[Review] From Bak Kut Teh Pao Fan to Liquorice-Smoked Wagyu Beef Brisket: Discovering Sky22’s Unique East Meets West Cuisine

Located on the 22nd floor of Courtyard by Marriott Singapore Novena, Sky22 recently unveiled a refreshed menu, following a relaunch earlier in January. Following customer feedbacks and a review by their culinary team, the restaurant now places even greater emphasis on modern Asian comfort food, infused with global influences.

During our visit, we sampled several dishes from the updated menu, andwere impressed by how the kitchen managed to keep things approachable while still delivering unexpected combinations and creative presentations. The menu does not try too hard to be groundbreaking. Instead, it focuses on refining comforting flavours in ways that feel fresh and enjoyable.

We started with the Chicken Consommé Morel (S$15), a clear broth served with cordyceps flower, shiitake mushroom, snow fungus and goji berry.

Light yet adequately savoury, it delivered the kind of nourishing warmth often associated with slow boiled Chinese soups, while maintaining the refinement of a classic consommé. The mushrooms contributed earthy richness while the goji berries added subtle sweetness.

Next came the Cucumber Wakame Salad (S$16). Featuring baby spinach, wakame, peanut miso and crispy white bait, the dish felt like a cross between a Japanese inspired salad and a Southeast Asian appetiser.

The crispy white bait was a smart touch, adding crunch and savoury depth to every bite. It is not often that hotel restaurant salads leave an impression, but this one managed to stand out through its layering of textures and flavours. The mix of western salad greens with Japanese seafood elements and Southeast Asian accents were surprisingly cohesive.

For the mains, the Bak Kut Teh Pao Fan (S$28) was our favourite dish of the night.

Bak kut teh is one of those iconic comfort foods that many restaurants attempt to elevate by simply using premium pork cuts or intensifying the broth. Sky22 takes a more creative route. Served with pork belly, shiitake mushrooms, beancurd skin, steamed jasmine rice and puffed rice, the dish transforms the familiar peppery herbal soup into something visually refined and texturally interesting.

The presentation immediately stands out, arriving with a polished elegance that feels very different from the usual rustic hawker bowl. Yet despite the elevated plating, the flavours remain comforting and recognisable.

The puffed rice was the key detail that made the dish memorable, adding an airy crunch that slowly softened into the broth. Instead of reinventing a familiar dish, Sky22 refines and reinterprets it in a way that feels thoughtful rather than gimmicky.

The Liquorice-Smoked Wagyu Beef Brisket (S$30) was another standout that initially sounded unconventional but worked surprisingly well in execution. Braised for 24 hours with liquorice and Sarawak peppercorns, the brisket arrives incredibly tender, almost falling apart at the touch of a fork.

Liquorice is not a flavour commonly associated with Asian beef dishes, and it can often be polarising. Here, however, the herbal sweetness remains subtle enough to complement rather than overpower the meat. Combined with the sharp Sarawak peppercorns and the richness of the watercress velouté, the dish achieves a comforting, balanced flavour profile.

The Grilled Octopus (S$28) continued the restaurant’s East meets West approach. Served atop tamarind soy with pomegranate and chinchalok salsa alongside in house bread, the dish blends Mediterranean style grilled octopus with Indonesian inspired accompaniments.

The octopus itself was nicely charred while remaining tender. The chinchalok salsa added a funky fermented depth that contrasted well against the brightness of the pomegranate. The accompanying bread also proved useful for soaking up the flavourful sauces left behind on the plate.

We ended the meal with the Chocolate Nama (S$14), which provided a rich and decadent conclusion to the evening. Inspired by Japanese style nama chocolate, the dessert combines velvety chocolate with hints of brandy, orange chantilly and caramelised pecans.

Aside from great flavours, the dessert was also visually stunning, plated with the kind of finesse expected from an upscale hotel dining establishment.

Beyond the food, Sky22 benefits greatly from its elevated setting overlooking the Novena skyline. The atmosphere feels relaxed enough for casual dinners while still polished enough for date nights or business meals.

From the nourishing Chicken Consommé Morel to the inventive Bak Kut Teh Pao Fan and the unexpectedly harmonious Liquorice-Smoked Wagyu Beef Brisket, the menu succeeds in delivering dishes that feel both comforting and refreshingly different. For diners seeking elevated comfort food with thoughtful Asian influences in a relaxed hotel setting, Sky22 is worth a visit.

Signature Experiences at Sky22

In tandem with the launch of its refreshed menu, Sky22 has also launched a week night a la carte promotion (Mon to Thurs, 6.30pm to 10pm) for 50% off every second main course to make week night dining even more accessible for guests to share and try more across the menu.

Concurrently, the restaurant also runs a line-up of signature dining experiences:

Sunday Seafood Buffet (12pm – 2.30pm) — indulge in a generous spread of fresh seafood and live stations, with special editions for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. From $68++ per adult, with 50% off every second diner.

Semi-Buffet Lunch (Mon – Sat, 12pm – 2.30pm) — from $29.50++ per person, offering a selection of mains from the weekly specials with free-flow of soups, salads and desserts.

Semi-Buffet Dinner (Fri – Sun, 6.30pm – 10pm) — from $38++ per person, featuring a selection of signature mains, paired with free-flow of poached prawns, soups, salads and desserts including chocolate fondue.

More details are available on the official Sky22 website.