As the calendar flips to June 2023, it is time to update your foodie bucket list with the latest cafes and restaurants to Singapore’s ever-evolving F&B landscape.
Other than new cafe openings in Woodleigh Mall, you can look out for Jamba Juice and Ben’s Cookies reopening in Singapore.
We personally went down to the new cafes to take you on a mouth-watering journey that have recently sprouted across Singapore, each offering a unique blend of ambiance, aesthetics, and, most importantly, delectable food.
From cosy nooks perfect for a leisurely brunch to hip and trendy spots that bring Instagram-worthy treats, these 10 new cafés are bound to entice:
Bernie’s Restaurant
15-9 Jalan Riang, Singapore 358987
Tel: +65 8842 1127
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 10pm (Tues – Fri), 9:30am – 10pm (Sat – Sun), Closed Mon
Affordable American-Themed Dining Opens At Serangoon
Welcome back, Bernie’s. Nestled in Jalan Riang near Serangoon Garden, this American-themed eatery has made a comeback, capturing the essence of these familiar comfort food.
The concept is actually based on recipes of “Bernie” – none other than the man behind the popular Botak Jones.
So you can expect the likes of hearty mains liked Blackened Fish, Mexican Chicken and Wagyu Striploin, to burgers, hot dogs, pastas, soups, salads, indulgent desserts, and more.
As you step into Bernie’s Restaurant, you would be transported to a bygone era, where the old adage “old is gold” holds true.
The seating arrangement consists of 45 seats, providing an intimate dining experience for families and groups of friends.
Read more at: Bernie’s Restaurant (Jalan Riang)
Restaurant Espoir
70 Amoy Street, Singapore 069889
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
https://restaurant-espoir.carrd.co/
Muslim-Friendly Modern European Cuisine Meets Malayan Flavours
There has been a number of Halal and Muslim-owned restaurants in Singapore elevating and modernising their offerings. And this is indeed exciting.
The Muslim-owned restaurant hopes to create a new level of culinary extravaganza in the Halal dining scene of Singapore by serving refined modern European cuisine with a touch of Malayan influence.
It is the sister brand to The White Label Restaurant at North Bridge Road.
Restaurant Espoir promises a new level of dining that includes everything from Muslim-friendly European dishes, brunch items, pretty desserts to creative mocktails.
The Sea Urchin Tagliatelle ($39) was beautifully presented with a creamy uni mentaiko sauce, topped with avruga caviar, Hokkaido scallops, air-flown uni, and edamame, served on a bed of tagliatelle.
If you head over for weekend brunch, expect the likes of Big Breakfast, Eggs Benedict, Egg Royale, Green Curry Shakshouka, Steak Eggs & Hash, to Scrambled Eggs with Polenta.
I was recommended the Galette Bretonne ($18). This brunch dish embodies the restaurant’s goal of merging traditional French cuisine with local Singaporean taste buds.
Read more at: Restaurant Espoir (Amoy Street)
Elijah Pies
7 Tanjong Pagar Plaza #01-102 Singapore 081007
Opening Hours: 10am – 6pm (Mon – Wed), 10am – 10pm (Thurs – Sun)
Artisanal Dessert Pie Cafe Opening At Tanjong Pagar
While it used to be very much a baking studio concept (at King George’s Ave), Elijah Pies launched its first dine-in bakery-café and studio in the heart of Tanjong Pagar.
Ideal for lovers of the famous choco-hazelnut spread Nutella, the Nutella Pie is an all-time favourite among regular customers.
This 9-inch pie which serves 8 to 16 people combines the bittersweet taste of luscious dark chocolate and roasted hazelnuts all in one smooth paste.
Elijah Pies’ imaginative menu extends beyond the classics, with unique dessert pie options like Lime Thyme Pie, Honey Chrysanthemum Pie, Matcha Latte Pie, Pandan Coconut Pie, and Earl Grey Rose Pie.
Not content to rest on their dessert laurels, Elijah Pies recently introduced their first savoury creations, the Black Truffle Mash Pie and the Scallop Chowder Pie.
The Black Truffle Mash Pie is a decadent ensemble of custard, parmesan cheese, portobello mushroom, and hazelnuts, topped with a velvety layer of black truffle-infused mashed potato.
