Introduction: A New Chapter in Singapore’s Italian Dining Scene
The St. Regis Singapore has unveiled Sophia, a modern Italian restaurant that signals an ambitious entry into the city’s competitive fine dining landscape. Opening its doors in October 2025, Sophia represents a careful balance between honoring Italian culinary traditions and embracing contemporary sensibilities. At the helm is Chef de Cuisine Angelo Sergio, a Puglia-born chef whose regional roots inform every aspect of the dining experience.
The restaurant’s name alone suggests a sophistication and elegance that The St. Regis brand is known for, and Sophia aims to deliver on this promise through authentic Italian hospitality reimagined for the modern diner.
The Setting: Elegance Meets Contemporary Design
Located at 29 Tanglin Road within the storied St. Regis Singapore, Sophia occupies a prime position in one of the city’s most prestigious hotel properties. The entrance sets the tone for what lies ahead—a thoughtful blend of classic Italian warmth and contemporary refinement.
The main dining hall showcases a design philosophy that respects Italian tradition while avoiding the trap of stuffy formality. The space appears designed to accommodate both intimate dinners and larger celebrations, making it versatile for various occasions from business lunches to romantic evenings and family gatherings.
The Chef: Angelo Sergio’s Pugliese Perspective
Chef Angelo Sergio brings the authentic flavors of Puglia to Singapore, and this regional focus is a significant differentiator. Puglia, located in the heel of Italy’s boot, is renowned for its simple yet flavorful cuisine that emphasizes quality ingredients, olive oil, fresh vegetables, and seafood. This isn’t generic Italian cooking—it’s cooking with a specific regional identity.
The chef’s commitment to authenticity is evident in his approach to sourcing. Sophia imports key ingredients directly from Italy, ensuring that diners experience genuine Italian flavors rather than approximations. This dedication to provenance suggests a chef who isn’t willing to compromise on the fundamentals.
The Menu: Regional Authenticity Meets Creative Expression
Starters: Setting the Stage
Sophia’s antipasti selection demonstrates the restaurant’s commitment to both tradition and quality. The house-made focaccia immediately establishes the kitchen’s technical capabilities—good focaccia requires skill, proper fermentation, and attention to detail. It’s a simple dish that reveals much about a restaurant’s standards.
The beef bresaola with goat cheese represents a classic Italian pairing, showcasing the country’s exceptional cured meats alongside creamy, tangy cheese. This is comfort elevated—familiar yet refined.
The stracciatella with smoked red tuna is a more adventurous offering, pairing the creamy, delicate cheese with the bold, smoky notes of the tuna. It’s a dish that bridges tradition and innovation, respecting Italian ingredients while presenting them in unexpected ways.
The grilled octopus with Tropea onions and fava beans pays homage to Italy’s coastal cuisine. Tropea onions, from Calabria, are sweet and mild—a prized ingredient that shows Chef Sergio’s attention to regional specificity. Paired with fava beans, this dish speaks to the Mediterranean’s vegetable-forward approach to seafood.
The Carpaccio di Gamberi stands out as a signature starter. Using Mazara red prawns—considered among the finest in the Mediterranean—with raspberry and lemon gel creates a sophisticated interplay of sweet, tart, and briny flavors. The presentation appears refined, and the choice to use raw prawns of this caliber demonstrates confidence in both sourcing and execution.
Pasta: The Heart of Italian Cuisine
Pasta is where Italian restaurants truly reveal their capabilities, and Sophia offers two particularly noteworthy options.
The Tagliatelle Atavi e Porcini is described as exclusive to Sophia, featuring hickory-smoked pasta imported from Italy. This is a bold choice—smoked pasta isn’t common, and pairing it with porcini mushrooms creates a deeply earthy, umami-rich dish. The smokiness would add complexity to the already robust flavor of porcini, creating layers of depth. This dish alone may be worth a visit for serious Italian food enthusiasts seeking something they can’t find elsewhere.
The Pappardelle al Ragù represents the comfort food end of the spectrum but executed at a high level. Using hand-cut Wagyu beef simmered until tender shows a commitment to both quality ingredients and proper technique. A proper ragù requires hours of patient cooking—there are no shortcuts. The choice of Wagyu elevates this peasant dish into something luxurious without losing its soul.
What’s notable is what we don’t see: there’s no spaghetti carbonara or fettuccine Alfredo on the menu. Sophia appears to be steering away from the greatest hits of Italian-American cuisine in favor of more authentic, regionally-focused preparations.
