habitat by honestbee has been opened in Singapore for half a year now as Singapore’s first tech-enabled, multi-sensory grocery and dining experience. Never imagined that grocery shopping would be a fun experience in itself? Us too! That’s when you have to pay habitat by honestbee a visit. All you need to begin your experience is to download the honestbee app.

With 20,000 unique grocery items, including imports from all over the globe that you can purchase on their app and over 15 food and beverage vendors, you could spend a whole day here with your loved ones. Their smorgasbord of extensive dining concepts easily revs up your appetite and adds to our list of having one of the best fish and chips as well as best pancakes in Singapore.

habitat by honestbee is anything but basic and it all starts upon entering their huge converted warehouse. Whether it is for shopping or not, we have 13 reasons why you can enjoy hours at habitat by honestbee from it as a unique experience for a weekend activity to being a place to chill out in Singapore.

#1 SMORGASBORD OF MORE THAN 15 DINING CONCEPTS WITHIN HABITAT BY HONESTBEE

For those who live to eat, food in habitat by honestbee comes in a diverse array of 15 dining concepts to excite every type of foodie. You can lounge the whole day away with their line-up of stalls.

Settle everything from breakfast to afternoon tea and even date night dinners. This family-friendly place is good for big groups with a full range of options from light bites to coffees and bentos to bakes so everyone gets what they want.

Take your plates and trays and gather around whichever part of habitat by honestbee you like. We love the large cushions in the corner where hinoki occupies. Its decor changes by season and theme.

When we visited habitat by honestbee, ‘Oishii Spring’ was the seasonal event centered on Japan’s cuisine, with seasonal grocery items also sold at a designated section for ‘Oishii Spring’.

#2 CAPTAIN SNAPPER HAS ONE OF THE BEST FISH & CHIPS IN SINGAPORE

There are five different choices of fish and chips from Captain Snapper and you’d have to try them at least one. Choose from Atlantic Cod (S$22.90), Halibut (S$18.90), Snapper (S$17.90), Barramundi (S$14.90), and Dory (S$12.90).

At Captain Snapper, they use Tiger Beer in their batter and also offer 4 types of homemade sauces to complement your crispy golden fish and perfectly crunchy chips, including Tartare, Sriracha Tartare, Citrus Thai Chilli, and Spicy Tangy.

We tried their Atlantic Cod Fish & Chips (S$22), which was served to us wonderfully golden-brown and crisp on the outside and firm but succulent on the inside. It makes the cut as one of the best fish and chips in Singapore that you sea-riously need to check out.

#3 THE FLUFFIEST JAPANESE-STYLE SOUFFLÉ PANCAKES FROM POOFY

This alone is reason enough for you to make a trip to habitat by honestbee.

If you’ve never tried, soufflé pancakes redefine how pancakes should be done. Basically, they’re so light and airy you can imagine yourself eating a pancake cloud. Poofy makes theirs without a pancake mould so the edges are very soft with insides that are beyond fluffy.

We tried the house signature Poofy Pancakes (S$14) which came topped with fresh berries and cream, and the Matcha by Riz Labo (S$17) which was heavily sprinkled with matcha powder. While the Matcha version was aromatic with a nice tinge of earthy bitterness, the classic one was a lot better because of the rich egginess.

#4 COOL TECH-MEETS-FOOD GROCERY SHOPPING

A large part of the habitat by honestbee experience revolves around technology. Before you enter habitat by honestbee, download the honestbee app so that you can get a Bee Pass—a unique QR code—to scan and pass through their gantries.

Enter their 60,000 ft² store that is brightly lit with natural lighting. Spot a line of shopping bags being transported by overhead conveyor belts that are packages of live honestbee deliveries.

#5 RENDEZVOUS AT B BAR – A SECRET BAR WITHIN HABITAT BY HONESTBEE

Wine & Spirits alley offers a selection of up to 300 types of craft spirits. While admiring the expansive assortment of alcohol selections here, make sure you check out the hidden bar!

b bar is a speakeasy beyond the Wines and Spirits alley in habitat by honestbee. It is one of the new openings in May to visit and adds to our list of best bars in Singapore.

Slide open their full-length mirror facade of a door and step into a green-hued classy bar that is heavily enshrouded in darkness. We enjoyed the Rice Up (S$18), which is made up of sake, brown rice syrup, genmaicha tea, white miso paste and yuzu juice—served in a sake bottle along with dry ice, which actually attributes to the fragrance of cooked rice to the drink.

#6 FRESH GROCERIES TO SKIP THE GUESSING GAME OF WHICH IS BEST

Grocery shopping in habitat by honestbee is made easy with fresh farm-to-fork foods that are sourced directly from farmers and producers across the globe.

There are daily indulgences such as Japanese spices, dry-aged meat, prosciutto on demand, limited edition balsamic vinegar, and unique seasonal produce. Even their seafood selection saves us from figuring out which fish is fresh, because everything is.

#7 INTERNATIONAL GROCERY SELECTIONS

The full supermarket is stocked with over 20,000 items with some that are exclusive to the outlet. The international selection available at habitat by honestbee also makes shopping a lot more fun because we are simply spoilt for choice with the best products from all over the world.

Think rice from different prefectures of Japan, sauces and condiments from different parts of Europe, vegetables from the freshest highlands etc. We got so much culinary inspiration just by shopping the various shelves!

#8 START YOUR DAY RIGHT WITH BREAKFAST AT LAZY LOAF

Start the day right with breakfast at Lazy Loaf.

From flours such as Ba Ria-Vung Tau strong flour, Nippn Toku Kirin rye flour and Masuda Flour Milling Co. to Kobe flour, Lazy Loaf uses specialised Asian flour to enhance their bakes.

Tuck into brunch items such as Smashed Guacamole on Toast (S$8) which comes with two fried eggs and a salad. Their Kaya Tasting Set (S$8) would be a hit among locals; pick from a choice of Asian Loaf or Habitat Loaf with a dollop of habitat kaya.

On that note, you can sample an array of freshly baked artisanal bread at their counter that also has Chocolate Orange Loaf and Smoked Duck & Coriander Sourdough.

#9 SIP ON A CUPPA AT HINOKI COFFEE

With Kyoto-roasted beans and Hokkaido milk, hinoki is where you can have a taste of Japan’s coffee culture in a brew. Sip on cuppas such as Matcha Latte (S$6) and White Coffee (S$5.50) paired with light desserts from their Niven Cakes menu as you idle away.

#10 CHOOSE YOUR OWN MEATS FROM THE BUTCHER

The highlights of the Butcher station are the deliciously marbled cuts of meats on display. Their Snow Aged Wagyu and Miyazaki Wagyu, especially, look like they promise a meltingly rich texture after they are cooked.

There are multiple options for veal and lamb plus an exclusive-to-habitat Bangalow Pork too.

#11 HAVE YOUR WAGYU PERFECTLY GRILLED AT CAMPFIRE FOR DINNER

At Campfire, any raw steak you select from the Butchery can be seared and plated for a top-up of S$8 and these folks sure know how to make us plan a return trip to habitat by honestbee just for them. All meats are served along with roasted tomatoes, potatoes and mesclun salad.

Our Tajima Wagyu Cross Flat Iron Steak MS 4-5 (S$15 per 100g) came with a slightly crusty surface that we easily sliced through to pick up very soft slices of medium-rare steak.

#12 CRAFT BEERS FROM WHITE MOUSTACHE TO KNOCK BACK AND CHILL

Even as you do your grocery shopping at habitat by honestbee, its environment naturally beckons you to unwind. As your pace slows down and your tension eases, White Moustache is the stall for craft beers that go beyond the labels.

Choose from Brewlander & Co., Deschutes Brewery, Pilsner Urquell Brewery, and Carlow Brewing Company. Head over during Happy Hour, from 5.30pm to 8.30pm every weekday for prices that start at S$8.

Can’t decide? Then go for their Beer Tasting Set (S$18), with your choice of 4 beers.

#13 CASHLESS PAYMENT FOR LESS WAITING AND MORE CHILLING

With a NewGen retail experience at habitat by honestbee, doing your grocery shopping has never been easier or more convenient with their cashless system. Cash and queues are the least of your worries at habitat by honestbee. If you are only getting 10 items and under, use the ‘Scan & Go’ function on the honestbee app to literally grab and go. What you chuck in your tote bag will be paid using beePay which is honestbee’s digital wallet.

Otherwise, push your cart into one of the booths at the Checkout station. Scan your Bee Pass and watch your shopping settle itself with habitat by honestbee’s automated checkout and collection system. Check your email for a receipt and in as fast as five minutes, you should get a notification for collection.

The Collection point is where robots await. Scan your Bee Pass to prompt one of them to slide up to you to take over your load of groceries.

