Symmetry @ Jalan Kubor – A Taste of the Good Life with Instagram Worthy Dishes (Invite)

November 2, 2015November 15, 20151 Comment

Situated between Bugis and Lavender MRT, Symmetry is one of those long-running players in Singapore’s cafe scene, having been around for close to five years. The cafe is open seven days a week, with different operating hours on certain days to cater to the brunch crowd at different times of the week.

With a relocation in the works for a friend of mine, a farewell get-together for foodies and Instagrammers was in order, and what better place to celebrate Singapore’s cafe culture than a late brunch-cum-dinner preview on Symmetry’s alfresco area?

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[CLOSED] Artistry Cafe @ Kampong Glam

October 4, 2014June 16, 20204 Comments

Update June 2020: Artistry has closed.

Ever heard of those legendary hawker stalls that open to snaking queues and sell out before the day is halfway through? I feel like Artistry is on its way to setting that benchmark in the cafe world. Its hot favourites, namely Big Breakfast and Eggs on Toast, sell like hot cakes and, coupled with a kitchen that closes at 4pm everyday, means that a full course indulgence eludes customers who are none the wiser, i.e. me.

Nevertheless, a ten minute pilgrimage under Singapore’s unforgiving sun from Bugis Junction to its Kampong Glam based premises warrants a reward for the rumbling tummy, so I decided to give the good folks at Artistry a chance on both visits, and boy, am I glad I did. 😉

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[CLOSED] Tai Parfait @ Bugis Junction

September 18, 2014June 3, 2016Leave a comment

[Update 3 June 2016: Tai Parfait has closed.]

It’s not so often that we see a school of fish swimming around busy Bugis, let alone one with mouthfuls of sweet, sweet toppings – literally. Adding to Bugis Junction‘s burgeoning kaleidoscope of F&B options is Yokohama-based Tai Parfait, home to a culinary hybrid for dessert lovers.

The store’s titular offering, Tai Parfait, is really that – a combination of the beloved traditional Japanese fish-shaped pancake with piping hot filling on the inside and the rich toppings of a parfait in place of its closed mouth. Cheery decor beckons customers and the brisk, factory-like production of taiyaki behind the counter is telling of just how popular it is.

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Maison Ikkoku Cocktail Bar @ Kandahar Street

October 7, 2013November 8, 20151 Comment

Stepping into Maison Ikkoku Cocktail Bar is like entering another world.

For one, its sophisticated and intimate interior is a far cry from the bustling cafe two storeys below. White brick walls and exposed steel pipes give this semi-al fresco bar an industrial feel, while sleek metallic globes hang from the ceiling as a sign of some out-of-this-world mixin’ going on.

Then there’s the menu: there isn’t. You choose your poison by telling ’em what you’re in the mood for (Something sweet? Minty? Strong?), and after a slightly surreal exchange, you sit back and watch Maison Ikkoku’s artisans shake and mix with an almost rhythmic grace.