Main Courses: Bold Flavors and Premium Ingredients
The Bistecca alla Fiorentina is Sophia’s statement piece—a one-kilogram Angus T-bone steak that demands attention. This classic Tuscan preparation is traditionally served rare to medium-rare, allowing the quality of the beef to shine. The accompaniment of red wine jus and cannellini beans is both traditional and practical, with the creamy beans providing textural contrast to the robust beef. This is a dish for serious meat lovers and ideally shared between two diners.
The Baccalà in Umido offers a counterpoint to the beef’s intensity. This cod stew with white onion sauce, potato, and artichoke represents the cucina povera tradition—humble ingredients elevated through technique. Baccalà (salt cod) has been a staple of Italian cuisine for centuries, and its inclusion on the menu shows respect for tradition. The white onion sauce suggests a delicate, sweet base that would complement rather than overpower the fish.
Desserts: Theater and Tradition
The dessert menu balances classic Italian favorites with theatrical presentation. Tiramisu is the test of any Italian restaurant—it’s so ubiquitous that it needs to be executed perfectly to justify its place on the menu. The Baba Napoletano with limoncello syrup is a more distinctive choice, offering the rum-soaked sponge cake typical of Naples but with a citrus twist.
The real draw here is the tableside preparation of two desserts: Cannoncini alla Crema and Salame di Cioccolato. Tableside service adds an element of performance and engagement, transforming dessert from mere consumption into an experience. It’s a throwback to classic fine dining service that feels fresh again in an era dominated by plated desserts.
The inclusion of a gelato cart is a delightful touch, evoking the charm of Italian gelaterias while fitting seamlessly into the fine dining context.
Value Propositions: Lunch Sets and Sunday Brunch
Weekday Lunch Sets
Sophia offers an accessible entry point with two-course lunch sets at $42++ and three-course sets at $58++, available Monday through Saturday. These prices are competitive for a hotel fine dining establishment and make Italian cuisine at this level accessible for business lunches or casual dining without the full dinner commitment.
The set lunch format suggests that Sophia is serious about building a regular clientele rather than relying solely on special occasion diners and hotel guests.
Sunday Brunch: An Indulgent Experience
At $198++ per person, Sunday brunch positions itself firmly in the luxury segment. The inclusion of bottomless R de Ruinart champagne and house wines justifies the price point for those who appreciate quality beverages. Ruinart is among the oldest Champagne houses, and offering it without limit is a statement of generosity.
The brunch experience goes beyond just unlimited champagne. The live band creates ambiance, the mozzarella bar offers interactive engagement with fresh cheese-making, and the gelato cart adds a playful element. The fact that pastas are made to order—rather than sitting in warming trays—demonstrates a commitment to quality even in a brunch format where corners are often cut.
This Sunday brunch appears designed to compete with Singapore’s crowded champagne brunch scene while differentiating itself through its Italian focus and entertainment elements.
Service Hours and Accessibility
Sophia operates with the following schedule:
- Lunch: 12 noon to 2:30 pm, Monday to Saturday
- Dinner: 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm, daily
- Brunch: 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm, Sundays
The dinner service seven days a week is convenient, though the relatively early closing time of 10:30 pm may not suit those seeking late-night dining. The lunch service ending at 2:30 pm is standard for fine dining establishments and reflects the European tradition of distinct meal times.
Overall Assessment
Strengths
Authenticity with Purpose: Chef Angelo Sergio’s Pugliese background and commitment to imported Italian ingredients suggest genuine authenticity rather than generic Italian-American fare. The regional focus gives the restaurant a clear identity.
Exclusive Offerings: The hickory-smoked pasta exclusive to Sophia and the thoughtful menu curation indicate a restaurant trying to offer something unique rather than replicating what’s already available elsewhere.
Multiple Entry Points: From the accessible lunch sets to the luxurious Sunday brunch to the à la carte dinner service, Sophia offers various ways to experience the restaurant depending on budget and occasion.
Experiential Elements: The tableside dessert preparations, mozzarella bar, gelato cart, and live music during brunch show an understanding that modern dining is about experience, not just food.
Quality Ingredients: The use of Mazara red prawns, Wagyu beef, imported pasta, and Ruinart champagne demonstrates a commitment to premium ingredients that should appeal to discerning diners.
Considerations
Price Point: While the lunch sets are reasonable, dinner and brunch clearly target the upper end of the market. This is expected given the St. Regis location and ingredient quality, but it’s worth noting for budget-conscious diners.
Limited Information on Execution: While the menu items sound promising on paper, the ultimate test is in the execution. Factors like pasta cooking times, meat temperatures, and seasoning balance will determine whether Sophia merely talks the talk or truly walks the walk.
