New restaurants in Singapore
Image adapted from: A Summer in Paris and @angell_ism
In what feels like the blink of an eye, January 2019 is now upon us. But the new year isn’t the only thing that’s new. Say hello to 20 new cafes and restaurants that have since opened their doors all around Singapore. From Hokkaido soft serves to an award-winning French patisserie, here’s what we’ll be dining on this month:
– Cafes –
1. FlagWhite – coffee joint with Espresso Tasting Flight
Image credit: @xp11
Not flat white but FlagWhite over at Bukit Timah – no surprise that they pride themselves on their coffee since there’s even an Espresso Tasting Flight ($7) where you can taste a range of different blends. But of course, standard coffees like Filter ($7) and Mocha ($6) also make an appearance.
Image credit: @flagwhitesg
Food-wise, they offer up mains like Panko Breaded Fish and Chips ($14) and Vegetable Lasagne ($15). There are also a range of salads for the health-conscious, with hearty bowls like FlagWhite’s Cobb Salad ($15) and Smoked Duck Breast with Honey Tangerine ($14).
Address: 106 Jalan Jurong Kechil, Singapore 598064
Opening hours: Wed to Thu, Mon: 10AM-9PM, Sat to Sun: 9AM-9PM
2. Pusheen Cafe – Pusheen-themed green tea buns and mains
Image credit: Eatbook
Themed cafes in Singapore are dime a dozen, but none do it better than Kumoya Cafe. With the likes of previous pop-up character cafes like My Little Pony and Care Bears, they’ve now opened up a Pusheen Cafe, with dishes like Seafood Curry Rice ($23.90) and Green Tea Buns ($10.90).
Image credit: Eatbook
Their desserts are highly recommended: the Pusheen Double Delight Fruitcake Burger ($17.90) comes with an array of sweet treats like a burger made from fruitcake and macarons, meringue, and cotton candy.
Image credit: Eatbook
The Pusheen x Kumoya Cafe will be open till end of March 2019.
Address: 8 Jalan Klapa, Singapore 199320
Opening hours: Tue to Thu, Sun: 12PM-9PM, Fri: 12PM-10PM
3. Berthold Delikatessen – German deli
Step into Berthold Delikatessen, and it’s almost as if you’ve entered a far-flung European country. The entire setup’s housed indoors but it retains a tinge of alfresco dining: sunlight shining through, a cool aircon breeze, and leafy fronds everywhere.
Image credit: @saltyaaron
There’s a glorious display of freshly baked pastries, with sweet treats like Baked Apple Tart ($7) and Brownie ($7). Look out for their Black Forest Cake ($8) – as a German specialty, it comes with layers of rum-drenched sponge, fluffy cream, and cherries in between.
Address: 13 Stamford Road, #01-84 Capitol Piazza, Singapore 178905
Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 8AM-9PM
Telephone: 6715 6872
4. Wild Blooms – flower tea jelly cake
Image credit: @wildbloomssg
With windows tinted vibrant shades of turquoise and pink, Wild Blooms is a cafe where plenty of IG enthusiasts lurk. Don’t let that deter you: the food and dessert menus are attractive in their own right.
The Flower Tea Jelly Cake ($12.90) is a dome-shaped dessert that features a sprawling 3D peony. The jelly’s slightly hard – you gotta cut right in, but the refreshing osmanthus jelly sure makes up for it.
Image credit: @sherrng
But beyond Instagrammable jellies, Wild Blooms also offers up an array of savoury bites. Their burgers? A massive win from us – the Sambal Pulled Pork ($13.90) comes with a heap of pulled pork belly while the Korean Spicy Chicken Charcoal Burger’s ($13.90) gochujang sauce sure woke our tastebuds up.
