Café Central October: 20 New Cafes in Singapore to Check Out
PUBLISHED October 28th, 2014 10:00 pm | UPDATED June 6th, 2016 05:04 pm
We’d like to apologize for not writing this up sooner (so you’d probably have been to some of them if you’re a regular café hopper), but we have been keeping an eye on the café scene – so, welcome to issue one of our quarterly update on cafe openings in Singapore.
Disclaimer: we haven’t been to all of them, but you can expect the cafes on this list to either have impressed our foodie friends and us, brought something new to the scene, or don’t get as much love as they deserve.
The Alley Café
Boasting two retro game machines, the new café-bar joining the ranks of super-hipster Keong Saik road seems to be pulling its own weight with an extensive menu that covers breakfast to cocktails and everything in between. They’re pandering (in a good way, we suppose) to the Singaporean love for all things truffled – think Truffle Mac & Cheese ($15), Truffle Carbonara ($15), and Truffle Egg Mayo Sandwich ($8).
The Alley Café is located at 21 Keong Saik Road, Singapore 089128. Open Sun-Mon, Wed-Thu 9am-9pm, Fri-Sat 9am-12am. Closed Tuesdays.
Arterial (Permanently Closed)
Inspired by the middle meningeal artery (we wonder how that happened), Arterial celebrates life and the ebbs and flow of it. Sitting prettily behind Sri Mariamman temple in Chinatown, this cozy café serves blends by Liberty Coffee. You can also have beers like Magic Hat and Crabbie’s with their decent menu of brunch items, pastas, and open-faced sandwiches.
Arterial is permanently closed as of March 16 2015.
Bridge Café
More modern restaurant and bar than a café, this two-month old establishment is making a name for itself with value-for-money two-course set lunches ($16.90 with a drink) and food that surpass the usual simple café fare. Expect dishes like Beef Cheek Stew, Grilled Codfish, and Chargrilled Tenderloin. To be honest, we think they could do without the hipster bicycle at the door.
Bridge Café is located at 31 Seah Street, Singapore 188387. Monday – Thursday: 11am – 10pm, Friday: 11.30am – 12am, Saturday: 10am – 12am, Sunday: 10am – 5pm.
Bodacious Bar & Bistro
Opened by the same people behind Long Black Café across the road, this 130-seater – indoors and al fresco – café-bar has been drawing people with its retro-chic interiors, cute unicycle bar stools, and iconic neon sign. Popular eats here include the Spanish Fritters (aka churros, $8.80), Truffle Fries ($8.80), Fatty Duck Confit ($19.80). Coffee and tea aside, they also sell draught and craft beers.
Bodacious is located at 70 Biopolis Street, Singapore 138547. Monday – Friday 10am-10pm, Sunday 9am-6pm. Closed Saturdays.
De’Pop Culture (Permanently Closed)
If you prefer your cafes bright with pops of colour, check out De’Pop Culture (dessert+pop art, geddit?). Featuring quirky art on their walls – you’ll recognize Calvin & Hobbes and Andy Warhol inspired posters, the interiors are very much the focus here. But it doesn’t mean bad food or coffee; we’ll be heading down soon to try their Crab and The Dog ($15.90), a hot dog with spicy chili crab sambal sauce.
De’Pop Culture is permanently closed as of 1 January 2015.
Fresh Fruits Lab
Located a five-minute stroll from Kembangan MRT, this café has a fruit-focused menu with a lab-like interior, with beverages served in beakers and test tubes. The FFL Fruit Salad ($13), homemade granola in berry yogurt topped with seasonal fruits, is a delightful starter to share before you chow down on their solid Da Bomb Burger ($19). And if you’re feeling health-conscious, they have cold-pressed juices too.
Fresh Fruits Lab is located at 351 Changi Road, Singapore 419818. Open Tue-Thu 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat 10am-12am, Sun 10am-10pm. Closed Mon.
