Introduction

Picture this: Back in the 1970s, perched 70 meters high atop the wheat grain silo, Prima Tower was a unique marvel. Fast forward to 2024, this iconic spot still holds its crown as the world’s only revolving restaurant on top of a grain silo.

A 360° Panoramic Delight

Imagine gazing out over Singapore’s Keppel Terminal, with Malaysia and Indonesia's islands dotting the horizon. As the sun sets, Mount Faber and the Central Business District cast a surreal glow, making every moment magical. On another side, the southern islands (Sentosa, Brani, St. John’s, Bukom) peeking over the horizon, each with its own story to tell.

The Birth of an Icon

In October 1977, Prima Tower Revolving Restaurant burst onto the scene, described as “a restaurant furnished luxuriously by good taste and with the sort of service one associates with the better European restaurants” by the New Nation journalist, Violet Oon. From rare delicacies like sharks’ fin soup to authentic Peking duck, every dish was a masterpiece crafted by Master Chef Chou Chu Fu, a culinary legend specialising in Beijing cuisine.

Shredded Scallops with Fish & Egg White (赛螃蟹) was one of Prima Tower's signature dishes and widely regarded as the finest and unrivalled even today. Presented with its ingredients separated, the server would skilfully blend the egg, egg white, fish and scallops right before the diners’ eyes.

A Journey Through Time

Let's rewind a bit to 1968 when the seeds of this culinary icon were first sown.

In 1968, the Singapore government conceived the idea of a cable car linking Mount Faber to Sentosa as part of its tourism development plan. Construction of the S$5.8 million system began in 1972, culminating in its official opening on 15 February 1974 by then Deputy Prime Minister, Dr. Goh Keng Swee.

Singapore’s first flour mill, Prima, commenced operation in August 1963, with the grain silo being the tallest building in the vicinity. Inspired by the idea of watching cable cars conveying through the skylines, Prima's founder envisioned a restaurant atop the grain silo, offering guests a novel dining experience. In May 1968, plans for the construction of the revolving restaurant were first announced by Prima’s founder, the late Mr Cheng Tsang Man.

The Firsts

A few lines picked up from The Straits Times dated 31 May 1968 revealed the sheer marvel of this multi-million dollar project:

• “The 250-ft high restaurant – slated to be Singapore’s first and the Far East’s most modern – is expected to be a great tourist draw when completed.”
• “Its design would be the newest in the Far East, bigger than Hong Kong’s and even more modern than the ones in Japan”
• “First aluminium structure in Singapore using the new Permanodic® material which is both fast-colour and long lasting.”

The Big Delay

Of course, no great story is without its hurdles. In 1972, just as the restaurant was about to open, complications arose over its building approval. The case put the project on hold "waiting for word from the government", according to the front page of New Nation, 7 October 1972.

1 October 1977: The Revolution Begins!

Prima Tower Revolving Restaurant officially opened its doors on 1 October 1977.

During the pre-opening food tasting session, Mr Primus Cheng, the Managing Director at the time, and his guests savoured the delicious dishes. They recalled with laughter that they were feeling a little queasy afterward; and tweaks were made to the speed of the revolution.

After the opening, some of the patrons still complained about the speed. Prima soon realised that slowing down its speed further was necessary to create a more palatable experience for the diners. Built to rotate at one full revolution per hour, Prima Tower made several adjustments and finally settled for 1 hr 45 mins per revolution.

The End of Revolution

During Singapore’s circuit breaker in 2020, the restaurant was originally meant to close temporarily from April 6 to July 31. Sadly, on 15 Aug 2020, Prima announced that the “impact of the pandemic on the F&B industry is unprecedented and the restaurant will cease operations permanently”. Prima Tower operated for 43 years, from 1977-2020.

A Tapestry of Memories

Today, Prima Tower is more than just a restaurant; it’s a cherished legacy of the Cheng family.

From milestone celebrations to intimate family dinners, it holds a special place in the hearts of many, weaving together memories that span generations of Singaporeans and travellers.

Whether patrons were connoisseurs of fine dining, history buffs or experience seekers, the grande dame is a beloved cultural landmark and heritage icon of Singapore.