Chow the holidays away this June

 

singapore cafe_affogato bar

Adapted from Source: @xlouisaclare

After the month of carnations and oh-so-warm motherly love comes the month when we celebrate our stern albeit sometimes embarrassing fathers. As the saying goes, “the way to a man’s heart is through food” so take note of these new eateries for your upcoming Father’s day celebration.

And with food being the best form of communion, this June holidays with be the perfect time to explore new options for family brunches and dessert dates, and hearty dinners.

 

Cafes

 

1. SIXBYSERA

 

singapore cafe_sixbysera

Source: @sixbysera

Unlike the usual cafes serving up waffles and eggs bennies, SIXBYSERA enters the fray with doughnuts. Specifically Cheeseburger Doughnuts, Truffle Smoked Salmon Doughnuts and Maple Bacon Doughnuts at $2.90 each. When paired with the honeyed sweetness of the doughnuts, the flavour of the savoury ingredients are amplified further.

singapore cafe_sixbysera

Source: @sixbysera

If you are left wanting more, do-nut miss out on the Chilli Crab Sauce with Croissant ($11.90). Replacing the standard Chinese man-tou, these croissants are immaculately layered, with a perfect balance of flakiness and chewiness.

Address: #01-03 Urban Lofts, 89 Rangoon Road, Singapore 218375
Opening Hours: Closed on Mondays. 12PM-9PM from Tuesdays to Fridays, 10AM-10PM on Saturdays, 10AM-9PM on Sundays 
Telephone: 9652 8141

 

2. Bojio Cafe

 

singapore cafe_bojio cafe

Source: @bojiocafe

Whether it’s the cheese-pull, the lava-flow, or salted egg everything, Bojio Cafe is dedicated to serving up food porn-worthy dishes. From the Raclette Cheese + Toast ($18.90) to the Charcoal Lava Toast with Mentaiko ($16.90), this is akin to a food Instagrammer’s temple.

singapore cafe_bojio cafe

Source: @sg50s60

If having briny mentaiko isn’t your idea of a good dessert, the number of fillings for the Lava Toasts comes up to a grand total of 12! With mainstream favourites such as matcha, salted egg to the classic Earl Grey, and peanut butter, the phrase “spoiled for choice” is a total understatement.

Address: #02-28, Westgate Mall, 3 Gateway Drive, Singapore 608532
Opening Hours: Daily from 11AM-10PM
Telephone: 8742 1688

 

3. April’s Bakery

 

Imagine the traditional lao po bing (translated as “old wives’ biscuits) infused the latest food trends  – that’s exactly what April’s Bakery offers. Having opened more than 60 outlets in Bangkok alone, this is their first overseas venture and queues have been so crazy that the bakery has to limit its sales.

singapore cafe_april's bakery

Source: @aprilbakerysg

To ensure its freshness, every single pie comes from a central kitchen in Bangkok and are air flown into Singapore every fortnight. They are then baked on a daily basis. Priced at just $2 per pie, we recommend the classic matcha pie and of course, the Thai Tea Pie, for that dose of cha yen we so dearly crave.

Address: #01-31, Tampines MRT Station, Singapore 529538
Opening Hours: Daily from 8AM-10PM, or till sold out
Telephone: 8122 7604

 

4. Cinnamoroll Flies To Kumoya

 

singapore cafe_cinnamoroll cafe

Now here’s something that’ll please the ladies in your life. In celebration of Cinnamoroll’s 15th anniversary, Cinnamoroll Flies To Kumoya is a pop-up cafe started by Sanrio and Kumoya.

If the pastel hues of the cafe already got you going kawaiiiiiiiiiiii, you have until 13 August 2017 to get your fix of the fluffball-themed cafe!

singapore cafe_cinnamoroll cafe

Be prepared for over-the-top drinks such as this Cutie Cutie Special Cinnamoroll Blue Soda ($14.90+) – with a huge head of cotton candy over a glass of blue curacao syrup.

Check out our full review here!

Address: 8 Jalan Klapa, Singapore 199320
Opening Hours: Closed on Mondays, Tuesdays to Thursdays 12PM-9PM, Fridays & Saturdays 12PM-10:30PM, Sunday 12PM-9PM
Telephone: 6297 3727

 

5. The Playground Coffee

 

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Westies now have another reason to rejoice. Right inside Nanyang Community Centre is The Playground Coffee, a new kid on the block with standard cafe fare like pasta, egg dishes and sandwiches. But the showstopper? Their Pulled Beef Grain Bowl ($16).

