Popular brunch & dessert cafe, Lola’s Cafe is opening a second outlet in Holland Village and the official opening date is set on 20 July 2022.

Known for its brunch fare and desserts, Lola’s Cafe started as a neighbourhood cafe in the Kovan neighbourhood and it remains a go-to brunch spot for residents in the vicinity.

Lola’s Cafe Holland Village will be taking over the unit at 48 Lorong Mambong.

Holland Village and Chip Bee Gardens have no lack of coffee shops and cafes and some of the other options in the enclave Craftsmen Specialty Coffee, Kyushu Pancake Cafe, Two Men Bagel House, Tiong Bahru Bakery, %Arabica Coffee, Baker & Cook, Sunday Folks and Keong Saik Bakery.

The new outlet at Holland Village has a similar menu of brunch, pasta, coffee and desserts. You can find the crowd-favourite dishes such as Crab Cake Benedict, Miso Salmon Grain Bowl, and Tuscan Seafood Stew.

Photos credit: Lola’s Cafe

And not forgetting their Lemon Meringue Tart, Lola’s Chocolate Cake and Lychee Rosewater Cake for desserts.

Lola’s Cafe Holland Village
48 Lor Mambong
Singapore 277699
Tue – Sun: 9am – 9.30pm

Popular Korean BBQ restaurant, Wang Dae Bak has opened a new outlet in Holland Village. Located at level 2 of Holland Piazza, Wang Dae Bak Grill is the restaurant’s first outlet out of the central business district. They have three other outlets at Amoy Street and Cross Street.

For a quick and casual lunch, Wang Dae Bak Grill offers several set lunches starting from S$15. Options include Grilled Saba Set, Spicy Pork Belly with Vegetables Set and Pork Katsu Set.

We do recommend going for a good mixture of marinated and non-marinated meats to get a taste of their best offerings. If you cannot decide on the meats to get, go for their meat sets which come with a variety of meats. The KBBQ Prime Set (S$98) consists of US Prime Ribeye, Marinated Bone-in Prime Ribs, and Pork Tomohawk.

You can also get Wang Dae Bak’s signature dishes such as Spicy Pork Ribs Soup, Spicy Tofu Soup, Kimchi Stew with Pork Belly, Half Half Pancake.

Wang Dae Bak Grill
Holland Piazza #02-01, Singapore 277725

2am:dessertbar By Chef Janice Wong is launching a new Cakes of Versailles High Tea which is inspired by the feature film Ottolenghi and the Cakes of Versailles.

The cakes of Versailles high tea menu will be available on weekends (2pm & 4.30pm) only at 2am:dessertbar from 3 Oct through to 1 Nov 2020, with limited sets available each day.

Chef Janice Wong is collaborating with chefs from the film, Sam Bompas & Harry Parr and Dinara Kasko, as well as local chef, Mohamed Al-Matin (Le Matin) who have all created exclusive items for the menu offering. In short, you can look forward to amazing sweet treats by some of the most talented chefs.

Photos credit: 2am:dessertbar

2am:dessertbar’s Cakes of Versailles High Tea Set for 2 (S$45++/pax) includes the following:

• Strawberry Champagne Cake Slice *In collaboration with Dinara Kasko x1
• Prosecco Raspberry Jelly In collaboration with Bompas & Parr x2
• Pistachio Rose escargot pastry x1
• Plum Galette x1
• Laminated Chocolate Brioche with walnut and sticky date x1
• Canele x1
• Chestnut Quince Lemon Cake x2 As featured in the film
• Chocolate Bon Bons x2 each (Praline poprocks, Lemon Thyme, Salted Caramel)
• Orange Madeleines x2
• Praline Financiers x2
• Foie Gras Eclair x2
• Sandwiches x2
• Choice of Janice Wong Signature Tea or Coffee

2am:dessertbar
21A Lor Liput, Singapore 277733

We are sure that all of you are familiar with Holland Village, a dining destination in Singapore for people to gather over good food and drinks. While the area definitely has plenty of fantastic food options for you to consider, it tends to get crowded at times.

If you are seeking a quieter, more intimate dining experience, hop on over to Chip Bee Gardens which is just across the road from Holland Village. The long stretch is filled with charming eateries that are perfect for a meal with a friend or partner.

