Takashimaya is already home to a multitude of cafes and coffee joints for shoppers to rest their feet. So, what’s one more, right? TAG Espresso is a home-ground coffee brand that recently branched out into the cafe scene, with its newest outpost situated near the lift lobby at Tower B.
I have a soft spot for understated cafes like Dapper Coffee and the now-defunct RONIN, with their barebones decor and unpretentious offerings. So when Ceres Haus popped up on my radar, I knew I had to check it out.
Situated on Circular Road above MISFITS, Ceres Haus offers no indication of its existence in this neighbourhood of eateries and seedy bars, save for a bottle and coffee cup labeled with its name. Looking back on it, the combination of said “decor” indicates Ceres Haus’ business as a cafe by day and wine bar by night.
With the pandemic putting a damper on eating out and cafe-hopping, it’s heartening to see home-based bakers expanding from online storefronts to brick-and-mortar setups.
Tigerlilly Patisserie, headed by ex-Vianney Massot Restaurant pastry chef Naxine Ngooi, has joined the burgeoning enclave of foodie spots on Joo Chiat Road, a stone’s throw away from Da Dong Prawn Noodles.
Upper Thomson Road has come into its own as a destination for hip cafes and notable eateries. And with the recent opening of the Thomson East Coast Line making it more accessible, there’s no excuse to not go exploring.
Oaks Coffee Co., opened by the team behind The Kins’ at Pasir Panjang, has joined the burgeoning cafe scene on the upper-east side of Singapore.
I have a soft spot for HDB cafes, especially if it’s somewhere I can find artisanal, plated desserts. There’s something understated about savouring elegantly-crafted sweets in the comfort of a humble, familiar neighbourhood.
Lee’s Confectionery is about as unpretentious and heartland as you can get.
With Australian and Korean-inspired cafes dominating the local food scene, it’s refreshing to see places like OVERBRØD go against the grain by serving Swedish, Danish, and Norweigan dishes. Especially when most Singaporeans’ primary encounters with said cuisines have been through a certain furniture retail store.
Much like the Scandinavian cuisine it was inspired by, OVERBRØD’s space is on the minimalist, understated side, with dark wood fixtures creating a homely, cozy vibe.
Interestingly, it’s also set up shop outside Anchorpoint Shopping Centre, directly opposite IKEA Alexandra, the OG of Scandinavian delis in Singapore.
Sometimes, you just might be able to discover hidden gems in the least likely place. South Bridge Road is one place that often gets overlooked as that awkward stretch of seedy bars between Clarke Quay, Chinatown, and Raffles Place. But, the addition of quaint cafes and dessert spots such as Dopa Dopa and Dawn, has made this underrated area a good option for cafe-hopping, minus the busy crowd!
Kura Patisserie is the newest cafe to set up shop along South Bridge Road (and directly opposite my previous workplace!). Helmed by co-founders whose work experiences include hotels and Tiong Bahru Bakery, Kura Patisserie used to operate out of River Valley, before settling on its current, more central location.
Chue On It 