The Lunar Rabbit Boulangerie is a new French bakery which specialises in viennoiserie—the ‘bridge’ between pâtisserie and French bread.

Located at 16 Hamilton Road, The Lunar Rabbit Boulangerie joins the growing list of cafes and bakeries in the Lavender and Jalan Besar neighbourhoods. It will officially open to the public on 8 May 2022 at 11am.

The Lunar Rabbit Boulangerie’s executive baker & owner, Elaine graduated from Le Cordon Bleu Tokyo and she worked in a French-Japanese bakery in Singapore before starting out The Lunar Rabbit Boulangerie on her own.

The Lunar Rabbit Boulangerie is a takeaway-only bakery without any dine-in area and they will be offering up to 13 types of Viennoiserie every day.

The Lunar Rabbit Boulangerie’s Classic French Croissant is excellent. It is light and airy on the inside and crispy on the outside. Definitely one of the best croissants we’ve had in Singapore. We also love their Almond Croissant and Kouign-amann.

Other than the classics viennoiseries, The Lunar Rabbit Boulangerie has also created some creative and unique pastries including the Fleur De Framboise (Raspberry Flower), Trio of C (comprises of cookie, cheesecake and croissant), La Brioche Macaronade, and Chocolate Crumble.

Prices range from S$3.80 for the classic croissant to S$6.50 for the Trio of C.

For those of you who cannot decide on what to order, The Lunar Rabbit Boulangerie has two sets with their most popular offerings.

The Classic set features the most classic and popular viennoiserie such as:

• Plain croissant
• Almond Croissant
• Kouign Anman
• Escargot Au Raisin
• Pain Au Choc

The Maverick set, on the other hand, comes with The Lunar Rabbit Boulangerie’s unique pastries including:

• Fleur De Framboise
• Trio of C
• La Brioche Macaronade
• Chocolate Crumble
• Quiche

The Lunar Rabbit Boulangerie
16 Hamilton Road, #01-02
Singapore 209186
Tue to Sun: 8.30am to 5pm

The charming Lavender and Jalan Besar neighbourhoods are filled with plenty of cafes, coffee shops and dessert places.

From the OG coffee shop, Chye Seng Huat Hardware to newly-opened spots including La Levain and Habitat Coffee, here are 15 cafes in Lavender and Jalan Besar to check out next.

BLACK FAIRY COFFEE

Black Fairy Coffee is a cafe at Jalan Besar serving coffee, all-day brunches, Asian fusion dishes, and small bites. Some of their signatures include Popcorn Latte, Soy Chicken, Rustic Beef Stew and a selection of bentos.

131 Tyrwhitt Rd, Singapore 207553
Tel: +65 6909 3518

CHYE SENG HUAT HARDWARE

One of the OG coffee shops in Singapore, Chye Seng Huat Hardware needs no introduction.

Keeping the name of the hardware store that they took over, Chye Seng Huat Hardware possesses a modern-industrial style interior, specialising in unique blends of coffee and an exciting all-day breakfast menu.

Known for serving a mean cup of coffee, this is essentially a haven for coffee lovers and those who enjoy Western brunch.

Chye Seng Huat Hardware
150 Tyrwhitt Road
Singapore 207563
Tel: +65 6396 0609

ELIJAH PIES

Elijah Pies is a popular pie/tart shop which is known for their famous nutella pie.It has opened a new baking studio at 803 King George’s Ave in the Lavender neighbourhood. There will not be any dine-in area and it is only for takeaways only.

Fans of Elijah Pies will also be happy to know that they will be selling their pies by the slice at the studio. The prices of the pies by the slice range between S$7 to S$7.50 and the flavours for the day are subject to availability.

Elijah Pies
803 King George’s Ave, #02-216
Singapore 200803
Tel: +65 9855 9480

HABITAT COFFEE

Habitat Coffee has moved from Upper Thomson Road to a new location at King’s George Avenue in the Lavender neighbourhood.

The cafe has been around at the previous location at Upper Thomson Road for the past 10 years, and despite the tough competition in the cafe scene, it shines and remains a favourite for many. Habitat Coffee is worth visiting because it serves good coffee and well-cooked dishes at reasonable prices.

Habitat Coffee
803 King’s George Ave
#01-242/244
Singapore 200803

LA LEVAIN

Located at 23 Hamilton Road near Jalan Besar and Lavender, La Levain is a new bakery cafe by pastry chef, Wythe Ng who used to work at Keong Saik Bakery & Bakery Brera.