To add, the honestbee Bee Pass also saves you the hassle of queuing and paying with credit card or cash when you purchase your meals at habitat by honestbee. Just flash it to pay and get your food at the Collection counter. The beauty of technology and cashless systems!

A one-stop shop for all our daily needs with premium cuts of meat and the freshest of seafood, as well as multiple top-quality eateries, habitat by honestbee is indeed our new favourite hangout in Singapore and it totally redefines grocery shopping!

habitat by honestbee
34 Boon Leat Terrace, #01-01
Singapore 119866
Sun to Thu: 10am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 10am – 12am
Shuttle Bus Service from HabourFront/Labrador Park
For shuttle bus updates, check out habitat by honestbee on Facebook or via habitat.honestbee.sg
Nearest Station: Pasir Panjang

This post is brought to you by habitat by honestbee.

We all have different opinions on what makes an ideal pancake—whether it should be topped with a mound of melting butter, delicately dressed with fresh berries or served as a savoury dish for lunch, there will be no conclusion on what makes a perfect stack of pancakes.

However, what we can all agree on is that pancakes are  made for both breakfast and dinner. Thankfully, Singapore has plenty of amazing places that serves irresistible pancakes ranging from classic American-style ones to melt-in-your-mouth Japanese pancakes.

If you have a soft spot for pancakes and simply cannot get enough of this fluffy and warm goodness, here we present to you 12 best pancakes in Singapore that prove pancakes are not just for breakfast.

Photo Credit: _whatsuppunk

BELLE-VILLE PANCAKE HOUSE

Keen on fluffy, jiggly pancakes that wobble to the brink of toppling upon shaking the plate? Belle-Ville Pancake House is a popular Millefeuille Pancake cafe that hails all the way from Osaka, Japan.

Named after a neighbourhood in Paris, this cafe specialises in made-to-order “millefeuille” pancakes which bear some resemblance to the French pastry. Prices start at S$7.90 for four pieces of plain millefeuille pancakes topped with buttercream. However, be prepared to wait up to half an hour for these pancakes are made upon order!

Belle-Ville Pancake House
Bugis Junction #01-01B
Towers 230 Victoria Street
Singapore 188024
Tel: +65 6255 5456
Daily: 8am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Bugis

CLINTON STREET BAKING CO.

Hidden amongst the slew of cafés and eateries that Purvis Street is home to is Clinton Street Baking Company, an all-American cafe that whips up classic New York brunch fare unlike any other.

For an indulgent sweet treat, opt for their Pancakes with Warm Maple Butter (S$19++) which comes with a choice between blueberries, banana walnut, or chocolate chunks to top it off. Drizzle their signature maple butter syrup over the pancakes to bring the dish to a whole new level!

Clinton Street Baking Company
31 Purvis Street
Singapore 188608
Tel: +65 6684 4845
Mon to Thu: 8:30am – 6pm
Fri & Sat: 8am – 9pm
Sun: 8am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Bugis/ Bras Basah

Photo Credit: Asia Bars

DEAN & DELUCA CAFE

Dean & Deluca may be best known for selling premium grocery products, but you’d be glad to hear that they also have cafés that serve a plethora of substantial grub and all-day breakfast sets sure to please your belly.

Pancake-lovers can look forward to getting the Berries & Flapjack (S$21++), which are essentially thick, fluffy pancakes stacked with fresh berries in between.

Dean & Deluca
181 Orchard Road #01-09/10
Orchard Central
Singapore 238896
Tel: +65 6509 7708
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

EARLYBIRD CAFE

Who says that pancakes must be a sweet dish? Earlybird Cafe is where you should ditch the Chicken and Waffles trend and head straight for Chicken and Pancakes (S$19), which are flippin’ amazing, to say the least.

Featuring perfectly crisp fried chicken nestled atop a stack of house-made buttermilk pancakes, we suggest you have them all in a mouthful together with the chilli maple sauce at the side to get an explosion of flavours dancing on your tongue. Yes, it really is that good!

Earlybird Cafe
17 Jalan Pinang
Singapore 199149
Tel: +65 9788 6858
Mon to Thu: 8am – 9pm
Fri & Sat: 8am – 9:30pm
Sun: 9am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Bugis

Photo Credit: Eggs ‘N Things

EGGS ‘N THINGS

For the love of all things eggciting, hop over to Eggs ‘N Things—a popular eatery hailing all the way from Waikiki, Hawaii. Situated in Plaza Singapura, this outlet is the first outside of Hawaii and Japan and this is where you can lay your hands on some amazing pancakes!

The Fresh Strawberry and Macadamia Nuts Pancakes (S$19.90++) and Banana Pancakes (S$19.90++) are some options you can try. Make sure to have them together with some of Eggs ‘N Things’ iconic whipped cream!

Eggs ‘N Things
68 Orchard Road
#03-79/83, Plaza Singapura
Singapore 238839
Tel: +65 6835 9988
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Dhoby Ghaut

Photo Credit: Fresh Fruits Lab

FRESH FRUITS LAB

If you’re looking for delicious food that’s affordable at the same time, Fresh Fruits Lab should be next on your go-to list. Churning out recipes that incorporate fruity elements, their dishes encompass an added tangy oomph factor that will not disappoint the health-conscious.

Head to Fresh Fruits Lab any time from 10am to 3pm and order up their Fruity Berries Pancake (S$13) or Bananalicious Pancake (S$13), which are only available on their brunch menu. Instead of just being topped with fruits, the fruity flavours are infused into the pancakes so you can expect every mouthful to be flavourful, to say the least!

Fresh Fruits Lab Changi
351 Changi Rd
Singapore 419818
Tel: +65 6677 6741
Tue to Fri: 11am – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 10am – 10pm
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: Eunos/ Kembangan

Fresh Fruits Lab – The Z Edition
28 Clementi Road
Singapore 129754
Tel: +65 6803 7472
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 1am
Sat: 11am – 1am
(Closed on Sundays)
Nearest Station: Kent Ridge

POOFY BY RIZ LABO

If you’ve never tried, soufflé pancakes redefine how pancakes should be done. Basically, they’re so light and airy you can imagine yourself eating a pancake cloud. Poofy by Riz Labo at habitat by honestbee makes theirs without a pancake mould so the edges are very soft with insides that are beyond fluffy.

We tried Poofy Pancakes (S$14) which was topped with fresh berries and cream and Matcha by Riz Labo (S$17) which was heavily sprinkled with matcha powder. Both tasted markedly different despite the same base, cream topping, and maple syrup drizzle. The easy way out of deliberating between them is to order both as afternoon tea with your pals.

Poofy @ habitat by honestbee
34 Boon Leat Terrace, #01-01
Singapore 119866
Sun to Fri: 10am – 10pm
Sat: 10am – 12am
Nearest Station: Pasir Panjang

KYUSHU PANCAKE

Best known for their 100% natural, organic pancakes, what you get at Kyushu Pancake are pancakes that are made with seven different grains—all grown in Kyushu. The result? A premium pancake mix that gives the perfect texture and unique taste.

Some of the highlights include Kyushu Butter Milk Classic Pancake, Salted Caramel French Toast, Matcha Azuki Waffle, Egg Benedict Pancake and of course, their signature Matcha Montblanc that is not to be missed.

Kyushu Pancake
275 Thomson Road
Novena Regency #01-08
Singapore 307645
Tel: +65 6352 6265
Tue to Sun: 11am – 9pm
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: Novena

Photo Credit: Oriole Coffee

ORIOLE COFFEE + BAR

Whether it is gourmet coffee that you are craving or alcohol for you to indulge in during a night out with your friends, Oriole Coffee + Bar posits as one of the best spots in town for you to have a meal at and chill out.

Their Espresso Hotcakes (S$14) features a thick slab of vanilla pancakes, seeds, berries, maple syrup and homemade whipped espresso orange butter that gives the seemingly simple dish a touch of complex, bittersweet flavour.

Oriole Coffee + Bar
96 Somerset Road, #01-01
Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Orchard
Singapore 238163
Tel: +65 6238 8348
Sun to Thu: 8am – 11pm
Fri & Sat: 8am – 12am
Nearest Station: Somerset

PARK

Located in the neighbourhood of Holland Village, PARK stands out against the rest of the restaurants for its affordability on top of quality food.

On their menu, you can find an entire page dedicated to solely pancakes and crepes. Diners can select from a variety of sweet and savoury options for their pancakes, and choices include Pancakes with Smoked Salmon (S$15.50), Pancakes with Choco Bananas (S$11.50) and Mixed Berries Pancakes (S$13.50).

PARK at Holland Village
281 Holland Ave, #01-01
Singapore 278621
Tel: +65 9721 3815
Tue to Thu & Sun: 11am – 12am
Fri to Sun: 11am – 2am
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: Holland Village

THE BRAVERY CAFE

One of the most popular Muslim-owned cafés in Singapore, The Bravery is known to whip up pretty mean cafe grub with an ambience that’s perfect be it for a girl’s night out or a romantic date.

