singaporecity360° Whitegrass
Whitegrass is a one-star restaurant inside the heritage CHIJMES complex, where head chef Takuya Yamashita marries classical French technique to contemporary Japanese restraint across a structured tasting menu.
- Cuisine
- French-Japanese
- Neighbourhood
- Civic District
- Nearest MRT
- City Hall (EW/NS)
- Chef
- Takuya Yamashita
- Indicative price
- Lunch from S$98++; dinner S$218–298++
- Address
- 30 Victoria Street, #01-26/27, CHIJMES, Singapore 187996
Whitegrass is a one-star restaurant inside the heritage CHIJMES complex, where head chef Takuya Yamashita marries classical French technique to contemporary Japanese restraint across a structured tasting menu.
Signature dishes
- Hokkaido scallop with Mont d'Or
- Miyazaki wagyu with cognac sauce
- Black sesame brioche
- Blue lobster
The menu changes with the season, so these are indicative of the style rather than fixed courses.
The concept
The cooking pairs French sauces and discipline with Japanese precision and seasonal produce, presented as a nature-inspired tasting sequence the kitchen calls "La Cuisine Naturelle." Expect refined, seasonal plates with storytelling about the producers and landscapes behind them.
The chef
Takuya Yamashita, from Nara Prefecture, spent around six years at Aux Provencaux in Tokyo, cooked in Paris, and led the one-star Ciel et Sol in Tokyo before moving to Singapore in 2019 to take over Whitegrass. He brings in seasonal Japanese ingredients, including hand-picked green tea from a 250-year-old Nara tea farm.
Getting there
30 Victoria Street, #01-26/27, in CHIJMES — the historic former-convent complex in the City Hall area. The nearest MRT is City Hall (NS25/EW13), about a three-minute walk, with Bras Basah and Esplanade also close.
Prices
Lunch is a four-course Executive at S$98++ or a five-course Creation at S$158++. Dinner is a five-course Degustation at S$218++ or an eight-course Gastronomic at S$298++, with promotional prices sometimes lower. The "++" adds 10% service charge and 9% GST; wine and biodynamic pairings are separate.
How to book
Reserve online, by phone on +65 6837 0402 or by email at [email protected]; a credit card confirms the booking. Book one to two weeks ahead for Friday and Saturday dinner. Cancel at least 72 hours ahead or face a 50% charge. Vegetarian and vegan menus need 24 hours' notice, and children must be seven or older.
Opening hours
Lunch runs Tuesday to Saturday, noon to 2.30pm (last seating 2pm); dinner Tuesday to Saturday, 6pm to 10.30pm (last seating 9pm). Closed Sunday and Monday.
The room & dress
A graceful contemporary room set within the heritage convent, with pastel tones, archways and banquette seating across two spaces, one with a view of the kitchen. The feel is casual-luxe and intimate. Dress is "Smart Elegant" — men in full-length trousers and covered shoes.
A little history
Whitegrass opened in January 2016 as a Modern Australian restaurant under chef-owner Sam Aisbett and held a star in 2017 and 2018 before closing at the end of 2018. It reopened in May 2019 with Yamashita and the current French-Japanese concept, won its first star under him in 2021, and has kept it for five consecutive years through 2026.
Who it’s for
For visitors who want French technique on Japanese produce in a colonial-heritage setting, and who enjoy seasonal tasting menus with wine pairings and producer stories. Its central City Hall location makes it a good first taste of Singapore fine dining. Not the place for a casual, cheap or spontaneous meal.