Bynd Artisan and Sunday Folks have a brand new lifestyle concept store at ION Orchard on level 4 next to The Marmalade Pantry and it is expected to open in the second half of August 2021.

The Bynd Artisan + Sunday Folks ION Experience Store is a retail and café concept where you can enjoy customising and personalising a well-appointed handmade leather-and-paper gift from Bynd Artisan, and savour Sunday Folks’ seasonal artisanal dessert creations and speciality coffee.

What you can look forward to at the new Bynd Artisan + Sunday Folks ION Experience Store: 

• A sensorial atmosphere—created with a newly curated playlist and the natural scent of leather-bound books, and the aroma of Sunday Folk’s speciality coffee in the air.
• Wooden benches exclusively handmade by Shibui Furniture’s Kim Choy.
• A “Gratitude Corner” invites visitors to pause and reflect their intentions, to contemplate and write down what makes them happy in a guest book and inspire others in our community.

Photos credit: Bynd Artisan + Sunday Folks

• Desserts and beverages from Sunday Folks will be served on place mats and coasters made from recycled food pulp papers with inspiring quotes and lyrics. Customers are welcome to collect and bring home these coasters, or purchase them in more colours from the store.
• Specially-designed leather sleeve for the store’s glass carafes in which brewed coffee will be served.
• Exclusive Merchandise: Limited-edition “That Sunday Feeling” Notebook & “Note To Self” Coasters with Letter J Supply calligraphy
• Exclusive seasonal desserts from Sunday Folks, such as the Marrakesh Ice Cream Petit Gâteaux.

We bet you are excited to check out the new concept store where you can enjoy a cup of coffee and desserts while shopping for leather-and-paper gifts. We will keep you updated once we know the official opening date.

Bynd Artisan + Sunday Folks ION Experience Store
ION Orchard #04-11
2 Orchard Turn, Singapore 238801

Five Guys Singapore is opening its third outlet at ION Orchard basement 3, near to H&M, Hoshino and Poulet.

Following the opening of Tenya Singapore, Sen-Ryo and Ion Orchard Hawkers’ Street, Five Guys is the newest dining concept to open at ION Orchard.

Brought in by Zouk Group, this American cult favourite is a fast-casual burger joint which is known for its highly customisable menu. You can build your favourite burger or sandwich by exploring different combinations and taste profiles based on your preferences.

Five Guys offers 15 free toppings including an in-house mayo recipe created exclusively for Five Guys by Heinz. As such, there are approximately 250,000 combinations one can choose from.

The burgers are made-to-order, allowing the patty to retain its moisture.

Five Guys Singapore currently has two other outlets at Plaza Singapura and nex.

Five Guys Singpapore
Ion Orchard
2 Orchard Turn, Singapore 238801

Tempura Tendon Tenya Singapore is opening its second outlet at ION Orchard.

The largest tempura restaurant chain in Japan, Tempura Tendon Tenya first opened in Singapore at Orchard Central in Oct 2020. The new outlet will be at ION Orchard food hall, at Basement 4 next to Toss & Turn.

The popular tendon chain is known for its affordable tempura bowls and prices range from S$7.90 to S$12.90.

We were in disbelief when we first had the Tenya Tendon in Japan many years ago. It might not be the best tempura, but it was very decent, and surely a steal for the price.

First-timers have to try their signature Tenya Tendon which is priced at only S$8.50 for a hearty bowl of tempura tiger prawn, red fish, squid, pumpkin, and French beans.

With the opening of Tempura Tendon Tenya, shoppers at ION Orchard will now have another option for cheap and good tendon.

Tempura Tendon Tenya Singapore
ION Orchard basement 4

Popular sushi chain Sen-Ryo has opened its first outlet in Singapore at Ion Orchard.

Originating from the Tochigi prefecture in Japan, Sen-Ryo has 13 outlets in Hong Kong and it is brought in by Maxim’s Caterers, the Hong Kong-based F&B group that also runs the Genki Sushi chain in Singapore.

Unlike the original Sen-Ryo in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Japan, Sen-Ryo Singapore will not be offering sushi on a conveyor belt. Instead, it will be offering full table service with dishes prepared a la minute.

