Sometimes, all you want is a quiet nook to while your weekend away. And sometimes, it’s almost impossible to do just that when all the “famous” trendy eateries are perpetually packed with perky families, lovey dovey couples, rowdy groups of friends, and hipsters photographing everything for posterity.
So, driven by desperation for alone time – and hunger, because queues in Singapore are no joke – we scoured the island (and the internet) for hidden heartland spots tucked away in neighborhoods you wouldn’t typically visit unless you live or work there. From Hougang to Bedok, Kembangan to Farrer Park, here are 7 cool cafes that chill with their popularity on the down low.
Do.Main Deli & Bistrot
The cozy French bakery has been around for a couple years now, but what brings diners back time and again is its convivial atmosphere and affable service. Then there’s the food. Apart from top notch European-style breads, rustic pies, and pastries like cakes, tarts, and eclairs, the kitchen whips up a wicked weekend brunch of sandwiches, burgers, and eggs cooked sunny side-up, scrambled, omelette, or Benedict.
Even if you stop by a little later for lunch or dinner to fill up on beef wellington ($26.50), rotisserie chicken ($19.90) and duck confit ($24), you probably won’t be able to resist bringing home a croissant (or five).
226 Tanjong Katong Rd, 6348-1406. Tues-Fri 9am-10pm, Sat-Sun 8am-9pm.
Marble Bistro
Nestled within the enclave of Everton Park sits a white-washed, marble-textured space that salutes the minimalist way of life. Its décor may be (mostly) monochrome, but that doesn’t translate into the food, which takes conventional dishes and gives them a different spin.
Think fish and chips ($8) made out of bite-sized fried potatoes topped with aburi unagi, wasabi furikake, and tobiko; crab porridge ($8) with blue swimmer crab luxuriating in a bowl of chewy pearl barley; and deviled eggs ($8), a plate of yolk mousse in pesto cones served with shoyu quail eggs chilling out inside a smoky jar. If you’ve got the stomach space for all that and more, try the seven-course dinner set ($39/person), which ends off with fig and honey ice cream on a rich chocolate brownie.
#01-18, 6 Everton Park, 9795-7672. Tues-Sat 11:45am-5pm, 6pm-9:30pm.
Mingle Mangle
Fancy a lick of iconic local dishes in cold, creamy form? Because that’s what you’ll get at this dessert parlor, which basks in the novelty of playing around with non-traditional ice cream flavors ($4.80/single scoop) in its experimental creations.
The likes of chili crab, salted egg yolk, black pepper crab, watermelon soju, pineapple tart, and white truffle have been featured on the menu before, alongside more conventional items like pastries, cakes, waffles, milkshakes, and coffees. Great for a cool-down treat on a balmy evening.
#02-07, Blk 476 Upper Serangoon View. Sun-Mon, Wed-Thurs noon-10pm, Fri-Sat noon-11pm.
Prodigal Café
Those familiar with Prodigal Roasters will be psyched to hear that the now-closed Ang Mo Kio café has now made MacPherson its new home under a slightly different name. And its sun-lit, wood-accented space is quite an upgrade from the previous tiny location. Sure, it’s a little out of the way, but with grub as good as Prodigal serves, you won’t regret making the trip out.
On the limited, ever-changing menu, you’ll find hearty comfort foods like grilled cheese ($10), with buttery toasted slices sandwiching gooey melted cheese on a bed of rocket leaves, and chicken stroganoff ($15), consisting of grilled bird swimming in a mushroom, onion, and cream sauce with Portobello mushroom, caramelized onions, and shaved parmesan cheese. Don’t forget to save space for the lovely-looking cakes and tarts too, especially Prodigal’s popular miso cheese tart ($6).
#01-55, 81 Macpherson Ln, 9450-0484. Thurs-Tues 10am-6pm.
Route SixtySix
Coffee, ice cream, and waffles make up the bulk of this Bedok café’s menu, with the frozen treat churned in non-mainstream flavors ($4.50/single scoop) such as rocky road, taro coconut, Thai green milk tea, and cookie butter. If you’re sharing with a friend, pair it with buttermilk, charcoal, or red velvet waffles (from $6.60).
While you’re seated in the industrial chic space, you can browse through the menu for starters like fries ($6) and wings ($10), pastas ($9-$15), donburi rice bowls ($6.60-$9.90), and burgers ($7-$8).
#01-122, 412 Bedok North Ave 2, 6241-4705. Mon-Tues & Thurs 1pm-10pm, Fri-Sun noon-11pm.
South Union Park
This modest-looking weekend brunch hangout can fill up quickly, but if you’re willing to make the drive out to Kembangan, you’ll be duly rewarded with plates of top notch pasta. No kidding – average-tasting café grub has no place at this gem of a find, where almost every dish on the menu warrants a “finish your plate clean” mentality.
Chefs with fine dining training helm the bustling open kitchen, which puts out appetizers such as poutine ($11) and honey soy fried chicken ($12), mains like herb-crusted barramundi ($24) and seared prawn with carrot risotto ($26), as well as some of the best house-made pastas ($20-$22) on the island, tossed with the likes of duck confit, beef and pork bolognese, and fennel sausage. If you’re down for a dash of dessert, order the apple sundae ($12) or Earl Grey panna cotta ($12).
101 Jalan Kembangan, 9061-8703. Tues-Fri 5:30pm-10pm, Sat 11:30am-10pm, Sun 11:30am-9pm.
TingKat PeraMakan
Casual sister of Keppel Club restaurant PeraMakan, this quaint space on Owen Road evokes all the retro feels with its traditional Peranakan furnishings and home wares displayed in an eclectic array. Just like its vibrant décor, the menu comes with affordable price tags for the cuisine’s signatures, which include ayam buah keluak ($9.50), beef rendang ($10), ikan garam assam ($12), Nyonya chap chye ($6), and Nyonya assam laksa ($7.80).
To make it worth your while, order the chicken, pork, fish, beef, or seafood set meals ($10-$15) to bolster your main dish with jasmine rice, two sides, a drink, and a dessert of chendol or sago gula melaka. And if you’ve got a craving for the king of fruits, the eatery does a mean durian pengat ($6) as well.
Two outlets, including 119 Owen Rd, 6291-3474. Daily 11:30am-3pm, 6pm-10pm.
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