One-Michelin-starred Japanese restaurant Esora to close on Dec 29
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Esora was established in 2018 at Mohamed Sultan Road.
PHOTO: ESORA
Follow topic:
- Esora, a one-Michelin-starred kappo restaurant, will close on December 29 after eight years.
- The Lo & Behold Group will support Esora's staff in transitioning to new roles; the future use of the space is undecided.
- Esora joins a list of other Singapore restaurant closures, including Path, Sixth Floor Oyster Cake and Ka-Soh.
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SINGAPORE – Come Dec 29, one-Michelin-starred Japanese kappo-style restaurant Esora in Mohamed Sultan Road will run its last service.
In a post on Instagram on Sept 26, it said: “With the turn of every season, we are reminded of its transience. As is the nature of all things to change, our time at Esora, too, comes to a close after eight meaningful years.”
Esora, established in 2018, earned its Michelin star in 2021 under previous head chef Shigeru Koizumi. He was fired in 2022 for multiple accounts of mistreatment of staff.
Since then, current chef Takeshi Araki has been helming the kitchen.
Esora is under The Lo & Behold Group, which runs other high-profile establishments including three-Michelin-starred French restaurant Odette, Italian restaurant Fico and Tanjong Beach Club, as well as lifestyle enclave New Bahru and several restaurants there.
In a statement to The Straits Times, Mr Wee Teng Wen, managing partner and founder of The Lo & Behold Group, says: “The city’s dining landscape is shaped by the ebb and flow of consumer tastes and economic forces, and Esora’s closure is a reflection of this.
“What’s clear is that if we want to maintain our status as a gastronomic capital, we each have a part to play in standing behind the restaurants and bars we love.”
Esora’s head chef Takeshi Araki.
PHOTO: ESORA
He adds that the group is committed to supporting staff of Esora as they transition into new roles – both within and out of the group.
There are no plans yet regarding the future use of the restaurant space, says Mr Wee.
Esora’s pending closure adds to others such as Path restaurant at Marina Bay Financial Centre, which quietly shut recently, only saying on its website: “As we close our doors, we’re deeply grateful for the memories made together at Path. We warmly welcome you to visit our sister restaurants.”
Path at Marina Bay Financial Centre quietly shut recently.
PHOTO: ST FILE
Its sister restaurants include one-Michelin-starred Born in Neil Road, Tonito Latin American Kitchen at Jewel Changi Airport, and The Spot and Wakanui Grill Dining at Marina One.
Running their last days of operation on Sept 28 are Sixth Floor Oyster Cake at Northshore Plaza in Punggol and heritage restaurant Ka-Soh in Greenwood Avenue.
These follow other one-Michelin-starred closures including Alma by Juan Amador, Euphoria, Chef Kang’s, Matera, Oshino, Poise, Shinji, Sommer and Sushi Kimura in 2024 and 2025.
Art di Daniele Sperindio, which shut in November 2024 at National Gallery Singapore, is set to reopen at the Mett Singapore hotel in Fort Canning Park by the last quarter of 2025.
