Time sure flies pretty fast; in a blink of an eye, it’s already April! But if there’s one thing that hasn’t simmered down in appeal in the first quarter of 2016, it’s our isle’s obsession with warm, toasty coffee and hip locales to chill out. You betcha, it’s time to discover yet another array of hot new cafes that have recently sprung up in Singapore. Get that sip of caffeine (and delectable café grub), and let’s push through this mid-year!
The Pipe District
Aside from its beautiful rustic industrial interior design concept – decked with repurposed furnishings made of pipes and wood, and a blue container wall – The Pipe District offers modern European fare and Archipelago beers. Must-tries include its charcoal fish and chips ($12, $16, or $18 depending on choice of fish) and its chicken wings ($10 for 8pcs) that come in 10 different unique flavours that’ll tease your taste buds. Our recommendation: try its wasabi mayo-flavoured chicken wings – beware the addiction!
The Pipe District, #01-09, Gemini, 45 Science Park Road, Singapore 117407, p. 6873 0143. Open daily 11am – 11pm.
Gemmills
The story is that John Gemmill, a banker in the 1800s, erected Singapore’s first public drinking fountain near Amoy Street. Honouring this moment centuries later is Gemmills, a quaint hole-in-the-wall café established by the folks behind Maggie Joan’s that serves coffee, pastries, sandwiches and other breakfast on-the-go options. The team also changes its menu on a day-to-day basis. So you’ll be constantly surprised by its interesting offerings. Gemmills is also a watering hole for the parched and weary; so spend a quiet afternoon there while having a glass, or two, of its selection of 50 labels of red and white wines.
Gemmills, #01-02, 110 Amoy Street, Singapore 069930, p. 6221 5564.
WORD
Nestled along Thong Soon Road, WORD is a Muslim-owned container-themed café. With its fiery red exterior, you can hardly miss it. Its vicinity is also decorated with crates, barrels and tyres – giving it a chic warehouse outlook. Here, they offer an array of fusion dishes that combines elements of various culinary traditions. If you’re a tad confused when ordering its food, we feel ya; with dishes like “Cut the Crab” and “Blur like Sotong”, it can be pretty dumbfounding if you don’t know the local lingo. But hey, it’s all in the name of a fun and unique dining experience! WORD also has an outdoor alfresco dining area,. so if you need some Vitamin D lovin’, this is the right place to be.
WORD, 906P Upper Thomson Road, Singapore 787110. Open Tue-Sun 11am-12am. Closed on Mon.
The Coffee Academics
Canto connoisseurs, the well-known Hong Kong café has opened its first international outpost in Singapore! Located at Scotts Square, The Coffee Academics aims to be the hangout spot for caffeine addicts and the like, to enjoy premium coffee beans from every corner of the world. The swanky flagship outlet in Singapore offers a unique 7 Sensory Station experience – Espresso Bar, Tea Academics Bar, Cupping Corner, Culinary Counter, Custom Blend Concierge, Hand Brew Bar and Roasting Corner. Not sure what to get here? Must-tries here include its signature Academics Breakfast ($25), Academics Pancake Tower ($19) and its tasty Academics Cinnamon Churros ($16).
The Coffee Academics Singapore, Level 2, Scotts Square, 6 Scotts Road, Singapore 228209. Open daily 9am-9pm.
The Larder Cafe
The Larder Cafe (pronounced as lahr-der) is an unpretentious coffee spot tucked away at a hidden corner of Toa Payoh Central. Its menu highlights include brunch staple smoke salmon egg benedict ($16), duck confit ($18) and pan seared sea bass ($16). Not only do they have flavorsome grub, their food offerings are so Instaworthy that you’ll regret not taking that flatlay. The crowd-pleaser is definitely its Dowager’s Fingers ($10) – crispy wantons and arugula served with a homemade honey sesame mayo dip. Remember to strike your best Empress Dowager pose with these long crispy snacks!
The Larder Café, #01-124, Blk 177, Toa Payoh Central, Singapore 310177, p. 6253 8382. Open Tue-Sun 11am-10pm. Closed on Mon.