Mark your calendars for May 31—Singapore’s nightlife scene is about to get a major upgrade. After a quiet period with few new venues opening, the National Gallery is welcoming Milli, a dual-concept dining and entertainment space that takes over the former Smoke & Mirrors and Yan Cantonese Restaurant units on levels five and six. The venue launches as part of the museum’s broader F&B refresh, bringing together some of the city’s most celebrated hospitality talents under one roof.
Where the Sky Meets the Party
Milli offers two distinct experiences across its floors. On level six, Milli Sky Dining & Bar presents a refined rooftop setting with alfresco seating and panoramic views of the city skyline, including the Padang. Guests can expect elegant cocktails and sophisticated dishes in a more relaxed atmosphere.
One floor below, Milli Lounge transforms into a high-energy club that keeps the music going until 4 a.m. The open-concept design encourages mingling, and management has decided against imposing a cover charge to keep the space accessible. A standout feature is the 20-metre-long HD screen that serves as a false window, projecting a dynamic view of Singapore’s skyline that pulses in sync with the music.
A Team of Local All-Stars
The name Milli derives from “millennium,” reflecting the venue’s mission to serve as an all-in-one destination showcasing Singapore’s best across the decades—food, cocktails, views, and music that locals have loved since the 1990s.
Behind the project are heavyweights from the city’s F&B scene. Sheen Jet Leong and Dharma Wang, managing partners of Bae’s Cocktail Club—which has hosted celebrities including Blackpink’s Lisa, G-Dragon, and Sean Paul—are joined by Chef LG Han of Michelin-starred modern Singaporean restaurant Labyrinth and award-winning bartender Vijay Mudaliar of Native on Amoy Street.
“What we’re trying to achieve is to bring a Singaporean identity to a world-class entertainment space,” Wang said. “All of us in this team are Singaporean, so we want to showcase our heritage through the food, flavours, drinks, and even the music that we’ve grown to love.”
Eating and Drinking Like a Singaporean
Chef Han is stepping away from the fine-dining precision of Labyrinth to embrace something more communal at Milli. His menu at Sky Dining & Bar features approachable yet elevated dishes, including a soufflé-style oyster omelette with Japanese eggs and premium French oysters, lobster laksa cheong fun, roasted spring chicken rice paella, and steamed king crab with white pepper or salted egg yolk sauce. His famous chilli crab ice cream will also make an appearance.
Prices start from $38 per person for a two-course set lunch, with a sunset high tea launching after July. For late-night cravings at Milli Lounge, the kitchen serves creative finger foods like prata pizza, goreng pisang skewers, and ice cream pandan waffles. The must-order is the ice kachang-gori—a shaved ice dessert blending Singaporean ice kachang with Japanese kakigori, available in boozy versions like a bandung variant with rose liqueur.
On the cocktail front, Vijay Mudaliar brings his signature flair without the experimental intensity of Native. The namesake Milli cocktail reimagines the forgotten Million Dollar—created by the same bartender behind the Singapore Sling—using gin, sherry wine, pineapple, and house-made mandarin grenadine. Other highlights include The Singaporean Breakfast, an espresso martini with kaya toast and kopi-infused base, and the floral Peranakan Spritz.
Music for Everyone
Milli’s music programming expands beyond Bae’s R&B and hip-hop focus to include pop, disco, funk, and house. Wang and Leong plan to feature up-and-coming artists, guest DJs, and international names, continuing Bae’s track record of working with popular acts like DCR Milda and DJ Lex.
Chef Han and Vijay are also curating a rotating lineup of guest chefs and bartenders—a collaboration Chef Han says he’s eager to pursue outside the constraints of fine dining.
Milli officially opens May 31 at 1 St. Andrew’s Road, National Gallery Singapore, Levels 5 and 6. Operating hours are Sunday to Tuesday 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., Wednesday to Friday 11 a.m. to 3 a.m., and Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 a.m. Reservations open on May 2 at millisingapore.com.