Pasty chef Wythe Ng had co-founded Keong Saik Bakery with another partner before leaving in 2019. He last worked at Bakery Brera as the head chef and he had also worked at Japanese bakery chain Boulangerie Asanoya and Baker & Cook.

La Levain
23 Hamilton Road
Singapore 209193

LUCID

If you’re on the hunt for a quiet place to work or a place for good conversations, Lucid will fit the bill perfectly. The quiet ambience and clean aesthetic completely won us over. Kickstart your day at this cafe which offers a quick caffeine fix for coffee junkies or sweet treats for dessert addicts. Good vibes guaranteed.

This minimalistic cafe with mainly grey cement tones had a modern industrial design that was aesthetically pleasing with beautiful natural lighting that entered the space.

Lucid
38 Hamilton Road
Singapore 209208

OBERSTRASSE

A popular haunt among cafe enthusiasts and nearby office workers, this humble cafe is the perfect go-to if you ever find yourself craving a hearty all-day breakfast.

Their menu is extensive, to say the least, and they also serve up coffee that pairs beautifully with your food.

Oberstrasse
809 French Road,
Singapore 200809

ONCE UPON A TIME BY JEANETTE AW

Once Upon A Time is a minimalistic bakery opened by Singaporean actress, Jeanette Aw. The patisserie offers a revolving menu of cakes and pastries; with three to five items available at any one time.

There is no fixed menu and the bakes are offered for a limited period of time until they retire.

Once Upon A Time
35 Hamilton Rd, #01-04
Singapore 209204

Photo credit: Pacto by Parchmen

PACTO BY PARCHMEN

Pacto by Parchmen is a relatively new cafe at Jalan Besar Community Centre and it is opened by the team behind pet-friendly Sun Ray Cafe and Parched. Sun Ray Cafe is known for serving excellent coffee at wallet-friendly prices and you can expect the same of Pacto by Parchmen.

Pacto by Parchmen uses an exclusive Pacto espresso blend of Ethiopia, Guatemala and Colombia beans roasted fresh from their roastery, Parchmen.

An espresso is priced at S$2, while you can get Latte and Cappuccino at S$4.

Pacto by Parchmen
69 Jellicoe Road #01-05 Singapore 208737
Jalan Besar Community Centre

Photo credit: The Refinery

THE REFINERY

Serving delicious grain bowls, ice cold beers and fresh coffee, The Refinery aims to redefine casual dining and social drinking. Most dishes are affordably priced under S$20 and our top picks include their Aburi Salmon Donburi, Salted Egg Onion Rings as well as their signature Gyudon.

The Refinery
115 King George’s Avenue
Tel: +65 6293 0461

THE LUNAR RABBIT BOULANGERIE

The Lunar Rabbit Boulangerie is a new French bakery which specialises in viennoiserie—the ‘bridge’ between pâtisserie and French bread.

The Lunar Rabbit Boulangerie’s executive baker & owner, Elaine graduated from Le Cordon Bleu Tokyo and she worked in a French-Japanese bakery in Singapore before starting out The Lunar Rabbit Boulangerie on her own.

The Lunar Rabbit Boulangerie is a takeaway-only bakery without any dine-in area and they will be offering up to 13 types of Viennoiserie every day.

The Lunar Rabbit Boulangerie
16 Hamilton Road, #01-02
Singapore 209186
Tue to Sun: 8.30am to 5pm

THE TIRAMISU HERO

Aptly named so, The Tiramisu Hero is an adorable and heartwarming cafe tucked along the stretch of Tyrwhitt Road which is known for their signature tiramisu.

121 Tyrwhitt Road
Tel: +65 6292 5271

TWO BAKERS

Helmed by Le Cordon Bleu Paris trained chef, Two Bakers is a cosy cafe that sits along Horne Road and they do both mains and desserts really well.

With the mission to serve wholesome food for the soul and the motto of “eat well live well”, it is a place where you can go for yummy brunch or to have a cuppa with your favourite desserts.

Two Bakers also has another outlet in Serangoon.

Two Bakers
88 Horne Road
Tel: +65 6293 0329

WIMBLY LU @ TYRWHITT

Located just a few doors away from Chye Seng Huat Hardware Coffee, Wimbly Lu’s outlet at Tyrwhitt Road is definitely more accessible as compared to the original outlet at Jalan Riang

Staying true to what they know best, Wimbly Lu @ Tyrwhitt is essentially a cosy and artsy place filled with many #OOTD opportunities. During your visit, make sure that you try their fluffy yet firm waffles and Root Beer Float Cake.

Wimbly Lu @ Tyrwhitt
166 Tyrwhitt Road,
Singapore 207570
Tel: +65 6291 8138

Named after the founder-baker Elijah Tan, Elijah Pies is a popular pie/tart shop which is known for their famous nutella pie.

