What makes for memorable dining? Good food is a must, but great aesthetics also elevate your experience, plus lend themselves to fab photo ops. These new cafes in town boast gorgeous interiors, from garden-inspired concepts to retro spaces, that make for fodder for your Instagram feed, too.
The industrial trend continues with new cafes like Dawn, this time with a Japanese twist. Located along South Bridge Road, Dawn features a nondescript, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it entrance − reminiscent of hole-in-the-wall eateries in Tokyo. Inside the small cafe, patrons dine amidst a backdrop of raw textured walls, and eat on tabletops in distressed limestone. On the drinks menu is artisanal speciality coffee, such as espresso-based single-origin coffee from El Salvador. There’s also a small selection of bakes, like the signature pandan coconut loaf cake and apple crumble.
DAWN is located at 78 South Bridge Rd, #01-01 Singapore 058708.
Featuring a distinctly Korean aesthetic, Cafe Found is nestled within The Editor’s Market new outlet at Takashimaya S.C. Minimalist design elements include a monochromatic colour scheme, tiled floor and the use of raw materials in fixtures like the coffee counter. Matcha addicts can indulge in the cafe’s range of drinks using Niko Neko matcha, like matcha latte and sparkling matcha. Another speciality is the sesame dirty, a popular Korean drink made with sesame cream and espresso.
Cafe Found is located at 391 Orchard Road, Ngee Ann City, #B1-16/#B1 24, Singapore 238872.
Located in Marine Clove, this cafe was designed to reflect the landscape of the surrounding East Coast area. The space itself is bright, spacious and airy, with teal walls, tall indoor trees and commissioned marine-themed artwork by local artist Wu Yanrong. Most of the menu items are also created in-house, with an emphasis on locally-sourced ingredients and collaborations with local producers. We recommend the barramundi and plant-based chicken sourdough sandwiches, as well as the sourdough waffles dessert.
East Coast Commune is located at 1000 East Coast Parkway, #01-03, Singapore 449876.
Located in an area filled with black-and-white houses, it’s no surprise that Under Der Linden’s decor comes with a colonial influence. The outdoor corridor is lined with greenery, monochromatic tiles and rattan-style chairs. The cafe was set up by the folks behind Le Jardin restaurant and Cafe de Nicole’s Flower, with both venues known for incorporating florals into the interior design. Under Der Linden even has an in-house florist, whom you can approach to purchase blooms. As for food, the cafe employs a communal dining concept, so expect sharing plates like Galician octopus, Iberico pork and ora king salmon.
Under Der Linen is located at 5B Portsdown Rd, Singapore 139311.
Cafes are a dime a dozen in Tanjong Pagar, but Equate Coffee stands out firstly for its unique, cave-like entrance. As you enter, expect to see a giant grey wall made from unfinished concrete. We also give our seal of approval for the cafe’s branding. For example, the incorporation of their mathematical logo into items like coffee cups. A blend of Brazilians and Sumatra beans is used for espresso-based drinks, and the food menu features canele and ondeh-ondeh cakes as signature items. Also, a rotating selection of other bakes.
Equate Coffee is located at 1 Tanjong Pagar Plaza, #02-25, Singapore 082001.
Described as a casual-contemporary Kyoto tea house, Sevens Kissaten combines a modern aesthetic (think large glass panels for plenty of natural light) with traditional elements like wood furniture and Japanese lanterns. Set up by real estate developer the Sevens Group, the cafe’s speciality is small-batch, artisan tea cultivated by Japanese tea farmers, as well as cooked-to-order premium-grade items like wagyu beef. Sevens Kissaten also launches a brand new breakfast menu at the start of each month and recently released a New Year’s matcha afternoon tea set where diners whisk their own ceremonial grade match powder.
Sevens Kissaten is located at 58 Seng Poh Rd, #01-15, Singapore 160058.
Opened just last month, Tigress by 82Soho is a Korean fusion gastrobar launched by the namesake entertainment and lifestyle brand. Its aesthetic appears to be urban jungle chic, with floor-to-ceiling glass windows, plenty of plants and furniture laced with wood and rattan accents Three pocket pool tables and a Korean four-ball pool table are also available for those looking to play in style. On the menu are western offerings like burgers and pizza infused with Korean flavours, as well as a new ‘yuja citron’ gelato flavour in collaboration with Oroma’s artisan tea gelato. Look out for upcoming executive lunch sets too.
Tigress by 82Soho is located at Orchard Gateway, 277 Orchard Rd, #03-18, Singapore 238858.
