SINGAPORE - Office workers at Shenton Way can finally have their meals at Lau Pa Sat again, when the iconic food centre reopens on Monday after a long drawn out $4-million renovation.

The revamped centre offers better ventilation, more dining options and can sit 2,500 diners - 460 more than before. There will also be 56 food stalls, which include returning tenants such as Lakeview Char Kway Teow, Song Kee Fish Balls and Ah Chwee Kway Chap.

There are also 14 mini-restaurants, including an authentic Japanese bakery, a pizzeria and a seafood restaurant. Lau Pa Sat will be open 24 hours daily.

The food centre's layout has been rearranged to allow for better traffic flow and ventilation. Parts of the interior has been painted a rustic green, reminiscent of the original Lau Pa Sat which was completed at the current Raffles Quay site in 1894.

Its distinctive cream-coloured clock tower has been repaired and a stage has been set up for live performances. The national monument's Victorian-era cast-iron structure, however, was largely untouched.

An official opening ceremony, hosted by local artiste Gurmit Singh, will take place at 6.30pm on Monday. Highlights include live band performances and a magic show.

This was Lau Pa Sat's first major renovation since food court operator Kopitiam took over 17 years ago.

The centre closed on Sept 1 last year for what was to have been a two-month renovation, but there has been repeated delays which Kopitiam has blamed on "permit issues" and the scale of the project.