: 6223-0810/6224-3905
- PEACH BLOSSOMS
Where: Marina Mandarin Singapore, 6 Raffles Boulevard, Marina Square, tel: 6845-1118XIN
- CUISINE CHINESE RESTAURANT
Where: Holiday Inn Atrium, 317 Outram Road, tel: 6731-7173
- YAN TING
Where: The St Regis Singapore, 29 Tanglin Road, tel: 6506-6887
- SUMMER PALACE
Where: The Regent Hotel Singapore, 1 Cuscaden Road, tel: 6725-3288
- STREET 50 RESTAURANT & BAR
Where: Bay Hotel Singapore, 50 Telok Blangah Road, tel: 6818-6681
- TUNGLOK HEEN
Where: 02-142/143, Resorts World Sentosa, Hotel Michael, Lobby Level, 26 Sentosa Gateway, tel: 6884-7888
- CASSIA
Where: Capella Singapore, 1 The Knolls, Sentosa, tel: 6591-5045
- HUA TING RESTAURANT
Where: Orchard Hotel Singapore, 442 Orchard Road, tel: 6739-6666
- JIANG-NAN CHUN
Where: Four Seasons Hotel Singapore, 190 Orchard Boulevard, tel: 6831-7220
- JING
Where: 01-02/03, One Fullerton, 1 Fullerton Road, tel: 6224-0088
- LI BAI CANTONESE RESTAURANT
Where: Sheraton Towers Singapore, 39 Scotts Road, lower lobby level, tel: 6839-5623
- MAJESTIC RESTAURANT
Where: New Majestic Hotel, 31-37 Bukit Pasoh Road, tel: 6511-4718
- NG AH SIO BAK KUT TEH AT MARINA BAY SANDS
Where: The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 2 Bayfront Avenue, B2-50, Stall 11, tel: 6291-4537
- CRYSTAL JADE PREMIUM AT ONE15 MARINA CLUB
Where: 01-01, Sentosa Cove, 11 Cove Drive, tel: 6305-6998
Open for dinner only on the first day of Chinese New Year and for lunch and dinner thereafter
- SINGAPORE SEAFOOD REPUBLIC
Where: 26 Sentosa Gateway, 01-292 Waterfront, Resorts World Sentosa, tel: 6265-6777
- JPOT
Where: Two outlets - 01-53, VivoCity, 1 Harbourfront Walk, tel: 6273-3536; and 03-16, Tampines 1, 10 Tampines Central 1, tel: 6532-3536
Closed on the first day, open from second day of Chinese New Year
- PU TIEN RESTAURANTS ISLANDWIDETASTE PARADISE
Where: 04-07, Ion Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn, tel: 6509-9660
- GUAN HIN RESTAURANT
Where: 01-01, Block 34 Whampoa West, tel: 6298-3179
- SEK TONG GAI
Where: 01-317, 47 Tanglin Halt Road, tel: 6474-4547
- RESTAURANT HOME
Where: 392 Upper Bukit Timah Road, Rail Mall, tel: 6465-1698
- PRIMA TOWER REVOLVING RESTAURANT
Where: 201 Keppel Road, tel: 6272-8822 or 6272-8988
- NG AH SIO BAK KUT TEH AT CHUI HUAY LIM CLUB
Where: 01-03, 190 Keng Lee Road, tel: 6250-4537
- CRYSTAL JADE RESTAURANT AT CHANGI AIRPORT TERMINAL 2
Where: Changi Airport Terminal 2, 036-084, Viewing Mall North, tel: 6214-1488
Closed on the first two days of Chinese New Year
- HOLLAND VILLAGE XO FISH HEAD BEE HOON, DOVER CRESCENT
- AH ORH SEAFOOD RESTAURANT, BUKIT MERAH
- CRYSTAL JADE Restaurants islandwide, except Crystal Jade Premium at One15 Marina Club, which is open on both days, and Crystal Jade Restaurant at Changi Airport Terminal 2, which is open from the second day of Chinese New Year.
- IMPERIAL TREASURE Restaurants islandwide, except Imperial Treasure Fine Chinese Cuisine (at Marina Bay Sands), Imperial Treasure Cantonese Cuisine (at Crowne Plaza, Changi Airport T3) and Imperial Treasure La Mian Xiao Long Bao (at Resorts World Sentosa), which remain open on both days.
