New life for historic Alkaff Mansion

Adapted from The Sunday Times 15 Jan 2012

It is now an Italian restaurant following a $5m makeover.

The two-storey mansion was built in the 1920s by Yemeni businessman Syed Abdul Rahman Alkaff to use as a family retreat. His family was active in the spice, coffee and sugar trade between India and Indonesia. The place became known for its opulent parties, but it was abandoned in the 1960s for unknown reasons.

Currently, the restaurant, which serves Tuscan cuisine, features a central cheese and cold-cut room on the first level in a glass-cube lit up by colour-changing LED lighting.

The bar, on the second level, has a view of Telok Blangah Hill Park. The restaurant also has four private dining rooms and a cigar room.

There are two smaller buildings on the 8,984 sqm site. One is now a pizza cafe and the other houses the kitchen.