It has opened a new baking studio at 803 King George’s Ave in Lavender and it is located in the same block as Habitat Coffee which has moved there from Upper Thomson Road. Other new additions to the Lavender & Jalan Besar neighbourhoods include Pacto by Parchmen, Glacier and La Levain.

Photos credit: Elijah Pies

The new studio is designed to illustrate the essence of Elijah Pies’ tagline—”Best Enjoyed Together” and it is a homely space where they bake all their pies in-house and host baking workshops which will start next year.

There will not be any dine-in area and it is only for takeaways only.

Fans of Elijah Pies will also be happy to know that they will be selling their pies by the slice at the studio.

The prices of the pies by the slice range between S$7 to S$7.50 and the flavours for the day are subject to availability.

These are the flavours that will be available by the slice:

- Nutella: S$7
- Pandan Coconut: S$7
- Wild Berry Lavender: S$7.50
- Raspberry Ripple: S$7.50
- Earl Grey Rose: S$7.50
- Honey Chrysanthemum: S$7.50
- Matcha Latte: S$7.50

Elijah Pies
803 King George’s Ave, #02-216
Singapore 200803
Tel: +65 9855 9480

Located at 23 Hamilton Road near Jalan Besar and Lavender, La Levain is a new bakery cafe by pastry chef, Wythe Ng who used to work at Keong Saik Bakery & Bakery Brera.

The Lavender neighbourhood is home to many wonderful cafes and some of the recent openings include Habitat Coffee, Pacto by Parchmen and Glacier.

Pasty chef Wythe Ng had co-founded Keong Saik Bakery with another partner before leaving in 2019. He last worked at Bakery Brera as the head chef and he had also worked at Japanese bakery chain Boulangerie Asanoya and Baker & Cook.

La Levain has officially opened to the public on 11 Dec 2021.

There are over 20 bread and pastries on La Levain’s menu and some of the items are:

• Brown Sugar Kouign Amann (S$4.50)
• Croissants (S$3.50 – S$7)
• Pain Au Chocolat (S$4.50)
• Cruffins (start from S$4.60)
• Baked Sandwiches (start from S$5.50)

Other than the classic bakes, La Levain also has an array of Double Baked Croissants such as Hojicha Mochi Croissant (S$6.8), Burnt Cheese Croissant (S$7) as well as its signature Bo Bo Cha Cha Croissant (S$6.50).

If you cannot decide on what to get, you can opt for the Classics Box (S$32.80 for six items) which comes with their signature bakes including French Butter Croissant, Pain Au Chocolat, and Kouign Aman.

And to celebrate Christmas, you can get the Panettone (S$48, 500g)—a traditional sweet cake-like bread. It requires a 3 days process of fermentation, proofing and mixing and it is freshly baked at La Levain.

La Levain
23 Hamilton Road
Singapore 209193

Read our guide on the best croissants in Singapore.

Jalan Besar is home to many eateries and Sum Dim Sum is one of the latest additions to the neighbourhood. Dim sum is a well-loved cuisine by most Singaporeans. Be it for breakfast or supper, we are always ready for some dim sum.

We had high expectations when we entered the Tiffany blue-themed restaurant and could not wait to satisfy our grumbling tummies. But is this new place an uprising competition to the ever-famous supper spot Swee Choon that is just down the road? Or just hype?

Let’s find out.

Their rendition of the Crispy Pork Bun (S$6) came in a green outer coating, unlike what we usually get from other dim sum restaurants. The buns are pandan-flavoured and pretty fragrant. When paired with the sweet honey pork filling, it was a pleasantly sweet concoction but we prefer the regular golden buns with no additional flavouring so as to fully savour the pork within.

The bun had a good texture, crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. However, we thought that the filling could have been more generous as well.

The BBQ Pork Rice Roll (S$4.90) was served in a glistening light brown sauce that came piping hot. The rice rolls itself were a bit too thick and the pork was a tad too dry, but when dosed with the sauce, it made the overall taste slightly better.

A must-order at every dim sum restaurant, the Golden Custard Bun (S$4.50) came in a basket of three. The oozing lava got us salivating.

The bun itself was really soft and fluffy which was good but the lava was very diluted. Normally, you would expect a slightly powdery texture and saltiness from the runny lava because of salted egg bits inside but this version was sweeter and a little gooier in consistency.

It could have been more flavourful and we were frankly quite disappointed.

Sum Dim Sum’s egg tarts (S$4.60 for 3) were not as crumbly as we would have liked them to be, nor was there any buttery fragrance to it.

