4 Cafés Off Singapore’s Beaten Path
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Source: stayfareast.com |
With the growth of local
and regional barista competitions that have brought the art of coffee making to
the forefront along with the rise of artisanal coffee roasters, a strong café
culture has taken root in Singapore. And so over the last decade, cafés with
their own identity, character and quirks have begun to spring up across the
island, a counterpoint to mass market establishments - some in the most
unexpected of places. Here’s a guide to cafés on the island’s paths less
travelled, a perfect way to explore a side of Singapore familiar only to
locals.
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Source: sharontravelogue.com |
Chye Seng Huat Hardware: Tools of the Trade
Lavender, once an
industrial district of small workshops, is a growing garden patch of cafés. Ask
for a recommendation here, and Chye Seng Huat Hardware will be frequently
mentioned. Housed in a former hardware store - hence the name - the café isn’t
just a place to have a cuppa. It also houses a coffee school, private tasting
room and roastery.
Behind the retro, Straits
Settlement Art Deco front (complete with a traditional Chinese signboard), the
café serves up its java in an industrial-chic setting. Beyond coffee, there is
a good selection of ‘Tummy Fillers’ (as the café calls them) and sweet treats,
amongst which the Madeleines and the Hazelnut Coffee Muffin stand out.
150 Tyrwhitt Road
Tel: +65 6396 0609
Opening Hours: 09.00 –
19.00, Tuesday – Sunday (Open until 10pm on weekend)
Colbar Eating House: A Taste of Nostalgia
For a setting more relaxing
and calming than the average bustling cafe, head over to this leafy little
corner of Whitchurch Road. Echoes of a Singapore past still linger here, which
is part of the charm of Colbar Eating House, a storied café that used to
service the now defunct British military barracks nearby.
Choice here is extensive,
focusing on Asian interpretations of Western food that will be familiar to
locals and intriguing to visitors. Short for Colonial Bar, Colbar serves up
dishes like Sausages and Eggs, Pork Chops with Mushrooms, Marmite Sandwiches,
Fried Rice and Fried Noodles in Gravy, usually washed down with coffee done the
Singaporean way – wok-fried coffee beans with condensed milk.
9A Whitchurch Road
Tel: +65 6779 4859
Opening Hours: 11.00 –
23.00 (Tuesday – Sunday)
As the name suggests,
Wimbly Lu operates on the dessert spectrum of cafés. Located in the small
commercial strip of a quiet suburban neighbourhood, Wimbly Lu looks quaintly
inviting upon entry: all colourful vintage furniture, exposed red brick walls
and mismatched plates.
The dessert menu is
extensive, from classic staples like Tiramisu, Éclairs, Brownies and Lava
Cakes, to treats like Eton Mess and homemade Truffles, to quirkier experiments
like the popular Root Beer Cake and seasonal Kit Kat Brownie. Wimbly Lu is also
known for its waffles – crisp and fluffy – as well as its selection of ice
creams. Savoury options are also available for those that want a full meal.
15-2, Jalan Riang
Tel: +65 6289 1489
Opeing Hour: 01.00 – 23.30,
Tuesday – Sunday (09.00 – 23.00 Saturday and Sunday)
Getting to the
speakeasy-inspired Whale and Cloud is an adventure in itself. Accessed through
a nondescript blue door (the only evidence being a Harry Potter-esque 48 3/4
number, a stencil of the word ‘OPEN’ and a bench) in the back alley of Niven
Road in Rochor, you enter Whale and Cloud with a knock on the door. No bells,
no buzzers, just a knock.
Inside is a tiny, cosy
space that feels like stepping into someone’s studio apartment. The coffee is
excellent and sourced from the owner’s personal travels. There is a selection
of homemade cakes and biscuits available, and when it is time to leave, drop an
appropriate pay-what-you-will amount in the trust box before exiting
Singapore’s best discreet little hideaway.
48 Niven Road
Opening Hours: 09.00 –
16.00 (only open on Saturday)
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