The bowl includes the usual suspects – meat, greens and mixed fungi but the chefs at The Playground Coffee pile on barley grains into the mix too. This results in an interesting contrast of textures, with the gaminess of the beef against the chewiness of the barley grains.  

singapore cafe_the playground coffee

The Playground Coffee also uses a coffee blend from local coffee roasters Two Degrees North Source

Address: #01-04, Nanyang Community Centre, 60 Jurong West Street 91, Singapore 649040
Opening Hours: Closed on Mondays, Tuesdays to Sundays 11:30PM – 10:30PM

 

6. The Affogato Bar

 

singapore cafe_the affogato bar

Source: @theaffogatobar

Coffee connoisseurs in the West, The Affogato Bar might just be your second home in the near future. There’s no question about what to order – go straight for their list of affogatos! For the uninitiated, affogato is basically ice-cream with a double shot espresso drizzled all over.

singapore cafe_the affogato bar

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As one of their Signature items on the menu, Death by Chocolate ($13.90) features a scoop of smooth chocolate sorbet and chunks of brownie accompanied by a double shot espresso. 

Address: #01-04B, Cluny Court, 501 Bukit Timah Road
Opening Hours: Daily from 8AM to 11PM
Telephone: 9238 9005

 

7. Slayer Coffee X Studio

 

singapore cafe_slayer coffee x studio

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Originally a mobile coffee service, Slayer Coffee has now gotten themselves a brick-and-mortar store at Havelock II Mall. Now known as Slayer Coffee X Studio, pairing coffee with pastries and desserts is its current mission.

singapore cafe_slayer coffee x studio

Source: @slayercoffee

Not to be overlooked on the menu are the Matcha Infusion Cheesecake ($7) and the Roasted Sweet Potato Latte ($5 warm, $6 cold).

Their Matcha Infusion Cheesecake ($7) comes with a light matcha flavour, reducing the chances of the jelak feeling one might have from a cheese overdose.

Also not to be overlooked is their purple-hued Roasted Sweet Potato Latte ($5 warm, $6 cold), which you’d be relieved to know has no added food colouring – actual sweet potatoes are roasted to create the drink!

Address: #02-14 Havelock II, 2 Havelock Road, Singapore 059763
Opening Hours: Daily from 11AM – 6PM
Telephone: 8688 4256

 

8. Nuevo Cafe

 

singapore cafe_nuevo cafe

Source: @nuevo.cafe

Tucked at the first floor of an industrial building, the newly opened Nuevo Cafe offers coffee and tea under just $6! With coffee from local roasters Common Man Coffee Roasters, you can be assured that there will be no lapse in quality in return for its affordability.

singapore cafe_nuevo cafe

Source: @nuevo.cafe

In addition to the weekend brunch menu with the usual egg dishes and big breakfasts, you’d want to be here on weekdays to try out their Japanese rice bowls, specifically the Yakiniku Beef Striploin with Sous Vide Egg ($8.50). Expect a combo of grilled beef striploin with a runny onsen egg atop a bed of rice.

Address: #01-01, 115 Eunos Avenue 3, Singapore 409839
Opening Hours: Daily from 8AM-10PM

 

9. Omotesando Koffee

 

singapore cafe_omotesando koffee

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Expected to be housed in the new Downtown Gallery mall real soon, Omotesando Koffee is no stranger to coffee aficionados. What was once based in the Omotesando neighbourhood in Tokyo, Omotesando Koffee ceased operations and rooted itself in Hong Kong. Until now.

singapore cafe_omotesando koffee

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Famed for both its coffee and custard cake which comes in bite-sized cubes, the outlet will be in the co-working space within Downtown Gallery mall. Expect a minimalistic floor plan, a great working environment, and a whole lot of caffeine buzz.

Address: #04-09, Downtown Gallery, 6 Shenton Way, Singapore 068809
Opening Hours: To be confirmed

 

10. Seoi Gor Cafe

 

singapore cafe_seoi gor cafe

Source: @cweizhi

Seoi Gor Cafe transports you through time to a cha chan teng in 1990s Hong Kong. With its retro tiled floor, posters of old spanning across its wall and a playlist of Cantonese songs that old soul would appreciate, the setting of the cafe sets the mood for the menu.

singapore cafe_seoi gor cafe

Source: @seoigorcafe.sg

Pick up the quintessential cha chan teng dishes – such as Scrambled Eggs, Ham & Thick Toast ($4.50), as well as the Steamed Chicken Mushroom Rice ($5.90). With a selection of over 33 items on the menu, you’d best imagine yourself in Mongkok, sipping on some yuan yang as the afternoon passes you by.