The tarts were thicker than the egg custard itself, and we could not taste the eggy flavours as they were not prominent, neither was it silky.

A good xiao long bao is when the skin is firm enough to hold the fragrant meat and flavourful soup inside without tearing apart when you pick it up. Their Shanghai Xiao Long Bao (S$5.50) had a thicker skin but was not overbearing, the meat’s seasoning was mediocre but the soup flow was present.

161 Jalan Besar
Singapore 208876
Mon to Sun: 11:30am to 1:30am
Nearest Station: Jalan Besar

]]> https://www.ladyironchef.com/2020/02/sum-dim-sum/feed/ 0 https://www.ladyironchef.com/2017/07/brawn-brains-coffee-run/ https://www.ladyironchef.com/2017/07/brawn-brains-coffee-run/#comments Fri, 07 Jul 2017 01:48:31 +0000 Dick Tan http://www.ladyironchef.com/?p=137827 Continue reading →]]>

Officially opened on 03 July 2017, Brawn & Brains Coffee Run is a new coffee kiosk by the good folks behind Brawn And Brains at Guillemard Road.

Situated at Fragrance Hotel – Imperial along Penhas Road—just a short walk away from the Lavender train station—this coffee kiosk is a great spot for those who work in the neighbourhood.

Brawn & Brains Coffee Run is a grab-and-go type of coffee joint with no seats or tables.

Upon arriving at this humble little establishment, we were greeted by really friendly staff members who were willing to educate us on the coffee bean varietals that they carry there. Baristas this passionate about their brew is almost always a sure sign that the coffee is going to be good.

The kiosk offers beverages ranging from organic teas to sparkling sodas and great coffee.

The signature house blend ‘Pen & Pencil’ which comprises bean blends from Ethiopia, Columbia, and Brazil is roasted in-house to produce a flavour that is nutty and chocolatey.

Each sip of the Latte (S$5.30) was smooth and creamy without that the bitter mouthful you often get with most artisanal coffee.

We also ordered the Hot Chocolate (S$5.80). It is everything you could ever want in a decent hot chocolate. Decadent, brimming with chocolatey aromas and incredibly creamy.

Brawn And Brains Coffee Run (Kiosk)
28 Penhas Road #01-03
Singapore 208187
Mon to Sat: 8.30am – 5.30pm
Nearest Station: Lavender

If you are an avid food lover like us, you would understand how hungry we are in our search for new cafes, trendy bars and hidden restaurants. Found in the Lavender district, Tyrwhitt Road is a haven for foodies and you would understand our joy when we laid eyes upon all the cafes and restaurants situated along this street. 

From notable favourites such as The Tiramisu Hero and Chye Seng Huat Hardware, here are 9 Cafes & Restaurants You Must Try Along Tyrwhitt Road.

#1 1 TYRWHITT BISTRO & BAR

For affordable classic Italian fare like pizza, pasta and more, head over to 1 Tyrwhitt Bistro & Bar. You can also order a good cup of artisanal coffee to go along with your meal. 

A cafe by day and trendy bar by night, this dining establishment is also conveniently located a stone’s throw away from Jalan Besar Stadium. 1-for-1 deals on beers coupled with a good game of soccer? Game on.

1 Tyrwhitt Bistro & Bar
1 Tyrwhitt Road,
Singapore 207522
Tel: +65 6341 5167
Wed to Mon: 11.30am – 12am
Nearest Station: Farrer Park / Lavender

#2 BANGKOK STREET MOOKATA 

With various locations spread out across Singapore, Bangkok Street Mookata continues to retain its position as one of the more popular Thai BBQ cum steamboat restaurants in Singapore. This is where you should visit if you are feeling ravenous and make sure to bring along a few friends too!

At Jalan Besar branch located at the back of Tyrwhitt Road, diners can opt to order from an a la carte menu or for a set platter for 2 or 4 pax. Marinated meats such as chicken, beef, pork belly and pork collar are available as with the wide range of seafood and fresh vegetables.

Bangkok Street Mookata
44 Foch Road,
Singapore 209270
Tel: +65 6201 4647
Sun to Thu: 6pm – 2am
Fri & Sat: 6pm – 4am
Nearest Station: Farrer Park / Lavender

#3 CHYE SENG HUAT HARDWARE

Chye Seng Huat Hardware is one of the most celebrated coffee joints and frequently visited cafes in Singapore. Known for serving a mean cup of coffee, this is essentially a heaven for coffee lovers and those who enjoy Western brunch.

