If you’ve ever taken a bus along Penang Road, a street away from Orchard Road, you might have seen an old Teochew mansion. That’s the House of Tan Yeok Nee, the last surviving one of its kind, and it’s been there for more than 140 years. The name might also ring a bell – there’s a popular street in JB called Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, named after the same man, just with a slightly different spelling.
After restoration and conservation works that began in 2022, the House of Tan Yeok Nee is now getting a new lease of life, complete with an art gallery, restaurant, and event spaces. You’ll be able to visit it in all its glory during the grand opening celebrations on 1st and 2nd November 2025.
Image adapted from: Roots
For the uninitiated, Tan Yeok Nee was a Teochew businessman and merchant of gambier, pepper, and opium. He started as a textile peddler in Telok Blangah, where he became good friends with one of his customers – the family of Temenggong Ibrahim of Johor.
He spent many years in JB, where he had control over the entire left bank of the Johor River and revenue rights to Iskandar Puteri, before returning to Singapore in 1875 due to a political conflict. Thereafter, he decided to build his mansion at the junction of Penang Road and Tank Road, now Clemenceau Avenue.
Image credit: Darren Soh
The House of Tan Yeok Nee is believed to have been built sometime between 1882 and 1885 by, you’ve guessed it, Tan Yeok Nee himself. It’s the last surviving “Four Grand Mansion” in Singapore, and a rare showcase of traditional Teochew architecture.
Image credit: Darren Soh
The mansion features elements such as mythological ornaments, murals, ceramic artworks, and a courtyard.
The roof of the House of Tan Yeok Nee.
Image credit: Darren Soh
Over the years, the mansion has worn many hats – from a family home to an orphanage for Eurasian girls, the headquarters of the Salvation Army, a university campus, and even a TCM centre.
It was also gazetted as a National Monument in 1974, and later received the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s Architectural Heritage Award in 2001. Fast forward to 2022, the Karim Family Foundation took ownership, with hopes of keeping this historical landmark alive for future generations to admire and appreciate.
Image credit: Darren Soh
The House of Tan Yeok Nee will feature an Immersive Heritage Gallery, which utilises multimedia displays and artefacts to showcase the architecture, craftsmanship, and conservation of the mansion. The gallery will also host 2 series by the Artist-in-Residence, Tan Ngiap Heng, who’s also the great-great-grandson of Tan Yeok Nee.
Visitors can look forward to catching Portraits as History (2013) and Family Leaves (2024/25), which explore themes like family, belonging, and heritage of the Tan clan.
Aside from the gallery, there will also be Loca Niru, a 36-seat fine dining restaurant by Chef Shusuke Kubota, who was the former chef at Omakase @ Stevens. The restaurant will serve French cuisine with Japanese and Southeast Asian influences.
Image credit: Darren Soh
From small and intimate events to large and grand celebrations, the mansion’s event spaces will be available for future bookings. Options include the Front Courtyard, Main Hall, Rear Courtyard, and Karim Hall. Each space offers a unique mix of traditional and modern touches, offering a unique backdrop for any event.
Courtyard of the House of Tan Yeok Nee.
Image credit: Darren Soh
The House of Tan Yeok Nee will officially reopen its doors on 30th October 2025 with a grand opening ceremony. But the House of Tan Yeok Nee: A Homecoming will welcome the public to visit its restored grounds during the opening weekend on 1st and 2nd November 2025.
From a previous tour conducted by the Society of Tourist Guides (Singapore).
Image credit: Society of Tourist Guides (Singapore) via Facebook
The best way to truly appreciate the mansion’s history is to join a guided tour led by the Society of Tourist Guides (Singapore). They’ll take you through the House of Tan Yeok Nee’s storied past, its cultural significance, and the hidden architectural details you might otherwise miss. While the tour is free, don’t forget to book a slot.
Ferrero Noir Gu Kueh by Ah Ma’s Legacy (left) and Teochew Dancong teas by LimCha’s Teahouse Cafe.
Image adapted from: @ahmaslegacy, @limcha_teahousecafe via Instagram
There’ll also be a Teochew Food Festival – the perfect introduction for anyone new to Teochew cuisine. The showcase will feature traditional delicacies and contemporary interpretations of Teochew favourites. Look forward to Chef Ivan Yeo’s braised specialities, Ah Ma’s Legacy’s modern take on traditional desserts, kuehs by Yoon’s Traditional Kuehs, and tea from LimCha’s Teahouse Cafe.
Presented by the Teochew Sim Clan, the photography exhibition will offer current generations a glimpse into the lives of their ancestors. It will shine a light on the Huamei ancestral village, where many Teochews trace their roots, while documenting the gradual fading of these ancestral homes.
It makes sense for Tan Ngiap Heng to be the first Artist-in-Residence – after all, he’s related to the Tan Yeok Nee. At this showcase, he’ll bring a small group of participants on a tour and demonstrate his practice of Chlorophyll printing – an art form that uses the sun to create prints on leaves.
Image adapted from: @usk.sg, @danceensemblesingapore via Instagram
Slow down with our local community of artists, Urban Sketchers Singapore, and join them for live sketching. Whether you’re a novice or a pro, everyone is welcome to capture the architectural details of the mansion. Do remember to bring along your own sketching materials.
If sketching is not for you, sit back and watch Dance Ensemble Singapore, one of Singapore’s most active Chinese cultural dance groups, perform a site-specific choreography that spans the courtyard. The Orchestra of the Music Makers will also make an appearance with a 5-piece brass ensemble in the courtyard, filling the atmosphere with lively music.
Image credit: Darren Soh
If you’re taking the train, take the Circle, North-East, or North-South Lines, alight at Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station, and head to Exit B. Those taking the bus, hop on services 7, 7A, 14,16, 36, 65, 77,106, 111, 124, 174, 175, 190, 972, and 972M, to Dhoby Ghaut Station Exit B.
From there, it’s a 4-minute walk along Penang Road until you see the House of Tan Yeok Nee.
While it’s located almost in the heart of Singapore’s modern shopping district, the House of Tan Yeok Nee stands as a pocket of history amid the Lion City’s modern skyline. This November, take a break from the Orchard crowds and step inside to experience the culture of the Teochew community.
Admission: Free
Venue: House of Tan Yeok Nee
Date: 1st & 2nd Nov 2025
Time: 10am-7pm
Get tickets to House of Tan Yeok Nee: A Homecoming.
Other historic sites conserved in Singapore:
Cover image adapted from: Darren Soh, @limcha_teahousecafe via Instagram
Book your flights and get ready to jam.
These Christmas exclusive events have magical snowfall shows.
Play Merry-Poly too.
Technically, this is the second time Singapore has qualified for the Asian Cup.
This is your call to get up earlier for work.
As if we need another reason to visit the mall.