Review: Alkaff Mansion

What: Alkaff Mansion
Where: 10 Telok Blangah Green, Singapore 109178
Type: Restaurant, Function Space, Wedding Venue
Vibes: Elegant, Romantic, Vintage
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How often do you get to dine, or hold an event, in a mansion – let alone one that has great historical value? I certainly have never had the opportunity to do so. That’s why I was pretty excited to visit the grand Alkaff Mansion.

A short history lesson would help clarify the value of this venue. This mansion was actually owned by a family of great traders named the Alkaff family, whose ancestors arrived in Singapore way, way back in 1852. They were basically rich businesspeople who dealt in spices, coffee and sugar, and even the property business later on. The mansion was built as a retreat for the Alkaff family, and also for entertainment purposes – as renowned businesspeople, they had plenty of their clients and guests to entertain. While it was left unused for several years, in 2003, the colonial mansion was finally conserved and restored. Today, it houses an Italian Ristorante, an all day café, a stylish bar, and several dedicated spaces for weddings, private functions and corporate events.

Arriving at the foot of the mansion, I couldn’t help but marvel at the intersection of history and modernity that the place had successfully fused together. The colonial-age design of the place created a sense of the Romantic era, and I could almost imagine this being the setting for the Great Gatsby.

The neatly trimmed grass, European-style fountain and wedding altar that adorned the front of the mansion certainly seemed like a scene from any movie staged in the Romantic period. Shi Hui, the Marketing Manager of LHN Culinary Concepts, informed us that the outdoor space was extremely popular for weddings – and rightly so. It certainly ranks highly on Spaces as one of the top wedding venues in Singapore. See if you can imagine holding your wedding here:

I thought so, too. She assured us that the venue was even more beautiful at night, and I definitely believe her on that. There is also a cafe just next to the wedding altar, for dining purposes.

The interior of the mansion was similarly furnished to retain the heritage of the venue. The furniture, cutlery, lighting, and even props were all tastefully aligned with the theme.

An interesting feature of the first floor dining room is the temperature controlled room right in the centre of the floor, where cold-cuts are made to order. Definitely a cool highlight to have at a party.

The first floor dining space also has a private room at the side, which is commonly used for corporate purposes – meetings, contract signings, presentations, and so on. The meeting room also doubles as a wine cellar, reminiscent of olden-day meetings (by design, we were told) – a unique feature that, I’m sure, is hard to find in Singapore. So if you want to find a unique meeting room in Singapore, this is the place to be (could this make the list of the coolest meeting rooms in Singapore?).

The only downside, though, is that there are no projection options available in the private room.

Moving up the staircase to the second floor will bring you to a colonial-designed bar (yes, pretty much the whole venue is colonial-designed). The cupboard holding all the liquor, apparently, are repurposed old cabinets, which definitely add to the colonial vibe. We were pleasantly surprised that find out that even the bar area were connected to the sound system – every venue space in the mansion, it seems, is connected to the PA system.

The second floor was similarly furnished. On each side of the space are private dining rooms, which can be closed off or opened up to the rest of the space with the use of folding doors if necessary. There is also another private room at the side, which, other than being slightly bigger, is similar to the first floor’s meeting room. In the same way, no projectors or screens are provided.

Besides the mansion itself, a short distance away is a marquee, which is used for large scale events. It is air-conditioned (thankfully), and small staging is provided upon request. However, planners are advised to bring their own stage and other decorations for bigger events.

In sum, if you are looking for a classic, European-style venue in Singapore for your event or meeting, Alkaff Mansion won’t disappoint.

Interested in a venue space that is perfect for weddings, private functions, or corporate events? Check out Alkaff Mansion’s profile on We Are Spaces right here. 

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