Their Pancake Stack (S$15.50) is what you should keep your eyes peeled for on their menu. Piled atop one another, the pancakes are topped off with bananas, ricotta cheese and maple syrup. We can imagine this tall stack of pancakes to be nothing short of fluffy and moist just by the looks of it!

The Bravery Cafe
66 Horne Road
Singapore 209073
Tel: +65 9388 2973
Sun, Mon, Wed & Thu: 9am – 6pm
Fri & Sat: 9am – 10pm
(Closed on Tuesdays)
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

Photo Credit: Wild Honey

WILD HONEY

Wild Honey is one of those gorgeous, elegant restaurants that would spring into mind when you’re thinking of impressing your other half. Best known for their all-day breakfast, their menu comprises a wide variety of options that will surely leave you spoilt for choice.

Their Canadian (S$20) is one of their Chef’s Recommendation. Paired with a savoury side, diners get a stack of thick, moist and fluffy pancakes. A marriage of sweet and savoury flavours, we totally understand why this dish remains as the crowd-favourite item for brunch!

Wild Honey
6 Scotts Road
Scotts Square #03-01
Singapore 228209
Tel: +65 6636 1816
Sun to Thu: 9am – 8:30pm
Fri & Sat: 9am – 9:30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

WILDSEED CAFE & BAR

Boasting tranquil greenery and a cosy environment, Wildseed Café & Bar is a great respite to unwind after a hectic work week over good coffee and better food.

What you should be keeping your eyes peeled for would be the Highland Pancake (S$9). Unlike many over-the-top desserts that flood our Instagram feeds, Wildseed Cafe’s rendition of pancakes is fairly simple but one that nonetheless manages to capture our hearts. Crunchy roasted sweet corn bits are served beside the fluffy pancakes before being topped off with house-made butter for the final touch.

Wildseed Cafe & Bar
3 Park Lane
Seletar Aerospace Dr
Singapore 798387
Tel: +65 9643 9116
Mon to Fri: 9am – 6pm
Sat & Sun: 8:30am – 6pm
Nearest station: Punggol

Situated along Jalan Pinang and taking over the space of the now-defunct Artistry Café is Earlybird Café, a gorgeous bird-themed café which whips up unpretentious dishes as well as a variety of beverages.

Although the area around Jalan Pinang already has plenty of cafés and coffee shops, this brand new addition to Singapore’s local café scene is one you have to add to your bucket list. Here’s what we loved about the place.

Earlybird Café is just a stone’s throw away from Bugis MRT station and it is difficult to miss the brightly-lit ‘earlybird’ signage.

The café is currently still in its soft-launch phase so their food menu is quite limited, although they have a wide range of beverages to offer including coffee by Allpress Espresso, cold-pressed juices, smoothies and milkshakes.

Forget about chicken and waffles, Chicken and Pancakes (S$19) is the way to go when you are at Earlybird Café. It was extremely well-executed and it is a must to order.

The tender and juicy fried chicken was well-coated with a light and crispy batter and we loved how the fried chicken was not overly greasy. What truly impressed us was the stack of house-made buttermilk pancakes that sat beneath the fried chicken; they came with a pleasant melt-on-your-tongue texture. The magic happens when you have the chicken and the pancakes together with the chilli maple sauce.

Featuring 3 huge pieces of fried chicken atop 2 fluffy pancakes, it can be pretty filling if you are a small eater. One thing is for sure—this is one ineffable serving of Chicken and Pancakes we would come back for.

One of the two options that Earlybird Café currently offers for pasta is the Tom Yum Prawn Pasta (S$20), which is essentially linguine tossed in Thai-style tom yum gravy topped with prawns.

We felt that the tomato sauce overpowered the tom yum flavour of the dish.

Earlybird Café also has a range of desserts to love. We opted for the Flower Pot Tiramisu (S$8.50) and it is definitely one dessert that will charm you not just with the looks of it. The smooth cream went well with the sponge fingers and the hint of alcohol gave it a luxurious touch.

Other options for desserts would be Earlybird Café’s rendition of hotcakes, including Hotcake Bling (S$18), Coco Espresso (S$18) and Going Bananas (S$17).

Earlybird Café
17 Jalan Pinang
Singapore 199149
Daily: 9am – 10pm
Tel: 9788 6858
Nearest Station: Bugis

Twenty Eight Cafe is a new F&B venture by Italian restaurant and bar 28Wilkie, which also sits along Wilkie Road. Opened two weeks ago, the cafe is still in soft launch and is looking to update their lunch menu to incorporate more options for their diners.

Focusing on speciality coffee and brunch items, Twenty Eight Cafe is an excellent choice for freelancers and students studying at the campuses nearby as the work-friendly cafe is equipped with many charging ports.

As of now, guests can expect to be satisfied with a decent range of breakfast, all-day brunch and some savoury pasta dishes—all sold at nett prices.

Twenty Eight Cafe is a delight to visit during the day when the whole space is filled with natural sunlight. Following the modern industrial theme, choose to sit at the communal high table or grab a seat at one of the many wooden tables around the cafe.

Coffee is serious business here at Twenty Eight Cafe; their coffee beans are sourced from Indonesia and roasted by an Australian company in Bali.

For those who are keen on getting white coffee, their Latte (S$5.90) is a milkier version of what you will usually find elsewhere. Otherwise, there’s also Macchiato (S$5) and Flat White (S$5.90).

Under the Breakfast section, diners are treated to the full works—ranging from all-day breakfast platters to pancakes and toasts that are served till 11am daily.

Our Berrilicious Pancakes (S$15.90) came with sliced strawberries, summer berries compote, honey greek yoghurt and toasted coconut flakes. While the pancakes were slightly dry on their own, the tangy compote and handmade whipped yoghurt more than compensated for that.

Comprising poached eggs with hollandaise sauce, fresh avocado slices and hash, the Eggs Benedict (S$18.50) was an aesthetically pleasing dish but it lacked a certain x-factor. Even so, the potato hash is not something you would normally find at other cafes and we liked that it was extra crispy.

The hearty eaters may prefer the pasta selection instead. We opted for the Seafood Aglio Olio (S$15.90) which was tossed in olive oil and garlic and served with prawns. The pasta was flavourful but we would have preferred if they included other seafood ingredients on top of just prawns.

Other pasta options on the menu include Cold Truffle Pasta (S$19.90) and Classic Carbonara (S$14.90).

Twenty Eight Cafe
28 Wilkie Road
Singapore 228051
Tel: +65 9720 2828
Mon to Fri: 7.30am – 5pm
Sat & Sun: 8.30am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Dhoby Ghaut

Nestled in Seletar Aerospace Park, Wildseed Café & Bar is a picturesque venue where you can break out of the city’s hustle and bustle. Located on the ground floor of The Summerhouse Dining Room, this farm-to-table concept café serves hearty lunch and brunch during the day and transforms into a casual bar with a delectable grill selection in the evening.

From a wide selection of mains and sweet treats in their daytime menu to an even larger range of alcoholic drinks on their bar menu, there is something for everyone to indulge in at Wildseed Café. From Fridays to Sundays, there is live acoustic music in the evening.

Here is what you can expect from this idyllic garden themed café at Seletar Aerospace Park.

Featuring an Industrial-Scandinavian interior decked with lots of potted plants, Wildseed Café emits a soothing ambience where you can dine indoors amidst lush greenery and vibrant fresh flowers provided by Poppy Flora & Nature Studio.

The café’s Wagyu Beef Burger (S$19) comprises 125g mouth-watering wagyu beef, cheddar cheese, smoked abalone mushroom, slathered with light truffle mayo and sandwiched between toasted sesame bread. It comes with a side of crispy curly fries.

This amazing burger was oozing with delicious goodness and robust flavours that will satisfy any burger cravings.

You can never go wrong with their popular Avocado Shake (S$7.50). What makes this drink so special is the gula melaka added to the blended avocado. The slight sweetness cuts through the creaminess of the avocado which makes the entire flavour less intense and a lot more enjoyable.

The Highland Pancakes (S$9) is unlike your usual Instagram-worthy stack of pancakes.

From the crunchy roasted sweet corn to the fluffy pancakes with house-made butter, the combination of these simple ingredients made it the perfect stack of pancakes for brunch!

Diners can also look forward to other options such as salads, pizzas, pasta and many more mains from their brunch and all-day menu. Coffee lovers can also drop by to enjoy some aromatic coffee proudly roasted by Nomad The Gallant coffee roasters.

With the tranquil greenery and cosy environment, Wildseed Café is a great respite to unwind after a hectic work week over some good food. The location is slightly inconvenient but this is one of those places that would work great for those seeking some quiet alone time.