GastroSmiths
Fans of now-defunct The Humble Loaf in Katong would have followed the move of Chef Dillon and team to their new bistro along Beach Road. While regulars would be used to their delectable sandwiches and baked goods, this larger outfit has specialties like Hokubee Ribeye Don and Atlantic Cod Misua, which live up to the ‘globally-inspired comfort food’ branding they’ve tacked on.
GastroSmiths is located at 103 Beach Road, #01-02, Singapore 189704. Tuesday-Saturday 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 9.30pm. Sunday 11.30am-2.30pm. Closed Mondays.
The Klatch
There’s a more accessible place to sip the brew of Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee now. Hidden on the second floor of a shophouse along Prinsep Street, The Klatch is a serene spot to chill out and indulge in a good cuppa and ‘me time’, especially with their free wifi. They also have cold pressed juices (from $5.50) and light bites like Sweet Potato Fries ($5.20).
The Klatch is located at 50A Prinsep Place, #02-01, Singapore 188860. Open Mon-Sun 11am-8pm.
Little Wimbly Lu
Hallelujah! The ever-popular chocolate specialty café at Jalan Riang has finally opened up another outlet at the infinitely more-accessible Serangoon Gardens. As the name suggests, this outlet is smaller in space and in menu. But not to worry, they’re still serving their signature waffles and Root Beer Cake so you might want to hit this place up instead, especially if you don’t have a car.
Little Wimbly Lu is located at #01-09 myVillage at Serangoon Garden, 1 Maju Avenue, Singapore 556679. Open Sun-Thu 11am-11pm, Fri-Sat 11am-1am.
The Mama Shop
After celebrity chef restaurants, we suppose next on the list would be celebrity-owned restaurants. Mediacorp artistes Felicia Chin and Sora Ma are the proud owners of this new establishment at the Old Police Operational Headquarters. The name, décor, and menu – Asian fusion dishes and drinks like Red Bean Slush ($3.90) and Sparkling Ice Limau ($3.50) – scream Singapore nostalgia; we expect it to be extremely crowded for the next couple of months.
The Mama Shop is located at 195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace, Singapore 168976. Open Sun-Thu 12pm-10pm, Fri-Sat 12pm-11pm.
Old Hen Coffee Bar
If you need only one reason to check out this specialty coffee shop at Farrer Park, we’ve got one: the signature cold brew. We haven’t tried their newly launched brunch items such as the Crab Coleslaw Toast and Smoked Salmon Ciabatta but the cakes sourced from Kreme Couture bakery (along Joo Chiat Road) are decent enough.
Old Hen Coffee Bar is located at 88 Rangoon Road, #01-03, Singapore 218374. Monday 12pm-10pm, Wed-Fri 12pm-10pm, Sat-Sun 10am-10pm. Closed Tue.
Ply Baked Goods
The best-seller and must-try at this bakery-turned-café is their Rainbow Cake ($8.50). Not just food colouring, their version of the confectionary is rose flavoured with chocolate-coated crunchies and whipped cream between the layers. Other tasty sweet treats include lemon meringue tarts and earl grey tiramisu. For those looking at something filling, there are quizzas (pizza-style quiches) and baked spaghettis.
Ply Baked Goods is located at 95 Soo Chow Walk, Singapore 575382. Open Mon-Tue, Thu-Sun 11.30am-9pm, Wed 11.30am-6pm.
The Quarters
Chung Deming, the man who brought us durian crème brûlée called Durian Can Boleh, is serving up more locally inspired cuisine at the newly opened The Quarters in Icon Village’s new extension. This East-meets-West dessert will be available in-store, as well as artisanal coffee and more fusion savoury plates like The Asian Truffle (buah keluak sauce with chicken and capelli, $18) and Salted Egg Fries ($7.60).
The Quarters is located at #01-09 Icon Village, 16 Enggor Street, Singapore 079717. Open Mon-Thu 8am-10pm, Fri 8am-11pm, Sat 10am-11pm, Sun 10am-10pm.