From the famous % Arabica coffee chain from Japan to popular ice cream shop The Daily Scoop, here are 8 food places at Chip Bee Gardens you need to check out.

% ARABICA CHIP BEE GARDENS 

Coffee lovers in Singapore got really excited when popular Japanese coffee chain % Arabica came to Singapore in 2019. Now, aside from having a store at Arab Street and 313@Somerset, they also have an outlet at Chip Bee Gardens.

While % Arabica is known for its stellar cups of coffee, the brand’s venture at Chip Bee Gardens has introduced a food section to their menu so you can enjoy some scrumptious grub that pairs perfectly with their fragrant cups of coffee. This is also the only % Arabica outlet in the world to have a food menu.

44 Jalan Merah Saga, #01-58
Singapore 278116
Tel: +65 6261 4516
Sun to Thu: 8am – 6pm
Fri & Sat: 8am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Holland Village

BAKER & COOK 

Helmed by reputable baker Dean Brettschneider who has over 20 years of culinary experiences, the artisanal bakery is a popular spot to chill with a friend over some fantastic food and drinks.

From homemade cakes and pastries to hearty meals, Baker & Cook is your one-stop destination for superb breakfast and brunch items. There is also an extensive list of fine wines and Allpress Espresso to choose from.

44 Jalan Merah Saga, #01-56
Chip Bee Gardens
Singapore 278116
Tel: +65 6472 0998
Daily: 7.30am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Holland Village

DA PAOLO PIZZA BAR 

Casual Italian restaurant Bistro Da Paolo Pizza Bar at Chip Bee Gardens Singapore is a family-run business that has been consistently pushing out authentic, gourmet Italian fare which includes the likes of pasta, pizzas, salads and sandwiches. These are all freshly prepared by professionals and those with a sweet tooth should not miss out on their signature tiramisu.

44 Jalan Merah Saga
#01-46, Chip Bee Gardens
Singapore 278116
Tel: +65 6479 6059
Tue to Fri: 12pm – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 10.30pm
Sat & Sun: 11am – 10.30pm
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: Holland Village

KEONG SAIK BAKERY

Known for its amazing array of modern pastries and cakes with local flavours, Keong Saik Bakery has opened its second outlet at Chip Bee Gardens, next to RedMan Gourmand at the end of Jalan Merah Saga.

44 Jln Merah Saga, #01-42
Singapore 278116

MADRINAA ITALIANO 

Since 2007, Madrinaa Italiano at Chip Bee Gardens Singapore has been dishing out delicious Italian dishes. The bulk of their dishes are made with homemade ingredients such as fresh dough, pasta sauces and olive oil so you are ensured of fantastic quality Italian dishes that hit all the right spots.

Some food you can look forward to includes their signature tomato-based thin-crust pizza, calamari rings and truffle pasta.

44 Jalan Merah Saga
#01-60, Chip Bee Gardens
Singapore 278116
Tel: +65 6474 7342
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Holland Village

ORIGINAL SIN 

One of the oldest restaurants at Chip Bee Gardens, Original Sin takes pride in their comforting vegetarian Mediterranean gourmet food which they’ve been dishing out since 1997. Named after the famous fresco painted in the Sistine Chapel, the restaurant’s name represents the passion, creativity and skill used in creating all their unique and flavourful dishes.

Aside from an air-conditioned dining area, they also have an al fresco terrace that is a splendid spot to wind down at after a long day.

43 Jalan Merah Saga
#01-62, Chip Bee Gardens
Singapore 278115
Tel: +65 6475 5605
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Holland Village

SUNDAY FOLKS 

Sweet tooths would definitely have heard of local dessert cafe Sunday Folks, the sister cafe of Creamier and might we say one of the best success stories to come from an ice cream cafe here in Singapore.

After a long time since their opening, they are still seeing massive crowds even on non-peak hours at their Chip Bee Gardens outlet. Their soft-serve here is pretty much one of our favourites ever and you have to try it with their fragrant Belgian waffles.

44 Jalan Merah Saga
#01-52, Chip Bee Gardens
Singapore 278116
Mon: Closed
Tue to Sun: 1pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Holland Village

TIONG BAHRU BAKERY 

The popular establishment has outlets all across Singapore, and one of them is at Chip Bee Gardens Singapore. The renowned bakery is popular for its excellent pastries and bread as well as savoury mains and desserts.

