Updated on 6 Oct 2014: Restore Living is no longer in operation. 

Restore Living is a vintage furniture shop and cafe which is tucked in a shop house along Tanjong Pagar Road. Freshly baked bagels, homemade waffles in a nice and quint cafe surrounded by vintage furniture – it is the formula for a perfect afternoon. All the vintage furniture in the shop is available for sale. If you are looking for a new addition for your place, you can choose your favourite piece and bring it home.

Restore Living Cafe
124 Tanjong Pagar Road
Tel: +65 6222 3510
Tue & Sun: 11am – 7pm
Wed to Fri: 11am – 11pm
Sat: 9am – 11pm
Sun: 9pm – 7pm
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

For more recommendations, read our guide to the best cafes in Singapore.

When I heard from my friend Eunice that she was planning to open a vintage home store and artisan bakery café – I was excited for two reasons. First, I know Eunice and her eyes for perfection; I am confident that she will only deliver the best to customers, and her strong aesthetic sense will definitely create a wonderful setting. Second, I stay in the area, and I’ve always lamented that we did not have many nice cafes in the west of Singapore to talk about. But of course, that has changed with the addition of Carpenter and Cook at Lorong Kilat.

Since the vintage cafe opened in June, I’ve been there many times and I am happy to tell you that it is now one of my favourite cafes in Singapore.

I like Carpenter and Cook because it serves excellent home-made desserts. It is a shame that many cafes do not bake their own desserts (either due to space constraint or lack of capability) so I am delighted to say that Carpenter bakes everything in-house.

Some of their signature desserts — such as the carrot cake ($7), surely one of the best around; passionfruit meringue tart ($6.20), a very toothsome and flavourful rendition; lemon drizzle cake ($5): moist, and citrus-y; and lemon curd tart ($6.20), another of my favourite in town — are very addictive, and I cannot help it that I am always dropping by too often just to satisfy my cravings. For something savoury, I’d recommend their quiche ($7) with asparagus, tomato and roasted pepper; and brioche bun ($6.50) served with salad.

I also like the retail goodies – home made jams, granola, biscuits and marshmallows – that you can take home with you, or give it to friends as gifts.

If you are staying in the west, you must make a trip to Carpenter and Cook this weekend. If you are on an adventure to find the best cafe in Singapore, Carpenter and Cook is the place to check out.

Carpenter and Cook
19 Lorong Kilat
#01-06 Singapore
Tel: +65 6463 3648
Tue to Sat: 10am – 10pm
Sun: 10.00am – 7.00pm
Nearest Station: Clementi/Bukit Batok