Address: #01-357, 45 Holland Drive, Singapore 270045
Opening Hours: Not fixed yet.
Telephone: 6266 0366

 

Restaurants

 

1. VENUE by Sebastian

 

singapore cafe_venue by sebastian

Source: @venuebysebastian

CBD folks, take note. VENUE by Sebastian will be the next “it” place for catching up with old friends, extended lunch breaks, and dinners with clients. It brings together traditional European cuisine and speckles of Asian influences in a casual diner setting. 

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Just take the Chilean Seabass ($36) for example. It’s prepared by plating the Asian element of a citrusy yuzu butter together with the European element of bacon and mushroom ragout. 

And it doesn’t hurt to know that the head chef trained under Restaurant Gordon Ramsay.

Address: #01-02, Downtown Gallery, 6A Shenton Way, Singapore 068815
Opening Hours: 11:30AM-2:30PM for lunch, 6:30PM-9:30PM for dinner. Closed on Sundays.
Telephone: 6904 9688

 

2. Coriander Leaf Grill

 

singapore cafe_coriander leaf grill

Source: @corianderleafgrill

Grilling and smoking meat has always been the best way of retaining the meaty flavours of the cut and Coriander Leaf Grill’s got that right – using a full-sized charcoal grill to cook their dishes.

singapore cafe_coriander leaf grill

Source: @larvitar

Other than prime cuts of beef and lamb, the Harissa Chicken Burger ($20) is one to look out for – with creaminess of yoghurt and the citrusy-tang of the sauce cooling down the heat from the spicy tandoori chicken.

Address: 1/F 12 Ann Siang Road, Singapore 069692
Opening Hours: Mondays to Wednesdays 12PM-11:30PM, Thursdays to Saturdays 12PM-12:30AM
Telephone: 6222 7276

 

3. The Dempsey Cookhouse and Bar

 

singapore cafe_the dempsey cookhouse and bar

Source: @ksolorzano

From the exterior, The Dempsey Cookhouse and Bar may seem like any other restaurant-bar, but step in and you’ll be greeted by a monochromatic interior with warm lights that’ll have you wondering if you’ve stumbled into a fine-dining restaurant. But that poshness is to be expected, when the restaurant is helmed by a 3-Michelin-starred chef, Jean-Georges Vongerichten.

singapore cafe_the dempsey cookhouse and bar

Source: @mynameis_nuinui

For such an extravagant-looking environment, you’d be surprised upon seeing the relatively wallet-friendly prices on the menu. For example, for just $26, the Black Truffle and Fontina Pizza is pretty much a steal – considering the fact that real black truffle paste and shavings are smothered all over the pizza.

Address: 17D Dempsey Road, Singapore 249676
Opening Hours: Mondays to Fridays: 12PM-2:30PM, Weekends 12PM-3PM. (Dinner) Sundays to Thursdays 6PM-10PM, Fridays and Saturdays 6PM-11PM
Telephone: 1800 304 5588

 

4. Ramen Atelier

 

singapore cafe_ramen atelier

Source: @sharonylow

It may be blasphemous to purists of both camps to apply French cooking techniques to ramen but The Ramen Atelier replies to these claims with tight slaps in the form of 4 distinctively different flavours of ramen: Noir ($13), Blanc ($14), Rouge ($13) and Vert ($14).

singapore cafe_ramen atelier

Source: @ramenatelier

No prizes for guessing that the jet-black soup comes from a combination of squid-ink and miso – the effect of which is sweetness and mellow all in a single bowl. Come here when Singapore decides to be wet and cold, for the warmth of Japanese hospitality combined with the class of a European diner.

Address: #01-14, Ascent, 2 Science Park Drive, Singapore 118222
Opening Hours: Mondays to Fridays 11:30AM – 3PM, Saturdays 12PM – 3PM. Closed on Sundays.
Telephone: 9008 3614

 

5. Starker Bistro

 

singapore cafe_starker's bistro

Source: @suann84

With wooden tables, real stone walls and creeper plants adorning its walls, Starker Bistro looks like it belongs on a street in old Italy. As much as natural lighting is present here, it is fully air-conditioned – just right for an imaginary escape from Singapore.

singapore cafe_starker's bistro

Source: @travlim

Enough for 3 hungry seafood lovers to share, the Ocean Galore ($93.80) includes an ENTIRE Sri Lankan crab, chunky tiger prawns, clams, and squid doused completely in parmesan garlic butter. 

Round off the indulgent feast with Starker’s homebrew beers which come in flavours such as lychee, aromatics, and Dunkel. 

