Nana & Friends Cafe
I’m sure all of us can unanimously agree that nothing had more of a vice grip on 2024 than blind boxes. It’s true; we can’t get enough of ripping into one to discover what our hard-earned $15.90 has netted us, and don’t get me started on the Labubu craze that’s definitely spilling over into the new year as well.
Well, if you’re a blind box fiend with a sweet tooth, we’ve got just the spot for you. Nana & Friends Cafe is a newly-opened dessert joint within Suntec City which pairs the thrill of unveiling surprise gifts with their tasty confections. Here’s how our visit went down when we swung by to satisfy our midday cravings for something sweet.
What is Nana & Friends Cafe?
Nana & Friends Cafe is a new dessert cafe located on Level 3 of Suntec City, between Towers 2 and 3. They specialise in whipping up delicious desserts such as Korean shaved ice AKA bingsu, pastries, and tarts, but what sets them apart is their “blind box” concept.
Similar to the Tadaa Box bubble tea stands in JB, customers will have to collect their orders from a pick-up kiosk, and all bingsu orders come bundled with complimentary plushies. The kicker here is that you’ll only know which designs you’ll receive after a slow reveal on a revolving tray, adding to the suspense when you’re visiting Nana & Friends cafe.
Collect your mystery plushies from a suspense-filled turntable
After you’ve arrived at Nana & Friends Cafe, you’ll find that it makes for quite a pretty backdrop to plaster on your IG feeds as you dig into your desserts. The cafe is dressed in a checkerboard motif, as well as quirky comic panels introducing, well, Nana and her animal-inspired friends.
For some natural lighting for your IG shots, head towards the back of the cafe for seats propped beside floor-to-ceiling windows under bright pink parasols. But for those who’d rather get straight to devouring the cafe’s desserts, head on over to the ordering kiosks near the cafe’s entrance to place your orders.
When your food is ready, head to the pick-up kiosks to watch the magic happen. Get your angles right, and ask your friends to hit record right as you press the heart-shaped button at the pick-up kiosk. A door will lower in front of you, accompanied by a whimsical soundtrack and a cute animated backdrop of Nana and her animal companions.
A lazy Susan turntable will then begin to rotate, slowly revealing your desserts and more importantly, your free plushies. Of course, you won’t get to pick and choose which plushies you’re blessed with beforehand but in our opinion, that contributes to the surprise factor which makes repeat visits quite enticing.
Currently, there are 5 different designs in total to collect, but the cafe will update their plushie roster in the near future with more characters from Nana’s crew.
We got Nana herself, as well as Moogie the cow and Bunbun the rabbit with our order, and some of the other designs that we saw other customers gleefully stashing away include Grumbo the frog and Fluff the duck. Sadly, you can’t do swaps with the staff for your desired plushies, but you can try your luck by asking other customers if they’d like to trade.
Indulge in a wide range of desserts like fruity bingsus & mini tarts
The mango and matcha bingsus even come with a wobbly pudding that’s almost too cute to consume.
Food-wise, dessert lovers are in for a treat when dining at Nana & Friends Cafe. You’re gonna want to go for their many Bingsu flavours ($18); after all, you’ll only be able to get the free plushies by ordering one of these.
Lift the acrylic cover on the bingsus to watch an avalanche of cream fall over your dessert.
Their Mango Bingsu hits the spot on a hot afternoon, while the Matcha Bingsu comes with bits of chewy mochi for a hit of saltiness. Those in the mood for chocolate can opt for the Oreo-infused Chocolate Caramel Bingsu, and other flavours include Strawberry and Pineapple bingsus. By the way, you can also order their bingsus to go, in case you’re in a hurry.
Frosty delicacies aside, the cafe also has an impressive selection of mini tarts ($5). Flavours range from fruity options like Pistachio Raspberry and Passionfruit, to more exquisite bites such as Vanilla Bergamot. These are dainty enough to gobble down in one go, which makes them dangerously addictive.
Other desserts on their extensive menu include savoury Quiches ($13) in salmon, mushroom, and chicken flavours, and for a bite on the go, look no further than their Mochi Waffles ($4). These are served piping-hot, and are generously stuffed with different fillings which include Biscoff, Cream Cheese, and Pistachio Praline.
For something to sip on, skip your bubble tea runs and quench your thirst with the cafe’s cold drinks. We went for their Ice Passionfruit Soda ($6.50) and Ice Raspberry Lemonade ($6.50), both of which proved to be quite the refreshing pick-me-up with their strong tinge of sourness.
They’ve also got hot drinks if you need your daily caffeine fix; Cappuccinos are going for $6 while your standard Black and Flat White Coffees cost $4.50 and $6 respectively.
Swing by Nana & Friends Cafe on your next cafe date
If you can’t win a plush from Suntec City’s claw machine arcades to impress your SO, then Nana & Friends Cafe is the place to head. Not only will you be able to bring home an adorable memento, but you’ll also get to fill your bellies with delectable desserts to cap off the perfect date.
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Photography by Jaslyn Tan.