Read more at: Elijah Pies (Tanjong Pagar Plaza)
Birds of Paradise Gelato Boutique – Mandai Wildlife West
20 Mandai Lake Road #02-03, Singapore 729825
Opening Hours: 9am-8pm (Daily)
Birds of Paradise opens in Mandai Wildlife West With NEW Gelato Flavours And Sandwiches
Nestled in the heart of Mandai Wildlife West just outside the new bird park, this free-to-access dine-and-play destination is the place to enjoy a delightful gelato.
Birds of Paradise is Singapore’s home-grown and famed gelato shop. The new Birds of Paradise Gelato Boutique & Sandwich Bar presents an all-day dining concept.
With an expanded range of dairy-free gelato and superfood toppings, this Birds of Paradise outlet is offering exciting new flavors like Banana & Coconut Caramel, Smoked Chocolate, and Coconut Yoghurt.
The Banana & Coconut Caramel flavor is exclusive to the Mandai boutique, inspired by the diet of the native Oriental Pied Hornbill; while the Smoked Chocolate is made to satisfy the children in all of us.
The newly Sandwich Bar would be great for families and offers comfort-food staples that are land-meat-free and reinterpreted with a signature botanical twist.
Read more at: Birds of Paradise (Mandai Wildlife West)
Allpress Espresso Singapore
73 Duxton Road, Singapore 089532
Opening hours: 8am – 5pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon
Famous New Zealand Cafe Opens In Singapore At Duxton
Allpress Espresso is a renowned coffee roasting company that was founded in 1989 in New Zealand by Michael Allpress.
Let me cut to the chase – this is a pop-up store that you only have 6 months to get to.
It is naturally a must to enjoy a cup of coffee, coming in the forms of Long Black ($5.40), Flat White ($6.48), Cappuccino ($6.48), Macchiato ($6.48) and more.
The highlight is their Iced Latte Float ($11.88), made from blending espresso, milk, and house-made latte ice-cream.
Two blends are available, the first being the signature Allpress Espresso Blend. This is a sweet and smooth blend that is a crowd-pleaser. The second is the Browns Mill Organic blend, which is a well-balanced blend with some chocolate notes.
While Allpress brings its coffee from down under, it has not brought over desserts of its own. Fret not, because they partnered with The Dark Gallery to create a small dessert menu.
Their dessert menu includes a Coffee Basque Cheesecake ($8) and Vanilla Espresso Cake ($9) as the cake options, among other pastries, ice-cream and ice-cream desserts. Caneles ($4.86), Cookies ($4.86), Scones ($4.86) and Brownies ($7.02) are natural pairings for the coffee.
Read more at: Allpress Espresso Singapore (Duxton Road)
Keong Saik Bakery, Bendemeer
70 Bendemeer Road, Luzerne Building #01-03, Singapore 339940
Opening Hours: 8am – 7pm (Mon – Fri), 8am – 6pm (Sat – Sun)
Keong Saik Bakery Opens At Bendemeer
Keong Saik Bakery has come a long way since its opening in 2017, known for its ‘Sor Hei’ and Chendol Delight Cake back then.
This current flagship outlet is instagrammable, trendy and aesthetically pleasing with a Korean-cafe vibe.
Some of their signature bakes with nostalgic childhood favourites incorporated include Purple Milk (inspired by Pulut Hitam), Gula Jawa Sticky Rice Cake, Chendol Delight ($8.40), Attap Chee Rose Cheesecake ($8), Orh Nee Tart ($8.50) & Otak Otak Danish ($4.40).
Their best seller Chendol Delight ($8) is still around, and probably resonate well with the local customer base. Its presentation though, is very different from how it started in 2017.
It has rich and smooth gula melaka coconut custard embedded with red bean, attap chee and topped with pandan jelly, very much like eating chendol in a deconstructed cake form.
Check out a beautiful blue cake, the Seashore 2.0 ($8.80) with a top layer of sea salt butterfly pea mousse and butterfly pea whipped ganache.
Read more at: Keong Saik Bakery (Bendemeer)
Wildcard
Furama RiverFront #01-03, 405 Havelock Road, Singapore 169633
Opening Hours: 8am – 11pm (Wed – Fri), 9am – 11pm (Sat – Sun), Closed Mon, Tues
Hidden Cafe Gem At Havelock With Prawn Sando And Oxtail Doughnut
With its unique concept as a coffee and wine bar, Wildcard offers more than just your average dining experience located in Furama RiverFront.
