2020 is a strange year indeed, yet it seems to past by so fast that we are already into the last two months .
While leisure travel still seems like a distance for us, we can always ‘take a holiday’ to some of the new cafes in Singapore. Openings are showing no signs of stopping (and they are quickly packed after DFD features them lol).
One thing for sure, the new comers are not only paying attention on food and drinks, but paying more attention to the decor and overall feel of the place to attract people to dine, relax and enjoy.
DFD has only listed 10 here, but there are many more worthy ones here… (click blue link for individual reviews) such as Kurasu Singapore (Waterloo Street), Matchaya (Paragon), Nasty Cookie Factory (Kaki Bukit), See You Latte (Kovan), MeeTinG (Marymount), 100Labs (Sultan Gate), Celine’s Gelato (Novena Regency), and Hvala (Keong Saik).
(Special thanks to @stormscape who really combed every part of the island, and visiting at odd hours so that we can get empty cafe interior shots. We only feature places that we personally visited.)
East Coast Commune
Marine Cove, 1000 East Coast Parkway, #01-03, Singapore 449876
Opening Hours: 9am – 6pm (Mon – Sun)
Tropical Concept Cafe With Sourdough Waffles At East Coast Park
East Coast Commune is the newest addition to our East Coast Plan, which is strategically located right at the 3500 square metre Marine Cove along East Coast Park where most of the F&Bs are.
Walls are painted in teal to represent the surround greenery, marine-themed artwork to represent the sea and potted plants on every table to symbolise the diverse floral in the vicinity.
The menu features a selection of Sourdough Sandwiches such Chicken, Fish and Vegan ($9), Granola Bowl ($8), Pan Fried Barramundi/ Roasted Soy Chicken Rice Bowl ($13), Pasta ($14 – $16) and Sourdough Waffles ($8 – $15).
The Sourdough Waffles caught my attention, especially when it comes in both Sweet ($8 – $12) and Savoury ($14 – $15) options.
East Coast Commune offers a Kid’s Menu that includes Oatmeal ($6), Petit Fusilli Pasta ($6), Soup fo the Day ($6), Caesar salad ($9) and Bagels & Dips ($9). East Coast Commune (East Cost)
PIVOT
10 North Canal Road, Singapore 048823
Opening Hours: 7:30am – 6pm (Mon – Fri), 9:30am – 5pm (Sat), Closed Sun
NEW Cafe With Japanese Hojicha Cake and Tamago Sando, At North Canal Road
Being the newest addition along North Canal Road, PIVOT has a colour tone which reminds me of Baker’s Bench Bakery at Bukit Pasoh.
The 36 seater-space has an industrial finishing with matte cemented walls and wooden furniture pieces that gives off that chill vibes
Their food menu is short and concise, focusing mainly on Bakes such as Croissants (Plain $4, Pain Au Chocolate $4.50/ Almond $5), Cakes ($7 – $9) and Tamago Sando ($7).
I did see some Japanese influence in their food menu such as their Tamago Sando ($7), Hojicha based – OH! Gee Cha ($8.50) and Kinako powdered Fields of Yellow ($8).
The sandwich is made with homemade egg mayo in between Shokupan bread, topped with a sous vide egg, sprinkled with black pepper as a finishing touch.
The Shokupan bread was really light, soft and fluffy, complemented well with the creamy and oishii homemade mayo that was not overly rich.
The sous vide egg also added some moisture to the overall texture. PIVOT (North Canal Road)
French Fold
204 Telok Ayer Street Singapore, Singapore 068640
Opening Hours: 8am – 10:30pm (Mon – Sun)
Crepes Specialty Cafe By Merci Marcel, Served With Birds Of Paradise Gelato
Fans of Merci Marcel with outlets at Tiong Bahru, Club Street and Orchard Road (Palais Renaissance) will be thrilled to know that the company behind the brand has opened an entire new concept restaurant – French Fold at Telok Ayer, right beside My Awesome Cafe.
For the sweets, each Crepe ($7 – $11) is made using wheat flour instead and comes with an optional scoop of Ice Cream from the Michelin-recommended Birds Of Paradise (additional $4), with flavours such as Hojicha Seasalt, Strawberry Basil and Dark Chocolate Sorbet.
I had the Crepes ($11) that comes with Raspberry Jam, Fresh Berries (Strawberry, Raspberry, Blueberry) and a scoop of Strawberry Basil ice cream.
The slice of crepe was enjoyable as it is thinly sliced, with a soft and chewy texture filled with a distinctive buttery fragrance that is pleasant without being overly sweet. French Fold (Telok Ayer Street)
Tittle Tattle
183 Selegie Road, #01-03, Singapore 188329
Opening Hours: 24 hours Daily
24/7 Retro-Themed Cafe With WiFI, Power Sockets And Waffles, At Selegie Road
Tittle Tattle is the newest cafe opened twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week; all the time at Selegie Road.
