Bynd Artisan and Sunday Folks have a brand new lifestyle concept store at ION Orchard on level 4 next to The Marmalade Pantry and it is expected to open in the second half of August 2021.

The Bynd Artisan + Sunday Folks ION Experience Store is a retail and café concept where you can enjoy customising and personalising a well-appointed handmade leather-and-paper gift from Bynd Artisan, and savour Sunday Folks’ seasonal artisanal dessert creations and speciality coffee.

What you can look forward to at the new Bynd Artisan + Sunday Folks ION Experience Store: 

• A sensorial atmosphere—created with a newly curated playlist and the natural scent of leather-bound books, and the aroma of Sunday Folk’s speciality coffee in the air.
• Wooden benches exclusively handmade by Shibui Furniture’s Kim Choy.
• A “Gratitude Corner” invites visitors to pause and reflect their intentions, to contemplate and write down what makes them happy in a guest book and inspire others in our community.

Photos credit: Bynd Artisan + Sunday Folks

• Desserts and beverages from Sunday Folks will be served on place mats and coasters made from recycled food pulp papers with inspiring quotes and lyrics. Customers are welcome to collect and bring home these coasters, or purchase them in more colours from the store.
• Specially-designed leather sleeve for the store’s glass carafes in which brewed coffee will be served.
• Exclusive Merchandise: Limited-edition “That Sunday Feeling” Notebook & “Note To Self” Coasters with Letter J Supply calligraphy
• Exclusive seasonal desserts from Sunday Folks, such as the Marrakesh Ice Cream Petit Gâteaux.

We bet you are excited to check out the new concept store where you can enjoy a cup of coffee and desserts while shopping for leather-and-paper gifts. We will keep you updated once we know the official opening date.

Bynd Artisan + Sunday Folks ION Experience Store
ION Orchard #04-11
2 Orchard Turn, Singapore 238801

Five Guys Singapore is opening its third outlet at ION Orchard basement 3, near to H&M, Hoshino and Poulet.

Following the opening of Tenya Singapore, Sen-Ryo and Ion Orchard Hawkers’ Street, Five Guys is the newest dining concept to open at ION Orchard.

Brought in by Zouk Group, this American cult favourite is a fast-casual burger joint which is known for its highly customisable menu. You can build your favourite burger or sandwich by exploring different combinations and taste profiles based on your preferences.

Five Guys offers 15 free toppings including an in-house mayo recipe created exclusively for Five Guys by Heinz. As such, there are approximately 250,000 combinations one can choose from.

The burgers are made-to-order, allowing the patty to retain its moisture.

Five Guys Singapore currently has two other outlets at Plaza Singapura and nex.

Five Guys Singpapore
Ion Orchard
2 Orchard Turn, Singapore 238801

Tempura Tendon Tenya Singapore is opening its second outlet at ION Orchard.

The largest tempura restaurant chain in Japan, Tempura Tendon Tenya first opened in Singapore at Orchard Central in Oct 2020. The new outlet will be at ION Orchard food hall, at Basement 4 next to Toss & Turn.

The popular tendon chain is known for its affordable tempura bowls and prices range from S$7.90 to S$12.90.

We were in disbelief when we first had the Tenya Tendon in Japan many years ago. It might not be the best tempura, but it was very decent, and surely a steal for the price.

First-timers have to try their signature Tenya Tendon which is priced at only S$8.50 for a hearty bowl of tempura tiger prawn, red fish, squid, pumpkin, and French beans.

With the opening of Tempura Tendon Tenya, shoppers at ION Orchard will now have another option for cheap and good tendon.

Tempura Tendon Tenya Singapore
ION Orchard basement 4

Popular sushi chain Sen-Ryo has opened its first outlet in Singapore at Ion Orchard.

Originating from the Tochigi prefecture in Japan, Sen-Ryo has 13 outlets in Hong Kong and it is brought in by Maxim’s Caterers, the Hong Kong-based F&B group that also runs the Genki Sushi chain in Singapore.

Unlike the original Sen-Ryo in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Japan, Sen-Ryo Singapore will not be offering sushi on a conveyor belt. Instead, it will be offering full table service with dishes prepared a la minute.