Image credit: Eatbook
Address: 1187 Upper Serangoon Road, #01-01 The Midtown Residences, Singapore 534785
Opening hours: Tue to Thu: 11AM-11PM, Fri to Sat: 11AM-12AM, Sun: 11AM-9PM (Closed on Mondays)
5. Cafe Leitz – Leica camera cafe with fusion cakes
Image credit: @cafeleitzsg
Photographers, feel free to fawn over Leica’s iconic cameras at Cafe Leitz. There are just 3 Leica cafes in the world, and we’re lucky to have one of them right at Raffles Hotel. As Leica’s very own cafe setup, it’s got an entire space dedicated to their cameras, wristwatches, and even jewellery.
Image credit: Cafe Leitz SG
While it’s certainly a haven for diehard camera enthusiasts, the average Joe will also enjoy its small selection of food – freshly brewed coffee from Alchemist and fusion cakes from The Patissier. The latter includes unique flavours like Bandung Cookie Choux and Laksa Cake.
Image credit: Cafe Leitz Singapore
Address: 328 North Bridge Road, #01-21 Raffles Hotel Arcade, Singapore 188719
Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 10AM-8PM
Telephone: 9826 9024
6. Hawker – chilli crab & chicken rice burgers
Image credit: @irkandar92
Our favourite fast food chains often have salted egg and beef rendang bites on the menu, but Hawker is a homegrown fast food joint with permanent local flavours.
Burgers come in flavours like Chilli Crab, Szechuan Mala, and Chicken Rice – some of them with rice, and others with a fluffy bun. It’s opened by renowned No Signboard Holdings, so you can be sure that their chilli crab sauce comes with actual chunks of crab. Prices start from $9.50 for an a la carte burger while meals start from $11.50.
Image credit: @chocolatebasil
Hawker also offers up other dishes such as prata, bao, porridge, and a range of sides – we’re eyeing the Mantou with Chilli Crab ($$4.90/4 pieces) for a savoury midday pick-me-up.
Esplanade Mall
Address: 8 Raffles Avenue, #01-13E Esplanade Mall, Singapore 039802
Opening hours: Sun to Thu: 8AM-10:30PM, Sat: 8AM-12PM
Telephone: 6219 016
Kent Ridge Centre
Address: 1 Lower Kent Ridge Road, #04-19/20 One @ KENTRIDGE, Singapore 119082
Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 7AM-10PM
Telephone: 6262 3843
7. Naganuma Ice Cream – Hokkaido soft serve
Image credit: @mysweetlittletooth
Hokkaido’s a prime holiday spot for a few reasons – the icy-cold weather, bountiful fresh seafood, and of course, fresh Hokkaido milk. Now that Naganuma Ice Cream has opened its first store in Singapore, you can get your Hokkaido milk fix in the form of a creamy soft serve.
Image credit: @thefussyfoodie_
There are 6 soft serve and 12 gelato flavours to choose from: they’ve got classics like Rich Milk Soft Serve, and more interestingly, Red Wine and Double Cheese. A scoop of Soft Serve starts from $6 while Gelato starts from $5.50/single cup.
Naganuma also offers Singaporean-exclusive desserts such as their Creme Brulee ($8), which is a milk soft serve-filled cone with custard cream and caramelised brown sugar.
Address: 1 Gopeng Street, Carlton City Hotel, Singapore 078862 (Back of hotel)
Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 11AM-9PM
Telephone: 6741 9108
8. Ah Lock & Co – thunder tea rice bowls
Image credit: @soullighteats
Hakka Lei Cha, otherwise known as thunder tea rice, is no doubt one of the healthier choices at a hawker centre. Ah Lock & Co. has recently opened a new standalone cafe at Tanjong Pagar, solely dealing out their speciality, the Haka Tofu Rice Bowl ($7.80). The bowl comes sprinkled with a variety of greens, including long beans and manicai, and topped with tofu, pork belly, and tao pok.
Add a dollar for Thunder Tea Soup, which is made from a mixture of tea leaves and herbs.
They also offer a variety of old-school pancakes such as Traditional ($1.60) and Munchi ($2) – min jiang kueh, a Chinese-style turnover pancake.