The Japanese restaurant prides itself on serving “shokunin” (Japanese for artisanal) Edomae-style sushi.

On the menu, you can find a selection of Sashimi Platter, Sushi Platter, Kushiyaki, Tempura, and Donburi.

To celebrate its opening in Singapore, it is offering 5% off total net spend from now until 30 April 2021.

Sen-ryo Singapore
#03-14 Ion Orchard
2 Orchard Turn, Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 6974 6782

The foodie community wept when The Marmalade Pantry announced back in mid-2018 that it was closing it’s outlet at ION Orchard. A beloved high-tea spot in the heart of town, we fell in love with everything there from their charming ambience, innovative brunch dishes and a wide selection of artisanal teas and cakes.

Well, surprise, surprise, the home-grown bistro is set to return to its former premise on the 4th level of ION Orchard once again. This time, armed with a tasty arsenal of new dishes in addition to signature favourites such as their Spicy Crabmeat pasta and Sticky Date & Toffee Pudding. Looking forward to other new and exclusive to this outlet dishes like the stellar high-tea set and a trio of decadent desserts specially crafted by Masterchef Singapore’s runner-up, Chef Genevieve Lee as part of a collaboration that pays humble tribute local dishes and in support of local talent.

With a whopping total of more than 10 new and exclusive menu items and more, be wowed by the likes of their new Asian section, featuring the Kimchi Fried Rice, served with a gorgeously pink medium-rare strip loin and the Singapore Laksa, a homage to our beloved local dish but with the addition of slipper lobster. Looking to pamper yourself as you catch up with friends? Their Decadent Afternoon Tea Set comes with a variety of sweet and savoury confectionery delights and freshly brewed pots of tea by Monogram.

MARYLAND CRAB CAKES

The key to any good crab cake is using fresh lump crabmeat, leaving them slightly chunky and not overly shredded and to go light on the filler. Safe to say, the folks here nailed it perfectly. Their Maryland Crab Cakes (S$26++) focuses squarely on the crab, allowing each bite to be crispy and packed full of sweetness and natural flavours of crab.

The homemade tartar sauce served on the side was also spot on, not overly rich with a good amount of diced gherkins added to give the sauce a sufficient citrus kick to complement the crab cakes.

SPICY SRIRACHA CHICKEN BURGER

Delightful in both its flavour and texture, the Spicy Sriracha Chicken Burger (S$24++) assaults the several fronts. First, you get the crunch from the perfectly deep-fried spiced chicken patty before succulent juices come oozing out, followed by the tangy kick from the Sriracha mayo which nicely complements the rich notes of the blue cheese.

SINGAPORE LAKSA

Unlike many restaurants out there that try to tweak and reinvent local dishes to the point that it’s unrecognisable, the good folks here do well to retain the essence of what they aim to recreate. The broth of their Singapore Laksa (S$32++) is rich, spicy and exudes a bold seafood aroma and also features the likes of slipper lobster, quail eggs, tiger prawns for that luxe appeal.

KIMCHI FRIED RICE

A homage to the classic after-tipple comfort food, we were most thrilled to tuck into their new Kimchi Fried Rice (S$26++). On a bed of fried rice cooked with fresh kimchi, sits a nicely seared striploin steak, perfectly pink in the middle and golden brown from edge to edge. For umami, nori is garnished over the top and sous vide egg, served on the side for added richness.

Served flat on a griddle pan—similar to how a Spanish paella would be served—the bottom layer of the rice achieves an even crust, giving the dish a toasted flavour and a crunch as well.

SPICY CRABMEAT PASTA

Perhaps one of the best pasta dishes we’ve tried here to date, the Spicy Crabmeat Pasta (S$26++) impresses with its generosity with good quality crabmeat, perfectly cooked pasta and a flavourful, umami-dense sauce that binds everything together nicely.

The addition of pine nuts into the mix gives the dish a nutty, somewhat buttery flavour which does well to complement the sharp taste of the spicy tomato sauce.

