May 2021 continues to be surprising, with many new restaurant and cafe openings in Singapore (like 2-3 a day?)
With travel restrictions in place, food places with ‘overseas vibes’ are getting popular, such as the Barcelona’s famous Tapas 24 which will soon launch at Robertson Quay.
Other NEW Singapore cafe & restaurant openings include:
The Oyster Bank (Great World)
SOD Café (Upper Thomson)
Lick D Cream (Bedok)
Alto Café (Bayshore Road)
Steep (Jalan Besar)
Smile Dessert 酒窝甜品 (Bugis)
The Hainan Story (Hotel Boss)
Tiong Bahru Bakery Foothills (Fort Canning)
MAO King Tavern (Siglap)
Yeast Side (Bukit Timah)
Enclave (Keong Saik)
Abundance (Lengkok Bahru)
Tsuta Japanese Dining (313@somerset)
Suzuki Gourmet Coffee
8 Chin Bee Ave, Singapore 619932
Opening Hours: 10am – 5pm (Mon – Fri), 10am – 4pm (Sat), Closed Sun
Kyoto-Inspired Japanese Teahouse Hidden At Boon Lay
This definitely feels like Japan, a teahouse situated in a tranquil (read: ulu) industrial part of Boon Lay at 8 Chin Bee Avenue. (Also read: 35 Japanese Cafes In Singapore)
Located on the second floor of the building next to their roastery, their cafe concept has undergone a major revamp from the previous contemporary cafe setting to a Kyoto-inspired wooden teahouse.
Their menu features specials coffee using single origin Arabica coffee beans freshly roasted by themselves next door for their espresso-based drinks: Hokkaido Latte/ Cappuccino/ Flat White ($8), Suzuki Hokkaido Cafe Mocha (Hot $8, Iced $9) and Long Black ($7).
I was glad to experience a piece of Japan from the attention to details in the interior, to the polite service.
While Suzuki Gourmet Coffee may not be the most easily accessible place in Singapore, located in the far west of the island, the chill and relax vibe away from the hustle and bustle of city life is smoothing and therapeutic. Suzuki Gourmet Coffee (Chin Bee Avenue)
DOUGH
CHIJMES, 30 Victoria Street, #01-30, Singapore 187996
Opening Hours: 10am – 6pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon
Korean-Inspired Bakery Cafe With Chic Danish-Style Interior
Coffee and matcha lovers should be familiar with these two cafes at CHIJMES – the popular specialty coffeehouse Glasshouse and matcha teahouse Hvala.
Looking at the ambience, vibes and offerings, I am pretty sure this new café DOUGH at CHIJMES will also attract a sizable following.
Their interior has quite a number of marble furnishing accented with shades of green (the coffee machine, trays and even the thermometer measuring our temperatures were green).
Natural sunlight was pouring in through the glass windows along the mini coffee tables.
The selection of bakes includes both savoury and sweets options such as Strawberry Brioche ($5), Fougasse with sun dried tomatoes ($5), Babka ($9), Kouign Amann ($5), Matcha Mochi ($5), Apple Caramel Cake ($4.50) and Passionfruit Black Tea Cake ($8).
My favourite was the Strawberry Brioche ($5) that comes with a crispy layer of meringue on top of the soft and fluffy brioche bun made using French flour, sprinkled with dehydrated strawberries.
Every piece of bread, pastries and pastas on their mains menu are made in-house, such as Shroom Pasta ($22) and Kimchi & Tomato Pasta ($22).
For a more filling meal, DOUGH also offers Wagyu Burger ($26), Ribeye ($36), Chicken Thigh ($26) and Salmon ($28). DOUGH (CHIJMES)
Champion Bolo Bun
92 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088513
Soft Launch Opening Hours: 12pm – 3:30pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon
3-Storey Hong Kong Bolo Bao Specialty Café
The triple-storey high Champion Bolo Bun is unlike any usual cha chaan teng that sells the Hong Kong favourite Bolo Bao.
Clean, minimalist and spacious decked in MUJI-like style on the first floor, with the creative use of contrasting modern wood and rattan against the white walls and old-school floor tiles.
Their menu is short and concise, focusing mainly on Bolo Buns: Classic ($4.50), Classic with Butter ($5), Curry Potato ($6), Mini (4 for $4.50).
Each Bolo bun comes in individual takeaway box, freshly made upon order and best consumed within 20 minutes.
I must say they are one of the best Bolo buns I had in Singapore, extremely soft and fluffy cotton-like buns that separate easily. Yet the bun was extremely chewy with the right amount of sweetness.
