Care for a spot of tea? Dine like royalty at these cafes in Queenstown that also serve Sunday roast, gelato, rainbow cakes, cheesecakes, tacos, burgers and more
Don’t let this sleepy town fool you! More than home to just IKEA and Queensway Shopping Centre for budget shopping, Queenstown is a work-in-progress that holds bragging rights to a string of firsts for Singapore, including the first sports complex, satellite town, and site for HDB flats. But good news for you cafe-hoppers, it also hosts a plethora of cafes worth grabbing a cup of coffee, alongside sweet treats and hearty munchies.
Café Melba
This relaxing café-slash-restaurant concept will take you away from the urban hustle and bustle, while treating you to a traditional British Sunday roast – think succulent beef slices with roasted vegetables and Yorkshire pudding. It’s a popular haunt for bookworms too, so pack a book and grab a cuppa when your tums are warm and filled.
Cafe Melba, #03-01, 1 Stars Avenue, Singapore 138507. Open 8am-10pm daily.
The Milky Way Homemade Ice Cream and Coffee
Unpretentious is the word for this cosy, neighbourhood ice cream parlour run by Campus Superstar alumnus, Renfred Ng. Serious about quality, the creamy gelatos here are made in small batches to ensure freshness and taste. We love how their buttery waffles are served in half portions, giving us more space for ice cream. Get a scoop of their Sicilian pistachio, strawberry cheesecake, stracciatella, or all three!
The Milky Way Homemade Ice Cream and Coffee, #01-333, Block 48, Tanglin Halt Road, Singapore 142048. Open Sun to Thurs 1pm-10pm, Fri to Sat 1pm – 11pm. Closed on Mon and Tue.
Tiong Hoe Speciality Coffee
You might be surprised to know that this specialty coffee house started back in the ’60s. Yes, Tiong Hoe was hipster before ‘hipster’ was even a thing. Besides serving a mean cuppa, Tiong Hoe also conducts coffee appreciation workshops for coffeephiles. These guys have so much respect for their craft that prices are on a tipping basis. Give Tiong Hoe a go if you’re in pursuit for the perfect roast.
Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee, #01-1133, 170 Stirling Road, Singapore 140170, p. 6473 1133. Open Mon-Fri 8.30am -5.30pm, Sat 9am-4pm.
Revolution Coffee
Owner, Ajie Pramana, was so obsessed with coffee, that he left the art industry in New York to pursue his passion for blends and beans. That being said, you can be sure your brewed cuppa will be a pretty solid one, as Ajie uses Sydney’s famed Single Origin Roasters’ Reservoir Blend here. For the grub, try the pancakes with gula melaka butterscotch or the bacon pasta topped with cured fatty pork for a tempting treat.
Revolution Coffee, #01-03A Infinite Studios, 21 Media Circle, Singapore 138562, p. 6777 2110. Open 9am-6pm daily.
Style by Style Vibes
If you’re looking to grab a bite (literally), look no further than Style by Style Vibes Café. Helmed by the online fashion website, styleXstyle.com, this café serves bite-sized sweet treats such as red velvet cakes, lemon meringue tarts and its ever-popular chocolate tart. Tummy fillers include chicken tacos, lamb shanks, fish and chips, and pizzas with a variety of mouthwatering toppings.
Style by Style Vibes, Level 3, Media Gallery, Mediacorp Campus, 1 Stars Avenue, Singapore 138507, p. 8868 2288. Open Mon-Sat 9am-9pm, Sun 9am-6pm.
Mr Avocado Exotic Fruit Juice
Expect no frills at this popular milkshake stall in Alexandra Village Food Centre. If calorie-laden milkshakes creations aren’t for you, head to Mr Avocado, a treasure trove of healthy (and crazy affordable) shakes. Thick, creamy and full-flavoured, the gula Melaka (palm sugar)-infused avo shakes go at only $2.50 a pop.
Mr Avocado Exotic Fruit Juice, Alexandra Food Village, 40A Commonwealth Ave, Singapore 140040.
Geometry
Founded on sisterly love, this gelato cafe creates a smorgasbord of irresistible artisanal desserts that are truly palate-pleasing. Here, you’ll be introduced to 18 flavours, including fascinating Asian ones such as Earl Grey Tie Guan Yin, Mandarin Orange Sorbet, and Watermelon Lychee Sorbet. What’s more? You can enjoy a scoop (or two!) of these handmade gelato on three various bases: Tart ($9.90), Belgian Waffle ($8.50) and Brownie ($8.90). Our recommended pick: go for the chewy and buttery French Tart for a foodgasmic experience.
Geometry, #01-5142, 2 Jalan Bukit Merah, Singapore 150002. Open Sun-Tue & Thu 12pm-9.30pm; Fri-Sat, 12pm-11pm. Closed on Wed.
Salute Coffeeshop
Located on the first level of a HDB flat, Salute is a multi-concept food hub takes alfresco to a whole new level. Unlike other coffee shops you see in Singapore, you can expect to find designer menus and tables covered in blue-checkered picnic cloth instead. For an affordable price, dig into gourmet fare such as authentic German pork knuckles, mussels in vino, ramen burgers, French duck confit and craft beers. Tenants include Swiss-German Stew Küche, Immanuel French Kitchen, Sea Salt and Two Wings.
Salute Coffee Shop, #01-40, 119 Bukit Merah Lane 1, Singapore 151119. Open Tue-Sun 11am-10pm. Closed on Mon.
Still looking for something to tickle your taste buds in the West? Give these ‘hood cafes in Clementi, Buona Vista and Bukit Timah a try!