Wildseed Café & Bar
3 Park Lane
Singapore 798387
Sun to Thurs: 9am – 11pm
Fri, Sat and Eve of PH: 9am – 1am
Nearest station: Punggol MRT Station

Behind the same folks that brought you Fresh Fruits Lab comes Blue Willow, a thematic bar and bistro that derives its inspiration from one of our favourite science-fiction movies of 2009—to give you a clue, the alien characters in it are all blue.

Decked out in—you guessed it—blue with beautiful wall murals depicting scenes and characters from the movie, this cosy bistro in the West of Singapore is not your usual gimmicky themed cafe. Of hearty grub and inventive cocktails that are mostly blue in colour, the food standard is so good that you wouldn’t believe you are dining in a cafe!

You’d be pleased to know that the blue-coloured dishes and drinks are naturally coloured with butterfly pea; nothing tastes artificial nor tackily sweet. Blue dishes and desserts to look forward to include the Eywa Natural Blue Carbonara, Neytiri’s Blue Pancake Stack and Blue Velvet Cake. If you are out looking for a tipple, we are sure their stunning line-up of thematic cocktails will leave an impression as well.

From now until 04 Mar 2018 (excluding Valentine’s Day), our readers can quote ‘ladyironchef’ upon making your orders to enjoy 50% OFF the second main course (on the lower-priced item). This promotion is valid for lunch and dinner daily.

So get your appetites going and your cameras at the ready, because Blue Willow Bar & Bistro is an absolute must-visit.

Blue Willow Bar & Bistro is the latest venture by a young couple, who are also the owners of restaurants Fresh Fruits Lab and Platform 1094. Tucked away along a small row of shops, away from the bustling city scene and near to the NUS campus, Blue Willow offers students and regular patrons alike some much-needed respite from the stresses of everyday life—at a pretty affordable price point too!

The inspiration for the blue themed, alien-world cafe, which serves Western-fusion cuisine, comes from a tree in the cafe’s backyard, reminiscent of the iconic ‘Tree of Souls’ in the movie—don’t tell us you’re still guessing.

JAKE’S BREAKFAST

Only available on weekends before 3pm, their brunch menu offers a fine selection of hearty grub that will set the tone for your weekend perfectly. First on the list is Jake’s Breakfast (S$16++): a huge plate featuring all the works from scrambled eggs, toasted baked garlic, bacon, chicken cheese sausages, grilled mushrooms and a salad.

Modelled after a classic English breakfast, this colossal plate promises you everything you could ever want from greasy to creamy—the best way to kickstart any day in our opinion.

EGGS BENEDICT

Although similar in composition, the Eggs Benedict (S$13++) served here is presented and prepared a little differently. Instead of the conventional English muffin, what you get as your base is a toasted soft roll which is topped with bacon, chicken ham, two sous vide eggs and drizzled luxuriously with their homemade hollandaise sauce.

NEYTIRI’S BLUE PANCAKE STACK

Perhaps one of the most ‘Insta-worthy’ items on their brunch menu is the Neytiri’s Blue Pancake Stack (S$14++) that comprises three thick, blue pancakes topped with blueberry, maple sago, strawberries and cookie crumbles.

The pancakes left a deep impression upon first bite! Fluffy with a crispy exterior and brimming with vanilla aroma, complemented with fresh berries and maple syrup that beautifully bring the entire dish together. As with all of their blue coloured dishes, no artificial colouring is added. All of them derive their bluish hue naturally from butterfly peas.

EYWA NATURAL BLUE CARBONARA

For something a little more unusual that is bound to have your Instagram followers in total awe is the Eywa Natural Blue Carbonara (S$14++).

Boasting a blueish colour courtesy of the butterfly pea added into the pasta dough, this dish would surely have diners feeling a tad confused at first, but stick your fork in and swirl some into your mouth and you would be greeted wiith a delicious medley of flavours from the sautéed bacon, savoury cheesy cream sauce and the rich sou vide egg yolk. After the initial taste, we were hooked and were ready to scarf down the entire plate.

BLUE WILLOW’S BARRAMUNDI

Grilled to tender perfection, the Blue Willow’s Barramundi (S$20++) is a good alternative to order should you wish for something less rich. Our fish was tender and flaky and the skin had a glorious crisp.

Complementing the Barramundi is a blue pine nut mustard cream sauce, as well as a combination of fresh vegetables from tender beetroot, wilted baby spinach and pine nuts, sprinkled over top.

FFL DA BOMB BURGER

For the love of ginormous burgers that pack great flavour, the FFL Da Bomb Burger (S$19++) is something we highly recommend.

This monster of a burger features a 200gram medium-well beef batty, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, grilled sweet onion, bacon, egg and is finally topped with a blue cheddar cheese sauce that diners are free to pour over themselves should they wish.

ENCHANTING BEVERAGE CONCOCTIONS

Besides their array of toothsome food offerings, do pay attention to their stellar cocktail menu as well. Offering a variety of inventive cocktails that showcase various methods of culinary theatrics, they are just as tasty to sip on as they are aesthetically pleasing.

Some of their cocktails even require diners to get ‘hands-on’ so pimp away, because at Blue Willow, the experience is what you make of it.

For the wine connoisseur, you will be delighted to know that Blue Willow is the only bar and bistro in Singapore licensed to bring in and sell the world’s first blue-coloured wine, Gik. We already know so many parties to bring this to!

From now until 04 Mar 2018 (excluding Valentine’s Day), our readers can quote ‘ladyironchef’ upon making your orders to enjoy 50% OFF the second main course (on the lower-priced item). This promotion is valid for lunch and dinner daily.

Blue Willow Bar & Bistro
28 Clementi Road,
Singapore 129754
Tel: +65 6803 7472
(Closed on Mondays)
Tue to Fri: 12pm – 12am
Sat & Sun: 11am – 12am
Nearest Station: Kent Ridge / Haw Par Villa

This post was brought to you by Blue Willow Bar & Bistro.

A new breakfast place is opening up at Plaza Singapura and it is featuring two signature items we cannot get enough of—eggs and pancakes! If you are a fan of pancakes, omelettes and crepes, you definitely have to keep a lookout for Eggs n’ Things, a popular eatery hailing all the way from Waikiki, Hawaii.

Founded in 1974, Eggs n’ Things’ outlets are currently found only in Hawaii and Japan but Singaporeans are in for a real treat when they open their doors to the public soon. Dedicated to serving quality food using only the freshest ingredients while keeping prices affordable, the eatery brings the ‘spirit of Aloha’ to Singapore shores.

Over here in Singapore, diners can expect Eggs n’ Things to feature popular items from their menu such the fluffy and light buttermilk pancakes which are often touted as one of the best in Hawaii! Try the pancakes that are topped with their iconic whipped cream made using a special recipe.

You will not be disappointed when it comes to their speciality omelettes too—every omelette dish comes with three fresh eggs and they are served with steamed rice, fried potatoes or three buttermilk pancakes. Just the thought of it is making us hungry!

Eggs n’ Things has yet to declare their official opening date so keep your eyes peeled for it!

Eggs n’ Things
68 Orchard Road
#03-79/83, Plaza Singapura
Singapore 238839
Nearest Station: Dhoby Ghaut

All photos are credited to Eggs ‘n Things. 

No surprises here—Fresh Fruits Lab (FFL) is our favourite cafe in the East of Singapore. This has never changed since our first visit in 2015.

The themed cafe has seen a revamp recently and it is nothing short of amazing. Still keeping their core laboratory theme and incorporating fruits into their menu, FFL now boasts a colourful, pastel interior that is both whimsical and photogenic.

It has also become a kids-friendly dining outlet with a play corner for your little ones as well as a low-salt kids menu that is so reasonably priced.

How can a cafe make us fall in love so much? FFL always does it best. Here are some of our favourite dishes from its current menu. You need to bring your squad here for your next gathering!

So you think the cafe only looks pretty?

FFL has always been consistent with their food. No effort is spared to serving only the best—from their dedicated culinary team (most of the chefs have years of experience cooking and baking in top hotels in Singapore!) to the freshness of ingredients.

The menu goes beyond a typical cafe’s standards. It has a wide range of appetisers, salads, mains, desserts, coffee and juices; basically everything that attributes to a good meal. And as its name and theme suggest, FFL incorporates fruits as much as possible into everything for that healthy and refreshing touch.

FFL SIGNATURE FISH & CHIPS

If we had to pick only one dish to love at FFL, it would be their Signature Fish & Chips. Fish & Chips may sound boring but wait till you’ve tried FFL’s version!

For just S$19, you get a huge piece of beer-battered pacific dory fried to a golden perfection. As if the generous serving is not filling enough, it comes with a larger portion of fruits salad, a mountain of fries and homemade tartare.

This is comfort food for the soul, guys.

SOFT-SHELL CRAB PASTA

Also at S$19, this pasta is our favourite among the four choices on the menu.