The surprise came when you sink your teeth into the golden-brown cookie-like crust on top that is iconic to Bolo Buns – crispy and crunchy outer layer that is firm and non-soggy. Champion Bolo Bun (Tanjong Pagar)
Plain Vanilla
167 Neil Road, Singapore 088888
Opening Hours: 7:30am – 7pm (Mon – Sun)
Popular Cupcakes Bakery Opens At Neil Road With Pet-Friendly Porch
Plain Vanilla Bakery is no stranger to many people, known for its cupcakes and bakes, and has 4 outlets at Tiong Bahru, Cluny Court, Telok Ayer and In Good Company within ION Orchard.
The popular bakery has opened their fifth outlet in Outram Park, near where the hipster cafes cluster is.
For the breakfast menu, there are House/ Chocolate. Maple Granola Bowl (Small $8, Regular $12), Banana Nutella Toast ($9) and “PBJ” ($7).
Their Brunch & Lunch menu consisted of the usual selections such as Eggs Benedict ($22), Eggs Hemingway ($24), Scrambled Eggs on Sourdough with Avocado ($20), French Toast with Mixed Berries ($20) and Pappardelle with Spicy Beef Ragu ($22).
The Scrambled Eggs on Sourdough with Avocado ($20) comes with smooth, creamy and buttery scrambled egg with pepper sprinkled on the buttered granary sourdough
The sourdough was lightly toasted till golden brown before serving to give it a light crisp, topped with watercress salad for the crunch in contrast to the tangy salad. Plain Vanilla (Neil Road)
Edith Patisserie Cake Bar
UBS at 9 Penang Road, #01-06, Singapore 238459
Opening Hours: 12pm – 8pm (Mon, Wed, Thurs), 12:30pm – 9pm (Fri – Sun), Closed Tues
Desserts Cafe With Waffles, Boba Cakes And Softserve
Edith Patisserie at North Bridge Road has opened their second outlet at Penang Road (first café concept) with a dine-in seating area, and some outdoor seats. (Just a few doors away, there is also Degree Celsius – a white, minimalist cafe which opened earlier this year.)
The walls have an industrial cemented finishing, further equipped with wooden furniture and dried flowers hanging on the wall to complete a botanical look.
Two separate cake shelves are available, one filled with sliced cakes and the other display with whole cakes.
Instead of the triangular versions available for takeaways at their North Bridge Road outlet, the cakes here are sliced into rectangular shaped like our local confectionery shops.
Their cake shelf features a wide selection of their bestsellers: Cookie Dough Speculoos Chocolate ($8), Mango Pomelo ($8), Lychee Rose ($8) and Earl Grey Lavender ($8).
My favourite was the Lychee Rose Cake ($8) made using alternating layers of vanilla swiss sponge and rose-scented buttercream – very floral and fragrant.
The sponge cake was very light, fluffy and moist which complemented well with the delicate rose flavour. Edith Patisserie Cake Bar (Penang Road)
Ice Lab – Jewel
Jewel Changi Airport #B2-234, 78 Airport Boulevard Singapore 819666
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
Korean Lifestyle Cafe With Large Watermelon Bingsu And Injeolmi Toast
The new Ice Lab has taken over the space previously occupied by Emack & Bolio’s (bye bye) at basement 2 of Jewel Changi Airport.
The menu offerings are exactly the same as the outlet at Bugis Village. 17 Bingsu flavours are available, with signature Injeolmi ($18), Korean Traditional Redbean ($18.50), Cheese ($18), Green Tea ($17) and Strawberry ($18.50).
Interesting choices include Grapefruit ($16), Milk Tea ($18), Watermelon ($18) and local-flavoured Kaya Coconut ($18.50).
Each Bingsu is served in a huge white bowl, probably the biggest I have seen in Singapore, suitable for sharing between 3 to 4 pax.
Alternatively, diners who want to try a variety can choose to have the Traffic Light Set ($25) with three different flavours served in small bowls (size of rice bowls) instead. Though they may melt faster. Ice Lab (Jewel Changi Airport)
O.M.G
57 Haji Lane, Singapore 189250
Opening Hours: 11am – 11pm (Mon – Sun)
Popular Pasar Malam Stall Opens Container-Themed Cafe Selling Sweet Potato Balls
Known for their golden sweet potato balls since 2016 with their iconic bright yellow banner, O.M.G first started in 2016 at various night markets.
Now, their fixed store front at Haji Lane is as significant as their stall, but painted in vibrant red instead.
Bringing back their signature sweet potato balls, 2 different colours are available: Yellow and Charcoal (+$1) with 3 different fillings, Original ($5), Cheese ($6.50) and Peanut with milk ($6).
You can also choose to have a mix of both yellow and charcoal sweet potato balls starting from $6.
