Pâtisserie CLÉ is opening a second outlet at Lucky Heights neighbourhood near Siglap and Bedok.

First established as an online pâtisserie in 2018 by local pastry chefs Germaine Li and Joy Chiam, Pâtisserie CLÉ (clé is French for ‘key’) specialises in French cakes, tarts, and bakes.

The local brand opened its first physical space in Paya Lebar Office and the second outlet will be located in Lucky Heights neighbourhood where fans can get a range of tarts and
entremets as well as a new selection of viennoiseries.

The star highlights are unique creations that pay homage to the Lucky Heights neighbourhood and they include The Lucky Clover—a twist on puff pastry swirls with generous sprinkles of fragrant spring onion, garlic and bacon—and the Truffle Ziggy, a savoury bite filled with truffle cream, wild mushrooms, arugula, cherry tomatoes and feta cheese, which is inspired by the iconic zig-zag stairway in the Lucky Heights neighbourhood.

Pâtisserie CLÉ is perhaps best known for its Tart Gift Box with a choice of eight tarts and you have to try the signature Orh Blanc Tart which is an interesting fusion of the French Mont Blanc dessert and the local orh nee flavour.

Do note that Pâtisserie CLÉ Paya Lebar will be closed momentarily for renovations. It will be re-opened in April with a refreshed look.

Pâtisserie CLÉ
79 Lucky Heights, Singapore 467627
Tel: +65 8127 3925
Wed – Sun: 9.30am – 6.30pm
Closed on Tue

Situated just a stone’s throw away from the ever-so-popular Blk 85 Fengshan Food Centre at Bedok North is a newly-opened carnival-themed café, Sir Stamford Waffles, which serves waffles, ice cream, coffee and more.

Do not be confused by the name of this café—Sir Stamford Raffles did not open this café—but rather, the people behind Hatter Street Bakehouse and Café did.

Essentially a carnival-themed café, Sir Stamford Waffles is well-furnished and boasts a bright and colourful interior with huge posters with whimsical illustrations on their walls. The space in the café was small and can fit just 4-5 groups of people, but they have seats outside too.

Sir Stamford Waffles bear great similarity to their sister café in terms of their range of desserts and coffee, but with a twist of local flavours, as their name suggests. Specialising in waffles, they offered several noteworthy signature waffle sets such as The Miraculous Merlion (S$15.90) and the Kopi Kusu (S$15.90).

They serve coffee and tea too, perfect for those just looking for something to sip on in Sir Stamford Waffles whilst escaping the glaring heat!

We opted for the Pulau Unikorn Signature Waffle Set (S$14 nett), which came with 2 signature waffles, 1 scoop of Lavender Blackberry Ice Cream, 1 scoop of Toasted Marshmallow Ice Cream and of course, unicorn accessories.

As they were out of the Toasted Marshmallow Ice Cream on our visit, we opted for the Strawberry Cheesecake flavour instead. Both the lavender blackberry and strawberry cheesecake flavours were delightful to have with the waffles, as they were neither overwhelmingly sweet nor sour.

The waffles were extremely crispy and light, but we would have preferred if the waffles had a more fluffy texture to it. However, the waffles were not too sweet, making it a great complement to the ice cream.

With plenty of cafés serving waffles with ice cream coming forth in Singapore, Sir Stamford Waffles does not stand out in any particular way.

We wouldn’t go all the way to Bedok for Sir Stamford Waffles, but should you be around the east of Singapore and looking for somewhere to curb your waffle and ice cream cravings, you can consider dropping by.

Sir Stamford Waffles
Blk 89 Bedok North Street 4 #01-91
Singapore 460089
Mon to Thu: 1pm – 10pm
Fri to Sun: 1pm – 12am
Tel: 97428895
Nearest Station: Bedok/ Bedok Reservoir

Joining the bustling cafe scene in the east is Routesixtysix, a newly opened neighbourhood cafe that serves mainly delectable waffles, ice cream of many interesting flavours and a range of house brews.