Featuring a huge and crispy soft-shell crab sits atop al dente spaghetti, the Soft-Shell Crab Pasta is a slightly spicy rendition that is not for the faint-hearted. The chilli crab sauce is homemade, by the way.

FFL DA BOMB BURGER

Need your burger fix but don’t want your wallet to take a beating? The FFL Da Bomb Burger (S$19) will make your trip to FFL worth the while.

This beauty is everything a burger should be—juicy beef patty (200g) that is grilled to medium well, fresh romaine lettuce for the crisp,

SALMON STEAK

A healthier option for the ladies (and even the kids) is the Salmon Steak (S$26). This dish is set on fire (literally) as it is served to you and the end result is a sweet piece of pink salmon that boasts a subtle smoky flavour.

It is accompanied by asparagus purée, mashed carrots, arugula and a homemade grape sauce served in a cute onion cup! That is a fair bit of greens if your skinny jeans are getting a little tight but you still need good food in your life.

SPARKEY THE DOG

This is probably the cutest item on the kids’ menu. At only S$10, this is a pancakes dish that is prepared with low-salt bacon and ham. It is completed with fresh blueberries.

BOO-BOO BEAR

This is too cute, even the adults might not be able to resist the Boo-Boo Bear (S$13)!

And it tastes as good as it looks. We wouldn’t want to cut the bear up but the fried sweet potato cake is too yummy to pass. Stuffed with chicken, zucchini, mushroom and tomato, the sweet potato cake is wrapped with an egg—yes, the bear’s blanket.

LIGHTNING CARS

The perfect dish for your boys (or girls who love cars!), the Lightning Cars (S$12) is a simple yet hearty grilled chicken that is tender and flavourful despite the fact that no salt is used in cooking.

This chicken main is served with purple sweet potato purée and mixed fruit skewers for a more balanced meal.

CREEPY-CRAWLY

Fancy something more filling for the older kids? The Creepy-Crawly (S$13) is a wholesome tortilla wrap that is jam-packed with yummy smoked duck, onion, lettuce and carrots.

There is also a side of homemade fruit yogurt—blueberry, strawberry, granola, honey yoghurt.

ULTIMATE PEANUT BUTTER CHOC CAKE

FFL has a dedicated pastry chef and he bakes the prettiest French-style sweets. The one that we really love is the Ultimate Peanut Butter Choc Cake.

Priced at S$7.50, this decadent treat is our newfound guilty pleasure. Every mouthful of the dense cake is so rewarding; the taste of the rich peanut butter lingers on.

TEA BY LUPICIA INFUSED CAKE

For a lighter but no less satisfying cake option, this doll is your best bet. The Tea by Lupicia Infused Cake is also priced at S$7.50 and it totally reminds us of sweets we’d see in French patisseries.

The whiff of the aromatic tea will first enrapture you, and as you take a bite, you’d realize just how well balanced the sweet and bitter notes of the tea are.

EMERALD GREEN APPLE TEA

The Emerald Green Apple Tea (S$12) may not sound like much, but just wait until you see it in real life. Served in a test tube, the Emerald Green is made of butterfly pea tea, green apple juice and soda water. Get your phone ready and watch as the staff adds in edible dry ice for a mini explosion. We won’t spoil it for you; make sure you order the drink when you are at Fresh Fruits Lab!

COLOURED LATTES

Just when you thought coloured lattes are so gimmicky, you might want to consider trying FFL’s versions. These 4 pretty colours are all achieved using natural ingredients.

There is the Beetroot Latte which boasts a shocking shade of pink, the Sweet Potato Latte which is the gorgeous lavender-coloured cup, the Butterfly Pea Latte which spots a dreamy blue hue, and the Matcha Latte in the usual green.

Because zero artificial colouring is used for these lattes, you shouldn’t expect a super sweet cup with strong flavour notes. Instead, think good old latte with nuances of sweetness and aroma.

Fresh Fruits Lab
351 Changi Rd, Singapore 419818
Tel: +65 6677 6741
Tue to Fri: 11am – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Eunos/ Kembangan

This post is brought to you by Fresh Fruits Lab.

Craig road is a narrow street synonymous for its many chic cafes and fancy restaurants. Hustle Co is the newest addition to the neighbourhood but what sets them apart from the conventional coffee-and-cake joints is their emphasis on craft beers.

Cafes are aplenty all over Singapore but hardly do we ever come across ones that sell craft beers. Which is why we got pretty darn excited after hearing about this particular place.

Serving up a comforting cafe staples for brunch and heartier dishes for dinner, along with a myriad of 12 different craft beers on tap, Hustle Co truly is a cafe which is worth checking out.

The cafe occupies the entire three-storey shop house with the main dining area situated on the first. The first floor alone is pretty spacious and features many long tables to encourage communal dining.

The interior is decked out in a very minimalistic style; white walls and a few wall paintings here and there, which does well not to overcomplicate things.

Ideally, most people begin their mornings with a good hot cuppa, but we like to think that we are not most people so we ordered beer instead. Thankfully, tap number 3 featured a rather interesting brew; Flat White Stout (S$9 per a half pint) which is essentially a rich dark stout flavoured with coffee to give you the best of both worlds.

The head was hazy amber with a nice white froth (similar to that of an actual flat white), and the aroma was sweet with notes of freshly ground coffee. Overall, the stout itself tasted quite sweet with a subtle bitter finish.

The Blueberry Pancake (S$18) comes with a gorgeous double stack of thick fluffy pancakes and a generous topping of blueberry compote, fresh strawberries, candied pistachios and a dollop of mascarpone cheese.

The blueberry compote was sweet with a subtle tartness to it and the pistachios provided a nice crunch.

The Dirty Burger (S$19) features a perfectly cooked 160g beef chuck tender patty, taleggio and cheddar cheese both melted beautifully over top and a thick slice of bacon, all held together by two warm and toasted brioche buns.

As much as it fulfilled all the criteria of a decent burger, we felt that it was not a great one. The beef patty was lacking in flavour and although the bacon and cheese provided a heightened level of salt and richness, it was not enough to make this burger stand out.

Hustle Co. 
52 Craig Road,
Singapore 089690
Tel: +65 9826 3382
(Closed on Mondays)
Daily: 9am – 12am
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

EagleWings Loft is a new nautical-themed cafe and bar at the King Albert Park Residences Mall.

This humble week-old establishment by EagleWings—a popular luxury yacht charter in Singapore—features a cosy yet sophisticated ambience that is perfect for a weekend family brunch or any typical work-week meal.

The interior is decked out in nautical-themed decor that gives you a sense of being in the Caribbean. This spacious and luxurious setting features two levels; the first level boasts a cosy cafe-like vibe whereas the second level exudes a more sophisticated restaurant setting.

If there is any way to properly define the cuisine at EagleWings Loft, it is posh Italian coupled with flavourful Asian.

The Truffle flavoured Hook’d On Fries (S$9) comes in a sizeable portion. However, the truffle taste is relatively milder as compared to many other places.

From EagleWings Loft’s brunch menu, try the sweet version of their Port-Side Pancakes (S$10).

Light and fluffy butter pancakes come served with fresh berries and Chantilly cream. Each bite is a mouthful of pure decadence; the fresh berries give the dish a subtle tartness that is sure to perk anyone up and the buttery pancakes were fluffy yet incredibly moist.

For our choice of pasta, we went for the Truffled Blackbeard (S$18). The dish comprises squid ink pasta beautifully tossed together in a truffle-infused mushroom and bacon cream sauce and is served with grilled prawns and crushed walnuts.

We thought that the use of walnuts was a nice touch as it gave the dish a refreshing crunch. The prawns were grilled beautifully giving it a nice, mildly charred taste and the flesh was firm yet tender.

We found the cream sauce a tad bit rich and albeit being a truffle-based sauce, we struggled to detect any trace of truffle. We would have much preferred if the truffle flavour was boosted as it would have added a nice touch of umami to the dish.

All in all, we were truly marvelled by the ambience and the splendid service rendered to us at EagleWings Loft. Although the food itself could afford some room for improvement, we were pretty satisfied with our experience here and we will definitely return to try their other dishes.

As it is the restaurant’s first week of operations, many items on the menu are still unavailable, so unless you plan on having brunch or simply a coffee, we recommend dropping by EagleWings Loft in a week or two once they have gotten a more stable footing.

Mileslife is our favourite app to accumulate miles through everyday spending. You can earn miles for every dollar spent at this restaurant. Download and try Mileslife out now! You can use our code ‘Ladyironchef‘ upon your first spending to get 1,000 miles.

EagleWings Loft
9 King Albert Park
#01-14/34 King Albert Park Residences Shopping Mall
Tel: +65 9796 0761
Mon to Fri: 9am – 1am
Sat & Sun: 8am – 1am
Nearest Station: King Albert Park

PARK at Holland Village is definitely one of the nicest cafes in the enclave. This unique environmentally friendly cafe-cum-bar has been interestingly constructed with reassembled containers and solar panels – a tranquil cafe by day, and a bustling waterhole at night.