The Tiong Bahru Bakery outlet at Chip Bee Gardens has a spacious and tastefully designed interior that will make you feel at home. If you want to enjoy a little breeze, you can also opt to enjoy your bakes at their al fresco area.

43 Jalan Merah Saga
Singapore 278115
Tel: +65 6877 4868
Daily: 8am – 7pm
Nearest Station: Holland Village

THE DAILY SCOOP 

The Daily Scoop is an ice cream parlour that sells an extensive variety of ice cream flavours. As one of the pioneers of artisanal ice cream in Singapore, The Daily Scoop has multiple outlets islandwide, but one of our favourite outlets to get our ice cream fix from would be at Chip Bee Gardens.

Each batch of their ice cream is churned and made daily in-house with local fresh ingredients, guaranteeing superior quality that is unlike other mass-produced desserts. From the exotic Mao Shan Wang durian to Nutty Macadamia, The Daily Scoop rotates flavours on a weekly basis so that customers will never get sick and tired of the same old creations.

70 Jalan Merah Saga, 80,
Singapore 278129
Tel: +65 6475 3128
Mon to Thu: 11am – 10pm
Fri to Sat: 11am – 10:30pm
Sun: 2pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Holland Village

You may have tried many different renditions of Bak Kut Tehs in Singapore – ones with herbal soup bases or ones with spicy white pepper stock. Well, for those who love this homey, heart-warming clay pot of soup, we have great news for you – Restoran Kota Zheng Zong Claypot Bak Kut Teh has opened in Singapore at Holland Village!

This popular Johor Bahru-based restaurant started from humble roots, beginning as a mere push-cart. With over 40 years of experience and cooking their special herbal Bak Kut Teh over a charcoal flame, they are undoubtedly one of the best Bak Kut Teh restaurants in Malaysia.

We had a taste of their dishes including their Signature Claypot Bak Kut Teh, Braised Pork Leg and their White Pepper Pig’s Maw Soup. Check out what are the dishes you can look forward to at the new Kota Zheng Zong Bak Kut Teh Singapore.

The broth at Kota Zeng Zong Bak Kut Teh is made with a secret blend of 18 spices and Chinese herbs, boiled for over an hour with offal including pork belly, tripe, tendons, ribs and innards. Once the pork is added, the broth is simmered for another hour to imbue the soup with umami from the meat.

Each part of the pork is removed from the main broth so it can be portioned out and added into each individual clay pot to order.

SIGNATURE CLAYPOT BAK KUT TEH

The Signature Claypot Bak Kut Teh is served according to the number of portions ordered. You can order the standard mix of Pork Rib, Pork Belly, Pork Tail and Pork Leg or choose any of the above to add into their signature herbal broth. Each clay pot is topped with a generous helping of Fried Beancurd Skin.

You can choose to add some Enoki Mushrooms, Button Mushrooms, extra Fried Beancurd Skin or intestines to the dish. It’s boiled over a charcoal fire till it’s bubbling vigorously, then served piping-hot to the table.

Our favourite of the pork cuts was the Pork Belly. The meat was fork-tender and the fat was super succulent and juicy. It added so much umami flavour to the broth as well!

If you prefer leaner meats, the Pork Rib would be your go-to. The absence of fat did not omit much flavour as the ribs were almost falling off the bone. Each rib had been infused with the broth so well that we couldn’t stop our chopsticks for seconds and thirds!

Less seen in Bak Kut Teh, especially in Singapore, would be the Pork Tail. This fatty part of the pork is a must-try. It has a chewy texture, offering a different mouthfeel compared to the rest of the meat portions. It also adds richness to the broth!

If you want extra flavour, you can add some Hua Diao (Chinese Rice Wine) or Martel Cordon Bleu to the broth. It may sound a little daunting but once the stronger kick of alcohol is boiled off, the faint aroma of wine is rather addictive. It adds such a different dimension to the Bak Kut Teh, pairing well with the 18-herb blend that makes up the broth.