Address: 7 Wallich Street, #B2-22/23/24 Tanjong Pagar Centre, Singapore 078884
Opening hours: Mon to Fri: 7:30AM-8:30PM, Sat: 11:30AM-8:30PM
Telephone: 8826 0244
9. Sugar Thieves – strawberry watermelon cake
Image credit: @mysweetlittletooth
There’s a reason why Sydney’s Black Star Pastry went viral – its Strawberry Watermelon Cake is a wonder to behold, with refreshing watermelon layers and silky-smooth cream. And now, Singapore has their very own rendition with Sugar Thieves’ Strawberry Watermelon Cake ($8.90).
Image credit: @zippyfoodtrail
Considering that the owner had previously worked at Black Star Pastry, the cake bears resemblance to the OG, what with the generous spread of fresh fruits of watermelon, grapes, and strawberries. It even has the same airy texture and rosewater-infused watermelon slices. Other pastries available include Matcha Strawberry Roll ($7.90) and Sticky Date Bundt ($5.90).
Address: 333 Kreta Ayer Road, #01-23, Singapore 080333
Opening hours: Wed to Sat: 11AM-6PM (Closed on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Sundays)
Telephone: 9850 4377
10. A Summer in Paris – by an award-winning French pastry chef
Image credit: A Summer in Paris
A holiday to France is coveted by many. But with responsibilities plaguing our everyday lives, we’ll have to settle for the next best thing: newly opened patisserie A Summer in Paris. This new joint in Vivocity was opened by famous French pastry chef Yann Brys, the winner of Meilleur Ouvrier de France in 2011.
If that doesn’t impress you, then know that he invented the technique of piping cream on a turntable.
Image credit: Eatbook
One of his signature cakes, the Tourbillon Fruit’ Thé ($9.30) comes with delicate swirls of buttercream. Slice through to expose layers of citrus shortbread, jasmine tea sponge and mousse, and a tangy compote made from raspberries and grapefruit.
Image credit: Eatbook
Another stunning cake is the Pom Pom ($9.30) which looks a whole lot like a glossy green apple. Don’t be fooled: the top’s made from an intricate green apple cream that gives way to a crumbly citrus shortbread base.
Address: 1 Harbourfront Walk, #01-13 VivoCity, Singapore 098585
Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 10AM-10PM
Telephone: 9813 8575
– Restaurants –
11. Murray Terrace Brasserie – over 1,500 bottles of wine
Image credit: @murrayterracebrasserie
Brunch these days isn’t limited to just cafes: restaurants like Murray Terrace Brasserie dole out brunch classics too but with a fancier twist. Try their Steak & Eggs ($25), which comes with grass-fed hanger steak, crispy potatoes, and eggs done your way – the scrambled eggs come fluffy with just the right amount of creaminess.
Image credit: @murrayterracebrasserie
Other dishes worth trying include their Crab Cake Eggs Benedict ($21), Avocado Tartine ($18), and Citrus Cured King Ora Salmon ($18).
Image credit: @murrayterracebrasserie
Murray Terrace also offers an Express Lunch set ($28 for starter + main). You’ve got choices like Wild Mushroom Risotto, Australia Wagyu Steak Frites, and Jumbo Lump Crab Cake.
Address: 2 Cook Street, Six Senses Maxwell, Singapore 078857
Opening hours: Sun to Mon: 6:30AM-10:30AM, Tue to Sat: 11:30AM-10:30PM
Telephone: 6914 1425
12. Niku Kin – yakiniku with Hokkaido wagyu beef
The Niku Blue ($128/400g) comes with 5 special cuts of beef, and is served with Japanese rice and kimchi.
Image credit: @wensdelight
There’s nothing better than a fatty slice of wagyu, especially when it comes with weaves of marbling throughout. As a specialty wagyu restaurant, Niku Kin offers premium Hokkaido wagyu beef where you can choose your preferred cut from tenderloin to chuck roll and short plate.
Image credit: @juliuslim
While you can grill your own wagyu, they also have specialty dishes like Wagyu Tartare ($14.90) and Wagyu Hamburg Katsu ($12.90/a la carte). They also have Wagyu Aburi Sushi ($7.90/2 pieces) which is lightly torched for added flavour.