PARK at Holland Village’s comprehensive food and beverage menu has propelled the bistro as an ideal hangout destination throughout the day. The inviting dining establishment has recently launched several new mouthwatering dishes and we are here to share with you our favourite highlights.

Also, just for our readers, there is a one-for-one main course promotion that is available throughout the day! Simply quote ‘ladyironchef’ upon making your payment, and you are entitled to enjoy one-for-one promotion on selected main courses on weekdays.

This 1-for-1 promotion is valid only on weekdays, from now till 14 Jul 2016.

Tuesdays: 1 for 1 Park Burger
Wednesdays: 1 for 1 Salted Egg Yolk Pork Ribs
Thursdays: 1 for 1 Salmon Papillote

#1 PARK BLUE CHEESE BURGER

PARK’s Blue Cheese Burger (S$21.50++) is unsurprisingly one of the restaurant’s bestsellers and what a burger lover must definitely order.

Juicy medium-doneness beef patty with avocado slices, blue cheese sauce, crispy bacon, fried egg and sautéed mushrooms are sandwiched between two fluffy sesame buns – it is so much flavours in one bite. The awesome burger is served with a mixed salad and fries or mashed.

#2 CHILLI CRAB SLIDERS

Too full to devour an entire burger? Go for the all-new Chilli Crab Sliders (S$14.50++) instead. It is heartwarming to see how our beloved national dish has been successfully incorporated into these tasty handheld sliders!

These seared crab cakes with sweet chilli sauce are stuffed in steam buns and finished off with cherry tomato halves.

#3 TRUFFLE FRIES

Of course, you have to complement your mains with PARK’s divine Truffle Fries (S$11++). Served in a tin bucket, these piping hot aromatic fries have been cooked with white truffle oil and loaded with generous amounts of parmesan cheese.

One of the better renditions in town, and with standards like this one here, truffle fries will stay classic and irresistible.

#4 SPAM CHIPS

No expense has been spared during the deep-frying process to achieve an extremely crisp texture for these thinly sliced Spam Chips (S$8.50++).

#5 SALTED EGG RIBS

PARK at Holland Village is jumping on the bandwagon with the obsession of salted egg – but we are totally digging their rendition of Salted Egg Ribs (S$29.50++)!

Think zi chart-style succulent pork ribs marinated in handcrafted addictive salted egg yolk sauce, but in generous portions of huge ribs and a cosy environment with beer. You bet we were sold!

#6 SALMON PAPILOTTE

This Salmon Papillote (S$17.80++) looked unassuming, but it turned out to be one of the best dishes we had! Wrapped in parchment paper with a complex butter-based sauce and pepper barigoulle, the beautiful fish is baked to perfection and lightly flavoured with the veggies and sauce. Honestly, this was so good that we would totally return to PARK just for it!

#7 TRUFFLED MAC & CHEESE

All hail PARK’s Truffled Mac & Cheese (S$13.50++)! This ultimate crowdpleaser – baked with sliced turkey ham and cream truffle – is listed in our list of Best Mac & Cheese in Singapore, and it has been a constant favourite among PARK’s regulars!

Prepared with four different cheeses, the outermost layer is wonderfully crisp and the insides remain consistently gooey with an addictive saltiness that is derived from the cheeses.

#8 TOFU PANCAKE WITH MIXED BERRIES

It seems like pancakes will never go out of style and PARK has revamped the classic homely dish into an Instagram-worthy brunch must-order.

The Tofu Pancake* (S$12.80++) is basically a soy-based fluffy pancake topped with mixed berry compote, mandarin oranges and sour cream – all prettily plated and ready to smile for your cameras. And once the photoshoot is done, tuck in to subtle sweetness that is well complemented with the tartness from the fruits.

#9 PULLED PORK TACOS

The Pulled Pork Tacos (S$14.50++) features four corn tortillas filled with barbecue sauce, toothsome slow-cooked pork shoulder, shredded parmesan and mixed vegetables. Not for the faint-hearted, because the pulled pork shoulder is so flavourful with a hint of smokiness from the sauce; but that’s precisely why we enjoyed ours.

#10 BAILEYS TIRAMISU

Last but not least, PARK’s traditional Baileys Tiramisu (S$8.90++) is a homemade goodness with a twist to the usual coffee-flavoured Italian dessert. Alternating layers of mascarpone cheese whipped cream and delicate sponge layers, jazzed up with prized Baileys. How to not love this creamy goodness? No, the Baileys did not overpower, neither is the dessert cloyingly sweet.

*Note that these brunch items are only available until 5pm.

From now till 14 Jul 2016, enjoy one-for-one main courses when you quote ‘ladyironchef’ upon making payment!

Tuesdays: 1 for 1 Park Burger
Wednesdays: 1 for 1 Salted Egg Yolk Pork Ribs
Thursdays: 1 for 1 Salmon Papillote

PARK at Holland Village
281 Holland Ave #01-01
Singapore 278621
Reservations: info@parkgroup.com.sg / +65 9721 3815
Closed on Mondays
Tue to Thu: 11am – 12am
Fri to Sun: 11am – 2am
Nearest Station: Holland Village

This post was brought to you by PARK at Holland Village.

Kyushu Pancake, a popular pancake cafe from Japan, is coming to Singapore and its first outlet will open on 11 May 2016.

These healthy pancakes sure are different from the usual sweet desserts we are used to, and with their arrival, it is bound to change the “pancake scene” in Singapore!

Established in 2012, Kyushu Pancake is well loved for many reasons. Its famed pancakes are made with seven different grains that are grown in Kyushu – the gem of Japanese agricultural regions. The result is a premium pancake mix that gives the perfect texture and unique taste.

Following its success in Tokyo is other successful outlets in Kyushu and Taipei. And we are looking forward to its flagship in Singapore – a 42-seater outlet in Novena.

Some of the dishes that you can expect at Kyushu Pancake Singapore include Kyushu Butter Milk Classic Pancake, Salted Caramel French Toast, Matcha Azuki Waffle, Egg Benedict Pancake and Matcha Montblanc. It will also be serving signature drinks such as Matcha Latte, Fresh Fruit Tea and Special Milk Tea.

Kyushu Pancake Singapore
275 Thomson Road
Novena Regency #01-08
Singapore 307645
Tel: +65 6352 6265
Nearest Station: Novena

Photos credit: Japan Times and All About Japan.

For so long now, Hoshino Coffee at Plaza Singapura has been a favourite among shoppers and executives in the area. The queues are always long, and their popularity is no surprise. But if you do not want to join the queue, then venture further to the new Capitol Piazza as Hoshino Coffee has recently opened an outlet there.

Tucked away in a secluded area of Capitol Piazza’s Basement 2, Hoshino Coffee remains under the radar and is a serene place to enjoy a meal and to catch up with friends. The Japanese establishment is famous for their coffee and desserts, but what remains relatively unknown to most people is that they do serve a delectable variety of wholesome savoury dishes at very affordable prices.

Here is our take on the 13 items that you must try at Hoshino Coffee’s new flagship outlet at Capitol Piazza, and we are pretty certain you will fall in love too.

#1 FUWA FUWA HOSHINO SOUFFLÉ

Probably one we will return for, the Fuwa Fuwa Hoshino Soufflé (S$15.80) is famed for its wobbly golden hue puffy top. Dig through the eggy fluff and a bed of rice infused with cheese, mushroom slices, chunks of bacon, and tomato sauce awaits. The portion of this baked dish is huge and we think it is best to be share it with someone.

#2 PIE PIZZA

Pie Pizza is, well, a hybrid of a pie and pizza. Made with mainly flaky and buttery puff pastry, these fusion creations are significantly less dense than the traditional pizza. Each Pie Pizza (S$15) comes with a side salad, minestrone soup and wedges. There are only two flavours at the moment – mushroom & chicken and mixed flavours. But they are good enough, trust us. These Pie Pizzas are also exclusive to Capitol Piazza’s outlet.

#3 TONKATSU TOAST

Last but certainly not the least, Hoshino Coffee did an exceptional job with their mouthwatering Tonkatsu Toast (S$11.80). The delightful deep-fried breaded pork and shredded vegetables were sandwiched between two toasted breads, and each each bite reminded us of the ones we had in Japan.

#4 SALMON SPAGHETTI

Hoshino Coffee’s menu also boasts a variety of spaghetti options and a perennial customers’ favourite is the Salmon with Wasabi Cream Sauce (S$16). Served on a white oval dish, the Japanese cream-based pasta is prepared with shiitake mushrooms, shredded seaweed, salmon chunks, bits of spicy wasabi and a dash of sesame seeds. Lots of flavours in one dish, indeed!

