Good Chai People is a new Chai cafe specialising in handmade artisanal sticky chai and they will be opening at East Coast Road on 24 Sep 2022.

Located along 225 East Coast Road—the same stretch where you can find other popular cafes in the east of Singapore including Neptune, Project Acai, Brawn & Brains, and Plain Vanilla—Good Chai People

You can enjoy their Homemade Sticky Chai Latte—brewed with oat milk and coconut sugar—along their freshly-baked pastries, and pairs well with brunch fare and mains.

Photos credit: Good Chai People

Are you excited for the newest addition to the cafe scene in the east of Singapore for your chai fix?

Good Chai People
225 East Coast Road
Singapore 428922
Daily: 8am – 10pm

Located at Marine Cove in East Coast Park, East Coast Commune is a family-friendly cafe that serves speciality coffee, cold pressed juices, hearty sandwiches, fresh bakes, natural wines and craft beers.

One of the most beautiful cafes in Singapore, it is a great hangout spot which is worth travelling to East Coast Park for.

What we like about East Coast Commune:

• Beautiful cafe with a high ceiling and lots of potted plants
• Family-friendly cafe with an indoor play area and baby changing room
• A space that is perfect for all ages—families, couples, friends and kids
• Reasonably-priced pasta, sandwiches and brunch food
• Great location at East Coast Park (just next to McDonald’s)

The name reflects its intention to be a gathering spot for all ages—there’s something for everyone here. The kids can have fun at the indoor play area while the adults can enjoy a leisure brunch with a cup of coffee, or a craft beer or two.

East Coast Commune’s menu features a selection of Sourdough Sandwiches (S$11), Pasta (S$19), The Brekkie (S$18), Fried Chicken & Waffle (S$18) and Fresh Sourdough Waffle (S$12).

Classic sweet waffles (S$12) with ice cream, whipped cream, maple syrup, icing sugar.

Cappuccino (S$5)

Baby changing room

We love the vibe of East Coast Commune and we will definitely be back soon!

East Coast Commune
1000 ECP, #01-03, Singapore 449876

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 along East Coast Road, Birds of Paradise Gelato Boutique is a delightful ice cream paradise that is highly popular on social media for its extremely photogenic interior and of course, its amazing ice cream.

A prominent face in the vibrant Katong food scene, you will find signature flavours of ice cream inspired by natural botanical elements in this humble parlour. 

Two flavours that got our attention were the Spiced Pear and Strawberry Basil. The former is a heavenly combination of William pears, cinnamon and star anise; the latter is a tarty melange of farmed and wild strawberries rounded off with the mellow tones of an organic basil infusion.

Apart from being extremely refreshing on the palate, the flavours of pear in the Spiced Pear were in perfect harmony with the acidity of the cinnamon and star anise. Likewise, the Strawberry Basil was incredibly light and had undertones of basil in its scent and taste.

At S$4.70 for a single scoop or S$7.70 for a double, this is a sweet deal for ice cream bursting with so much goodness and flavour. 

Other exciting flavours to look out for include the Pandan, Vanilla Fig Swirl, White Chrysanthemum, Lychee Raspberry, Mango Sorbet, Mint Cacao and Lemongrass Ginger.

Enjoy your ice cream in a cup or in their signature Thyme Cone with a top-up of S$1. The Thyme Cone is made from waffle batter with infusions of thyme and all cones are made in-house daily.

A charming ice cream parlour that offers interesting flavours in the East; we love this combination.

Birds of Paradise Gelato Boutique
63 East Coast Road #01-05, Singapore 428776
Tel: +65 9678 6092
Sun, Tue to Thu: 12pm – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Dakota

Shared-space cafes are all the rage right now and we are seeing east-side cafe Stamping Ground Coffee adopting this genius concept at its new location in the Siglap neighbourhood.

Located along Upper East Coast Road, Stamping Ground Coffee shares the same space with a florist—Dawn Q Floral Design. The end result was unexpected; two inherently different businesses co-existing harmoniously in a single venue.

Stamping Ground Coffee—formerly situated at Club Street—is characterised by its minimalistic décors; think white marble counters and rustic wooden chairs. You can choose to dine either indoors or outdoors.

There are a few car park lots located right outside the café and parking is absolutely free of charge. However, do note that the lots are very limited.

