Great news for coffee aficionados, the famous Omotesando Koffee from Tokyo has officially opened in Singapore. Those of you hankering after a cuppa from this highly acclaimed Japanese import can now get their caffeine fix at the shop’s debut Singapore outlet at Downtown Gallery.

We first reported the news of the opening of Omotesando Koffee back in April 2017 and boy are we glad that it is finally in Singapore.

For those of you who are new to the brand, what you can look forward to at this artisanal coffee bar is their high-quality espresso-based beverages. Their first and only outlet in Singapore features a myriad of caffeinated beverages from matcha based drinks to a good old latte so whether you have a burning passion for artisanal brews or not, Omotesando Koffee is a spot worth checking out.

Hailing from Shibuya in Tokyo, the cafe first opened up as a quaint pop-up store in a traditional Japanese house in Omotesando’s residential area in 2011. Word spread quickly as this little takeaway coffee stop quickly gained a strong following among hipsters for its artisanal brews—unfortunately, in 2015, the Japanese house (machiya) got torn down and along with Omotesando Koffee.

Earlier this year, the acclaimed coffee shop reopened in Shibuya and has since expanded to other parts of Japan, Hong Kong and now in Singapore!

The brand’s opening here is a partnership between Hong Kong-born Russell Stradmoor, 28, director and franchising owner of Omotesando Koffee, and Mr Junny Lee, 34, founder of The Work Project—a Singapore-based co-working space operator with a branch in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong.

When it comes to their coffee beans, the way that it is treated can greatly enhance (or compromise) the flavour of your brew. In fact, it’s the brewing methods that tend to be the hallmark of a great artisan coffee.

Here at Omotesando Koffee, their methodology lies in two things: its signature cube-framed bar which houses their baristas and their precise approach to brewing coffee. Beans from Melbourne are roasted in Kyoto by the Ogawa Coffee Roasters, with each blend following specific steps for brewing to bring out the best flavours.

Their espresso is hand-dripped slowly at a controlled temperature to ensure that all the oils and essences from the beans are absorbed to the best of its ability. The end result is a full-bodied cup of coffee that is sure to make anyone’s day.

Their Cafe Latte Doppio (S$5.50) is brewed with their very own house brand of coffee beans. The initial sip is fairly balanced but after a few seconds what you are left with is a subtle fruity note that pleasantly coats your entire mouth. There is mild acidity to it, but the milk really helps to balance it out.

All in all, a delicate brew that makes for a good start to a typical workday.

The Iced Cappuccino (S$7.50) is much more unique than your typical cafe brew. The milk itself is blended beforehand to aerate it. After it is served, give it a few seconds and watch as the surface starts to bubble and foam up. The beverage itself was light and airy, making it easy to drink even for non-coffee experts.

With Omotesando Koffee now open in Downtown Gallery, coffee drinkers will soon have a new go-to cafe for their caffeine fix, which is never bad news for our coffee-cultured society.

Omotesando Koffee Singapore
6 Shenton Way, #04-09
The Work Project Downtown,
Downtown Gallery
Singapore 068809
(Closed on Saturdays & Sundays)
Mon to Fri: 8am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

A slew of eateries—including Lunar Coffee Brewers, 6 Oz Espresso, Venue by Sebastian—has opened at the new Downtown Gallery in the Central Business District.

The newest addition is The Autobus—a bicycle-themed cafe that serves up healthy salad bowls as well as good coffee and tea. This is undoubtedly every bicycle enthusiast’s dream because not only do they sell food here, they also carry a huge range of bicycle equipment and apparel.

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This newly-established cafe adopts a DIY food menu in that customers are required to fill up an order form. The current menu only includes rice bowls ranging from S$12 to S$16 with additional charges for premium ingredients. The weekend brunch menu has more options such as Full Breakfast (S$18), Eggs Ben (S$11) and Wagyu Burger (S$24).

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We got ourselves two standard S$12 bowls which include, 1 protein, 1 carb, 3 sides and a dressing of choice.

For the first bowl, we got a base carb of quinoa, with the protein being the Grilled Sirloin Steak (+S$2) and topped with the Soy Sesame dressing. Sides consisted of Broccoli, Sweet Corn, and the Spa Egg.

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The Grilled Sirloin Steak was cooked medium-rare and was incredibly tender which is perfect for steak fans.

For our second bowl, we went for Penne pasta for our base carb and the BBQ Pulled Pork as the protein. Sides included Bell Peppers, Button Mushrooms, and the Spa Egg, which were all completed with fresh and fragrant Basil Pesto.

The pasta was cooked al dente and the BBQ Pulled Pork was moist and flavourful. We also liked that the peppers were cooked till soft—something which many salad joints tend to neglect.

We must say that we were really impressed by the Chai Latte here. Unlike many other cafes that source their Chai spice mix externally (and in bulk), the baristas at The Autobus actually make it in-house daily!

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Each individual Chai spice is toasted in a pan separately to bring out a much deeper aroma. After which, they are all steeped in a pot filled with Ceylon tea and brought to a simmer. The flavours are then allowed to mingle and intensify overnight, only to be served the following day.

Their hot Chai Latte (S$5) is the epitome of a perfect beverage on a rainy day. Spicy, comforting and incredibly aromatic. This is something we definitely recommend.

Overall, we really enjoyed in this huge and cosy space. A conducive working environment with free wi-fi, coupled with the beautiful aromas of freshly heated spices make for a pretty decent work-week afternoon.

The Autobus
6A Shenton Way
Downtown Gallery #01-01
Mon to Fri: 7am – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 7am – 3pm
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

The newest cafe to open in the Central Business District is Lunar Coffee Brewers—opened by the same team behind Atlas Coffeehouse and the now-defunct Assembly Coffee.

Situated in Downtown Gallery, the cafe seeks to provide a space where you can escape from the pressures of everyday life with comfort food and specialty coffee.

Fill your tummy with hearty home-cooked rice bowls and even signature dishes that originated from Atlas Coffeehouse. The coffee selection is aplenty too; beans are sourced and roasted by Two Degrees North Coffee Co.

As an added bonus, visitors do not have to pay for GST and service charge as well. So if you are looking for a new lunch spot in the CBD area, Lunar Coffee Brewers is where you should be headed to next.

The sleek, clean lines of Lunar Coffee Brewers called out to the inner minimalists in us. We love how the interior is kept sophisticated and chic with marble tables in both white and black. The cafe reminded us of this old saying that sometimes, less is more.

The Lu Rou Belly Don (S$14.50) features bean sprouts, pickles, ginger, onsen egg and generous chunks of juicy pork belly lying atop a bed of warm fluffy rice. While it is not mind blowing, it is still worth a try.

We paired our lunch with a cup of Hot Cappuccino (S$4.50), just one of the many caffeine choices you have at the cafe. Coffee addicts would definitely enjoy the creamy milk and strong espresso which packs a punch. If there is one reason why we would patronise Lunar Coffee Brewers again, that would be their aromatic coffee.

Do not leave the cafe without trying their Milky Way Soft Serve (S$5.90). It is a white cold brew coffee soft serve ice cream made better with homemade shortbread crumble.

Lunar Coffee Brewers
#01-49 Downtown Gallery
6 Shenton Way
Singapore 068815
Tel: +65 6224 4500
Mon to Fri: 8am – 8pm
Sat: 9am – 3pm
Closed: Sun
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

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