Address: 53 Craig Road, Singapore 089691
Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 11AM-2PM, 6PM-11PM
Telephone: 9817 0591
13. FrapasBar – Saveur’s newest French joint
Image credit: @hiamjio
As Saveur’s latest food venture, FrapasBar is sure to be a hit – and an affordable one at that. They’re dishing out French food but in sharing portions, similar to tapas with small bites like Crabmeat Croquette ($9), Rilette Dumplings ($7) filled with duck meat, and Trio of Scallops ($16).
Image credit: @carbiedaphie
While their original Saveur Pasta (from $6) is also available in all its sakura ebi glory, they also offer a variety of must-try mains. For one, their Valrhona Beef Bourguignon ($14) is a beef stew that’s seeping in red wine, carrots, and bacon chunks. The star ingredient to this? A hint of valrhona chocolate, used to marinate the beef.
Address: 2 Tampines Central 5, #01-35 Century Square, Singapore 529509
Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 11:30AM-12PM
Telephone: 6789 1121
14. Le Shrimp Ramen – Japanese shrimp ramen in Paragon
Image credit: @diningfoodprints
Combining Chinese la mian and Japanese shrimp broth, Le Shrimp Ramen offers a mishmash of our favourite flavours. It’s no easy feat: they bake large prawns close to an hour before grinding it down – this is the base of the broth, that’s then simmered for 8 hours.
Image credit: @jooooozl
Try their bestseller, the Le Signature Trio Shrimp Ramen ($19.90), which comes with fresh prawns, ebiko prawn balls, and prawn dumplings. Other delectable options – all with a strong prawn flavour – include their Braised Pork Ribs Shrimp Ramen ($13.90) and Ebiko Prawn Paste with Chilli Vinaigrette Ramen ($11.90).
Address: 290 Orchard Road, #B1-42 Paragon, Singapore 238859
Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 10:30AM-10PM
Telephone: 6487 6489
15. Thevar – modern Indian food along Keong Saik
Image credit: @blueskiescottonclouds
We often turn towards comfort food like prata and naan for a late-night supper, but Thevar is one to save for a special occasion, what’s with the beautifully-plated dishes and edgy ambience. One standout main is the Pork Ribs ($35), which comes slathered with a medjool dates paste.
Order up Raw Oysters ($5 for 1) – each comes with rasam shavings, a lightly spicy Tamarind soup.
Image credit: @andrewtanyenntzer
End off your meal on a sweet note with clever fusion desserts like Cempedak Puff ($6) – a light but crisp choux puff filled with fruity cream.
Address: 9 Keong Saik Road, Singapore 089117
Opening hours: Mon to Sat: 5PM-12AM (Closed on Sundays)
Telephone: 6904 0838
16. Aburi-EN – Japanese rice bowls & ramen next to Tanjong Pagar MRT
Image credit: @summerrain2007
Rice bowls are an easy way to quench your cravings for Japanese fare, especially when they come loaded with hefty chunks of wagyu beef and grilled pork belly like they do at Aburi-EN. Besides their premium bowls like Wagyu Jyu ($28) which comes with grilled Miyazaki Wagyu, they also have more affordable choices like Chicken Teriyaki Don ($10) and Aburi Salmon Don ($13).
Image credit: @alinazhennn
Add on an Onsen Egg for $1 or a Side Salad for $1.50.
While rice bowls are their speciality, they also have ramen like Tonkotsu Ramen with Aburi Char Siew ($15) – a rich pork bone broth topped with a half boiled egg and char siew slices.
Address: 7 Wallich Street, #B2-09 Tanjong Pagar Centre, Singapore 078884
Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 11AM-10PM
Telephone: 6214 3570
17. Paper Rice – Vietnamese classics by Arteastiq Group
Their Spring Rolls Platter ($19.90) comes with 4 types of spring rolls: prawns, mushrooms and tofu, seafood, and grilled beef.
