Keyaki: Tradition gets made over

Keyaki is as close as you can get to traditional Japanese dining in a hotel setting. It has a timeless rooftop garden, with aesthetically pleasing features like bamboo plants, stone, koi and water ponds. There is also a graceful Japanese bridge and finally, the authentic Japanese fare that awaits inside. Keyaki, located in the Pan Pacific Singapore hotel, re-opened in September 2009 after a total revamp in decor and cuisine.

The new look re-creates the setting of a traditional Japanese home similar to an inakaya (meaning country home). There are also private tatami rooms for cosy business meals and dinner parties. The restaurant was named after highly-prized Keyaki wood (known for its resilience and strength) -- in fact, the interior frame is built entirely without nails using traditional construction techniques.

New Master Chef Hiroshi Kagata has recently taken over the kitchen -- he's one of the few chefs in Singapore with a license to handle fugu (puffer fish) and specializes int he art of kaiseki and sashimi. If you're feeling unloved, ask for the omakase experience, where the chef decides and prepares your meal - especially for you.