In this month's edition of Hot New Cafes: Prodigal Roasters, Suzette, Butterknife Folk, Sam Yat Coffee and more
Even as we enter the last quarter of the year, it seems like our love affair with brunch, coffee, desserts and everything’s that’s Insta-worthy isn’t going to go away anytime soon. In fact, as we sprint to the finish line, getting our caffeine fix is essential to keep us going to achieve our still-unmet (*sigh*) resolutions, as well as to tick off the remaining entries of our 2016 bucket list. From the quiet neighbourhood of Yio Chu Kang to Singapore‘s greatest shopping street, Orchard Road, these areas are where you can find our Hot New Cafes for October.
Butterknife Folk
Whether you’re looking for a beautiful, scrumptious cake or craving a delightful bowl of creamy gelato, Butterknife Folk is the new place to check out. Located along River Valley Road, Butterknife Folk specialises in gelato and French-inspired cakes. Must-tries include the Marletti’s Mountain ($8) – a dessert that pays homage to the owner’s favourite Pâtissier from Paris – Carl Marletti, as well as the gorgeous looking donut cake, Fruit Loop ($8). For a soothing finish to your meal, grab a cup of toasty hot chocolate with home-made marshmallows to complement your delicious cakes.
Butterknife Folk, 238 River Valley Road, Singapore 238296, p. 6734 7855. Open Mon-Fri 10am-8pm; Sat 10am-9pm. Closed on Sun.
Grounded by CMCR
If you swear by the coffee at Common Man Coffee Roasters, you’ll be glad to know that there’s another spot called Grounded by CMCR (just head upstairs!) for you to enjoy more top-notch coffee. Founded by the team behind CMCR, this breezy, alfresco cafe is a brand new Insta-worthy space where you can slowly sip a great cuppa while taking shots of its lovely interior and latte art. What’s more? Taking inspiration from its surroundings – it’s situated right next to Yoga Movement Studio – the menu here offers options that advocate healthy living and mindful eating such as healthy veggies bowl like The Redemption Bowl, as well as guilt-free burgers like The Balance Burger ($17).
Grounded by CMCR, #02-00, 22 Martin Road, Singapore 239058, p. 6836 4695. Open daily 7.30am-6pm (last orders at 5.30pm).
Suzette
Got a sweet tooth you can’t control? Brought to you by the folks behind the famous Lola’s Café at Kovan, Suzette is a new dessert hangout at Esplanade Mall that dishes out sinful sweet treats like tarts, cakes, ice cream and waffles. This dessert haven offers two of its most iconic items: the white chocolate durian tart ($12), and its dual-flavoured cakes such as the lychee rosewater cake ($8), mango matcha cake ($8), and Earl Grey banana cake ($8). Apart from these main stars, you can also find savoury fare such as black pepper chicken pie ($3.60) and curry chicken pie ($3.60) here.
Suzette, #01-13 Esplanade Mall, 8 Raffles Avenue, Singapore 039802. Open Tue-Thu & Sun 3pm-10.30pm; Fri-Sat 3pm-11.30pm. Closed on Mon.
Sam Yat Coffee
Opened by the folks of Tiong Bahru Pau, Sam Yat Coffee, a Singapore-style café, champions humble yet palatable local food fare that the Lion City has to offer. From local breakfast favourite kaya and kopi sets ($4.20) to a hearty bowl of mee rebus ($2), your morning perk-me-up doesn’t get more Singaporean than this. But hold on a sec, this cafe has a twist in its menu – believe it or not, you can also find Korean-inspired bingsu here! All at $6 a pop, popular sellers include the kaya bingsu and durian mango bingsu; all perfect for a hot day, if you ask us.
Sam Yat Coffee, No 241 Outram Road, Singapore 169044, p. 6224 2723. Open Tue-Thu & Sun 8am-10pm; Fri-Sat 8am-10.30pm.
Marks & Spencer Café
Things are about to get more interesting (and delicious) at Wheelock with the opening of the first Marks & Spencer cafe in Singapore. If you’re crazy about the food section of Marks & Spencer, this 60-seater café will win you over with its extensive array of drinks, snacks and hot meals, including British classics such as the comforting dish of Fish & Chips and pinky-raising Afternoon Tea. Not only that, this cafe presents a myriad of tastes with global offerings like Indian curries and authentic Italian pasta, and for easy take-outs for busy city dwellers – salads and sandwiches.
Marks & Spencer Café, #01-01 Wheelock Place, 501 Orchard Road, Singapore 238880, p. 6733 8122. Open Sun-Thu 8.30am-10pm; Fri-Sat 8.30am-10.30pm.
Montreux Jazz Café Singapore
Who here likes to get jaunty with jazz? If you’re a fan of the genre’s liquid grooves and technical prowess, you’ll be stoked to hear that this renowned Swiss franchise has opened an outlet in Singapore. But more than just a new playground for jazz (and blues), this swanky dig along Orchard Road also offers a world-class menu inspired by Founder, Claude Nobs’, expertise in gastronomy – featuring appetisers like pan-seared Hokkaido scallops ($38) and “balik” salmon ($38); mains like char-grilled Colorado lamb rack ($58) and Quincy Jones roast chicken ($32); as well as sweet treats like Ella’s cheesecake ($15) and coconut panna cotta ($13). And of course, you can find live performances here too that will, unquestionably, jazz up the mood.
Montreux Jazz Café Singapore, Pan Pacific Orchard, 10 Claymore Road, Singapore 229540, p. 6733 0091. Open Mon-Sun 12pm-3pm & 6pm-11pm.
Prodigal Roasters
Head down to the homely heartlands of Yio Chu Kang and discover this new specialty coffeehouse. In this hole-in-the-wall boutique coffee roaster, every cuppa is brewed from beans (sourced from Panama) that they roast themselves. Here, you can get aromatic single origin brews or even pick up a pack of its aromatic roasts in 250-gram packages at $15 each. Prodigal Roasters also offers a curated assortment of toothsome sweet delicacies like the miso cheese tart ($4.50) and Rocky Road tart ($4.50). Expect throngs of coffee aficionados and dessert lovers to fill up this cosy space in no time!
Prodigal Roasters, #01-112 Block 625, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 9, Singapore 560625, p. 9450 0484. Open Tue-Thu 9am-8pm; Fri 8am-8pm; Sat 8am-3pm; Sun 8am-6pm. Closed on Mon.
