Mount Faber drops lofty image with casual diner

Mount Faber is shedding its premium image for one that is more casual and affordable for the average Singaporean - starting with a rebranding and a new casual diner.

"We want to be relevant to locals again because Mount Faber is Singapore's second oldest park, where people from all walks of life can come to," said Ms Suzanne Ho, general manager of Mount Faber Leisure Group yesterday.

Gone is the fine-dining restaurant, Jewel Box.

In its place is a casual dining spot, Spuds & Aprons, where a meal costs a quarter less than its predecessor.

It has both indoors and alfresco dining, and boasts a view of the harbour.

"We want to reach out to more people and what we've done is to reduce the prices," said Ms Ho.

Plans are under way to make the place more accessible to tourists and Singaporeans, she added.

The company is studying the feasibility of a tram system that will take visitors from the foot of the hill up to the peak, 100m above sea level.

"We want to make sure there is minimal impact on the nature around us," she said, adding that the company is working with the National Parks Board and nature societies on this aspect.

The hilltop's connectivity will also be improved when the Singapore Cable Car, which turns 40 this year, runs a second cableway within Sentosa Island.

The 860m line is expected to open by the end of next year.

It will have three stations at the Merlion Plaza, Imbiah Lookout and Siloso Point.

Passengers from Mount Faber will have to get off at the Imbiah station and take a two-minute walk to the intra-island cableway.

Pricing has not been decided yet, said Ms Ho.

mellinjm@sph.com.sg

This article was published on May 7 in The Straits Times.

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