The Japanese restaurant prides itself on serving “shokunin” (Japanese for artisanal) Edomae-style sushi.

On the menu, you can find a selection of Sashimi Platter, Sushi Platter, Kushiyaki, Tempura, and Donburi.

To celebrate its opening in Singapore, it is offering 5% off total net spend from now until 30 April 2021.

Sen-ryo Singapore
#03-14 Ion Orchard
2 Orchard Turn, Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 6974 6782

Unless you’re armed with a fail-proof list of romantic restaurants to take your other half on special occasions, a date night out in celebration of a milestone would, more often than not, have you racking your brains on where to go for a meal.

Singapore is a city that surely doesn’t fall short of romantic restaurants and if you are looking to add another restaurant to your list of where to take bae, Salt Grill & Sky Bar would be it.

Located on the 55th storey of ION Orchard, Salt Grill & Sky Bar offers diners an unobstructed bird eye’s view of the city and an elegant dining atmosphere, making it an ideal restaurant no matter if you’re looking for a sensuous spot to impress your first date or a charming restaurant to spoil bae.

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Floor-to-ceiling glass windows surround the restaurant, granting guests a stunning panoramic vista of the city from day through night.

The kitchen is helmed by Australian born and bred Head Chef Jake Kowalewski, who strictly utilises only the best Australian produce in a clean and simple manner. On the menu, you can expect a range of Asian classics that are derived from these ingredients.

Salt Grill & Sky Bar offers a neat range of tantalising appetisers for you to kick-start your meal on the right note. The Geraldton Kingfish (S$31++) is one that is set to impress with the complexity of flavours.

Each slice of kingfish boasts a firm texture and a clean flavour. Served with Yarra Valley salmon pearl, avocado cream, white soy and herb oil on the side, these elements only serve to bring out the umami goodness of the dish. 

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If you’re a fan of beef, Salt Grill & Sky Bar definitely will not disappoint. Priding themselves on serving premium Australian beef, they offer a variety of cuts that will impress diners old and new.

The Westholme Wagyu Flat Iron (S$76++) came served with a pink-hued interior. Biting in, the explosion of flavours left us in total awe—incredibly tender, succulent and boasting intense flavours, this dish struck all the right chords in terms of taste and texture.

Other options include the Gippsland O’conner Pasture Fed Tenderloin (S$88++) and the Westhome Wagyu Rump Cap (S$69++).

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What better way to round off your meal than on a sweet note?

Taking on a contemporary spin to the traditional Malay pastry, the Ondeh Ondeh ‘Lamington’ Pandan Chocolate Mousse (S$19++) encompasses the same flavours you would get in the traditional pastry but in a modern form.

Sitting atop coconut snow and sponge is a ball of pandan mousse. Smooth, creamy and luscious, we appreciated how it wasn’t overly sweet. Hidden within the pandan mousse lies a helping of lava gula Melaka caramel, which gives the dessert an extra oomph of sweetness.

Salt Grill & Sky Bar
2 Orchard Turn
ION Orchard Mall #55-01
Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 6592 5118
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 1.45pm, 6pm – 9.45pm
Sat & Sun: 11am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 9.45pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

ION Orchard impresses both locals and international guests with the world’s best-loved brands—be it luxury boutiques, lifestyle stores or sensational F&B establishments—ION Orchard has literally become a beacon of envy in the retail scene.

Over 300 retail, F&B establishments and entertainment stores—which includes some of the world’s top luxury brands—we honestly can’t think of a better lifestyle destination to splurge and indulge as the year draws to a close.

ION Orchard houses a vast array of both homegrown and internationally-renowned fashion boutiques, food brands and some of Singapore’s finest restaurants, including award-winning Imperial Treasure Fine Teochew Cuisine and the newly-opened Violet Oon Singapore.

With the new revamp on Level 3 as well as several new additions to the basement food hall, ION Orchard has even more to offer now. Life’s already short enough as it is, so treat yourselves to some year-end indulgence—both shopping and feasting—and if you need a solid place to start, let ION Orchard be your preferred location.

VIOLET OON’S NEW FLAGSHIP

The brand-new Violet Oon Singapore in ION Orchard occupies the open space on Level 3. The new restaurant traces the Singapore food story back to colonial times with dishes that include British food interpreted by Hainanese cooks back in the day.