The small yet cosy cafe is less than 10 minutes walk from Bedok MRT Station and is situated just across the street from FATCAT Ice Cream Bar. Visitors can expect the cafe to start serving brunch items from May 2017.

We were first intrigued by the cafe’s unique name, which appears to be inspired from the famous Route 66 highway in the US. The interior reflects a modern industrial outlook complete with cement walls, exposed light bulbs and wooden furnitures.

We opted for the Red Velvet Waffle and two scoops of ice cream (S$12.90+). Routesixtysix uses wooden boards as plates for their waffles, adhering to the cafe’s theme.

Beyond its lovely presentation, we were impressed with the taste of the waffle as well. While the edges were crispy and break off with a crackle, the waffle interior was soft and warm.

The ice cream flavours we picked were Rocky Road and Honey Lavender. Rocky Road is a rich chocolate flavour which goes extremely well with the Red Velvet Waffle. On the flip side, Honey Lavender is a little too sweet for our liking.

Of course, the best companion to dessert has to be coffee! The cafe’s Hot Cappuccino (S$4.20+) was a delight. We enjoyed the bitter and creamy tones from the espresso and steamed milk.

Besides Red Velvet, other options include Buttermilk (S$5.90+) or Charcoal (S$6.90+) waffles. A scoop of ice cream for your waffle is S$3.

Routesixtysix
#01-122
412 Bedok North Ave 2
Singapore 460412
Tel: +65 6241 4705
Tue to Thu: 12pm – 10pm
Fri & Sun: 12pm – 11pm
Sat: 12pm – 12 Midnight
Nearest Station: Bedok

The East of Singapore is where one will find plenty of hidden treasures. While there are many concept cafes out there, To-gather Cafe in Bedok (next to Fengshan Market) is one gem where you can unwind from work.

Walk into the cafe and you will notice that cursive writings of inspirational quotes and song lyrics fill up the walls in the most elegant manner. There is also a wall featuring post-it notes with messages and compliments penned down personally by customers.

Inspired by an all-time favourite childhood song “The More We Get Together”, the owners of To-gather cafe aims to create a homey ambience concept where people gather together over a good meal and artisan coffees. The cafe offers delectable signature dishes and the most flavourful desserts to end your meal with.

The best part? Most of the main courses are affordably priced under S$12. To-gather Cafe is one place where you can have a good meal without breaking the bank.

GRILLED TENDERLOIN OF BEEF

We are mentioning this dish first because everyone agreed unanimously that this was the best.

Everything about the Grilled Tenderloin of Beef (S$24.90) just clicked together—the soft tenderloin steak grilled to pinkish medium rare doneness, with an addictive black pepper sauce and fragrant truffle oil, complete with mash potatoes and seasonal vegetables.

BRAISED BEEF PASTA

If having a beef steak is too much for you, go for the Braised Beef Pasta (S$11.90). We enjoyed the warm creamy spaghetti jazzed up with colourful bell peppers, button mushrooms and caramelised onions. The star ingredient of this pasta dish is the slow braised beef brisket. We always appreciate the flavours of a long simmered sauce; rich, aromatic and very tender.

The star ingredient of this pasta dish is the slow braised beef brisket. We always appreciate the flavours of a long simmered sauce; rich, aromatic and very tender.

PORK CORDON BLEU

The Pork Cordon Bleu (S$11.90) at To-gather Cafe is coated with a crispy crust of bread crumbs and we were greeted by a generous portion of ham and cheese stuffing when we pulled the pork loin apart.

It is important that the chef has the skills to ensure that the top layer has been deep fried to form a crispy casing, while the meat inside remains juicy. We are glad to say that the one at To-gather Cafe is worth trying. The Pork Cordon Bleu comes with fries and fresh salad drizzled over with light mustard sauce.