Image credit: @paperrice.sg
We all know Arteastiq for their variety of teas and art jamming sessions, but their newest venture Paper Rice takes a 180-degree turn and instead, dabbles with fresh Vietnamese cuisine. Like most Vietnamese restaurants, it’s their pho that’s the star of the show – the popular choice would be either Sliced Beef Pho ($10.90) or Spicy Sliced Beef Pho ($11.90).
Minced Pork Skewers ($10.90) are served with peanut sauce and fresh rice vermicelli.
Image credit: @paperrice.sg
But of course, they serve up other dishes that are worth trying too. Their menu has a hefty range, and offers Rice Vermicelli (from $11.90), Grilled Meat with Rice (from $12.90), and Banh Mi (from $8.90).
’Image credit: @paperrice.sg
Address: 5 Changi Business Park Central 1, #B1-26/27 Changi City Point, Singapore 486038
Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 11AM-10Pm
Telephone: 6443 1261
18. Casa Rustico – rustic Italian diner with weekend brunch
Image credit: @casarusticosg
Singapore has no shortage of authentic Italian diners, but Casa Rustico is slightly atypical in that there’s no pizza on the menu. Instead, look forward to mains like Chicken Parmigiana ($27.50) made from hormone-free chicken breast and Butcher’s Cut ($29.80), a char-grilled hanger steak with a creamy mushroom sauce.
Image credit: @blueskiescottonclouds
They even have a special weekend menu, with brunch classics like Smashed Avocado ($6.20) and Goat Cheese Salad (from $10). They also offer a few pasta dishes, such as the simply-named Spaghetti ($22.80) which is wholemeal spaghetti packed with sicilian shrimps and broccoli.
Desserts are entirely Italian, with the likes of Tiramisu ($10) and Crostata Al Limone ($10), a tangy lemon tart.
Address: 6 Mohamed Sultan Road, Singapore 238956
Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 8AM-10PM
Telephone: 6219 3889
19. 15 Stamford – posh diner with upmarket local dishes
Image credit: @15stamford
It isn’t celebrity chef Alvin Leung’s first foray into Singapore – he’d opened Forbidden Duck at MBFC a couple of months ago. While 15 Stamford’s menu is filled with local flavours, it bears little resemblance to the hawker fare we know.
It’s housed in The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore, a classy joint perfect for business lunches or dressed-up occasions.
Image credit: @15stamford
Instead, they’ve completely recreated classics like bak kut teh and beef rendang with modern dishes like Bak Kut Teh Pork Chop ($38) and US Short Ribs Rendang ($68). If you’re warily eyeing the price tag, rest assured: most dishes are so substantial that they can be shared between 2 diners.
Address: 15 Stamford Road, The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore, Singapore 178906
Opening hours: Mon to Sun: 12PM-3PM, 6PM-10:30PM
Telephone: 6715 6871
20. The Masons Table – CBD wine bar in historic building
Image credit: @flourdes
Dining at The Masons Table is a lot like having a cosy Sunday lunch in the British countryside, with wooden furnishings and lavish carpeting. After all, it is housed in Coleman Street’s historic Freemasons Hall.
The Torched Chicken Breast ($24) comes with potato gratin and mushroom cream sauce.
Image credit: The Masons Table
The kitchen serves up mains like Poached Salmon ($24) and Confit Duck Leg ($26) but also offers simple pizzas like buffalo mozzarella-covered Kipling ($20) and spicy seafood marinara Burns ($24).
It’s also a prime spot for business talks, with set lunches starting from $28.
Address: 23A Coleman Street, Singapore 179806
Opening hours: Mon to Thu: 11:30AM-9:45PM, Fri: 9AM-9:45PM, Sat: 3PM-9:45PM (Closed on Sundays)
Telephone: 9127 5030
New food to try in Singapore
2018 ended with a bang, or more likely, ended after a week of severe overeating. Although January 2019 marks the glorious debut of 20 new cafes and restaurants, it doesn’t have to be the same. Everything in moderation, and you’ll be in tiptop shape – especially with new healthy offerings like thunder tea rice and Japanese rice bowls.