The cafe’s brunch, lunch and coffee menu are rotated on a seasonal basis which means that you will never get bored with the range of delights offered at Chye Seng Huat Hardware!

Chye Seng Huat Hardware
150 Tyrwhitt Road,
Singapore 207563
Tel: +65 6396 0609
Tue to Thu, Sun: 9am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 9am – 12am
Nearest Station: Farrer Park / Lavender

#4 CREAMERY BOUTIQUE ICE CREAMS

Warm, gooey lava cookies topped with a large scoop of homemade rich ice cream? That sounds perfect. Originating from Bangkok, you will be able to choose from either Choc-A-Lot, Matcha or Red Devil for your cookie, which will be filled with its corresponding lava filling.

Creamery Boutique Ice Creams brings a touch of local flavours to its ice creams through offering flavours such as Piko Piko (Tiramisu with Kopiko candy), Black Dog (Guinness Stout) and more.

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.

Creamery Boutique Ice Creams
139 Tyrwhitt Road, #01-03,
Singapore 207557
Tel: +65 8133 1250
Fri to Wed: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Farrer Park / Lavender

#5 DRUGGISTS

An Asian fusion restaurant cum bar, Druggists is a 23-tap bar which draws inspiration for its name from the Singapore Chinese Druggists Association, of whom they also share the premises with.

Walk into Druggists and you would discover that it is a cool craft beer place exuding a rustic, old-school charm. Marble top tables and retro coffee shop chairs also adorn its premises, which makes it a great place to relax and unwind from the complexities of life with a good beer in hand. Imperial stouts, IPAs and sour beers, anyone?

Druggists
119 Tyrwhitt Road,
Singapore 207547
Tel: +65 6341 5967
Mon to Sat: 4pm – 2am
Sun: 2pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Farrer Park / Lavender

#6 THE TIRAMISU HERO

The Tiramisu Hero is a cute yet heartwarming cafe tucked along the stretch of Tyrwhitt Road. Everything about this cafe screams cute and sweet, and this goes likewise for the amazing spread of savoury and sweets on their menu.

Apart from picking up some of their Signature Tiramisu in a jar, The Tiramisu Hero’s entrance is covered with various adorable and trendy merchandise such as Scratch Maps and even doggy poo bags. It is high time to round up your girlfriends and spend an intimate weekend brunch at this quaint and cosy cafe.

The Tiramisu Hero
121 Tyrwhitt Road,
Singapore 207548
Tel: +65 6292 5271
Sun to Thu: 11am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 12am
Nearest Station: Farrer Park / Lavender

#7 TYRWHITT LITTLE CAFE 

A somewhat undiscovered gem along Tyrwhitt Road, Tyrwhitt Little Cafe offers lovely seating areas decorated with fluffy cushions for you to recline on whilst enjoying a cuppa.

Love a cake set? Make sure that you head down during the Kopi Happy Hour where you can enjoy any sliced cake with coffee or Thai Iced Tea at S$9 or with an Oreo or Raspberry Milkshake at S$13.50 per set.

Tyrwhitt Little Cafe
165 Tyrwhitt Road,
Singapore 207569
Nearest Station: Farrer Park / Lavender

#8 VXX COOPERATIVE

Although not precisely located along Tyrwhitt Road, VXX Cooperative is a coffee joint found at the back of Tyrwhitt Road which deserves your attention. Focusing on bringing only the best of coffee to its diners, VXX Cooperative offers a curated list of roasted coffees from various coffee roasteries around the world.

Focusing on bringing only the best of coffee to its diners, VXX Cooperative has curated a list of roasted coffees from various coffee roasteries around the world. From local roasters such as the Nylon Coffee Roasters from Singapore to Tim Wendelboe from Norway, this selection would thrill even the fussiest of coffee enthusiasts.

VXX Cooperative
20 Foch Road,
Singapore 209261
Tel: +65 8720 0093
Mon to Sat: 10am – 9pm
Sun: 9am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Farrer Park / Lavender

#9 WIMBLY LU @ TYRWHITT

If you have not heard of Wimbly Lu yet, this means that you are missing out on one of the best waffles Singapore has to offer. And boy are we glad that Wimbly Lu has recently opened another outlet along Tyrwhitt Road as now we have another place to turn to whenever our dessert craving kicks in.

Staying true to what they know best, Wimbly Lu @ Tyrwhitt is essentially a cosy and artsy place filled with many #OOTD opportunities. During your visit, make sure that you try their fluffy yet firm waffles (S$8.50 with a single scoop of ice cream) and Root Beer Float Cake (S$6).