GRILLED PANDAN CHICKEN CHOP

Chicken chop may be a common item on most menus but Pandan Chicken Chop? Now that’s something we have to mention. The folks at To-gather Cafe have reinvented what used to be a run-of-the-mill food item into an interesting dish you cannot help but notice.

The marinated grilled chicken chop (S$9.90) is marinated with, of course, pandan and doused in a light coconut sauce. To spice things up a little more, a spoonful of pineapple salsa—made from scratch within the premises—is placed atop the chicken chop.

This is something the older folks can try if you are planning to visit with your family!

ARTISANAL COFFEE AND DESSERTS

The baristas at To-gather cafe have the usuals to serve you—Caffe Latte (S$4.20) and Cappuccino (S$4.20); and if you are more inclined towards tea, try the Matcha Latte (S$5.20). If you do not know, yes, Matcha Latte has no coffee in it.

You know what is the one dessert that got all of us swooning? The Homemade Hojicha Swiss Roll with Thick Hojicha Shot (S$5.90), a new item that is launched earlier this month. The idea of serving the dessert with a shot of Hojicha Latte is so that you can take sips in between bites because Swiss rolls tend to be dry; yes, we were so incredibly impressed by this “little touch”.

By the way, the Hojicha used for this dessert is made of premium Hojicha powder imported directly from Japan!

To-gather Cafe’s Matcha Lava Cake with Vanilla Gelato (S$7.20) has been making its rounds on Instagram in the last two years. It comes with a distinctively rich matcha flavour and a single scoop of vanilla gelato,

Come November 2016, To-gather Cafe will be celebrating its third birthday! And in conjunction with their birthday celebrations, they will be returning to society by donating a part of their proceeds to a social enterprise that provides clean water for rural communities.

Bring your family and friends over to this nostalgic cafe for a meal in the heartlands. After all, this is what To-gather Cafe is all about—the more we get together, the happier we’ll be!

And while you are at it, don’t forget to check out all the murals on the wall! They are done by local artists and it does not hurt to have a photo or two of it on your Instagram account!

To-gather Cafe
#01-25/27
84 Bedok North Street 4
Singapore 460084
Tel: +65 6445 1011
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Bedok

This post is brought to you by To-gather Cafe.

If you are living around the Bedok area or anywhere in the East of Singapore, you have to try FATCAT Ice Cream Bar at least once in your life. They have a variety of interesting ice cream flavours and other beautiful desserts to choose from.

You might have seen the popular Charcoal Waffles with Salted Egg Yolk Sauce in our previous Unique Waffles Guide in Singapore but FATCAT Ice Cream Bar definitely has a lot more to offer. Lime Mojito Spheres? Raspberry Banana Chocolate Truffles? Yes to all!

If you are a big fan of waffles, we have already raved about their awesome charcoal waffles and accompanying salted egg sauce, so this a must-order when you visit little ice cream store in Bedok. Not surprisingly, this waffle is the most-ordered and most-photographed item there.

The adventurous will dive right for their restaurant-worthy plated desserts such as the burst-in-your-mouth Lime Mojito Spheres which has also been raved about countless of times by many. Others include the relatively new Strawberry Fields that includes contrasting flavours of wasabi and green tea that they somehow weave together perfectly.

FATCAT Ice Cream Bar has also introduced other good-looking desserts that have been well-received like the Blackforest Brandy Sphere and also some old favourites that are still popular among returning customers, such as the Banana Nutella.

FATCAT Ice Cream Bar
Blk 416 Bedok North Ave 2
#01-25 Singapore 460416
Tel: +65 6241 0830
Mon, Wed & Thu: 12pm – 10pm
Fri to Sun: 12pm – 11pm
(Closed on Tue)
Nearest Station: Bedok

About the writer:
Cheryl is a staff writer for ladyironchef. She loves a good steak and an even better cuppa. She eats just about anything and everything. In her free time, she regularly starts on sci-fi or fantasy movie marathons.