BRICK-PRESSED CHICKEN

The method of cooking a chicken, skin-side down with a weighted object (in this case a brick) pressed down on it allows the skin to crisp up evenly. It also forces the meat to remain flat, ensuring that every morsel of meat cooks at the same pace.

We were beyond sold the moment we tasted their Brick Pressed Chicken (S$30++). Well-seasoned and crispy with a buttery herb flavour to underscore it, every bite was a joy. The dish comes served with roasted celeriac, potatoes and topped with truffle herb butter.

CURRY BARRAMUNDI

Beautifully robust with a heady aroma of warm spices which seemed to lean toward a tangier note—much like the classic South Indian fish head curry—, we couldn’t keep our forks to ourselves when it came down to their Curry Barramundi (S$28++).

Nestled atop a bed of Japanese rice and vegetables is a perfectly cooked barramundi fillet and served alongside the dish is the aromatic curry. An interesting choice of rice given that the dish is essentially Indian, the starchier Japanese short grain rice did well to hold on to the fish curry, providing an interesting texture along with a flavourful bite.

STICKY DATE & TOFFEE PUDDING

Whether you’re a sucker for sweets or not, one does not simply leave The Marmalade Pantry without ordering up their Sticky Date & Toffee Pudding (S$14++). The epitome of luxury, this dessert for champions features a steamed pudding studded with ripe dates and is surrounded by a generous pour of toffee sauce and a large scoop of Cold Stone Creamery’s vanilla ice cream.

Sweet, sticky and indulgent from start to finish, this is one dessert that begs to be enjoyed after your meal regardless of how stuffed you are.

A SPECIAL COLLABORATION WITH MASTERCHEF SINGAPORE’S RUNNER-UP GENEVIEVE LEE

Exclusive to The Marmalade Pantry’s flagship at ION Orchard, be treated to a trio of decadence prepared by none other than Masterchef Singapore’s runner-up, Genevieve (Gen) Lee. Trained in culinary arts, the edge that Gen has is in her expansive knowledge of ingredients such as herbs and spices, of which she uses in her various cakes and desserts.

“Herbs are rarely used in desserts which is a shame because there is so much untapped potential there. I used thyme in my cake because it lends freshness to further lift the dessert.”, she explains.

A taste of home, her Reimagined Kaya Toast Dessert is a deconstructed kaya toast with varying elements such as a meringue that comprises toast from Ya Kun Kaya Toast, a custardy, slightly salty coconut sauce to resemble the butter element and a pistachio sponge that accurately replicates the toasted, nutty flavours of charred toast.

If you’re a sucker for anything containing blueberries, her The Blue Rhapsody Cake will surely impress. Infused with lemon and thyme, the cake takes on an aromatic and bright-tasting appeal, which is further elevated with a layer of blueberries followed by a lovely hazelnut crumble on top. Wrapped around the cake is a layer of cream cheese that she sweetens using honey instead of sugar.

A specialty and one that warrants a try if you’re a fan of the iconic Thai pushcart dessert is her Mango Sticky Rice named Sunset in a glass. Intricately prepared, the dessert features components such as a sorbet made using Thai mangoes, an assortment of crushed toasted nuts, a toasted meringue, sticky rice infused with coconut and diced cubes of super ripe Thai mangoes.

AFTERNOON TEA SET

Since the day it opened its doors, The Marmalade Pantry has impressed many with its stellar array of afternoon tea delights. Luxurious in both its food and tea offerings as well as its luxe interior, stopping by for high tea between 3pm to 6pm daily is highly recommended.

Treat yourselves to their High Tea Set (S$60++) that comfortably serves two. What you get is a double-tiered platter comprising a variety of sweet and savouries followed by 2 pots of freshly brewed tea by Mongram Tea (Available from 4 March 2019 onwards).

Enjoy these new creations at the flagship outlet and enjoy 15% off when you pay with Mastercard!

The Marmalade Pantry
#04-11a, ION Orchard,
2 Orchard Turn,
Singapore 238801
Nearest Station: Orchard

This post was brought to you by The Marmalade Pantry.

