The west side of Singapore has been getting its fair share of hipster cafe action recently. Taking over from Krave West, FlagWhite opened its doors on Jalan Jurong Kehchil near Beauty World MRT Station to whip up hearty cafe fare and drinks for residents nearby.
With so much going on during the week, a brief R&R over comfort food and drinks is just what you need to recharge over the weekend. Simple and cozy spots like Rise and Grind Coffee Co at Bukit Timah Plaza do just the trick for a no-frills, early afternoon respite.
Heartland cafes like EStation Cafe in Ang Mo Kio don’t get enough credit. Homely and inviting, places like these combine the convenience of heading down for a bite, with quality food at reasonable prices.
Sometimes you just want to break away from the seemingly endless cycle of food fads and overhyped “Instagram food” and head straight back for the classics, i.e. what works. Other times a little innovation goes a long way in re-inventing a timeless staple.
I have heard good things about Two Men Bagel House since their early days in Tanjong Pagar, but never got around to trying them while I was working in the vicinity. With the start of the new year, though, there was no better time to venture into new food territory than when I was in Novena, where their second store is located.
There’s something about Mexican cuisine that leaves you feeling incredibly full just at the thought of it – big flavours, vibrant colours, and even bigger portions that do not stinge on the goodies.
You may be surprised to know that Guzman y Gomez is not, unlike what its advertising collateral suggests, a Mexican food concept helmed by two genial looking gentlemen by the names of Guzman and Gomez. In fact, the brand originated in Australia, and currently has overseas outlets in Singapore and Japan. Still, Guzman y Gomez has grown to become the go-to place to satisfy our cravings for Mexican food, with its largest outlet located at Star Vista.
Tiong Bahru, otherwise known to many as Singapore’s hipster enclave in the west, is home to yet another food and lifestyle concept. Going by the name of Merci Marcel, Marie Charlotte Ley and Antoine Rouland (of O Batignolles and O Comptoir)’s newest venture serves elegant French dishes for brunch and dinner crowds right next door to Tiong Bahru Bakery.
Since its opening late last year, Merci Marcel has transformed from a quaint French cafe-restaurant, to a bustling space filled to the brim with cafe hoppers eager to check out their culinary offerings. Cheese lovers will be glad to know they can buy their own wheel from Merci Marcel’s cheese fridge, where “the smelly cheese” is proudly displayed.
Don’t you just hate fumbling around your wallet for cash, or worse, getting to the front of a long queue for your favourite dish, only to find yourself devoid of it?
Thanks to DBS PayLah!, these things are soon to be history. What’s more, you can even embark on your own Hawker Trail, comprising of stalls that now accept payment using this mobile app.
While majority of the stalls are located in the CBD area and some polytechnics and universities, the others are scattered around various heartland hawker centres in Singapore. And so, my hawker trail took me to Alexandra Village Food Centre.