With the cafe-hopping scene in Singapore being so saturated these days, Refuel Cafe at Bedok Reservoir Road has done a fine job in distinguishing itself by serving decent brunch fare at reasonable prices.

The space boasts a casual laid-back vibe, and natural sunlight streams in so it is perfect for taking photos that are flaunt-worthy on your Instagram. Here at Refuel Cafe, you can expect to find their own rendition of all-day breakfasts as well as a plethora of mains, desserts, coffee and craft beers – mostly well-priced below S$15.

What charmed us was not only its minimalist looking exterior, but also an interior modelled after the American Gas Station facade embellished with petrol signs and oil barrels.

//

At only S$13.90, you will be presented with breakfast items such as the Full Tank – essentially the perfect breakfast for champs with a wholesome variety. With highlights such as their creamy peppered scrambled eggs, crisp bacon and juicy bratwurst sausages, this wholesome platter is bound to kick-start a great morning.

If you’re opting for a change, why not try the Refuel Pancakes (S$11.90)? Originally served with 3 stacks of pancakes and scrambled eggs, diners can also opt for the additional top ups of salmon, bacon or bratwurst sausages.

Refuel Cafe
Blk 744, Bedok Reservoir Road #01-3029
Singapore 470744
Tel: +65 6448 0015
Mon, Wed to Sun: 11am – 10pm
Closed on Tue
Nearest Station: Bedok

For more recommendations, read our guide to the best cafes in the East of Singapore.

About the writer:
Cassandra is a staff writer for ladyironchef. During her free time, she fuels her passion for fashion through shopping and indulges in all things food. She loves anything egg related and is always ready for a cafe-hopping adventure.

You know your neighbourhood’s getting cooler when hipster cafes are popping up all over the woodwork. We bring you 5 cafes in the East of Singapore that you must check out.

1. The neighbourhood joint

Tucked away in a cosy corner of the Bedok North area, To-gather café, which is named after the concept of the old children’s song, “The More We Get Together”, evokes a homey vibe – inspirational quotes and poems line almost every wall of the café, which includes a feature wall plastered with post-its containing notes, confessions and more quotes written by its customers.

While we didn’t get to try its mains, its desserts – warm chocolate lava cake and chocolate brownie – hit the sweet spot after our dinner. With prices ranging from $7.90 for pasta dishes to $3.90 for desserts, we say the place is pretty affordable.

To-gather Cafe
Blk 84 Bedok North Street 4, #01-25/27
Tel: +65 6445 1011
Tue to Thu, & Sun: 11am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 11pm
Nearest stations: Tanah Merah or Bedok

2. Take a break, have a latte

Backstage café, which is situated in the Kallang industrial area, offers a cool respite for those seeking a break from the weekly humdrum at work. While it didn’t get off to a stellar start (diners had to wait for about 45 minutes or more for their meals when the café first opened), we think it’s coming along well.

Look out for its Duck Confit ($18), Roasted Spring Chicken ($15) and Beef Burger ($17) for its mains. For dessert, you shouldn’t miss the café’s rainbow ($7.50 a slice) and red velvet cakes ($6.50 a slice).

Backstage Cafe
#01-06 Performance Building
158 Kallang Way
Tel: +65 6743 6893
Mon to Sat: 11am – 9pm
Nearest station: Aljunied

3. The café for Instagram-worthy pics

If you’re looking for a café to grab Instagram-worthy pictures, Fart Tartz’s probably it. The café first grabbed our attention with the rows of adorable-looking mudpies ($5.50 each) that look like potted plants and cakes in old-school glass jars, but there’s definitely more to it.

The friendly owner, who opened the café two months ago with his wife, is kept so up-to-date with the latest Insta-worthy trends, he even helped us style our tray of goodies. Plus, we are happy to report that we enjoyed every last bite of the mudpie we had. Consider us impressed.