When the news that The Marmalade Pantry was going to be shutting down its outlet at ION Orchard broke, many were disappointed—us included. Gone were the days of relaxing midday afternoon tea sessions with our friends after a bout of shopping, sipping freshly brewed tea and stuffing our faces with a smorgasbord of fanciful delights—or so we thought.

Set to make an official comeback after half a year sometime soon, this time as its flagship outlet, The Marmalade Pantry will soon open its doors once again at ION Orchard Level 4.

Feeling stoked? We sure as heck are!

The new flagship outlet at ION Orchard level 4 will feature a comtemporary design with unique interior design of wooden structures and greenery. The space is perfect for business meetings with clients, afternoon tea with friends and weekend brunch with family.

Other than its classic dishes such as Sticky Date Pudding, The Marmalade Pantry will be introducing a revamped menu with dishes that are exclusive to the new outlet.

Stay tuned as we bring you the latest updates on The Marmalade Pantry’s reopening.

The Marmalade Pantry
ION Orchard
#04-11a, #04-27 to #04-32
2 Orchard Turn, Singapore 238801

ION Orchard impresses both locals and international guests with the world’s best-loved brands—be it luxury boutiques, lifestyle stores or sensational F&B establishments—ION Orchard has literally become a beacon of envy in the retail scene.

Over 300 retail, F&B establishments and entertainment stores—which includes some of the world’s top luxury brands—we honestly can’t think of a better lifestyle destination to splurge and indulge as the year draws to a close.

ION Orchard houses a vast array of both homegrown and internationally-renowned fashion boutiques, food brands and some of Singapore’s finest restaurants, including award-winning Imperial Treasure Fine Teochew Cuisine and the newly-opened Violet Oon Singapore.

With the new revamp on Level 3 as well as several new additions to the basement food hall, ION Orchard has even more to offer now. Life’s already short enough as it is, so treat yourselves to some year-end indulgence—both shopping and feasting—and if you need a solid place to start, let ION Orchard be your preferred location.

VIOLET OON’S NEW FLAGSHIP

The brand-new Violet Oon Singapore in ION Orchard occupies the open space on Level 3. The new restaurant traces the Singapore food story back to colonial times with dishes that include British food interpreted by Hainanese cooks back in the day.

Offering a stellar menu that covers every aspect of the niche cuisine such as oxtail stew, Hainanese pork chop and shepherd’s pie and a selection of Violet’s crowd-favourite Nyonya signatures, all nicely cradled around the ideology of Peranakan hospitality, the restaurant is perfect should you wish to stop by for a tasty meal, a cocktail or coffee in the midst of your shopping.

The all-day restaurant has also tailored special menus to cater to diners looking to enjoy breakfast, high-tea and weekend brunch as well.

New to her repertoire of dishes and exclusive to this outlet is her Steak Sandwich. A traditional take on a classic British sandwich that sees elements of Nyonya cuisine injected into the sauce, good bread and a perfectly seared-off 150-day grain-fed Blank Angus ribeye.

Nicely seared on the outside but staying perfectly pink in the middle, the beef was tender and gave off a nice grilled aroma. However, impressive as the steak was, it was the Nyonya-style green chilli relish that truly made it for us. Punchy with a good amount of heat, the piquant relish added a dimension of fresh, botanical flavours underscored by a sharp spicy kick, to further lift an otherwise decent-but-typical steak sandwich.

A crowd-favourite and one that warrants multiple return visits is their signature Dry Laksa. Reduced down naturally rather than thickening with a roux, the flavour is concentrated and rich.

Punctuated with the fresh, uplifting flavour of laksa leaves, the dish is an aromatic and decadent marriage of flavours that represent centuries of Peranakan food heritage—presented and interpreted in a modern way of course.

At the entrance of the restaurant, visitors can feel free to browse through shelves of pre-packaged edible delights such as homemade pineapple tarts, cashew cookies, and kaya.

Available throughout the year, diners (both local and foreign) will be able to bring home a part of Singapore’s culinary heritage along with them.