Wimbly Lu @ Tyrwhitt
166 Tyrwhitt Road,
Singapore 207570
Tel: +65 6291 8138
Mon, Wed & Thu: 12pm – 10.30pm
Fri: 12pm – 11pm
Sat: 9am – 11pm
Sun: 9am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Farrer Park / Lavender

About the writer:
A member of the team at ladyironchef, Claire’s mission is to lead a life without regrets – to explore the world and its treasures boldly. When she isn’t pursuing her interests in writing, academia and music, Claire spends her free time with family and her pets. She also hopes to run her own animal shelter in the future.

Our love for liu sha will never die. The delectable rich ingredient is more than just a passing trend. It has stolen the hearts of generations across Singapore and is present in practically every menu everywhere.

We have seen it buns, crabs, croissants, doughnuts, fries, pizzas, waffles and whatnot. But have you ever had the brined creamy golden lava in a roti prata?

Yes, your eyes are not tricking you. If you have yet to hear, our beloved glorious roti prata has taken on new form at Big Street Singapore and has successfully evolved into an addictive Prata Bomb stuffed with molten salted egg custard.

Big Street Singapore – a two-storey casual establishment – opens till 3am from Tuesdays to Sundays and is a new favourite supper destination among Singaporeans. The bar-cum-cafe serves a variety of Singaporean hawker dishes such as roti prata and chicken rice, but the most popular item is evidently the Liu Sha Prata Bomb (S$6++).

The Liu Sha Prata Bomb (S$6++) is stuffed with generous amounts of salted egg yolk lava that literally oozes out rapidly upon knifing through it. Each Liu Sha Prata Bomb is placed on a black stone plate and complemented with a fresh pineapple slice and cherry – though we don’t see the point in that.

We are totally digging this ingenious creation. Don’t underestimate the size of this palm-size prata – it is actually filled with heaps of liu sha and might be a tad too sweet for some people.

Nevertheless, we wiped it clean in an instant because we are that obsessed with liu sha.

Mileslife is our favourite app to accumulate miles through everyday spending. You can earn 3 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.

Big Street Singapore
104-106 Jalan Besar, 208828
Tel: +65 6100 2661
Closed on Mondays
Tue to Sun: 11am – 3am
Nearest Station: Lavender

About the writer:
Hui Jun Ng is a staff writer for ladyironchef. She previously worked in the food and marketing industry. She loves traveling and enjoys exploring underrated destinations. In her free time, you will find her indulging in coffee and her all time favourite local dish – bak chor mee.

20F Specialty Coffeehouse is a cafe that sits in the Jalan Besar neighbourhood, and is especially cosy with 4 separate sitting areas.

The cafe gets pretty quiet after meal times, so that is the best time to visit if you want to snap some great photos quietly or to read a book in peace with a cuppa. We dived right for the most unique (and popular option) here – Duck & Waffle (S$22), part of their all-day brunch menu.

The duck confit is served alongside fluffy buttermilk waffles, strawberry compote and mixed berries sorbet. It might seem odd to some that sweet and savoury are mixed together, and you will either love it or despise it.

The duck confit itself was very tasty with fork-tender meat on the inside. However, the skin was not crisp at all and the duck was overly oily. We really enjoyed the buttermilk waffles though, as they were fluffy and has a sweet aftertaste.

As for the accompanying strawberry compote, well it was a letdown as it was extremely watered down.

That said, we have also seen many singing praises of the dish, and about how they really liked the contrast of flavours. Each to its own; or maybe, we went on a bad day when the compote wasn’t well prepared.

Thankfully, our slice of Nutella Layered Cake (S$5.50) made up for everything else. The cake was fluffy and the Nutella buttercream was well-balanced without being grossly sweet.

The next time we head back to 20F Specialty Coffeehouse, we hope we would have luck with the popular Matcha Cake! It is perpetually sold out, so do call before you head down to avoid disappointment.

20F Specialty Coffeehouse
20 Foch Road
Singapore 209261
Tel: +65 6291 4940
Mon to Fri: 10am – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 10am – 12am
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

About the writer:
Cheryl is a staff writer for ladyironchef. She loves a good steak and an even better cuppa. She eats just about anything and everything. In her free time, she regularly starts on sci-fi or fantasy movie marathons.

The number of specialty dessert cafes in Singapore is increasing, and when it comes to selecting a venue for afternoon tea or some me-time over sweets, we have more options these days.

Chouquette by Ollella, a pretty new kid in town, has caught our attention with an unlikely combination of artisanal French chouquettes (ranging from S$4 to S$5 each) and mouthwatering traditional Indonesian kueh lapis (S$1.50 per slice).