Fart Tartz
#02-04 Hall 2, 1 Expo Drive
Mon to Thu: 8am – 6pm
Fri to Sun: 8am – 8pm
Nearest station: Expo

4. Art attack — the cutest 3D latte art

A café that serves adorable 3D latte art, how cute is that? We found Chock Full of Beans sitting in a quiet corner of Changi Village (right next to the hawker centre), and were drawn toward the latte art that was on display.

While we were bowled over by the baristas’ serious attention to detail, we also enjoyed the cafe’s Iced Rose Latte and Lychee Lime Cooler. If you’re there for a meal, Chock Full of Beans serves mains and desserts, too.

Chock Full of Beans
#01-2090 Blk 4 Changi Village Road
Tel: +65 6214 8839
Tue to Fri: 11am – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 9am – 10pm
Nearest station: Pasir Ris

5. Rustic haven

With wooden tables and bar-top counters, hanging lightbulbs, flower arrangements in glass bottles and menus on wooden clipboards, Percolate Coffee doesn’t seem to be any different from one of the cafes that are popping up all over the woodwork these days. The twist? It’s located in the middle of a seemingly quiet neighbourhood, which is a boon for east-siders, as there’s no need to travel all the way to the city to get our hipster caffeine/dessert fix.

Its reasonably-priced coffees (the barista was formerly from Loysel’s Toy, so there’s really no excuse for poor coffees here!) and pastries have received rave reviews from its customers. If you happen to be around the area, it’s a pretty cool place to chill with your friends, or relax with a good read, if you’re alone.

136 Bedok North Avenue 3 #01-152B
Tel: +65 8259 0316
Mon: 10.30am – 9.30pm
Wed to Fri: 10.30am – 9.30pm
Sat & Sun: 9am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Bedok

We are currently working on the definite guide to the best cafes in the East of Singapore. For now, check out our guide to 18 cafes in Singapore’s residential neighbourhoods.

About the writer:
Amanda Tan has written pieces for several publications, which include stories on food, lifestyle and beauty. She believes life is too short for regrets, and hopes to live in London (just for the experience). She is also a self-professed cake addict, and can never resist a slice, at any time of the day. If you’d like to share life hacks, travel tips and general advice, you can drop her a note at scented19@gmail.com.

Another neighbourhood gem that has been around in the East is Percolate Coffee at Bedok, and we only visited recently. But never too late, because now that we have fallen in love with it, we will definitely come back when we find ourselves in the neighbourhood.

It is yet another small space as with most neighbourhood cafes in Singapore, but Percolate Coffee is well-designed, chic and serves good coffee. Predominantly brown, the café sits about 20 people, with small wooden tables and chairs, and a simple vase of Baby’s Breath on every table. Nothing overly pretentious or chi-chi, just a space for you to unwind over a cuppa and light music.

The service is excellent. Everyone is friendly and ever ready to help with recommendations on the daily cakes and brew. We really love how this simple touch can complete a diner’s experience, because everyone loves to feel welcomed and attended to, yes?

The cakes display is tastefully done up albeit small-scale and simple, and we ended up with a slice of Lemon Raspberry Cake. It was nothing much to shout about, but the coffee more than makes up for it. Other cake options that are on rotation include Salted Caramel Cake and Red Velvet Cake. And if you need a midday nibble, Percolate also has some croissants and jams for your enjoyment.

Coffee beans are from Papa Palheta and Nylon Coffee Roasters, so you can take your pick on your Whites and Capps. They do pretty decent latte art, and we love how the white cups sit against its wooden furnishing. Quaint afternoons are made up of these.

And the best part of them all? Nothing is overpriced. It is by no surprise that it is so popular among the residents in the neighbourhood, and people who come from all parts of the island just for some chilling out.

Percolate Coffee
136 Bedok North Avenue 3 #01-152B
Tel: +65 8259 0316
Mon: 10.30am – 9.30pm
Wed to Fri: 10.30am – 9.30pm
Sat & Sun: 9am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Bedok

For more recommendations, read our guide to the best cafes in Singapore.