I have always been a huge fan of Italian cuisine but I have never had South Italian cuisine until a friend brought me to the newly-opened Sospiri.
Located on the rooftop of IOI Central Boulevard Towers, Sospiri is a 5-minute walk from Downtown station. Take the escalator up and then the lift to the left of the escalator up to level 7. On level 7, turn left and walk all the way straight and you will arrive at Sospiri.
The bar and tables outside the restaurant offers sweeping views of Marina Bay Sands in the distance.
If the bar area can be described as “relaxed”, the only word to describe the interior of the restaurant will be “classy” and “sophisticated”.
Gold and purple illuminated ceiling with mirror in the middle plus ceiling-to-floor glass on all sides makes the restaurant feel much more spacious than it actually is. Creamy-white tablecloth on every table coupled with orange seats gives a touch of cosmopolitan. Leave-shaped lamps and tall leaves throughout the restaurant gives the space a touch of nature.
I love the floral design of the plates they use at Sospiri, they are so unique.
What to order
In case you have no idea what the Italian names mean, please refer to the menu.
Italian meals always start with a bread basket, and I guess they follow the same tradition in Southern Italy. The breads are freshly-baked in-house which are warm to the touch and tastes awesome with the extra-virgin olive oil provided.
The seafood in Insalata di Frutti di Mare [S$24] are very lightly cooked which makes them all the more tender. The prawns, cuttlefish, squid and mussels are then tossed together with pieces of cucumber in lemon juice, olive oil, parsley and species. It’s light and bright, reminding one of lazy summers in Italy.
This was the first time I am having Pappardelle con Funghi e Bottarga [S$28] and I was utterly smitten by the gentle aromas. The pappardelle was cooked al dente and the mushroom sauce has such a mild gentle flavor.
Those who like tomato-base pastas will enjoy Sphaghetti di Gragnano alla Colatura di Alici [S$38]. The tomato base is not too sour nor sweet which tastes amazing with the sweet Sicilian red prawns and cetara colatura (Italian fish sauce).
What makes Orata al Limone [S$45] so special is not the seabream fillet which is so very tender, the citrusy lemon sauce brings out the freshness of the fish even more.
This is actually my first time having wagyu beef cheek and Picchiapo di Guancia [S$38] has set a high standard. The wagyu beef cheek are so tender and juicy they burst with flavor in my mouth.
Sospiri al Pistachio [S$12] is a signature dessert designed by chef Matteo Ponti from his childhood memories in Southern Italy. The green stuff on top of the angel cake puffs is bronte pistachio chantilly, which are not too sweet with a nutty flavor.
Torte Caprese [S$18] was quite a disappointment. The cake was made with dark moka chocolate but the cake itself is a little dry. The chocolate mousse and fig vincotto glaze makes it slightly better.
Sospiri
Address: 2 Central Boulevard, IOI Central Boulevard Towers #07-02, Singapore 018916
Telephone: 94780906
Opening Hours: Daily 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 12am
Website: https://www.sospiri.sg