Competition: Singapore’s Italian dining scene is sophisticated and crowded, with established players like Buona Terra, Garibaldi, and numerous excellent trattorias. Sophia will need to consistently deliver to earn its place among the city’s top Italian restaurants.
Final Verdict
Sophia at The St. Regis Singapore enters the scene with considerable promise. Chef Angelo Sergio’s regional expertise, the commitment to authentic ingredients, and the thoughtful menu design suggest a restaurant with a clear vision and the resources to execute it. The multiple dining formats—from weekday lunch to Sunday brunch—show an understanding of the modern Singapore diner’s varied needs.
What sets Sophia apart, at least on paper, is its refusal to play it safe. The hickory-smoked pasta, the emphasis on Pugliese traditions, and the tableside theatrics indicate a restaurant willing to take risks while respecting Italian culinary heritage. This balance between innovation and tradition, between accessibility and luxury, is difficult to achieve.
For lovers of authentic Italian cuisine, Sophia warrants a visit—particularly to experience the exclusive pasta dishes and to see whether Chef Sergio’s vision translates successfully from page to plate. The Sunday brunch offers a more complete experience for those willing to invest in a leisurely afternoon of food, drink, and entertainment.
Whether Sophia becomes a destination restaurant or merely another hotel dining option will depend on consistency, word-of-mouth, and the team’s ability to maintain their standards as the initial excitement fades. The foundation appears solid; now comes the real test of earning Singapore diners’ loyalty in a market that demands excellence.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars (pending first-hand dining experience to confirm execution matches ambition)
Sophia is located at The St. Regis Singapore, 29 Tanglin Road, Singapore 247911. Reservations recommended. Tel: +65 6506 6860
- Limited Information: Most establishments appear to be dine-in focused
- Takeaway Available: Several hawker stalls and coffee shops
- No Delivery Mentioned: For most locations
Tourist Accessibility:
- Highest Value: Maxwell Food Centre, Tong Ah Eating House, Original Katong Laksa, Atlas Bar
- Moderate Accessibility: Most hawker centres and established restaurants
- Advance Planning Required: The Ampang Kitchen, Burnt Ends reservations
Cultural Significance:
- Historical: Tong Ah (1939), Singapore Zam Zam (1908), Song Fa (1969)
- Heritage Preservation : Kim Choo Kueh Chang, Tan’s Tu Tu Coconut Cake
- Modern Innovation: Burnt Ends, Cloudstreet, % Arabica
Cooking Techniques Highlighted:
Maxthon
In an age where the digital world is in constant flux and our interactions online are ever-evolving, the importance of prioritizing individuals as they navigate the expansive internet cannot be overstated. The myriad of elements that shape our online experiences calls for a thoughtful approach to selecting web browsers—one that places a premium on security and user privacy. Amidst the multitude of browsers vying for users’ loyalty, Maxthon emerges as a standout choice, providing a trustworthy solution to these pressing concerns, all without any cost to the user.
Maxthon, with its advanced features, boasts a comprehensive suite of built-in tools designed to enhance your online privacy. Among these tools are a highly effective ad blocker and a range of anti-tracking mechanisms, each meticulously crafted to fortify your digital sanctuary. This browser has carved out a niche for itself, particularly with its seamless compatibility with Windows 11, further solidifying its reputation in an increasingly competitive market.
In a crowded landscape of web browsers, Maxthon has forged a distinct identity through its unwavering dedication to offering a secure and private browsing experience. Fully aware of the myriad threats lurking in the vast expanse of cyberspace, Maxthon works tirelessly to safeguard your personal information. Utilizing state-of-the-art encryption technology, it ensures that your sensitive data remains protected and confidential throughout your online adventures.
What truly sets Maxthon apart is its commitment to enhancing user privacy during every moment spent online. Each feature of this browser has been meticulously designed with the user’s privacy in mind. Its powerful ad-blocking capabilities work diligently to eliminate unwanted advertisements, while its comprehensive anti-tracking measures effectively reduce the presence of invasive scripts that could disrupt your browsing enjoyment. As a result, users can traverse the web with newfound confidence and safety.
Moreover, Maxthon’s incognito mode provides an extra layer of security, granting users enhanced anonymity while engaging in their online pursuits. This specialized mode not only conceals your browsing habits but also ensures that your digital footprint remains minimal, allowing for an unobtrusive and liberating internet experience. With Maxthon as your ally in the digital realm, you can explore the vastness of the internet with peace of mind, knowing that your privacy is being prioritized every step of the way.