Árō is Chef Johanne Siy's debut gastronomic concept and an expression of what she calls Creator’s Cuisine — a cuisine shaped not by a single tradition, geography or culinary framework, but by the people, places, ingredients and experiences that have defined her journey. Named after two words — arō, meaning "to plough, to till, to cultivate" in Latin, and áro, meaning "love" in the dialect of Johanne's hometown — the restaurant is conceived as a labour of love rooted in ingredients, craftsmanship and community.
Through an ingredient-led tasting menu, Árō seeks to spotlight under-recognised ingredients, celebrate craftsmanship in all its forms, and create deeper connections between the people who grow, make and nurture the things we consume. At its heart, Árō is a platform for forging deeper connections, bringing together origin, maker and diner through food.
Our goal is to highlight remarkable yet unsung ingredients from the Asia-Pacific region. In the menu you will find Asian indigenous ingredients taking their rightful place alongside conventional ‘luxury’ ingredients.
We do not define what we do in terms of cuisine, but we take a back-to-basics approach of letting ingredients define the possibilities.
The intent is to find the best expression of that ingredient, regardless of time, cultural context, and the borders that divide us.
We do this to highlight that there are more ‘essential’ similarities that bind us humans than things that make us different from each other.
Árō encapsulates the ethos of everyone we’ve chosen to work with to bring this vision to life.
From the dining experience, the ingredients we work with, the vessels we use, the chairs and tables we sit on, to lighting that defines the space – everything is a labour of love from the artisans who’ve chosen to dedicate their life to their craft.
Our goal is to build an inclusive, sustainable and meaningful space that celebrates and strengthens the community - the farmers, producers, artisans, our team, and finally,
you,
our diners...
With Árō, Chef Johanne’s “labour of love” extends beyond the plate. Believing that true artistry emerges when hand, mind and heart work together, Johanne celebrates craftsmanship in all its forms. Craftsmanship permeates the restaurant. The dining room of Árō was a collaboration with Keiji Ashizawa Design centred on a palette of natural materials — walnut, rattan, stone, bronze and textured fabric. The space feels more like a home than a restaurant, a reflection of Johanne’s desire to create a deeply personal and welcoming environment. As she puts it, “I want guests to feel like they are dining in my home.” Featured throughout are artwork and objects from Johanne's own personal collection — they are not so much decoration as an extension of her being.
Through ingredients, craftsmanship and community, Árō seeks to create those moments of learning, understanding and connection. Above all, it is a labour of love — one built on the belief that meaningful dining begins not only with what is on the plate, but with the people behind it.