From local brand Papa Palheta’s Throwback Blend to Melbourne’s Rumble Coffee Roasters, each coffee run to Stamping Ground Coffee is never quite the same. Blends are on a rotational basis and you can look forward to a different roast from time to time.

Pick up a signature cold brew (between S$6 – S$8 nett) or enjoy a cappuccino (S$5 nett).

Stamping Ground Coffee’s all-day menu features 11 dishes and each dish costs no more than S$15 nett. Their Bacon Jam (S$14 nett) features a thick fluffy brioche topped with candied bacon, rocket leaves and balsamic dressing. Knife the soft toast and unveil a baked egg.

Those with a sweet tooth should order the Belgian Waffles (S$13 nett) instead. The waffle is served with a scoop of cinnamon ice cream. Generous amounts of roasted soybean flour and corn flakes are sprinkled over it.

Stamping Ground Coffee
87 Upper East Coast Road
Singapore 455223
Tel: +65 9070 7610
Closed on Mondays
Tue to Sun: 9am to 6pm
Nearest Station: Bedok

Stepping into Ninethirty by awfullychocolate in East Coast Road is like visiting a long lost friend at his/her home. An immediate sense of comfort welcomes you, and your senses will be drawn to the aromatic smells wafting from the kitchen.

Ninethirty also doubles up as the flagship Awfully Chocolate store, and it is the only concept of its kind in Singapore.

It is a casual bistro that is suitable for a night out with a group of friends, or a date with your partner. It is nothing too fancy, just a simple and unpretentious space that serves a reasonably-priced menu of comforting Western food with Asian touches, chocolate cocktails as well as the most amazing chocolate desserts.

ONE EGG SOUP

This should be no stranger to those who frequent Everything With Fries at Holland Village, as it was one of the most popular starters there. The One Egg Soup (S$11) is a comforting bowl of soup that is, well you guessed it, prepared with one egg. Topped with a delicious egg white soufflé, it is so simple a dish, but so so good.

Flavourful when served warm, with the addition of truffle oil, the One Egg Soup is what we’d like to think of as unadulterated joy. The warmth and taste of this soup really reflects humble comfort food, elevated with the use of truffle oil.

BRAISED BEEF KARUBI

The Braised Beef Karubi (S$23) was extremely tender and well seasoned. And even though the beef was the star of the show, we couldn’t stop munching on the roasted garlic fries served on the side. This rustic dish is certainly calling out to all you beef lovers out there!

CHARGRILLED PORK CHOP

Look at that glistening beauty! We were blown away just looking at Ninethirty’s stunning Chargrilled Pork Chop (S$21). You see, pork chops can easily be overcooked, but thankfully, when we cut through our piece, the meat inside was still moist and tender.

The browned butter and garlic sauce, generally drizzled on top with more on the side, was what sealed it for us. Oh, we sure enjoyed the caramelised onion relish on the side too. And yes, more fries, please!

LAKSA TAGLIATELLE

With the famous Katong Laksa stalls in the vicinity, we were close to writing this out. We can be skeptical at times, but we were speechless when we sunk our teeth into the al dente tagliatelle with the laksa sauce. Damn, the Laksa Tagliatelle (S$20) is the perfect marriage of European and Asian styles and flavours, and boy was it amazing!

The mussels were fresh and generously offered with the pasta. The addition of crisp okra really delighted us as it added a nice bite when eaten all together. Now, we should have known better than to be too quick to judge and write things off. This Laksa Tagliatelle, you have to try.

MAC & CHEESE

We can’t be the only ones who get all excited when we see Mac & Cheese on the menu, yes?

This Mac & Cheese (S$18) here at Ninethirty sure had us jumping in joy; we are not even kidding. Rigatoni pasta is used for a more substantial texture, and the chunky pasta does its job in absorbing the cheeses. You would want to eat this warm to enjoy its best flavours.

MUSSELS & FRIES

Yup, you heard us right. Mussels & Fries (S$20) are a thing and they are here to stay. But this is not your usual Western mussels, guys. The distinct taste of lemongrass and spices used for the mussel broth had us reminded of Thai green curry. Comforting like that.

We were delighted to find a generous serving of mussels used and also a mountain of fries on the side. And you know what is the best way to enjoy the fries? Dunk them into the mussel broth, guys!

