You step out of the lift into a quieter world, blue furnishings, low light, acid jazz drifting somewhere in the background. It feels calm in a way that most Orchard restaurants, squeezed into malls and fighting for foot traffic, simply can’t manage.
But a good view has a way of flattering everything around it and it surely knew how to intrigue me from reading about this place from here. So I came with a plain question. Once you get past the setting, does il Cielo actually cook food worth the price it’s asking? The answer, I think, is yes in parts, and less so in others.
il Cielo is a contemporary Italian restaurant located on Level 24 of Voco Orchard Singapore on Orchard Road that combines contemporary Italian comfort food with a rooftop setting overlooking the city skyline. Led by Chef Marco Fregna, the menu features a selection of familiar Italian favourites, including house made pastas, pizzas, seafood dishes, and desserts designed to complement the restaurant’s relaxed yet elegant atmosphere.
The View Before the First Course: Entering il Cielo
il Cielo welcomes guests to an intimate indoor dining area and a charming outdoor space, both boasting stunning views of the city skyline. Unlike formal fine dining spots, offers a polished yet approachable atmosphere where diners can enjoy a leisurely lunch or a relaxed dinner without feeling rushed.
The restaurant’s standout feature is its rooftop setting. Evenings here are especially captivating as the city shifts from daylight to night, offering a golden hour moment perfect for sipping a glass of wine while savoring Italian culinary delights, fitting within the city’s rich fine dining scape.
What I Ordered at il Cielo: Where House Made Pastas Shine
While the rooftop view may be what draws diners in, the food determines whether il Cielo earns a return visit. il Cielo boasts a menu curated by Chef Marco Fregna that focuses on contemporary Italian comfort, with the strongest highlights found among its house made pastas, seafood selections, and classic desserts.
Tagliatelle Manzo e Tartufo ($40)
SEND Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is the dish that best represents what il Cielo does well.
Combining handmade tagliatelle, wagyu beef cubes, shaved truffle, and Marsala-parmesan sauce, the dish delivers indulgence without becoming overwhelming. The pasta retains a satisfying bite, while the truffle provides an aromatic richness that arrives before the first forkful.
The wagyu beef adds depth and texture, balancing the creaminess of the sauce rather than disappearing into it. Despite its luxurious ingredients, the dish remains controlled, a quality that separates it from heavier interpretations of truffle pasta.
For first-time visitors, this is the safest recommendation from the menu and the dish most likely to justify the trip beyond the rooftop setting.
Burrata e Tartufo ($28)
SEND Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
A simple Italian classic elevated through premium ingredients.
The burrata arrives with a creamy, delicate texture, while the addition of truffle gives the dish a more luxurious character. It is not designed to be the most surprising course of the meal, but it succeeds through freshness, balance, and presentation.
At $28, it carries the expectations of an Orchard rooftop restaurant, making it better suited as a shared starter rather than a standalone indulgence. Paired with wine from il Cielo’s extensive wine list, however, it becomes a pleasant introduction to the meal.
Tagliolini al Nero di Seppia
SEND Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Among the seafood options, the Tagliolini al Nero di Seppia is one of the menu’s most visually striking dishes.
The black squid ink pasta is paired with Sicilian red prawn tartare, crustaceous bisque reduction, braised cherry tomatoes, and lemon zest. The bisque contributes richness, while the citrus elements provide freshness that keeps the dish balanced.
The result is a seafood pasta that feels thoughtfully composed rather than simply relying on premium ingredients. It may not be as memorable as the Tagliatelle Manzo e Tartufo, but it demonstrates the kitchen’s ability to handle seafood with restraint.
Rooftop Social Hours: The Spirited Side of il Cielo
For those looking for a less formal visit, Rooftop Social Hours offers another reason to experience il Cielo.
Rooftop Social Hours runs from Tuesdays to Saturdays, 5pm to 7pm, with selected beers and wines at $10 nett per glass and spritz selections at 1-for-1 $15 nett, creating a convenient option for guests looking to unwind after a long day or ease into the evening.
Diners can enjoy selected beers, wines by the glass, prosecco, and refreshing spritz selections while taking in the rooftop atmosphere.
It is the kind of setting that suits Singapore’s after-work dining culture, a place where friends can meet, share drinks, and enjoy the city view without committing to a full fine dining occasion.
The combination of drinks and skyline makes rooftop social hours a perfect excuse to visit il Cielo even when a full dinner is not the plan.
Things to Know Before Visiting il Cielo at Voco Orchard
Located at voco Orchard Singapore, il Cielo is easily accessible from Orchard MRT and convenient for both locals and visitors exploring the city.
The restaurant is particularly suited for:
Couples looking for a rooftop dining experience
Business dinners where conversation matters
Celebrations and special occasions
Guests who enjoy Italian cuisine with a view
Expect to spend around $70 per person for a meal with drinks, with final spending depending on whether you add starters, desserts, or wine, while a more complete experience with wine and multiple courses can increase to $80 to $120 or more.
Final Verdict: Is il Cielo Worth Visiting?
il Cielo leverages its rooftop location and captivating outdoor space to offer a cosy restaurant experience with stunning city skyline views. This serene setting provides a perfect escape from the city’s pace, ideal for casual drinks, business lunches, or celebratory dinners.
The food is the true measure of the visit. il Cielo shines with standout dishes like the truffle pasta and other Italian classics, including the signature tiramisu. The Tagliatelle Manzo e Tartufo exemplifies the kitchen’s skill, pairing rich flavors with refined execution.
However, service inconsistency and uneven menu quality sometimes detract from the overall experience. For those who appreciate atmosphere, comfort, and expertly prepared pastas paired with a sip of fine wine, il cielo remains a strong choice.
SENDs Verdict on il Cielo
Price Range: $$$
SENDs Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
il Cielo understands the power of a setting. It is not aiming for the precision and formality of a Michelin-starred tasting menu experience, but instead focuses on relaxed rooftop dining. After previously coming from a tasting menu dinner at a three-star Michelin restaurant like Odette Singapore, this place excels in the kind of dining experience where the view becomes part of the meal, a place where conversations slow down, glasses linger on the table, and the city becomes part of the backdrop. The strongest dishes, particularly the Tagliatelle Manzo e Tartufo, show that the kitchen is capable of delivering food that matches the restaurant’s ambitions.
But il Cielo is not defined by its rooftop alone. While the atmosphere remains one of its greatest strengths, my personal experience with regards to inconsistencies in service and a few uneven dishes prevent the restaurant from reaching the level of refinement its surroundings promise. Come for the skyline, stay for the pastas, and choose your dishes carefully, because the best of il Cielo is genuinely worth experiencing.
Perfect For: Rooftop date nights, celebrations, business dinners, catching up with friends over wine, and diners looking for an Italian restaurant where atmosphere matters as much as the food.
Skip It If: You are seeking highly experimental Italian cuisine, expect flawless fine dining service at every visit, or believe a premium restaurant should deliver perfection across every dish.
SENDs Tip: Order the Tagliatelle Manzo e Tartufo and pair it with a selection from il Cielo’s extensive wine list.
Before You Decide: The Lasting Impression of il Cielo
I left il Cielo thinking less about the view itself and more about how much a setting can shape the way we experience a meal. The rooftop, the picturesque city skyline, and the quiet rhythm of a cosy restaurant invites a sense of escape that is difficult to find in Orchard.
The restaurant is not without its imperfections. It is a place built around creating an occasion, and when the right dishes, company, and atmosphere come together, it delivers exactly that. I’d return, not just for the view, but for the chance to experience those moments when everything falls into place.