Whilst not a new cafe, Habitat has gotten a facelift after shifting from its Upper Thomson premises. Its current quarters at Jalan Besar are larger with an industrial theme, including cemented floors and long, grey communal tables in the centre. The coffee counter decked in baby blue also contrasts nicely with the muted colour scheme. Habitat has even amped up its label design for its cold brew bottled coffee and added mocha latte into the mix. Recent collaborations also include a tie-up with Elijah Pies, which opened a baking studio in the vicinity last month.
Habitat is located at 803 King George’s Ave, #01-242/244, Singapore 200803.
Guerilla Coffee’s interior includes a series of steps that patrons sit on, along with mini coffee tables designed like concrete slabs. The rest of the cafe is defined by its minimalist look, including muted colours and an all-white facade. Coffee addicts will also appreciate high-tech features like the Slayer Espresso Machine, accompanied by neon lights and a 3D printed framework. The cafe’s signatures are their coffee-inspired desserts, such as marmalade affogato and chestnut coffee jelly.
Guerilla Coffee is located at 3 Temasek Boulevard 01-506/507 Suntec City – North Atrium, Singapore 038983.
Pronounced “cake by Olivia”, this cafe specialises in cheesecakes. Its retro aesthetic was developed by Barcelonan interior design company Cris Cela Studio, with an emphasis on geometric shapes like circles, triangles and squares. The colour palette also represents the brand’s cheesecake, including a touch of navy blue as an ode to blue cheese as an ingredient. Cheesecakes come in a variety of flavours, such as the New York cheesecake and Basque cheesecake with rum and vanilla pastry cream filling.
Queic by Olivia is located at Kreta Ayer Rd, 41, Singapore 089003.
While the cafe underwent a revamp in early 2021, Suzuki Coffee has in fact been in Singapore since the 70’s. The brand is one of Singapore’s oldest coffee roasters, and used to supply to hotels and even Singapore Airlines. Previously designed as a modern cafe, Suzuki Coffee now resembles a Japanese teahouse, with features like lattice doors and a traditional shishi-odoshi bamboo fountain. Fans of Suzuki’s roasted beans can still buy their coffee packets here, but the cafe has also refreshed its menu to include more beverages made with Hokkaido milk, such as Kyoto uji matcha Hokkaido latte.
Suzuki Coffee is located at 8 Chin Bee Ave, Singapore 619932.
Previously nestled within boutique hotel The Great Madras, halal cafe and restaurant The Great Mischief has reopened its doors at The National Gallery.
The elegant space is doused in pastel hues, and sports terrazzo tables, quaint window and booth seats, and wall art. Large windows also offer views of the outdoors, and let in lots of natural light that bathes the cafe.
Catalan-inspired and brunch fare is served here, from small plates of patatas bravas ($9++) and poached pear crepes ($12++), to mains of fried chicken and waffles ($20++), lamb mezze with mashed potato, berry- and plum-topped brioche with custard and yoghurt, as well as battered snapper.
The Great Mischief is located at #01-17 National Gallery Singapore, 1 St Andrew’s Road, Singapore 178957.
If you’ve fallen in love with the floral-themed Cafe de Nicole Flower, you’ll be enchanted by the new Le Jardin, which is helmed by the same folks.
The spotlight is on French and European cuisine, which you can savour indoors or at its al fresco dining area. Outdoors, the vibe is casual with a vintage touch, and dotted with rattan chairs, marble tables, and patterned tiles.
Head inside, and you’ll find an elegant Victorian-inspired space with crystal chandeliers and foliage overhead. Botanical murals further add to the mood, and it’s hard to the miss the table of fresh flowers. You can bring home some of the magic too; in-house floral bouquets are available for sale.
And just like Cafe de Nicole Flower, the establishment welcomes pets as well.
Le Jardin is located at 5 Cox Terrace, Level 2, Fort Canning Arts Centre, Singapore 179620.
Pining for the cafe scene in Australia?
Make your way to the Star Vista, where Dewgather is located. Sip on Australian speciality java while you chill amidst contemporary surroundings with subtle peach tones and a clear ceiling that bathes the cafe in natural light.
The food, inspired by the grub found in Melbourne’s cafes, looks just as aesthetically pleasing here too. For one, there’s the pretty French Toast ($18), which is topped with Crème anglaise ice cream, brown sugar crumble, berry compote, berry compote, candy floss, and edible flowers. But if you’re up for something savoury, the Chicken and Waffles ($20) piled high with crispy chicken, garlic aioli, kimchi and pickled daikon.
For a light snack, there’s an array of toasties, given the cafe’s own twist. Think options like Triple Cream Brie with Vegemite, Pulled Pork with Sauerkraut, and Nutella with Peanut Butter.
Dewgather Coffee House is located at #01-46 The Star Vista, 1 Vista Exchange Green, Singapore 138617.
