Tosca

Thirteen floors up the DoubleTree by Hilton, Tosca looks out over the Straits of Johor toward Singapore while the wood-fired oven works the centre of the room. Chef de Cuisine Elvin Peterson cooks rustic Italian with a contemporary edge: an antipasto table, blistered pizzas and house pastas. The five-course chef menu runs RM150 nett, and the carte spans RM15 starters to RM350 for the premium cuts. The hotel and the restaurant both opened in 2015, and Tosca has held its place as one of Johor Bahru's better hotel dining rooms since.

The Kitchen

Elvin Peterson runs the Tosca kitchen as Chef de Cuisine, cooking rustic Italian food with a contemporary edge rather than a fine-dining straitjacket. The wood-fired oven anchors the room and the antipasto table is the first thing most tables visit. From the oven come blistered pizzas: the Quattro Stagioni, quartered with chicken salami, beef ragù, mushrooms and artichokes, is the one to order.

The kitchen keeps its long-running favourites on the menu, among them the Zuppa di Funghi mushroom soup, the Insalata Burrata and the Arancini di Riso, while a revamped carte adds new pasta and grill dishes. The five-course chef menu is RM150 nett per person; the a la carte runs from RM15 for small plates up to RM350 for premium cuts and wagyu. Tosca sits on Level 13 of the DoubleTree by Hilton on Jalan Ngee Heng, in the Ibrahim International Business District, with the dining room and terrace facing the Straits of Johor and the Singapore skyline beyond. The hotel and the restaurant both opened in 2015, and the room has stayed a steady choice for hotel-grade Italian in the city since.

The Room

The dining room runs along the 13th floor with floor-to-ceiling glass facing the water, so the view does much of the work, especially at sunset. Lighting is warm and low after dark; the wood oven throws a glow over the centre of the space. Tables are generously spaced, dressed for a hotel fine-dining room, and the noise level stays at comfortable conversation rather than a roar. Dress is smart-casual, in line with the hotel. A terrace section opens for cooler evenings and for private events. Service follows the Hilton template: polished, attentive, and used to handling business dinners.

Best for Impress Clients

Book Tosca to impress a client because the room does the talking before the food arrives. The 13th-floor view over the Straits toward Singapore reads as occasion without anyone trying too hard; the tables are spaced for a private conversation; and the RM150 five-course menu lets you host without studying a bill at the table. Ask for a window seat at sunset and let the wood oven and antipasto table carry the early courses. For more rooms built for hosting, see Best for impressing clients or the wider Johor Bahru dining guide.

Frequently Asked Questions