Skip the crowds and get your dose of Artbox Singapore’s Insta-worthy foods straight from these 8 cafes instead

Photo: The Talad Drink & Thai Kitchen/Facebook
Photo: The Talad Drink & Thai Kitchen/Facebook

Imagine pushing and shoving your way through a throng of sweaty bodies, before waiting in line for eternity just to get your hands on a trendy snack that you can humblebrag about on social media. Sounds like a nightmare, no?

If you want your dose of cool/hip/Insta-worthy foods, but prefer not to be one of the casualties at the massively overcrowded Artbox Singapore, here’s a tip: Just get ‘em straight from the source. If you are all about soaking in the festive atmosphere at the market, well, go right ahead this weekend. Don’t say we didn’t warn ya.

For the more saner ones among us, here are eight brands that actually have their own stores – and the best part is, you can swing by anytime without living in fear of being mobbed by thousands of hangry peeps.


Chatuchak

Egglet waffle with ice cream. Photo: Chatuchak Thai Tea/Facebook

When the shop bears the same name as the famous Bangkok market, you know it revolves around all things Thai. And true to its brand, Chatuchak sells everyone’s favorite Thai milk tea drinks, as well as Thai milk tea ice cream and charcoal/green tea/chocolate/cheese egglet waffles stuffed with ice cream. Oh, and if you’d like to swig a neon-colored concoction, try the yogurt-based blue Hawaii, green apple or mango drinks.

#01-84 Icon Village, 12 Gopeng St.

Coyoro/Tio Smoke

Photo: Tio Smoke/Facebook

Both are masters of dragon’s breath, but Tio Smoke only pops up at markets, while Coyoro scoops up soft serve ice cream and yogurt rolls at its two outlets. So if you’re dying to film yourself exhaling liquid nitrogen like a fiery dragon, pop by East Village or Bugis Street for Coyoro’s cereal pops and meringue bites that will have you spewing out ‘smoke’ without actually puffing on a cig (or an e-cig, for that matter). Don’t worry, the ones sold here won’t burn your mouth.

Coyoro is at stall EFL-4I Bugis Street, 4 New Bugis Street.

Kane Mochi Singapore

Chocolate mochi ice cream. Photo: Kane Mochi Singapore/Facebook

Get your hands super sticky with mochi ice cream bites in flavors like lime, taro, matcha, cookies and cream, mocha chip, chocolate and Thai milk tea. Sinfully creamy on the inside and chewy on the outside, these addictive snacks are welcomed anytime in Singapore’s 24/7 summer.

#02-50 Bugis+, 201 Victoria St.

Sinseh: The Grocery

The galaxy mirror glaze cake. Photo: Sinseh: The Grocery/Facebook

Sister outlet to The Lab, this experimental café specializes in the wonders of the galaxy. And by that, we mean they’ve successfully distilled the sparkles and swirls of the cosmos into goodies like macarons, mille crepe cakes, donuts, and even ice kachang. It’s basically your go-to for all kinds of galaxy sweets. Non-astronauts may try.

#01-01, 9 Jalan Pisang.  

Soi 55

Photo: Soi 55/Facebook

Spending an hour in line just to guzzle Thai milk tea doesn’t really make sense, especially when you can find Soi 55 at a bunch of locations, including The Cathay and Ang Mo Kio Blk 51. So hustle down to any of its outlets for Thai green milk tea, Thai milk coffee and Thai honey black tea with toppings like blue sago and Earl Grey jello.

1 Shenton Way.

The Bao Makers

Photo: Bao Makers/Facebook

These guys make traditional baos with a twist, simply by serving the buns stuffed with unexpected fillings such as salmon mentai, salted egg chicken and chilli crab. If you head over to their Jalan Besar café, you get to cosy up in an air-con space and chow down on all the baos, rice bowls, pastas and desserts you want.

76 Horne Rd.

The Juicy Way

Photo: Augustine Yuen via The Juicy Way/Facebook

Sipping on juice never looked so cool, thanks to these containers of colorful goodness. So The Juicy Way doesn’t technically have a physical outlet, but it does offer delivery services and pops up regularly at almost every artisanal market in town. The juices are made from fresh fruits, with no artificial coloring or preservatives added in, so you can rest easy that your diet won’t be ruined. Besides fruity blends like dragonfruit, guava and honeydew, you can also try Thai milk tea mixed with mango or banana to live a little on the wild side.

The Talad Drink & Thai Kitchen

Photo: The Talad Drink & Thai Kitchen/Facebook

You’ll probably recognize these gorgeous magical potions from your Instagram feed. You know, the ones that change colors every time you shake the bottles. Betcha didn’t know you can actually grab them from a Thai food joint in Toa Payoh. Amongst affordable menu items like tom yum soup and pineapple fried rice, you’ll find rainbow concoctions of butterfly pea flower tea with kiwi, strawberry with apple juice, and a blue-and-yellow mix of mango.

#01-520, 190 Toa Payoh Lorong 6.



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