#5 POT-BAKED CURRY RICE

Hoshino Coffee’s Pot-Baked Curry Rice (S$15) is served piping hot on a sizzling hot pan. The robust dish of baked Japanese cheesy curry rice served with generous chunks of sausages, broccoli and a semi-molten egg, is actually a memorable highlight that we will gladly return regularly for. It is one of those amazing wonders-all-in-one-bowl dish.

#6 PANCAKE SOUFFLÉ

Pancake Soufflés are Hoshino Coffee’s best-selling desserts. Ironically, they are neither a soufflé nor a pancake, but are actually a cross-breed between these two classic dishes. Enjoy a single slice of soufflé-style pancake (S$9.80) or a double portion (S$12) with a choice of honey or maple syrup. You can also choose to have them with chocolate and banana or homemade whipped cream (single – S$13.50, double – S$16.80).

From time to time, limited edition selections are available and the current menu recommends Pancake Soufflé Style with Peach (single – S$14.50, double – S$17.80). By the way, we totally dig how they are so damn photogenic.

#7 ICE MATCHA LATTE WITH SOFTEE

Hoshino Coffee has an ultimate combo perfect for green tea lovers. The Ice Matcha Latte with Green Tea Flavoured Softee (S$9.30) is a delightful drink-cum-dessert. Why have just an element of green tea when you can have two? Do note that the cold beverage becomes milkier as the soft serve ice cream melts. Warning: this is an addictive treat.

#8 MATCHA / VANILLA SOUFFLÉ

The pot-baked soufflé (S$10.80) is available in either matcha or vanilla flavour. Each soufflé is baked upon order, so do be prepared to wait for at least 20 minutes before the dessert is presented to you fresh from the oven. Watch in awe as the soufflé’s jiggly pillow-like top eventually collapses into the ceramic dish containing it. If you have ordered the vanilla soufflé, you can choose from viscous chocolate or thick custard sauce as condiments. We suggest the former, because chocolate is always more decadent and satisfying, yes?

#9 FRENCH TOAST

The soft and fluffy lukewarm brioche French Toast with Caramel Nuts (S$10.80) is drizzled with caramel sauce and topped with sliced bananas, sifted icing sugar, pan-roasted almond slices. The large scoop of ‘ice-cream’ is actually a generous portion of chilled homemade whipped cream. A simpler variation of the French Toast (S$9.90) is available, where it is simply topped with sugar and cream.

#10 MILLE-FEUILLE

The Mille-Feuille is a flaky French-inspired dessert made with layers of incredibly thin and light puff pastry. We particularly enjoyed the Strawberry Mille-Feuille (S$15) where it was filled with vast amounts of piped cream, juicy strawberries, strawberry ice cream and jam.

If you were wondering, the strawberry ice cream and jam are actually hidden by the cream. Should strawberries not appeal to you, you can choose to have the Tiramisu Mille-Feuille (S$15)  instead. Both Mille-Feuilles are exclusive to Capitol Piazza’s outlet so do make a special trip down to sample these sugary treats.

#11 HOSHINO HAND-DRIPPED COFFEE

The highest quality Arabica coffee beans have been selected by Hoshino’s in-house coffee blend specialist Master Kano, and are roasted over open fire. The piquant hot coffee (S$5.80) flavours leaves a pleasant acidic aftertaste and is best consumed within 15 minutes. You can choose to refill your coffee at 50% off for Hoshino Blend Coffee, Americano, and Iced Coffee – this is amazing news!

#12 HOT FRUIT TEA

If you are more of a tea person, you must not miss out on a fragrant pot of Hot Fruit Tea (S$9.90). This is our favourite drink! The refreshing fruity tea comes with an interesting mixture of freshly sliced apples, oranges, kiwis and blueberries. We were hopelessly addicted to the sweet tea and completely unsurprised when told that it at times sells out by afternoon.

#13 SAKURA LATTE

Contrary to popular belief, the gorgeous-looking pink coloured Sakura Latte is actually free from caffeine and colourings. You can choose to have it hot (S$9) or iced with softee (S$9.30). The milk-based beverage infused with cherry blossoms is actually very light and has an aromatic floral scent.

For the latest updates, go to www.hoshinocoffee.com.sg, and like Hoshino Coffee on Facebook.

Hoshino Coffee
Capitol Piazza #B2-55
15 Stamford Road
Singapore 178906
Tel: +65 6384 5131
Daily: 10.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: City Hall

This post is brought to you by Hoshino Coffee.

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.

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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.

Trends come and go, and there are always new fads to love. Cafes are aplenty, and we have no lack of options. There are all kinds of menus, each with their own signatures and special dishes.

But some things stay gold forever, and we welcome them at any time of the day.

Whether it is a slice of rainbow cake or a stack of fluffy pancakes, we’ve noticed the longstanding love culminating in everyone for these hipster foods.

We are rounding up the 8 well-loved hipster food that are commonly found at cafes. They not only make everyone travel to the ends of the island just to satisfy that burning craving, but also get the most likes on Instagram.

BASSASS BURGER

What every man needs. ‘Nuff said. More cheese oozing out on the sides, please.

CHOCOLATE LAVA CAKE

We’ve seen countless of Instagram videos and photos for this. Hot, liquid-y rich chocolate flowing out from a cut-up chocolate cake. Shut up and take our money!

Read our guide to Singapore’s best chocolate lava cake.

EGGS BENEDICT

We all love a good poached egg with runny yolk. And that dope Hollandaise sauce that is creamy to a fault? Yes, please.

LATTE

Maybe you are not too big a coffee fan. But a cup of quality brew with pretty latte art? That’s definitely going up on our Instagram.

Read our guide on Singapore’s best independent coffee shops.

PANCAKES

A stack of fluffy goodness always does the trick. We love a generous serving of pancakes – flavoured or not. Topped with fruit bits and drizzled with some chocolate or caramel sauce, of course.

RAINBOW CAKE

Not for the fact that we are obsessed with getting likes on Instagram, but what is to not love about a pretty cake that can easily lift our spirits?

Read our guide on Singapore’s best rainbow cakes.

WAFFLES

Just as satisfying and one that we will never get sick of is waffles. Why, wouldn’t you go weak in the knees if that pretty thing is served with a scoop of ice-cream?

Read our guide on Singapore’s best waffles.

Wimbly Lu Chocolate Cafe is a dessert place located in the residential area at Jalan Riang. Part of Wimbly Lu’s charm is that from the moment you walk in, it strikes you as a quaint, whimsical kind of place. It is ideal for whiling away a few hours with friends.

From the menu, you can tell that Wimbly Lu’s forte lies in desserts. While the savoury menu ($3.50 – $13) only includes several options such as Tuna Cheese Melt, Lasagna and Baked Rice with Chicken and Mushroom, the dessert department ($3 – $8.50) has many more choices like Brownie, Eclair, Orange Flourless Cake, Hazelnut Butterscotch Bar, Molten Lava Cake, Root Beer Cake, Waffles and Tiramisu.

The most popular choices are the Waffles and Root Beer Cake with vanilla ice cream. Both are absolute must-tries.

Wimbly Lu has the best Waffles ($8.50 with a scoop of ice cream) in town. I have had it on several occasions and I am impressed by its consistency – it is always crisp on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside. My only gripe is the tiny portion of the ice-cream. It would be great if they gave a bigger scoop of the delicious homemade salted caramel ice cream.

The Root Beer Cake ($6) with vanilla ice cream is also a winner. Combining root beer and cake is a brilliant idea and it makes me wonder why nobody had thought of doing it earlier. It has a distinctive root beer flavour and when paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, there is only one word to describe it – heavenly.

My partner thought that their pancakes ($7.50 with a scoop of ice cream) were run-of-the-mill, but I felt that it was pretty decent. That said, I’d probably not order it again as the waffle was so much better.

Chocolate lovers should not leave without trying Wimbly Lu’s Molten Lava Cake ($6) – another exceptional dessert. At just $6, it is one of the cheaper chocolate lava cake around, and offers great value.

There were a couple of misses too, though, such as a pedestrian Sticky Date Pudding and a very disappointing Bread and Butter Pudding which we left untouched after a spoonful or two.

We could not agree on the Chocolate Creme Brulee ($5). For me, it was slightly too dense for a creme brulee while my partner has been craving for it since we had it a while back because she likes how the slight bitterness of the chocolate blended so well with the otherwise predictable sweet dessert.

Potent on first look, and in fact a bit threatening, but it was quite a false alarm. The Blackout Cake ($6) disappointed us quite a bit with its moist (or lack of) body, and our impression of a chocolate cake really should be richer. Still, if you do not mind a simple slice of sweetness, this should suffice.

Wimbly Lu has become our favourite to-go place for desserts, we go there all the time and so far, we have tried almost all the items on the menu. We love the cosy and intimate atmosphere, and the fact that all the desserts are so reasonably-priced. While some of the desserts did not impress, the waffle and root beer cake are reasons enough for us to return time and again.