Refuel Café
No prizes for guessing the theme of this new café in the East (you did guess petrol station right?). And these guys go as far as naming dishes on their menu in line with the theme – expect to have ‘Full Tank’ ($13.90) or ‘Refuel Pancakes’ ($9.90) on your brunch table should you pay a visit. Great spot for quiet and affordable brunch for the Easties!
Refuel Café is located at 744 Bedok Reservoir Road, #01-3029, Singapore 470744. Open Mon, Wed-Sun 11am-10pm. Closed Tue.
Royz et Vous Specialty Coffee
The last time we checked, this newcomer in Kampong Glam was serving a special four-bean coffee blend exclusively roasted for them by the boys at Maison Ikkoku. While the food might be a tad pricy compared to other cafes in the neighbourhood, their early opening hours and a decent eggs benny might just help this halal café survive the competitive local café scene.
Royz et Vous is located at 17 Bali Lane, Singapore 189853. Open Mon-Thu 8am-9pm, Fri-Sun 8am-11pm.
Smør
CBD-ites, this Scandinavian deli is another lunch spot to add to your list. Based on the concept known as smørrebrød in the Scandinavian region, Smør offers open-faced sandwiches on a variety of daily baked bread including rye, multi-grain, and Brioche. We foresee the wholesome but relatively light Finnish Chicken and Danish Butternut Pumpkin will be a hit with the #eatclean crowd.
Smør is located at #B1-23 One Raffles Place, 1 Raffles Place Singapore 048616. Open Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 9am-4pm.
Sunday Folks
Most of the people we know who’s been to this café in Holland Village are raving about their Seasalt Gula Melaka soft serve ice cream. Opened by the folks behind Creamier in Toa Payoh, you can look forward to the same awesome waffles (from $8) on the menu at the more spacious Sunday Folks. Other soft serve flavours include Roasted Pistachio, Earl Grey Lavender, and Madagascar Vanilla – drooling yet?
Sunday Folks is located at Chip Bee Gardens #01-52, 44 Jalan Merah Saga, Singapore 278116. Open Tue-Fri 4pm-9.30pm, Sat-Sun 12pm-10pm. Closed Mon.
Two Bakers
Opened by two Le Cordon Bleu Paris trained patisserie chefs, the baked goods at this artisanal bakery are made fresh daily using quality ingredients (like French butter). On top of sweet treats like carrot cake, éclairs, and their signature Le Chocolat Noir, chocolate mousse cake with hazelnut praline on a crispy feuilletine base, they also have savoury fare such as beef stew and Asian pulled pork sandwich on their menu.
Two Bakers is located at 88 Horne Road, Singapore 209083.
Two Men Bagel House
We love bagels, and it was difficult getting decent ones in Singapore until now. The bagels – pick from plain, sesame, cinnamon & raisin, and onion – are accompanied by a variety of spreads like clover honey, cream cheese, and pandan kaya with butter. Those who prefer heftier toppings can opt for savoury flavours like Rodeo (roast beef) or Bird (Turkey). Weekend warriors can look forward to eggs benny on bagel too.
Two Men Bagel House is located at #01-12 Icon Village, 16 Enggor Street, Singapore 079717. Open Monday-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat-Sun 9am-6pm.
Whisk Café
If you think Tiong Bahru has reached saturation point for cafés, well, say hello to the newest kid on the block, Whisk Café. Having interned at Dominique Ansel Bakery (which invented the Cronut), owner-baker Tricia might just give her competitors a run for their money when it comes to the food. Dig into her tangy Lemon Tart ($5) and New York Cheese Cake ($7) with coffee from Stranger’s Reunion.
Whisk Café is located at 58 Seng Poh Road, #01-15, Singapore 160058. Open Tue-Thu 9am-8pm, Fri-Sat 9am-11pm, Sun 9am-9pm. Closed Mon.
Top Image: Two Bakers
Updated as of 16 March 2015.
