Popular cafe, Forty Hands is closing down both Tiong Bahru and East Coast outlets on 12 Sep 2022.

One of the pioneer cafes that started the third wave coffee trend in Singapore, Forty Hands Café has been doling out consistent cups of coffee and Aussie-Asian brunch food since October 2010.

About a decade ago, Tiong Bahru was simply a tranquil neighbourhood with old school shophouses and local eats. The opening of Forty Hands and BooksActually along Yong Siak Street led to the revival of the Tiong Bahru neighbourhood and other cafes and restaurants followed after to create the hip and trendy enclave that we know today.

Other than the classic Aussie-style brunch fare, Forty Hands is also known for their local delights including Kong Bak paired with mouth-watering Har Cheong Gai waffles and their legendary Tau Sar Paus.

With their all-day offerings, morning folks will no longer need to lament at a restricted menu; if you want a cheese-drenched burger at 9 in the morning, you get to have precisely that! The brand is vegan/vegetarian-friendly as well – if a menu item catches your eye, the kitchen is able to convert it into a version suitable for your dietary restrictions.

Forty Hands is owned by the Spa Esprit Group who is behind other popular dining concepts such as Common Man Coffee Roasters, Noka, Tiong Bahru Bakery and Tippling Club. Fans of Forty Hands’s coffee can head to Coffee Man Coffee for a cuppa.

Good bye, Forty Hands. It has been a good run!

Forty Hands
78 Yong Siak St, Singapore 163078

226 E Coast Rd, Singapore 428923

Tiong Bahru is one of the best areas for hungry souls with the many hidden gems and cafes that offer scrumptious food at almost every turn. Newly opened in early 2019, Cafe Pandan is yet another addition to the bustling area.

Serving a plethora of traditional Singaporean breakfast dishes and even having their own DIY-Nasi Lemak station, Cafe Pandan is a must-visit for those in the area craving for a good ol’ school meal.

We had a taste of their Plain Cheong Fun (S$3.50) which came in a generous portion despite the affordable price tag. The silky rolls of cheong fun were coated in a sesame soy sauce and accompanied with a dollop of their house-made chilli.

Their chilli was what truly made the dish so delicious, giving it that small kick of spice with a hint of sweetness. Mix this in with the soy sauce to create a thicker sauce that can coat each piece of cheong fun!

For a good breakfast, sometimes, simplicity is the way to go. It certainly was the case with Cafe Pandan’s Thick Toast Set (S$5). Fluffy thick toast is slathered with a generous helping of the slightly savoury peanut butter and accompanied with 2 soft-boiled eggs and a choice of hot Teh or Kopi.

The toast was delicious and we liked how liberal they were with the peanut butter. The bread was soft but we felt that it was a bit dry. However, it wasn’t a big issue once you chase it down with a sip of their hot tea.

The tea was flavourful and milky, but we did feel it was slightly on the sweet side.

Cafe Pandan sits near to Wangz Hotel, so keep your eyes peeled for this entrance when you go exploring the enclaves of Tiong Bahru.

Cafe Pandan
241 Outram Road
Singapore 169044
Tel: +65 6224 2723
Tue to Sun: 8am – 8pm
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: Outram Park/Tiong Bahru

Tiong Bahru is a foodie’s heaven for good reason—whether it is traditional Nyonya kueh you’re looking for, lor mee with shark meat nuggets or gorgeous cafés that you want to hop to, the area will not disappoint.

Joining the slew of eateries and cafés in Tiong Bahru is newly-opened 4+U Bar & Kitchen, a minimalistic café nestled just a 5-minute walk away from the train station.

On top of typical brunch fare, 4+U Bar & Kitchen also offers value-for-money set lunches at just S$8.50 nett. Now, who says that dining in cafes will be an expensive affair?

Decked in simple white furnishings, the 40-seater eatery is a café by day and bar by dawn.

If you happen to pop by for lunch during weekdays, their lunch deals will give you the most bang for your buck. Choose from 5 pasta options and pair your meal with a choice of coffee or soft drink for just S$8.50 nett!

The Lumaconi Pasta with Chicken and Cream features a generous helping of shell-shaped pasta and chicken breast pieces tossed in a cream sauce, before being topped off with cherry tomatoes and greens for the final touch.

We also ordered up a portion of Spaghetti Pulled Pork Ragu in Pomodoro Sauce and preferred it to the former dish.

Tossed in a tangy tomato sauce, we were pleased that the chefs did not skimp on the amount of pulled pork in the pasta dish. Each strand is nicely coated in the Pomodoro sauce that came slightly thick and chunky.

For diners who wish to have something heartier, their main menu offers a myriad of both sweet and savoury delights such as Waffle Egg Benedict (S$18), Duck Off (S$18) and Cinnapple Crumble (S$11).

4+U Bar & Kitchen
4 Kim Tian Road
Singapore 169245
Tel: +65 9006 6203
Nearest Station: Tiong Bahru