Stepping inside, the 50-seater space is decked in a retro-themed layout with vintage leather furniture, red-bricked wallpaper, neon lights and a real Jukebox that plays vinyl record.
The menu is pretty extensive with most items available all day except for alcohol that is prohibited after 10.30pm.
Cafe-style brunch options such as Mr Avocado ($18), Smoked Salmon Egg Affair ($22), Beer Battered Fish & Chips ($19) and Australian Angus Grass-fed Striploin Steak ($26) are available.
This ranges from the usual Waffle ($7), Single Scoop Ice cream $10.50, Double Scoops Ice Cream $13.50), Milo Dinosaur ($12), Mango Tango ($14), Salmon Mentaiko ($20), Cheddar Ham ($15) to Over-The-Top Tittle Tattle Disasters ($22). Tittle Tattle (Selegie Road)
Simple Cafe 簡單 。
NeWest, 1 West Coast Drive, #01-87, Singapore 128020
Opening Hours: 10.30am – 8.30pm (Tue – Sun), Closed Mon
Hidden Taiwanese Cafe With Japanese Desserts At West Coast
With a few years of experience as home bakers after graduating from the now defunct-Le Cordon Bleu, Tokyo, co-owners Sheryl and Maisie have decided to open a brick-and-mortar shop.
With a specially curated menu completely different from the ones available previously for home bakes, their pastries are simple (like their name) and not complex such as Berry ($8.50), Bassion ($8) – this is not a spelling error, Mocha ($8), Mont Blanc ($9), Creme Caramel ($6), Pear ($6), Bagel (Original $3.50/ Blueberry Cream Cheese $4) and Vanilla/ Pandan Donut ($4.50).
The Berry ($8.50) is my favourite, a strawberry shortcake with alternating layers of fresh cream, strawberry bits and sponge cake.
Do not judge a book by its cover as I was initially skeptical about its look, totally covered with cream (scream calories).
And it turned out that the fresh cream was the highlight, light and fluffy without feeling jelak (rich), similar to the ones I had in Japan. Simple Cafe 簡單 (West Coast)
Tanamera Coffee & Roastery Singapore
30 Raffles Place, Change Alley #01-12/13, Singapore 048622
Opening Hours: 8am – 8pm (Mon – Fri), 9am – 3pm (Sat), Closed Sun
Cafe With Indonesian Food At Raffles Place’s Revamped Change Alley Mall
Tanamera Singapore is the Indonesian chain’s 20th outlet and 1st international outpost.
The décor, coffee packs, to the packaging are all designed with bold black and red (not black pink), different from the usual white minimalist, woody or industrial look. (At another part of the CBD is a flashy yellow and bold pink Flash Coffee at Oxley Tower which also originated from Indonesia.)
I had the Cold Brew White ($6.50) which had mild acidity and a pleasant finish, though the one thing that stood out was that it wasn’t as intense, rich, or full-bodied as some of the other coffees in the CBD. (@stormscape remarked his was “very acidic” though.)
My general impression is that the Raffles Place coffee drinkers generally prefer a stronger brews with richer flavour.
It is a cup of coffee I won’t mind having, but I am curious how it will stay ahead of the competition with many other familiar brands in the vicinity. Tanamera Coffee & Roastery Singapore (Change Alley Mall)
Maxi Coffee Bar
6 Ann Siang Hill Singapore 069787
Tel: +65 9776 7400
Opening Hours: 8am – 5pm (Tues – Fri), 9pm – 5pm (Sat – Sun), Closed Mon
Minimalist Blue Cafe With Iced Cereal Milk Latte And Tasty Toasts
While the previous location was a small space, Maxi Coffee Bar has moved to a bigger outlet a short walk away at 6 Ann Siang Hill (where The Coconut Club used to be at) opposite The Corner Grill.
In terms of food, there is an expanded menu such as Granola ($6); Kinda Plougman’s ($7, $13) with onion chutney, mature cheddar and soft egg; and Not-an-egg Sandwich ($8) which includes egg, preserved egg, chicharron on thick white toast.
Recommended is the Field Trip ($7.50, $14) which is mushroom, marmite butter, dill and parsley salad on sourdough for those who would prefer something not so heavy-going with a cleaner taste.
Coffee offerings include a “Comforting” or “Adventurous” Espresso ($3.50, $4), White ($5.50), with the more special drinks being the Iced Cereal Milk Latte ($7.50), E&T or Espresso Tonic ($7.50), and the “Dirty” ($7.50). Maxi Coffee Bar (Ann Siang)
For the People
11 Hamilton Road, Singapore 209182
Opening Hours: 9.30am – 9pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon
Showroom-like Cafe With Churros Waffles And Gochujang Fried Chicken, At Jalan Besar
With an intention to create a space for people to connect and recharge over food and drinks, the space at For The People is considerably spacious with a 60-seater space.
Booth seats and window seats are available for those who prefer their private space; while sofa seats are equipped with low tables for small gatherings over some drinks and light bites.
Bistro grub such as Gourmet Burgers ($17 – $22), Pasta ($15) and Mains ($14 – $28) are available throughout the day.