Chouquette by Ollella’s fancy-looking choux pastries and delicious kueh lapis are handcrafted lovingly by two talented sisters. The duo have given up their prospects in marketing and chemical engineering respectively to pursue their baking passions.

We paid Ollella a visit and here’s what we loved.

//

Chouquette by Ollella’s menu is limited but impressive. There are seven irresistible chouquette flavours to choose from – Apple Cinnamon, Dark Chocolate, Lemon Meringue, Matcha Azuki, Raspberry, Tiramisu and Vanilla.

There is a Mini Choux Platter (S$21) where you get to savour every flavour in bite-size portions for those who simply can’t decide on what they want.

In case you are wondering, chouquettes are essentially airy sugary-topped puff pastries that are delightfully crisp on the outside and stuffed with luscious cream inside. And over at Ollella, each piece of chouquette looks like a “haute couture” dessert.

//

Chouquettes aside, the little gourmet establishment has also made quite a name for itself with their authentic freshly baked Kueh Lapis Legit (600g for S$38, 1.2kg for S$72).

These homemade 20-layer Indonesian cakes take at least half a day to prepare and are made with zero preservatives. An online preorder is required if you are after a box of this Kueh Lapis goodness.

Ollella
3 Petain Road
Singapore 208108
Mon, Wed to Sun: 12pm – 9pm
Closed on Tuesdays
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

About the writer:
Hui Jun Ng is a staff writer for ladyironchef. She previously worked in the food and marketing industry. She loves traveling and enjoys exploring underrated destinations. In her free time, you will find her indulging in coffee and her all time favourite local dish – bak chor mee.

Cafes are aplenty at Jalan Besar and many of these F&B establishments are notable and rank as one of the best in Singapore. What’s especially popular in this neighbourhood are the cafes who have reconstructed old shophouses into a spanking new cafe space, while still retaining a big part of the vintage and rustic interior and nature.

Besides cafes, Jalan Besar also offers a variety of restaurants, pastry shops and dessert places. This is your Guide to Jalan Besar’s Cafes & Restaurants.

Antoinette

French-inspired patisserie, Antoinette, is known most commonly by their beautiful and decadent desserts. The stylish and regal interior of their Penhas outlet beckons as a perfect afternoon tea or Sunday brunch spot.

30 Penhas Road
Tel: +65 6293 3121
Mon to Fri: 11am – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Lavender

Butter Studio

Butter Studio is every cupcake lover’s dream. Handcrafted fresh in store daily, it’s always a treat to look forward to Butter Studio’s new creations. Some notable ones include the Salted Egg Yolk Cupcake and Salted Gula Melaka Cupcake (S$3.50 each)

Butter Studio’s Salted Nutella Tart is also listed in our guide to Singapore’s best desserts.

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147 Jalan Besar
Tel: +65 6294 7115
Mon to Thu, Sun: 12pm – 11pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 12am
(Closed on Tuesdays)
Nearest Station: Little India

Chye Seng Huat Hardware

Keeping the name of the hardware store that they took over, Chye Seng Huat Hardware possesses a modern-industrial style interior, specialising in unique blends of coffee and an exciting all-day-breakfast menu. Cold brew coffees are also available here.

150 Tyrwhitt Road
Singapore 207563
Tel: +65 6396 0609
Tue to Fri: 9am – 7pm
Sat & Sun: 9am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Lavender/Farrer Park

The Refinery

The Refinery is a triple concept space that consists of a Yakitori kitchen, a bespoke cocktail bar and a designer workspace area. Munch on delicious a la minute grilled yakitori items while sipping on a pint of beer or a cocktail of choice.

115 King George’s Avenue
Tel: +65 6293 0461
Tue to Sun: 6pm – 12am
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: Lavender

The Bravery

Pancake lovers rejoice because The Bravery serves possibly the tastiest and fluffiest pancakes around. The Pancakes Stack (S$15) features a triple stack of fluffy pancakes, caramelized bananas, a dollop of ricotta cheese and drizzled with golden syrup. Be sure to get their signature Lavender Latte (S$5.50) too!

66 Horne Road
Tel: +65 9452 4785
Daily: 8am – 8pm
(Closed on Tuesdays)
Nearest Station: Lavender

The Tiramisu Hero

Aptly named so, The Tiramisu Hero serves one of the best Tiramisu-in-a-jar in Singapore. Other dishes offered here includes savoury pasta dishes and a range of other sweet desserts, but we suggest going right for their signature Mommahero (S$7.50) tiramisu as it can do no wrong.

The Tiramisu Hero’s Tiramisu is also listed in our guide to Singapore’s best tiramisu.