PINK SALMON

Nothing screams comfort food like a tomato-based spaghetti dish. The Pink Salmon (S$20) is a sophisticated take on the traditional Bolognese. The seared salmon perched on top of the pasta features a massive portion cooked to perfection – still slightly dark pink on the side and extremely moist on the inside.

The tomato-based spaghetti really felt like something an Italian grandmother would dish out – rustic, hearty and oh-so-addictive. It is something that we wouldn’t mind coming back again for more and more. Some things stay gold like that.

BRIOCHE FRENCH TOAST

This dish is so delicious, we wish it wasn’t only served on weekends and public holidays (from 10am to 10pm). A creamy peanut butter spread (yes!!!) is slathered generously in between in-house baked brioche toast. The bun itself is soft on the inside and lightly toasted outside.

Look out for the almond streusel tossed all around for the crisp texture really complimented the intense flavours well. It is official – we are addicted to Ninethirty’s Brioche French Toast (S$16).

MARTINIS & DRINKS

If you are a huge fan of awfullychocolate’s decadent Rum & Cherry whole cake, you will be happy to know that they now have a Chocolate Rum & Cherry (S$8) drink that is out to satisfy you just as much. Can’t finish the whole cake yourself? No biggie because this drink is a great alternative to curb your cravings.

And yes to local spin on milkshakes. The Gula Melaka Jackfruit Shake (S$8) is a sweet milk shake with rich gula melaka notes. You can taste the perfect weave of coconut ice cream, jackfruit, gula melaka and coconut milk altogether in one unassuming cup. Extremely refreshing!

Now, if you can’t decide between having a cocktail or a dessert, the Dark Chocolate Martini (S$15) is a perfect after-dinner drink. Have the best of both worlds this way, we say! Rich chocolatey goodness and alcohol sounds like a match made in heaven.

AWFULLY CHOCOLATE SIGNATURE DESSERTS

Any meal at Ninethirty wouldn’t be complete without a single scoop of the iconic Hei Ice Cream, traditionally served in an adorable takeaway box. However, here at Ninethirty, you can have it on a tall metal glass when you dine in. Rich and extremely concentrated in chocolate flavours, we dare say you can’t find a decent dupe of this ice cream anywhere else.

Apart from Hei ice cream, don’t forget to try the cake that started it all – the Awfully Chocolate All Chocolate Cake (6” at $34). Also available in 2 other flavours – Chocolate Banana Cake ($36) and Chocolate Rum & Cherry Cake ($38).

Ninethirty by awfullychocolate
131 East Coast Rd
Singapore 428816
Tel: +65 6345 2190
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 11pm
Fri: 12pm – 1am
Sat: 9.30am – 1am
Sun: 9.30am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Dakota

This post is brought to you by Ninethirty by awfullychocolate.

Run by the folks behind Awfully Chocolate, Sinpopo Brand is a nostalgic café along Joo Chiat Road and it encompasses everything a good cafe should be – welcoming and cosy, comforting local food with a twist, and exceptionally interesting desserts and drinks. And what Sinpopo impressed us with the most is the attention to details and all its subtle nostalgic touches – evident from the interior and dishes.

Stepping into Sinpopo, their love for all things retro is evident from the design, and it will surely invoke a sense of nostalgia. We were particularly drawn to the menu design too! You will see why when it is your turn to dine there.

Of special name-cards and customised menus modelled after old school attendance books, an old television, songs from the 80′s and 90′s, vintage chairs and tiles, and a kitchen that whets your appetite with comfort fare that we grew up loving, here are some of the things we love so much about Sinpopo Brand.

GREAT APPETIZERS

If you must have your salads, a great choice would be the Frisée Salad with Crispy Muah Chee (S$10). Unlike your usual salads of just greens, Sinpopo has added homemade crispy battered muah chee into a mix for a more badass touch (oops). Well, this can also be thought of as a great choice for vegetarians.

The Crab Wantons (S$8) were filled evenly with creamy crabmeat and served with a side of house dip, reminiscent of our local chilli crab sauce.

For pork lovers, a must-try is the Babi Toast (S$7) which comes with the Thai-style green chilli dip. It will make you forget about staying skinny temporarily.

MAIN COURSES WITH LOCAL TOUCHES

Although Sinpopo offers mains such as Baked Salmon and Char-grilled Pork Chop, they never fail to jazz the dish up with a local element. But when at Sinpopo, we would like to think that the local-style mains should still be in the limelight. We could not sing enough praises of the Bakwan Kepiting (S$16) and Sinpopo Beef Shortrib Horfun (S$16) – comfort food at its finest.