Address: #01-15/16, Katong Square, 88 East Coast Road, Singapore 423371
Opening Hours: Daily from 12PM-12AM
Telephone: 6344 0025

 

6. Dim Sum Haus

 

singapore cafe_dim sum haus

There really is no in-between when it comes to dim sum. It is either really good at exorbitant prices or, kept for hours on end in steamers at any other hawker centre. Dim Sum Haus proves otherwise with both good dim sum and a comfortable dining environment along Jalan Besar.

singapore cafe_dim sum haus

An item worth trying is the Steamed Charcoal Chicken & Shrimp Dumpling (3pc for $4) or as I’d like to call it, “black siew mai”. Unlike the usual yellow siew mai, this one has a skin infused with charcoal, encasing a entire shrimp with minced meat and topped with prawn roe.

Read our full review of Dim Sum Haus’ dishes here!

Address: 57 Jalan Besar, Singapore 208809
Opening Hours: Tuesdays to Fridays 11AM-10PM, Weekends 9AM-10PM. Closed on Mondays.
Telephone: 6909 0777

 

7. Guenpin Fugu & Snow Crab Japanese Restaurant

 

singapore cafe_guenpin fugu

Source: @sgfoodonfoot

Finally, the biggest fugu restaurant chain has made its way from Japan to our shores. Guenpin Fugu & Snow Crab Restaurant freights in fugu from Shimonoseki – Japan’s pufferfish capital – every week, ensuring ultimate freshness.

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With set courses ranging from $88-$168, you will be full pampered with selections including a Puffer Fish Hotpot, Puffer Fish Sashimi, and ice-cream! Guenpin Fugu & Snow Crab Restaurant is AVA-approved and its head chef has more than 30 years in dealing with fugu under his belt, so rest assured you’ll be in safe hands.

Address: #01-06, Maxwell Chambers, 32 Maxwell Road, Singapore 069115
Opening Hours: Weekdays 12PM-3PM, 6PM-12AM. Weekends 5PM-12AM
Telephone: 6634 2916

 

8. Boru Boru

 

singapore cafe_boru boru

As a pop-up booth, Boru Boru resides within another cafe – Candour Coffee. Serving up inexpensive donburi, this place is perfect for anyone who craves for a budget-friendly but satisfying portions of don.

singapore cafe_boru boru

The only thing better than sashimi, is when it’s all diced up and served on a bed of warm Niigata rice. The Boru Chirashi ($13.90), comes with chunks of salmon, tuna, prawns and squid and a spoonful of ikura. With every mouthful, you get to enjoy the natural sweetness of the seafood, complemented by a dressing of shoyu and sesame oil.

Read our review on Boru Boru’s donburi here!

Address: 41 Beach Road, Singapore 189680
Opening Hours: Weekdays only 11:30AM-9PM
Telephone: 9457 0070

 

9. Sama Curry & Cafe

 

singapore cafe_sama curry

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Riding on the trail of Japanese restaurants, Sama Curry & Cafe brings the souped up version of Japanese curry all the way from Hokkaido. Like many of the up and coming restaurants on this list, it’ll be opening at Downtown Gallery.

The price of every bowl varies with the type of curry you are ordering. From a vegetarian option ($13.90) to a seafood bowl called Ocean Trophy ($18.90), everything here is reasonably priced for authentic Hokkaido soup curry. 

singapore cafe_sama curry

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There are also 30 levels of spiciness to choose from! For the average Singaporean, any number between 8-15 would be pleasantly mild.  

Address: #03-26 Downtown 2 Gallery, Singapore 068809
Opening Hours: Daily from 11AM-9PM
Telephone: 6224 0590

 

10. Tsukiji Fish Market Restaurant

 

singapore cafe_tsukiji fish market restaurant

Source: @sheryl22tay

Tsukiji Fish Market Restaurant perches itself on the same floor as Orchard Central’s Sky Garden with 6 distinct Japanese food concepts under the same roof, food court style.

singapore cafe_tsukiji fish market restaurant

Source: @chutoro

With dishes from the stalls costing less than $20, come here as a family and order an item from every stall for a complete experience of the restaurants. The concepts include Tsukiji’s Fish Market Restaurant (the headliner), Ramen Gallery’s Takumen, a tempura restaurant, an omakase-styled concept

To meet the needs of carnivores, there’s Tori-sho Chicken and Ikezaki BBQ, with the former introducing 100% chicken-based cuisine and the latter specialising in Wagyu.   

Address: #12-02 Orchard Central, 181 Orchard Road, SIngapore 238896
Opening Hours: Daily 12PM-2:30PM, 6PM-10PM
Telephone: 6634 2803

 

Enjoy life with good food this June

 

The truth is this: the way to any Singaporean’s heart – whether man or woman – is food.

Make the most of the June holidays pigging out with your friends and family. You will definitely remember the times when you stuffed yourself so badly that you couldn’t even get up from your seat to walk off the food baby –  a cautionary tale for the years to come.

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