Royal China at Raffles

Eating at the newly refurbished Royal China is a bit like eating in a giant Tiffany box. Everything from the columns to the ceiling has that distinctive robin’s-egg blue colour. The menu, though, remains as classy as ever. The slivers of roast duck with satiny, crisp skin and tiny bricks of roast pork are marquee attractions, while the dim-sum lunch menu is as good as it gets. Unexpectedly moreish is the bland-looking Hokkien braised rice – every moist grain packs a flavourful punch. It’s not cheap – the Hong Kong kailan is $20 – but if you pick wisely, it’s possible to spend $45 a head and still have an excellent meal.