Wimbly Lu Chocolate Cafe
15-2 Jalan Riang
Tel: +65 6289 1489
Tue to Fri: 1pm – 10.30pm
Sat & Sun: 9am – 11pm

For more recommendation, please read my post on Best Desserts in Singapore

Yet another pancake shop has popped up in the neighbourhood. This time, it’s Little Pancakes, located in the Upper Thomson area. What sets these pancakes apart, as the shop’s name suggests, is their size. Serving miniature pancakes that are about 3 inches in diameter, Little Pancakes offers both sweet and savoury options on the menu.

Interestingly, they also have an ‘Asian’ section in their menu, with choices such as Singaporeans Unite (pancakes served with local toppings such as kaya, butter condensed milk). My dining partner and I were in the mood for dessert, so we shared two sweet options.

The first was Gimme S’more Oreos ($8.20). The toasted marshmellows, oreos and chocolate ice cream were relatively ordinary, except for the maple syrup, which I found to be excellent.

Our second option was Mr. Bean Turns Red ($8.50), served with green tea ice cream and a side of Azuki red beans. Combining Asian dessert with western pancakes is a refreshing idea, and made for a surprisingly good dish. Most importantly, I thoroughly enjoyed the pancakes, as they were fluffy, buttery, and easy to eat. Do visit Little Pancakes if you are in the neighbourhood, but come early, as seating is limited and fills up quickly!

Little Pancakes
200 Upper Thomson Road
#01-04 Thomson Imperial Court
Tel: +65 6258 8515
Mon: 1pm – 11pm
Wed to Fri: 1pm – 11pm
Sat: 11am – 11pm
Sun: 11am – 9pm

About the writer:
Amanda is a Singaporean with a passion for good food, fashion, and travelling. She is currently attending boarding school in the United Kingdom, and looks forward to many such new experiences after she begins university next year. Follow her adventure on instagram.

Words by Melody Yap, Photographs by ladyironchef

Canopy Garden & Dining Bar is a new-found brunch haunt that offers a good menu of comfort food with friendly price tags, and is coveted for its location – nestled amongst the lush greenery of Bishan Park, and away from the bustling city. I have a thing for calm and unassuming spots as such, where you could just break away from everyone and everything, and idle your day away with your favourite magazine.

If you are staying in the area – well, even if you are not, there is absolutely no reason to not pay Canopy a visit. I could preach non-stop about going there for brunch, but let me just highlight its value-for-money offerings.

A classic Eggs Benedict – everyone’s favourite and the most common brunch choice – is only $12. While most places in Singapore charge at least $16, and I do think that is rather exorbitant for just eggs, ham and muffin.

We got excited after perusing the menu. There were so many dishes we wanted to try, but we eventually short-listed three items: Eggs Royale ($13), Buttermilk Pancakes with Syrup ($6) and Scrambled Eggs with Salmon Roe ($12).

We started with the Eggs Royale, and it far surpassed our expectations with its quality for $13. It was generously covered with hollandaise sauce. This is one vital factor that attributes to the totality of a good Eggs Royale (or Eggs Benedict) – no stinginess when it comes to hollandaise sauce.

Then, we had the Buttermilk Pancakes ($6 with maple syrup, and $9 with ice cream). For the price, we thought that it was great value for this dish. The pancakes were thick and fluffy, but just a heads-up — it could get heavy on the stomach, so order this to share.

The last dish of Scrambled Eggs and Salmon was a satisfying finale for our brunch.  You can never go wrong with this combination, and here at Canopy, they went a notch up by topping it with the fat and juicy salmon roe.

Canopy Cafe at Bishan Park is among the top of my list of brunch places in Singapore, I am sure you will like it too.

Canopy Garden Dining & Bar
Bishan Park 2 1382 Ang Mo Kio Ave 1
Singapore 569931
Tel: +65 6556 1533
Mon to Fri: 9am – 10pm
Sat, Sun, Eve of PH, and PH: 8am – 11pm

Brunch is the country’s favourite weekend meal. It is so popular that almost every restaurant has started brunch service. Some places are slightly more adventurous, they come up with various interpretations using different ingredients; while others stick to the usual favourites such as eggs benedict, pancakes, and French Toast.

The Dempsey Brasserie is one of them. They feature classic items like eggs benedict ($18) smothered with hollandaise sauce, pancakes drenched with maple syrup ($12), scrambled eggs and shaved truffle ($16), big brasserie breakfast ($24). For something heavier, they also offer dishes like whole roasted chicken ($30), fish & chips ($23), and tagliatelle arrabiatta ($22).

Nothing says weekend to me like indulging with friends over a good brunch. So when the folks from Genting were in town, Beatrice and I brought them to The Dempsey Brasserie, where they serve weekend brunch from 10.am to 3.30pm.

Beatrice is crazy for anything truffle, so we started with the truffle fries ($13). In fact, there was a tussle as everyone could not stop eating the truffle fries, and to keep the peace, we ordered a second portion. Needless to say, they are now one of the places on my list of best truffle fries in Singapore.

I was very excited when the gorgeous ‘the works’ burger ($26) – a 200g prime Angus beef patty with caramelised onions, crispy bacon, sauteed mushrooms, gruyere cheese, lettuce, and tomato – arrived. I hurriedly took a bite, but it was sadly, underwhelming. The patty was way too dry, and I did not finish it.

Most of the breakfast items like eggs benedict, pancakes, and big breakfast were decent, but nothing to rave about.

The standout dish was the signature airflown Tasmania mussels ($20 for starter, $36 for main pot) cooked in white wine sauce.

Overall we really wanted to love The Dempsey Brasserie because it has a nice ambience, and a good location. While it managed to be fairly decent, most of the food did not leave a deep impression.

That said, I’d probably come back again for dinner; the presence of coq au vin ($26), steak frites ($38), duck confit ($32) is enough to tempt me to give them a second chance.

The Dempsey Brasserie
Blk 7 Dempsey Road, #01-03
Tel: +65 6473 4500
Mon – Fri: 5pm – 1am
Sat – Sun: 10.30am – 1am

For more recommendations, please read my Guide to Dempsey Hill Restaurants

Words by Sarah Lim, photos by ladyironchef.

Open Door Policy at the uber-hip Yong Siak Street has certainly managed to draw in the brunch-loving crowd with their creative weekend offerings. Groups of patrons, mostly expatriate families, started streaming in once doors flung open at 11am and half an hour later the restaurant was fully packed.

Being under the Spa Esprit group (which also manages Forty Hands Cafe), we’d expected no less of the décor, and ODP certainly delivers as far as ambience is concerned. Despite the collision of rustic wooden shelves, metallic elements lining the ceiling and stools looking as if they came out from a 1960s classroom, everything blended together to create the perfect Manhattan-chic vibe for a weekend brunch.

And that was precisely what we were here for on a Sunday morning. It didn’t matter that the brunch menu had fewer than 10 items; we immediately homed in on the pancakes, French toast and smoked salmon with scrambled eggs.

If you thought the decoration was stunning, prepared to be awed by the beauty (literally) of the dishes. Our almost too-pretty-to-eat French toast with roasted berries and vanilla ice cream ($18+) was a testament to the emphasis ODP places on food presentation.

Four hunky blocks of buttery, almost cake-like brioche perfectly seared to achieve a crusty caramelized surface came dusted with icing sugar. The juicy compote of berries and creamy vanilla ice were the perfect accompaniment to the French toast. The marriage of flavours and textures was indeed a treat for the palate.

The smoked salmon and scrambled eggs on toasted ciabatta with spinach and fresh herbs ($19+) was a less exciting option. Parting the slices of smoked salmon that blanketed the dish revealed a generous portion of gorgeously creamy scrambled eggs, which we felt could have been perfect with a little more seasoning. Having been soaked through by the moist eggs, the ciabatta was also less crusty than we’d have hoped for.

Amongst the three dishes, we were least impressed by the ODP pancakes with black berry and chocolate ($17+). These turned out too thick and dry for us since we’ve been so spoilt by fluffier varieties elsewhere, and were struggling to finish despite sharing. Fortunately, the sticky and decadent chocolate sauce, balanced by the tart blackberries was a welcomed redemption for the dish.

Service was efficient despite running on full house, so applaud ODP for doing away with the 10% service charge despite their right to do so. While prices here still push the boundaries for brunch, what you get in exchange is a wonderful dining experience amidst beautiful surroundings – as long as you pick the right dishes.

Open Door Policy
9 Yong Siak Street
Tel: +65 6221 9307
Mon to Sun: 12pm – 3.30pm, 6pm – 11pm
Weekend brunch: 11am – 4pm
Closed on Tue

For more recommendations, please read my list of best cafes in Singapore