BRAISED PORK LEG

If you’re a fan of deep-dark gravy and super indulgent pork trotter, Kota Zeng Zong Bak Kut Teh’s rendition of this dish will have your mouth watering. Thick cuts of pork leg are simmered in a soy-based gravy till they are impeccably tender and juicy. Just a few pokes with your chopsticks and the meat simply pulls apart.

What we loved about this dish was how delicious the gravy was. It was so rich, savoury and had a hint of sweetness that brought a great balance. The pork that was braised in this gravy had been thoroughly infused with the complex flavours.

This is a great dish to pair with rice – remember to soak the rice with that delectable gravy. Definitely a must-try when Kota Zeng Zong Bak Kut Teh opens in Singapore!

WHITE PEPPER PIG’S MAW SOUP

If you like peppery Bak Kut Teh broth, this is the soup for you. The soup is rich with that spicy pepper kick but it’s less fatty. Inside the soup are a mix of pig’s intestines, white cabbage, abalone and mushrooms.

While we liked the signature broth, this was a nice contrasting flavour and when enjoyed with rice, it’s super addictive too!

SIDE DISHES

Bak Kut Teh is never complete without some sides to cut through the fatty meat. Choose from an array of side dishes to complement your soup and rice.

Of course, with Bak Kut Teh always comes the You Tiao (fried dough fritter). These crispy bites soak up the rich soup so wonderfully and yet still hold that satisfying crunch! Bak Kut Teh would not be the same without a side of these.

Order a plate of fresh Vege (lettuce of leaf lettuce) topped with soy sauce, sesame oil and deep-fried shallots. It is the perfect green accompaniment to the braised meats and rice.

Something more unique is their version of Tau Kee which is somewhat of a cross between Tau Pok and Tau Kee. It’s super “QQ” and has a lot of flavours, soaking up the broth as you eat it alongside your Bak Kut Teh.

Our favourite side dish had to be the Spanish Mackerel Fish Otak. It differs from the Singapore otak you find as it’s twice as meaty and has actual fish chunks strewn inside the mildly sweet-and-spicy dish. It’s best eaten mashed into rice, mixed in with a little bit of the braised pork gravy!

We hope you’re excited for this new Bak Kut Teh store in town because we definitely can’t wait to have this special broth and tender pork again! It’s even better when you don’t have to cross the causeway just to have it!

Kota Zheng Zong Bak Kut Teh
15A Lor Liput
Singapore 277730
Nearest Station: Holland Village

This post was brought to you by Kota Zheng Zong Bak Kut Teh Singapore.

Strolling along Chip Bee Gardens, perhaps Sunday Folks and the Daily Scoop would cross your mind, but we have found another place to add to the list of cafes in the Holland Village enclave – Our Second Home.

Hidden away in the sustainable clothing store, Our Second Nature, is their cafe serving up coffee and some sweet treats. Decked in rustic wooden decor, the beautiful store boasts a comforting vibe – perfect for a midday respite.

Walking into the space, the aroma of coffee was so enticing, we definitely had to order a cup to try so we opted for a hot Latte (S$5). The coffee was smooth and had nutty notes, while having a slightly acidic tang.

To go along with our coffee, we had to try some of their baked goods. We first sampled their Harbour Sea Salt Chocolate Chip Cookie (S$3). The cookie is speckled generously with chocolate chunks and a small pinch of sea salt on the top.

The classic combo of sea salt and chocolate truly shone in the cookie and even us chewy cookie lovers enjoyed this rather buttery, crunchy treat.

Last but not least, we tried their Lemon Drizzle Butter Cake (S$5.50). A thick slice of lemon infused sponge is coated in a tangy lemon icing glaze. The moment it was set down on the table, the scent of the lemon was immediately apparent.

The cake was moist and perfumed with lemon zest, making for a wonderful afternoon treat. The glaze was tangy and was the perfect topping to the sponge. Paired with the coffee, it was absolutely delectable!

Just a short walk from Holland Village MRT station, this cafe might replace your usual haunts in the area with their minimalistic yet rustic interior. You could also scan through their sustainable clothing pieces that are not just beautiful, but great for the environment too.

Our Second Home
43 Jln Merah Saga, #01-66
Singapore 278115
Mon to Thu: 10am – 6pm
Fri to Sun: 10am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Holland Village