Coffee shops and cafes are truly abundant in Singapore these days and new ones pop up so often too! Newly opened at the Loft @ Nathan, Grace Espresso specialises in some impeccable latte art alongside some yummy brunch foods!

If you’re craving some good nosh at a cosy cafe, Grace Espresso might just be your new favourite haunt. It’s definitely one of the hidden coffee shops you have to hunt down due to the location, but it might just be well worth your while.

Decked in dark indigo walls, white counters and wooden decor, Grace Espresso has a cosy yet minimalistic setting. The smell of coffee that wafts the moment you approach the cafe is absolutely enticing. They have a few wooden stools and tables should you want to dine in!

We had a Hot Latte (S$5.50) and the moment it was served, we were thoroughly impressed by the intricate latte art we were presented.

The coffee itself had a wonderful roasted aroma and a nutty – almost chocolatey – finish. It was such a smooth and pleasant cup of coffee that had little to no acidity.

As for something savoury to go with our latte, we tried the Salmon Avocado Toast (S$12), of which was swapped out with a croissant as the staff had graciously informed us that their sourdough bread wasn’t ready. Tasting the buttery, flaky croissant, we definitely didn’t mind the change!

The croissant came with a generous slathering of mashed avocado, a poached egg, smoked salmon and a few slices of fresh cucumber. The croissant’s rich flavour was the perfect accompaniment to the freshness of the avocado and cucumber, contrasted with the savoury smoked salmon. Dip it in the poached egg for a richer taste!

If you’re ever in the River Valley area looking for a place to chill out with friends over coffee, Grace Espresso should be on your list of destinations!

Grace Espresso
428 River Valley Road
#01-14 Loft@Nathan
Singapore 248327
Tel: +65 9337 1976
Mon to Wed, Fri to Sun: 7.30am – 5.30pm
(Closed on Thursdays)
Nearest Station: Tiong Bahru
Nearest Bus Stop: Opp Valley Point/Stellar RV

Taking over local bakery Prima Deli’s long-time spot in Clementi is One Stone Three Birds. The humble ice cream cafe serves homemade gelato at affordable price points. As there aren’t many speciality dessert cafes in Clementi, One Stone Three Birds might be well on its way to being the go-to ice cream place in central Clementi.

The shop is run by a husband and wife duo, passionate to find new flavours and infusions for their ice cream. Check out what we thought about this new ice cream shop!

Located just a short walk from Clementi MRT, right behind Clementi Mall, is One Stone Three Birds. Just newly opened in August, this new ice cream shop has drawn in quite a bit of an audience as a new dessert spot in this highly-populated area.

Boasting peach-pink walls and funky decor, One Stone Three Birds makes eating ice cream a picture-perfect opportunity.

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We ordered a double scoop of their Salted Caramel and Black Sesame Ice Cream (S$7), accompanied by their chocolate-batter Waffle Sticks (S$3).

Their Salted Caramel ice cream was indulgent and very delicious, being a good blend of salty and sweet. We did notice a few bites of ice cream being a little more salty than we’d like but it was still good nonetheless.

We absolutely loved their Black Sesame ice cream. It was smoky and had a distinct flavour of black sesame, dotted with roasted sesame seeds for a nice textural contrast. Its sweetness was perfectly balanced out by the roasted aroma from the sesame!

Their waffle sticks, made with a waffle iron that had churro-shaped moulds, were crisp on the outside yet moist on the inside. As they were not too sweet, they complemented the ice creams impeccably well.

Check out their other flavours if you’re in Clementi – think Hojicha, Rose and even Espresso Banana!

One Stone Three Birds
443 Clementi Avenue 3, #01-71
Singapore 120443
Mon: 3pm – 9.30pm
Tue to Thu, Sun: 12pm – 9.30pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Clementi

Taking over the now-defunct CPlus+ is the extremely Instagrammable cafe – Gather The Misfits. They bring interesting toastie flavours to the table, along with a myriad of coffee selections, drink choices and pastries.

Other than tantalizing your tastebuds, Gather The Misfits also has a hidden retail space in the back, selling all sorts of knick-knacks and fun accessories. You’re bound to find something that tickles your fancy!

We went with the Matcha Latte (S$5) and we were rather happy with it. It had a smooth finish while still maintaining the characteristic bitterness of good-quality matcha. The Matcha Latte is hand-whisked and no sugar is added, so you can really taste the true flavour of the green tea.

We also tried the Triple Cheese Toastie (S$11) that came with a side of creamy sesame sauce. While the toast was really fluffy and nicely toasted, we felt like it overwhelmed the cheese slightly. However, dipping the toast in the sesame sauce made it a lot better!

The other toasties they offer are also pretty interesting such as the Prosciutto with Black Garlic Mayo (S$13) and their vegetarian-friendly Cauliflower with Spicy Mayo toastie (S$9).

To end our meal on a sweet note, we got one of their Chocolate Brownies (S$4) to try! The brownie had a nice crackled top and a crumbly yet still fudgy interior. The chocolate flavour was very pronounced and we could imagine it would be the perfect complement to a cup of coffee.

Next time you’re in the area, do check out this new cafe with a few friends. They have some fun board games and card games to enjoy alongside your meal! It may be quite a walk from any of the MRT stations but it’ll be worth your while!

Gather The Misfits
217 Rangoon Road
Singapore 218457
Tel: +65 9298 7291
Mon, Wed to Sun: 10am – 6pm
(Closed on Tuesdays)
Nearest Station: Farrer Park/Boon Keng