Online marketplace honestbee takes the brick-and-mortar route with its swanky new opening, habitat by honestbee. It’s touted as a “NewGen Retail”, basically a high-tech grocery and dining concept.
Located near Mapletree Business City, the 60,000 sq ft supermarket houses more than 20,000 products — including seasonal fruits and vegetables, seafood, meats, and cheeses — as well as 15 new eateries offering everything from grain bowls and grilled meats to bento boxes and soufflé pancakes.
The high-tech part comes in with what’s apparently the world’s first cashless, automated checkout experience and robotic collection point at the store. To make things easy for busy shoppers, you can download the honestbee app and make payment through beePay for online and offline purchases.
Those with baskets of 10 items or less can use the “Scan & Go” function to skip the lines and get your buys on the spot. Otherwise, just drop off your haul at the automated checkout and pick up your bags at the RoboCollect Station. Waiting time can be as quick as five minutes, and you won’t even have to say “hello” to the cashier.
According to the brand, habitat by honestbee stocks the country’s largest variety of truffle products, the biggest range of wagyu, a wide selection of aged meat, and over 10 types of oysters.
Concepts in the sprawling space include a butchery with a selection of dry-aged and snow-aged beef, a section of fresh produce sourced from farmers and growers in the region, a seafood counter that tells you where your catch comes from, and a wine and spirits corner.
Apart from F&B, you’ll also find a Beauty Bar in the restrooms, a bodega that features pop-up collaborations and designer items, a Japanese florist, a hydroponics lab, and a cozy reading nook called Shufu. Local and regional artists such as Cosmic Chai, Jonathan Jay Lee, Messymsxi, and Tell Your Children will have their works on display as well.
If your hunger pangs come calling while you’re browsing, head to any one of the 15 dining concepts, including the fuss-free bento kitchen that whips up creations with ingredients from the store.
There’s also Campfire’s grilled meats, green bowls at Chop Chop, carb-tastic breads and spreads at Lazy Loaf, Californian-inspired cuisine from Moss, Poofy’s Japanese soufflé pancakes, and The Deli’s rice and noodle bowls.
To sip and stroll, quench your thirst with kombucha and bubble teas by Mr Bubbles, cups of coffee at hinoki, or milkshakes from Milk Made.
FIND IT:
Habitat by honestbee is at 34 Boon Leat Terrace.
Daily 8am-10pm.
MRT: Pasir Panjang/Labrador Park