The former is a warm bowl of tasty clear soup broth that comes with three very large meatballs (talk about generous!) and flat rice noodles. A nice little extra gem that comes along with this bowl is an onsen egg, and a side of classic red cut chillies, of course.

The meatballs are springy and packed with pork, crab meat and bamboo shoots. It sounds oddly plain, but having a bowl of the Bakwan Kepiting gives us almost as much gratification as eating Grandma’s cooking.

The Sinpopo Beef Shortrib Horfun is one of their signature dishes and we loved how the execution of this dish is one of a kind. The horfun is first prepared to a crisp texture, before being soaked in a rich and slightly salty beefy broth.

The bowl is topped off with fork-tender short ribs that have been braised for hours, and some fresh cut red chilli, onions and lime.

NASI LEMAK SET FOR 2

If you are visiting Sinpopo with the love of your life, you have to try the house special Nasi Lemak for Two (S$25). Because sharing is caring, and what better way to spend quality time together than enjoying some great local food, right?

For S$25, you get more than your money’s worth with a big variety of ingredients for your nasi. The coconut rice is fragrant and comes with a side of halved onsen egg and caramelised onions; and the rice is free-flow so you can eat to your heart’s content!

The accompanying dishes are, behold – Prawn Paste Chicken (WE LOVE THIS SO DAMN MUCH), Crispy Pork Belly, Ma Ling luncheon chips (a hot seller here and available as an appetizer itself), Rojak Slaw, Sambal Fish Balls, Roasted Potatoes & Curry and Sambal Chilli. So good, you are even encouraged to take a bottle of Sinpopo’s Sambal Chilli home!

DESSERTS WITH A LOCAL TOUCH

Desserts are Sinpopo’s specialty and some of the creations are inspired by their sister company, Awfully Chocolate. All of the sweet treats here at Sinpopo bear very distinct local elements, and there has never been another time when we are so fond of modern desserts with a local twist.

Gula Melaka is a special taste and not many can master the art of preparing it to the right consistency and sweetness. Thankfully, Sinpopo has aced the preparation of Gula Melaka, producing at least 3 different desserts featuring this delightful ingredient.

We leave it to you to decide which to order, but let’s just say the Gula Melaka sells like hotcakes.

Fans of Awfully Chocolate may find the presentation of this cake familiar as the style of layering is similar to the ever-popular Super Stacked Cake from Awfully Chocolate. If you are worried that the Gula Melaka Cake (S$7) might be overwhelmingly sweet, you will be happy to know that this cake sports just the right amount of gula melaka and is fragrant as it can be.

Yes, more gula melaka because we simply cannot get enough of it! Crunchy doughnuts are slathered with gula melaka with a side of kopi affogato. Sinpopo’s Doughtnuts & Gula (S$8) might look like a novelty but it is assuredly enjoyable. If we may, this will get many likes on Instagram.

Where do we even begin? The Orange Kaya Pisang Crème Brûlée (S$7) sounds more than complicated, but it is really a simple twist of the usual rich custard dessert. Using orange kaya as the base flavour, Sinpopo’s take on the classic French dessert comes with a pleasant Singapore twist, and the top note of pisang (banana) married the orange kaya really well.

The Durian Pengat (S$9) is served all year round and you need not wait till it is the durian season to enjoy this dessert! We were stoked when we were first presented this dessert, because the amount of durian used is pretty generous. It is topped off with a refreshing scoop of coconut ice cream and some crisp browned butter croutons.

The Chilled Pandan Soufflé (S$9) was such a stunner and all of us couldn’t contain our excitement. Pandan is infused into the chilled cottony soufflé and served with almond streusel and a sesame dentelle. As the soufflé is chilled, you have to eat it quickly before it “melts”.

Quote ‘Ladyironchef” or flash this post on your mobile for a complimentary Sng Muay Pop (u.p. $5) with every Gorgeous Mains purchased. This promotion is valid until 31 August 2015.

For the latest updates, go to www.sinpopo.com and like them on Facebook and Instagram.

Sinpopo Brand
458 Joo Chiat Rd
Singapore 427671
Tel: +65 6345 5034
Tue to Thu, Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 12am
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: Dakota

This post is brought to you by Sinpopo Brand.