On the menu are the usual suspects such as Carbonara ($15), Garlic Aglio Olio ($15), Beer-battered Fish & Chips ($19) and Smoked Grass Fed Ribeye ($28).
Interesting brunch food items include Pesto Scramble ($18), Coconut Pancakes ($16), Fried Chicken & Waffles ($18), Crispy Churros Waffles ($12) and French Toast ($16).
While there are many Korean-inspired dishes, the Gochujang Chicken Burger ($17) and Korean Gochujang Fried Chicken ($15) stood out to me, made using a fermented red chili paste with a savory, sweet, and spicy taste. For The People (Jalan Besar)
September 玖月
Beauty World Centre #04-03, 144 Upper Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 588177
Opening Hours: 8am – 8pm (Mon – Sun)
Soufflé Omelette and Strawberry Shortcake In-A-Cup At Beauty World
This new café called “September” has opened at the top floor of Beauty World Centre, next to the food centre.
The 25-seater space is beautifully decked in blue, white and gold, in resonance to the birthstone and colour of the month – Sapphire and blue respectively.
The menu ranges from traditional local dishes such as Nasi Lemak ($7.90), Mee Siam ($4), Mee Rebus ($4), Laksa ($4.50), Toast with Kaya/ Peanut Butter ($2) to hipster cafe food such as Puffy Omelette ($9.90), Yogurt Puffy Omelette ($10.90), Bo Bo Cup Cake ($4.90) and Mini Soufflé Cheesecake ($4.80).
The recommended Puffy Omelette ($9.90) was considerably soft, airy, bouncy and fluffy, with a golden-brown surface (like an omelette) that added a slight crisp to the overall texture.
Apart from the items listed on the menu, September offers seasonal items on display such as the Bo Bo Cup Cake ($4.90, a shortcake in a bubble tea cup, with flavours such as Strawberry and Chocolate.
Strait Place 1819
1 HarbourFront Walk, #02-111 VivoCity, Singapore 098585
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
Café With Modern Interpretations Of Favourite Hawker Dishes
Strait Place 1819 offers a fusion menu with a spin on local favourites. This concept may remind some of the likes of the Colonial Club Signatures at Paragon, and the defunct 1933 at Capitol Piazza.
Let’s not focus on the prices for now… there were Lobster & Crab Hokkien Mee ($21), Hainanese Chicken Roulade with Foie Gras ($17.50), Ribeye & Fish Hor Fun ($21), Black Garlic Bak Kut Teh on rice ($19), Unagi & Salmon Fried Kway Teow, and BCM (which stands for Bak Chor Mee) Capellini ($16).
The best item I had the meal was a Singapore Cendol Deutsch Skillet Pancakes, incorporated with Alchemy Fibre – high fibre, zero cholesterol and transfats.
This worked better as the pancakes tasted plainer and so balanced with the sweeter ingredients of ice cream, red bean and green pandan jelly. Strait Place 1819
And one bonus…
SE7ENTH
Oakwood Premier AMTD Singapore #07-01, 6 Shenton Way, OUE Downtown 1, Singapore 06880
Tel: +65 6812 6050
Opening Hours: 12pm – 2pm, 6:30pm – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
NEW Menu With Wagyu Katsu Sandwich And Mala Xiang Guo
Offering modern international cuisine and Asian local fare, SE7ENTH has launched a new, refreshed a la carte menu. Taste culinary inspirations from the East and West through the creative hands of new Chef Gary Lim.
Armed with a decade of experience in cookery, he whips up new mains – including Alaskan King Crab Seafood Platter with Truffle Risotto, and Mala Xiang Guo a local fav made with Chef Gary’s special spice recipe.
Go for the Wagyu Katsu Sandwich ($35), the Japanese-inspired sandwich made with a grilled buttery brioche.
For the filling, a premium Wagyu striploin steak is cooked medium and served Katsu-style with a breading. And like a steak, it is basted with a beautiful brown sauce made from beef trimmings and veggies.
Presented as sandwich blocks, this entrée comes with homemade pickled veggie sticks and sour cream chips.
25% OFF SE7ENTH’s a la carte menu for DFD readers
Quote ‘DFD25’ during reservation to enjoy 25% off SE7ENTH’s ala carte menu from 01 November 2020 to 31 December 2020 for both dine-in and takeaway (Click takeaway order link HERE) More here: SE7ENTH (Oakwood Premier AMTD Singapore)
Other Related Entries
10 NEW Cafes In Singapore Oct 2020
10 NEW Cafes In Singapore Sep 2020
10 NEW Cafes In Singapore Aug 2020
10 NEW Cafes In Singapore July 2020
10 NEW Cafes In Singapore April 2020
10 NEW Cafes In Singapore March 2020
10 NEW Cafes In Singapore Feb 2020
10 NEW Cafes In Singapore Jan 2020
* Compiled by Daniel Ang @DanielFoodDiary and Nicholas Tan @stormscape.