121 Tyrwhitt Road
Tel: +65 6292 5271
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Lavender

Two Bakers

Opened late last year, Two Bakers is one of the newer faces in Jalan Besar’s cafe scene. The two chefs here are Le Cordon Bleu Paris-trained so you can be sure that their food here is of standard. The YTB or Tau Yu Bak (S$13.80) pull pork sandwich topped with fried egg, is a popular choice there.

88 Horne Road
Tel: +65 6293 0329
Mon to Thu, Sun: 11am – 9pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Lavender

There are some cafes that serve good savoury dishes, but fare poorly for desserts. And then, there are places that do remarkable desserts but you definitely wouldn’t want to go there for a proper meal.

Two Bakers, on the other hand, tick all the right boxes. It is a cosy space that sits along Horne Road and they do both mains and desserts really well. A comfortable space with sunlight streaming in, alongside a mixture of communal and long wooden tables; groovy jazz and bossa nova tracks fill the space. It is little wonder this cafe is fast in cementing its place in our hearts.

Most cafes tend to get their desserts from suppliers – which results in different cafes serving the same desserts – so we are impressed by Two Bakers’ commitment to bake their own desserts. And it is more than just simple “rustic” cakes. Two Bakers’ pastry kitchen’s repertoire includes eclairs, strawberry shortcakes, and fancy mousse cakes – things that you’d expect from a French patisserie, and not a cafe.

Of course, you should expect a relatively more “premium price tag” – prices range from S$6.80 for an eclair to S$10.90 for the Framboise Mousse Cake – but be rest assured that you are paying for elegant bakes that boast intricate techniques. Well, the pastry chefs are after all trained in Le Cordon Bleu, Paris.

Over on the food menu, it is a concise selection of sandwiches and pastas. We love the Caramelised Onion And Roast Beef Sandwich (S$16.80) very much, but the Two Bakers TYB (S$15.80) is a popular choice – soy marinated pulled pork with an Asian twist, served on olive-studded focaccia and topped with a sunny side egg; how does this sound?

Two Bakers
88 Horne Road
Tel: +65 6293 0329
Sun to Thu (Closed on Tue): 11am – 9pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Lavender

Jalan Besar looks set to be the next up and coming area, with hip places such as Antoinette Patisserie, Chye Seng Huat and Broadcast HQ.

Suprette, a modern restaurant which specialises in American-inspired food with a grown-up drinks list, is one of the newest addition to the area. The restaurant can be describe as being on the intimate side, the space is only big enough to accommodate slightly over twenty guests.

When we were there for dinner on a weekday night, the restaurant was almost full. We were surprised as the location was rather inaccessible. But after having a meal there, I can understand why Suprette is slowly gaining popularity. The food is delicious, hearty and unpretentious.

Like the restaurant, the menu itself is small. There is a breakfast menu (served daily from 7am to 11am, and 2.30pm on weekends) consisting of items such as Corned Beef Hash, Ricotta Pancakes and Western Omelette. For lunch and dinner, you can choose from five starters, five main courses and two desserts.

We started with the Seared Scallops ($16), which were very disappointing. Four tiny pieces atop a bunch of shaved leek… Let’s just say if I do visit Suprette again, I will steer clear from this dish.

The Crispy Pork Belly on Crostini ($14) fared slightly better. But considering that the main courses are only a few dollars more, I would probably just skip the starters and order more main courses to share.

We tried all the main courses except for the Vegetable Stack ($22), which was not available that day. I was especially enamoured of the Spicy Seafood Spaghetti ($25). The pasta was cooked right and it had generous seafood ingredients.

The Suprette Burger ($24), pictured above in the first photo, was superb. It came with a tasty beef patty topped with gruyere cheese in a nicely-toasted bun. There is the option of adding sides – such as bacon, mushroom, avocado, or foie gras – but the burger is so good on its own that you won’t need them.

Also good was the Hanger Steak & Marrow ($29). The beef was tender and flavourful. A very well-executed dish.

The Ricotta and Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breast ($23) may sound a bit less glamorous than some of the dishes above, but don’t let the name fool you. In fact, this dish surprised all of us. I am not a fan of breast meat, but Suprette’s rendition completely won me over. This was easily one of the most tender chicken breast meat I have had.

Desserts are probably not Suprette’s strength, so I would suggest going somewhere else to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Our conclusion was that despite some rather lacklustre starters, the food was very good. Suprette fits the bill when I am looking for a spot to have a good meal and some drinks with friends.

Suprette
383 Jalan Besar
Kam Leng Hotel
Tel: +65 6298 8962
Daily: 7am – 12 midnight