After shuttering in 2018, old school confectionery Chin Mee Chin recently reopened to much fanfare.
Its iconic blue facade with mosaic tiles and metal grilles is as Instagram-worthy as they come, but it also sports an updated look, together with a retro-style mural (great for photo backdrops!) at the al fresco seating area.
Classic menu items like the charcoal-grilled toast and kaya, as well as old school pastries remain. But the second-gen founder has also teamed up with Tigerlily Patisserie’s Maxine Ooi to concoct new treats such as Chocolate Peanut Butter Tart ($2.20), and Gula Melaka Coffee Chiffon Cake ($2.20).
Chin Mee Chin Confectionery is located at 204 East Coast Road, Singapore 428903.
(Read also “5 Nostalgic And Old-School Eateries To Check Out In Singapore“)
It’s pretty to hard to miss the entrance of Breakfast Club in all its colourful retro-style glory when you stroll by at Holland Village. That, as well as black-and-white checkered tiles underfoot, and a jukebox that’s parked near the door.
As its name suggests, it’s dedicated to breakfast classics and at affordable price tags too, like fried chicken and waffles ($11.90), shakshuka ($7.90), rosti (from $6.90), and an All Star Plate laden with the works ($12.90).
It also has an original outlet at Kovan, but this one’s a hawker stall rather than a standalone diner.
Breakfast Club is located at 17A Lorong Liput, Singapore 277731.
Hidden within an industrial building in Bukit Batok is Coexist Coffee Co., a hip new joint that opened earlier this year.
The draw of its interiors is in the stark contrast, with the minimalist cafe split cleanly into white and burgundy. Food-wise, you can expect the usual brunch suspects, including some with a local twist, like smoked salmon toast ($16++), a loaded breakfast platter ($22++), rendang wagyu beef burger ($22++), and chilli crab shakshuka ($16++).
Coexist Coffee Co. is located at 48 Hillview Ter, #08-00, Singapore 669269.
Dishing out Australian-inspired brunch option, Carrotsticks and Cravings has unveiled its third and newest outlet on Stanley Street for those in the Central Business District after healthy and tasty grub.
The pretty coastal-style interiors nod to tropical beach clubs, boasting soothing pastel colours, botanical prints, and rattan furnishings.
If you’re there with a fellow diner, go for the Stanely Platter ($46, good for two), that is filled with Mediterranean-style bites like labneh cheese, roasted eggplant with hummus, bite-sized falafel, avocado with feta, cream cheese puff pastry, and more. We also recommend the Dukkah Salmon ($28), starring honey-marinated fish that’s firm but moist and tender.
Carrotsticks & Cravings is located at 5 Stanley Street, #01-01, Singapore 068724.
(Here are “7 Cafes & Restaurants In Singapore That Transport You To Korea“)
The Keong Saik enclave has its fair share of idyllic cafes, and here’s another one to put on your to-go list: Chez Suzette.
The double-storey establishment has a quaint al fresco patio, characterised by large arched windows, rustic rattan seats, and potted plants that beckon diners to hang out and watch the world go by.
You can expect good food here – the husband-and-wife founders both had a stint at three Michelin-starred restaurant, Joël Robuchon, where they also met (the cafe’s named after the wife, Suzette Simon). The menu comprises a melange of French classics and all-day breakfast items, from duck leg confit to crepes, eggs benedict and egg mayo croissant, alongside freshly baked pastries, and artisanal coffee.
You’ll get a more home-y vibe when you head up the stair; there’s a couch and ‘library’ for lounging, as well as a bar and retail space with curated items from local artists and craftsmen.
Chez Suzette is located at 5 Teck Lim Road, Singapore 088383.
If the heat is getting to you while you’re at Gardens by the Bay, grab a cool creamy treat at the new gelato cafe, Mylo’s.
Sitting on what was previously Fennel Cafe, this 90-seater space is outfitted with full-height glass windows that afford views of the greenery outside while you enjoy air-conditioned comfort. It also offers al fresco sitting.
You’ll get a choice of over 20 gelato flavours ($5 for a single scoop, $8 for double), from Coconut Pandan to Jasmine Oolong and Lychee Raspberry Rose, to boozy ones like Margarita and Gin Tonic. There are also pastries and cakes to .
Apart from being a pet-friendly cafe, Mylo’s also has various dog treats for your pooch too, such as Pumpkin & Oatmeal biscuits ($2), and Yogurt & Fruit Popsicles ($5).
Mylo’s is located at 18 Marina Gardens Drive, #01-01, Singapore 018953.
This article was first published in The Singapore Women’s Weekly and FEMALE.