I can understand what is the hype about their sweet potato balls.
Crispy and crunchy on the outside, freshly prepared ala minute and best consumed hot, the skin is so thin and light on the palate – , not as starchy as I would have imagined.
The inside of the sweet potato balls was hollow and airy without being too oily, making these quite an addictive treat. O.M.G (Haji Lane)
Dimanche 49
Suites@BukitTimah, 68 Jurong Kechil, #01-07, Singapore 596180
Opening Hours: 1pm – 10pm (Wed – Fri), 1pm – 6pm (Sat – Sun), Closed Mon, Tues
Gelato Shop With Deconstructed Desserts In A Cup
Dimanche 49 is the latest brainchild of The Local Bakers which started off as an online business and pop-ups. It finally has a permanent store at Beauty World Bukit Timah.
Unlike most ice cream shop where they serve just the scoops of gelato in a cup of cone, Dimanche 49 serves deconstructed desserts in a cup.
Priced at $7 a cup, flavours include Wild Strawberries, Ispahan, Black Forest, Tiramisu and Praline and comes with various fixed complimentary toppings and a scoop of homemade gelato to complete the dessert.
The Tiramisu came with a scoop of burnt coffee gelato, mascarpone, cocoa powder and Kahlua (coffee liqueur) in a takeaway cup, topped with a single ladyfinger (sweet sponge biscuits).
The burnt coffee gelato had a smooth and creamy texture, robust and intense with espresso flavour.
Together with the toppings and a ladyfinger that can be used for dipping into the gelato, the various components combined together tasted just like a tiramisu in a cup. Dimanche 49 (Bukit Timah)
Three Point Two
85 Kampong Bahru Road, Singapore 169380
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 10:30pm (Sun – Thurs), 10:30am – 2am (Fri – Sat)
Bubblegum Pink & Blue Gelato Cafe By Pang Zi Durian
Wow, Is this another new café near Outram? Opened by Pang Zi Durian located at Jurong West, Three Point Two is their latest brainchild located directly opposite Singapore General Hospital.
The vibrant cafe offers both gelato and durian desserts.
All their gelato are made in-house with 18 different flavours (Single $4, Double $7.50, Premium +$1, Mao Shan Wang +$2) displayed on their sleek blue counter.
Surprise, no cones are available here. Instead, diners can choose to have their gelato with Waffle ($5.50), Chocolate Waffle ($6) or Gelato Bun ($4).
Interesting classic flavours (Single $4, Double $7.50) include Honey Lavender, Blue Vanilla, Chrysanthemum, Watermelon Mint and Soursop Mint. Some were slightly on the sweet side.
Known for their experience as durian sellers at Pang Zi Durian, durian lovers will not want to miss out their Mao Shan Wang gelato (Single $6, Double $9.50) that was rich and creamy, thorough also on the sweeter side. Three Point Two (Kampong Bahru)
PRAIRIE by Craftsmen – River Valley
486 River Valley Road, Singapore 248370 (Opposite Valley Point)
Opening hours: 8:30am – 9:30pm (Sun – Thurs), 8:30am – 10:30pm (Fri – Sat)
Beautiful Pink Dining Space With Brunch, Croissant And Coffee
This tail-end stretch of River Valley Road has been flourishing with cafés including Pantler, Little Farms Café, LR Boulangerie, Grace Espresso, and now PRAIRIE by Craftsmen.
While the Bukit Timah PRAIRIE has an outdoor seating area with natural daylight and more greenery feature, the River Valley branch is done with a contemporary look decorated in various shades of dusty-pink.
The All-Day Breakfast items include Acai Super Bowl ($14), Hummus Sourdough ($16), Ricotta Cream Sourdough ($16), Egg & Bacon Sourdough ($17), Morning Pancake ($17), Beef Breakfast ($18), Salmon Bruschetta ($19) and Prairie Breakfast ($20).
A whole new menu is created exclusively for this outlet, which includes all-day brunches as well as lunch & dinner menu with salads, mains, pasta, burgers, and sides.
Signature items include Beef Breakfast ($18), Salmon Bruschetta ($19) with in-house beetroot cured salmon, Burrata Salad ($21), Spicy Italian Fettucini ($23), and White Bolognese Penne ($26). Prairie Café (River Valley Road)
Other Related Entries
10 NEW Cafes In Singapore April 2021
10 NEW Cafes In Singapore Mar 2021
30 NEW Cafes In Singapore Feb 2021
10 NEW Cafes In Singapore Jan 2021
10 NEW Cafes In Singapore Dec 2020
* Compiled by Daniel Ang @DanielFoodDiary and Nicholas Tan @stormscape.