Violet Oon Singapore (ION Orchard)
ION Orchard #03-28/29
2 Orchard Turn,
Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 9834 9935
Daily: 12pm – 10pm

IMPERIAL TREASURE FINE TEOCHEW CUISINE

Awarded a one-Michelin star for 2 years running, Imperial Treasure Fine Teochew Cuisine in ION Orchard is one Chinese restaurant that can always be relied on to provide us with an exquisite, out-of-this-world dining experience whether it be a casual dim sum brunch or a full-on feast. And judging from our recent visit, we can see why the restaurant is indeed deserving of the prestigious accolade.

Well-lit and accentuated with lots of fresh flowers and natural sunlight, the interior gives off a cheery appeal and an overall laid-back vibe—but the atmosphere is only secondary to their array of brilliantly crafted dishes. Nuanced in flavour, their food is prepared with the utmost skill and attention to detail by a team of master chefs.

Delicious, straightforward and great for sharing, we opted for their delicately hand-crafted Diced Abalone wrapped with Egg White Skin , Wok Fried Hor Fun with Diced “Kai Lan” and Preserved Radish as well as their Frog Legs with Sze Chuan Peppercorns.

Freshly poached daily in a mix of sauces and spices, their marinated offerings take on a lacquered sheen of brown, indicating that flavours have indeed been permeated all the way through. We opted for the Three Kinds Of Marinated Combination In Teochew Style that includes marinated pork knuckle, sliced duck meat and octopus.

The flavours were mellow, refined and milder in comparison to other dark-coloured braised meats found elsewhere. Based solely on taste, we have to admit we were hesitant about its lightness but as we proceeded to take more bites, sampling the various sauces as we went, the items became more and more addictive.

Imperial Treasure Fine Teochew Cuisine
ION Orchard, #03-05,
2 Orchard Turn
Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 6736 2118
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Sat: 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Sun: 10.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm

AWFULLY CHOCOLATE

Well-known for their ultra-rich and sinfully-good chocolate cakes and desserts, local chocolatier Awfully Chocolate, is no stranger to anyone who’s ever had a hankering for decadent desserts. Tucked away in a cosy corner of ION Orchard’s basement, Awfully Chocolate’s only concept store offers takeaway cakes, sliced chocolate desserts as well as a permanent collection of handcrafted chocolate bars, cookies and gift sets.

Exclusive for the festive season, Awfully Chocolate has launched a new range of Artisanal Christmas Cakes that include luxurious and decadent Christmas Fruit Cake Brownie (S$78 for 800g), Crème Brûlée Cake (S$98 for 1.8kg) as well as many others.

Awfully Chocolate
ION Orchard, #B4-50,
2 Orchard Turn,
Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 6884 6377
Daily: 10am – 10pm

HEYTEA SINGAPORE

Dedicated to serving high-quality brews made using only the freshest and top-quality ingredients, it is no surprise that HEYTEA is the most highly sought-after tea brand in China—and now, Singapore. The original inventors of the acclaimed cheese tea, HEYTEA has garnered many fans across Asia and inspired a global trend.

Having opened its very first outpost outside of China in Basement 4 of ION Orchard, the cheese tea giant serves massive queues on a daily basis. Their tea leaves are specially sourced and blends are customised for their own use only and with it, they brew a myriad of thirst-quenching, refreshing beverages that come with a generous dollop of their signature Cheezo.

HEYTEA Singapore
ION Orchard, #03-0528/#B4-29
2 Orchard Turn
Singapore 238801
Tel: +656908 0019
Daily: 10am – 10pm

LUXURY FASHION BOUTIQUES GALORE

Boasting floor upon floor of luxury brands and boutiques, ION Orchard is a shopaholic’s heaven. The 3rd floor of the mall recently underwent a revamp and features more internationally-renowned brands such as Valentino, HUGO, PINKO, Longchamp, Diane Von Furstenberg (DVF) and Karl Lagerfeld.

Feeling like you need a wardrobe makeover? Pick up a printed dress from Diane Von Furstenberg; a pair of shoes and some accessories from Karl Lagerfield and a bag from Longchamp.

With big names such as Kendall Jenner and Kaia Gerber being the faces of these brands, get a piece of Europe and its incredible fashion right here in the heart of Orchard Road—at ION Orchard.

Now you know where to get luxurious Christmas presents too, yes?

This post was brought to you by ION Orchard.