Starting with the sweet treats, the Banana Bread ($8) with whipped cream and apricot jam would be a delightful indulgence to go with coffee.
There are also the Kaya Butter on Milk Bun ($8) and Egg Mayo on Milk Bun ($15) which offer a combination of creamy fillings nestled within soft milk buns.
Whether you prefer the aromatic sweetness of kaya butter or the rich creaminess of egg mayo, these buns are sure to please.
If you are in the mood for heartier fare, wait until noon to explore the more substantial offerings.
Dishes include the Fried Quail ($20), Prawn Sando ($22) or Wildcard Seasonal Salad Bowl ($16) which should be a refreshing and nutritious option.
Read more at: Wildcard (Havelock)
Better Days Cafe & Bar
Beauty World Centre #04-12B, 144 Upper Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 588177
Opening Hours: 5:30pm – 10:30pm (Mon), 9am – 10:30pm (Tues – Fri), 9am – 11pm (Sat – Sun)
Hidden Beauty World Cafe With Pies, Wraps And Good Coffee
Taking a journey up to the fourth level of Beauty World Centre, you may think there is only Beauty World Food Centre but head to this ‘hidden’ corner and you would find this café.
The concept was born when the founders decided that serving food prepared with genuine effort was a way to better every day.
Its interior design is sleek and narrow, with alfresco setting that lets in sunlight and ventilation. In a way, there is a very laid-back vibe to it all.
I was recommended the Satay Chicken Wrap ($8.50) stuffed with saucy and tender chicken mingling with the mild spices. The wrap itself was nicely toasted with a light crisp, creating a delightful harmony.
Pies & Quiches ($8.50) are the classic Shepherd’s Pie, Mushroom Chicken Pie, Smoked Salmon Quiche, and Turkey Ham & Spinach Quiche, also served with the salad.
Read more at: Better Days Cafe & Bar (Beauty World)
Elixir Coffee and Wine
24 Holland Grove Road, #01-18, Singapore 278803
Opening Hours: 8:30am – 10pm (Sun – Thurs), 8:30am – 11pm (Fri – Sat)
Popular Cafe Returns At Holland Grove With Rose French Toast
Elixir is not a new name in the café scene. In fact, some may remember their previous location at Serene Centre.
As promised, however, they have now reopened as Elixir Coffee and Wine, a specialty coffee bar by day and a wine bar by night.
If you are coming in for brunch fare between 8.30am to 3pm, start off with a number of tartines, choosing between sourdough or flatbread; and more brunch-like items of Morning Fry-Up ($26) and Brûléed French Toast ($22).
The highlight item should be the Brûléed French Toast ($22). For those hoping it would taste like the past, the presentation and ingredients are actually quite different.
It comprises a thick cut toast covered in a delightful brûlée crust, topped with rose, raspberry, lychee and hazelnut – floral and nutty.
Read more at: Elixir Coffee and Wine (Holland Grove)
First Story Cafe
149 Serangoon North Ave 1, #01-917, Singapore 550149
Opening Hours: 9:30am – 5pm (Tues – Thurs, Sun), 12pm – 8:30pm (Fri), 9:30am – 8:30pm(Sat)
All-Day Brunch & Gelato Cafe With A Cause, At Serangoon North
How about having coffee for a cause? First Story Café is not all about serving great food and artisanal coffee.
In addition, they have a grander vision of empowering persons with disabilities and special needs through employment opportunities.
They do this by using coffee as the intermediary – their inclusive practice involves hiring differently-abled persons to manage the ins and outs of the café.
Enter and you will find a closely-knit setup, with more than 30 seats to go around in an equally clean design.
The Pulled Beef Gochujang Rice Bowl ($11.90) I had was a decent bowl which combined tender pulled beef, mildly spicy gochujang sauce, fragrant rice, broccoli and carrots with an onsen egg.
Look for the signature and the most popular Timeless Yuan Yang ($7). Their take on the Singaporean classic drink is to combine a double ristretto shot with an earl grey iced ball, topped with milk.
Read more at: First Story Cafe (Serangoon North)
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10 NEW Cafes In Singapore Feb 2023
10 NEW Cafes In Singapore Jan 2023
* Compiled by Daniel Ang @DanielFoodDiary, Dean Ang and Nicholas Tan @stormscape.
