There’s nothing too groundbreaking about an Australian-style cafe in Singapore. We mean, Singapore is basically filled to the brim with them. But, one that jazzes up into a swanky Asian bar by night? Now, that’s a head-turner.

S l a t e . is the latest addition to Purvis Street, a small hip district that foodies flock to for a dignified brunch or laidback evening hangout. Opened by the team behind Miam Miam, this cafe-bar prides itself on its evolving menu which goes from hearty brunches to modern Asian tapas.

The founding team had lived in Melbourne for about a year before moving back to Singapore, bringing back with them Aussie-inspired brunches and secrets to a great cuppa.

We dropped by during lunchtime and were warmly received by the very friendly owners.

Their spacious interior is a blend of clean and classy vibes, finished with pops of blue to lend a touch of serenity.

One of the first few things that’ll catch your eye is the hulking luminous shelf of spirits and wines that takes center-stage in the bar area. Their coffee machine sits quietly at the side, whirring away as it churns out flat whites and long blacks.

Their lunch menu features small bites such as Seafood Fritters and Thunder Fries while their mains saw a mix of Asian and Western dishes.

Our first dish was the Oxtail Ragout Rigatoni (S$16). Visually, it looked super appetising — a generous amount of rigatoni soaking in a jacuzzi of 8-hour-braised oxtail tomato stew and finished with a grating of Asiago cheese.

Thankfully, it tasted as good as it looked. The rigatoni was perfectly al dente and had melded gorgeously with the sauce, which was well-seasoned and lightly spiced. The oxtail was really tender and had completely soaked up the essence of the stew.

Sadly, the S L A T E . Chicken Rice ($13) didn’t fare as well. It wasn’t a bad dish, that’s for sure — succulent grilled chicken thigh, runny sunny side up and perfectly cooked rice. But, the whole dish didn’t seem to gel very well as a whole and felt slightly dull.

We would have preferred if more flavour was infused into the rice and for a complementing sauce to tie the whole dish together.

Although there were hits and misses, we thoroughly enjoyed our dining experience S l a t e. With their warm service, soulful food and great ambience, this establishment is just bursting with potential.

We’re sure that with the right tweaks and improvements, they’ll soon be on their way to becoming one of Bugis‘ most flocked-to dining spots.

S L A T E .
24 Purvis St, #01-00, Singapore 188601
Mon to Thu: 10.30am – 10.30pm
Fri: 10.30am – 11.30pm
Sat: 9am – 11.30pm
Sun: 9am – 4pm
Nearest Station: City Hall / Esplanade

Strategically situated right in between the bustling Bugis neighbourhood and City Hall area, Purvis Street is pretty much the centre of it all. In the vicinity of places such as the huge National Library and the iconic Raffles Hotel, Purvis Street is visited by both locals and tourists alike.

For us, Purvis Street has it all—both old and new. Filled with swanky European restaurants amidst honest and humble old school eateries serving local cuisines, the eclectic mix of a plethora of different restaurants is something anyone can appreciate.

If you are not familiar, here is a guide to Purvis Street’s Restaurants & Cafes. It is time to start planning a trip down for some good food!

CHIN CHIN EATING HOUSE

Chin Chin Eating House has been around for decades and it is known for their chicken rice and Hainanese dishes. You must order the signature Hainanese pork chops!

19 Purvis Street
Singapore 188598
Tel: +65 66337 4640
Daily: 7am – 9pm
Nearest Station: City Hall/Bugis

CLINTON STREET BAKING COMPANY

We love the Chicken & Waffles here but Clinton Street Baking Company serves some of the best New York-esque foods around. From pancakes to burgers, this all-American style cafe is a must-try for anyone craving for a hearty and heavy meal of goodness.

31 Purvis St
Singapore 188608
Tel: +65 6684 4845
Mon to Thu: 9am – 6pm
Fri: 8am – 10pm
Sat: 8am – 9pm
Sun: 8am – 6pm
Nearest Station: City Hall/Bugis

FIRST THAI RESTAURANT

First Thai restaurant is a no-frills Thai eatery that sits on Purvis Street. Some of the dishes that you should try are the Tom Yum Seafood (S$7), Olive Fried Rice (S$8) and Fried Prawn Cake (S$3/pc).

23 Purvis Street
Tel: +65 6339 3123
Daily: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: City Hall

GARIBALDI ITALIAN RESTAURANT & BAR

This upscale Italian restaurant has a slightly higher price tag but that being said, the fine dining food and atmosphere here is off the charts. If you are looking for a date idea to impress, look no farther.

36 Purvis St #01-02
Singapore 188613
Tel: +65 6837 1468
Daily: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 12.30pm
Nearest Station: City Hall/Bugis

GUNTHER’S

If Italian food is not your thing, how about some sexy French dishes over at Gunther’s? Voted Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2013, you get more than what you pay for here. From the beautifully plated dishes to the impeccable preparation, Gunther’s is right up our list on romantic date night spots in Singapore.

36 Purvis St #01-03
Singapore 188613
Tel: +65 6338 8955
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10pm
Sat: 6.30pm – 10pm
Closed: Sun
Nearest Station: City Hall/Bugis

JAI THAI

As one of our favourite Thai restaurants in Singapore, Jai Thai is an inexpensive Thai eatery that serves honest and fuss-free Thai fare. Both the Phad Thai and Green Curry blew us away with the flavours and overall authentic taste.

27 Purvis St
#01-01 An Chuan Building
Singapore 188604
Tel: +65 6336 6908
Daily: 11pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: City Hall/Bugis

KAI BISTRO

Located in Hotel Kai, Kai Bistro is a gastrobar offering gourmet burgers, sandwiches, buffalo wings, crispy pork belly and other tasty bar grub that you can have with beer.

14 Purvis St
Hotel Kai
Singapore 188593
Tel: +65 6643 9999
Daily: 7am – 10am, 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 9pm

MANZOKU

Known for serving extra thick slices of sashimi in their classic Chirashi Don (S$25), customers always return just to have another satisfying round of generous sliced fish with sushi rice.

18 Purvis St #01-01
Singapore 188597
Tel: +65 6734 4436
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 11.30am – 10pm
Nearest Station: City Hall/Bugis

SAVEUR

From a stall in a coffee shop to a full-fledged restaurant at Purvis Street, Saveur Restaurant has done a good job serving inexpensive French food. The long line of hungry patrons during meal times is a testament to its popularity.

5 Purvis St
#01-04 Talib Court
Singapore 188584
Tel: +65 6333 3121
Daily: 12pm – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: City Hall/Bugis

YET CON

Take a walk down memory lane at Yet Con Restaurant—one of the oldest Hainanese restaurants in Singapore. While this old school restaurant is known for its notorious service, it remains a popular dining destination for its Hainanese chicken rice and steamboat chicken rice.

25 Purvis Street
Singapore 188602
Tel: +65 6337 6819
Daily: 11.30am – 7pm
Nearest Station: City Hall/Bugis

YHINGTHAI PALACE

One of the most popular Thai restaurants in Singapore, Yhingthai Palace is known for its authentic Thai and Thai Chinese cuisine. While prices may be slightly higher than the usual Thai restaurants in Singapore, you can be assured that the food is always consistently good.

36 Purvis St #01-04
Singapore 188613
Tel: +65 6337 1161
Daily: 11.30am – 2pm, 6pm – 10am
Nearest Station: City Hall/Bugis