Following the soft opening of the pop-up attraction in phase 2 last December, ‘Once Upon A Time on the Orient Express’ officially celebrated its grand opening in the presence of Guest of Honour, President Halimah Yacob. A symbol of the friendship between Singapore and France, the French representatives who were key enablers in making the project possible were also in attendance at the opening ceremony, including General Commissioner, Curator of Exhibition, Mr Claude Mollard and Michelin Starred Chef Yannick Alléno.
The exhibition is now a new ground of discovery for everyone, especially families, and it has now been extended till September 2021 in response to the overwhelming interest gained. “Following this grand opening, the exhibition will be introducing new features and elements to complete the cultural experience, including a refreshed dining experience, as well as a new gamified experience and pedagogical book to engage and initiate the young minds,” shared Lydie Blandeau, Founder and Producer of Visionairs in Art.
“Since its soft-opening last December, ‘Once Upon A Time on the Orient Express’ has been widely visited by many Singaporeans. We are heartened by the public's response and interest, and look forward to more of such collaborations to bring different cultural experiences from around the world to Singapore for our local community to enjoy,” expressed Felix Loh, CEO of Gardens by the Bay.
A Uniquely Singapore Experience
Eligible Singaporeans will now be able to purchase tickets for this pop-up attraction using the SingapoRediscover vouchers exclusively via the Klook platform. SingapoRediscover was designed to encourage locals to explore and rediscover the garden city and local attractions, and with this new tie-up, it would be a timely opportunity for more visitors to visit and experience the ‘Once Upon A Time on the Orient Express’ and immerse in a unique time travel experience in Singapore.
Refreshed Dining Experience
A new set of menus curated by Michelin-starred chef Yannick Alléno is now available at the Orient Express Pop-Up Restaurant. Commemorating the grand opening and now available for booking online, a new lunch and two new dinner menus have been added to reinterpret the food from the mysterious bygone era in a new refreshing and invigorating manner.
Featuring a five-course meal, the lunch set is a true expression of the chef’s passion for Modern Cuisine, a culinary movement he pioneered in 2013 to highlight traditional French techniques and flavours by reimagining them for the contemporary palate. Dinner is now offered in two seatings at 6:00PM and 8:00PM – a five-course meal and a seven-course meal, offering a unique and exceptional gastronomical experience at the illustrious exhibition.
“The spirit of the Orient Express train had always evoked the renewal of journey, creating new ways of travel that I am inspired by when creating the menus for the restaurant. I am honoured by the encouraging reception towards the Orient Express Pop-Up Restaurant. With this menu, I hope to continue treating diners to an exquisite showcase of my culinary philosophy, showcasing what would have been the ultra-dining experience
of the roaring Twenties,” remarked Chef Yannick Alléno.
DAMMANN Frère for Orient Express Café by Yannick Alléno
From the month of April, a selection of luxurious, exquisite teas by DAMMANN Frères will be available at the Orient Express Café and the pop-up restaurant for the April High Tea sets. Personally handpicked by Chef Yannick Alléno and the team at DAMMANN Frères for the exhibition in Singapore, the blends are heavily inspired by the stops along the Orient Express route such as Austria, Croatia, Egypt, India, Italy, Morocco and Paris.
High tea sets in the Pop-up restaurant and Orient Express Café will be served alongside a sablier for a special tea ceremony, to allow teas to steep for the recommended amount of time in order to obtain the perfect infusion.
Pedagogical Book
With the storied train being a point of interest for many young ones, there will be the addition of a pedagogical book developed to cater to the young visitors, providing them the opportunity to discover and learn more about the Orient
Express, excite them on train adventures and create an interactive component of the exhibition through an activity book. The book will be retailing at $12, available at the boutique.
Exhibition Extended to September 2021
‘Once Upon A Time on The Orient Express’ is a ticketed exhibition that is now extended to September 2021. For admission to the exhibition, visitors must first reserve their tickets (access to the booking platform on www.orientexpressexhibition.com). Admission tickets sold are only available for the selected time and date in accordance with Safe Management Measures. Tickets can also be purchased via bundled packages as listed below.
Ticketing Bundles & Promotions
Klook
Bundles purchased via Klook will be inclusive of a ticket to ‘Once Upon A Time on The Orient Express’ exhibition, a Singapore Flyer Basic Flight ticket, as well as a snack at Bhandari’s Saffron Restaurant. All visitors to the Orient Express exhibition are required to reserve their slots via the booking platform by using the promo code on the bundle tickets.
Ladies’ Night at ‘Once Upon A Time on the Orient Express’
In celebration of International Women’s Day, ‘Once Upon A Time on the Orient Express’ has launched a weekly Ladies’ Night beginning the month of March 2021. Upon purchase and presentation of a Ladies’ Night ticket from BookMyShow, guests will be entitled to a 10% discount off selected cocktails at the Orient Express Lounge.
Exhibition Details
Opening Hours
Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays: 10:00am – 9:00pm
Wednesdays and Thursdays: 10:00am – 7:00pm
Saturdays: 10:00am – 10:00pm
Public Holiday Extended Hour (Christmas, New Year, Chinese New Year): 10:00am – 10:00pm
Admission Tickets
Exhibition full rate (Free for children under 3): S$25
Family Bundle (2 adults & 2 children – ages 3-12): S$88
Fast Track/ VIP: S$80
Tickets are given priority at the entrance of the exhibition. Ticket holders can bypass any queue and go directly into the train carriages.
For more information, please refer to the Exhibition Factsheet.