Offering a stellar menu that covers every aspect of the niche cuisine such as oxtail stew, Hainanese pork chop and shepherd’s pie and a selection of Violet’s crowd-favourite Nyonya signatures, all nicely cradled around the ideology of Peranakan hospitality, the restaurant is perfect should you wish to stop by for a tasty meal, a cocktail or coffee in the midst of your shopping.

The all-day restaurant has also tailored special menus to cater to diners looking to enjoy breakfast, high-tea and weekend brunch as well.

New to her repertoire of dishes and exclusive to this outlet is her Steak Sandwich. A traditional take on a classic British sandwich that sees elements of Nyonya cuisine injected into the sauce, good bread and a perfectly seared-off 150-day grain-fed Blank Angus ribeye.

Nicely seared on the outside but staying perfectly pink in the middle, the beef was tender and gave off a nice grilled aroma. However, impressive as the steak was, it was the Nyonya-style green chilli relish that truly made it for us. Punchy with a good amount of heat, the piquant relish added a dimension of fresh, botanical flavours underscored by a sharp spicy kick, to further lift an otherwise decent-but-typical steak sandwich.

A crowd-favourite and one that warrants multiple return visits is their signature Dry Laksa. Reduced down naturally rather than thickening with a roux, the flavour is concentrated and rich.

Punctuated with the fresh, uplifting flavour of laksa leaves, the dish is an aromatic and decadent marriage of flavours that represent centuries of Peranakan food heritage—presented and interpreted in a modern way of course.

At the entrance of the restaurant, visitors can feel free to browse through shelves of pre-packaged edible delights such as homemade pineapple tarts, cashew cookies, and kaya.

Available throughout the year, diners (both local and foreign) will be able to bring home a part of Singapore’s culinary heritage along with them.

Violet Oon Singapore (ION Orchard)
ION Orchard #03-28/29
2 Orchard Turn,
Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 9834 9935
Daily: 12pm – 10pm

IMPERIAL TREASURE FINE TEOCHEW CUISINE

Awarded a one-Michelin star for 2 years running, Imperial Treasure Fine Teochew Cuisine in ION Orchard is one Chinese restaurant that can always be relied on to provide us with an exquisite, out-of-this-world dining experience whether it be a casual dim sum brunch or a full-on feast. And judging from our recent visit, we can see why the restaurant is indeed deserving of the prestigious accolade.

Well-lit and accentuated with lots of fresh flowers and natural sunlight, the interior gives off a cheery appeal and an overall laid-back vibe—but the atmosphere is only secondary to their array of brilliantly crafted dishes. Nuanced in flavour, their food is prepared with the utmost skill and attention to detail by a team of master chefs.

Delicious, straightforward and great for sharing, we opted for their delicately hand-crafted Diced Abalone wrapped with Egg White Skin , Wok Fried Hor Fun with Diced “Kai Lan” and Preserved Radish as well as their Frog Legs with Sze Chuan Peppercorns.

Freshly poached daily in a mix of sauces and spices, their marinated offerings take on a lacquered sheen of brown, indicating that flavours have indeed been permeated all the way through. We opted for the Three Kinds Of Marinated Combination In Teochew Style that includes marinated pork knuckle, sliced duck meat and octopus.

The flavours were mellow, refined and milder in comparison to other dark-coloured braised meats found elsewhere. Based solely on taste, we have to admit we were hesitant about its lightness but as we proceeded to take more bites, sampling the various sauces as we went, the items became more and more addictive.

Imperial Treasure Fine Teochew Cuisine
ION Orchard, #03-05,
2 Orchard Turn
Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 6736 2118
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Sat: 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Sun: 10.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm

AWFULLY CHOCOLATE

Well-known for their ultra-rich and sinfully-good chocolate cakes and desserts, local chocolatier Awfully Chocolate, is no stranger to anyone who’s ever had a hankering for decadent desserts. Tucked away in a cosy corner of ION Orchard’s basement, Awfully Chocolate’s only concept store offers takeaway cakes, sliced chocolate desserts as well as a permanent collection of handcrafted chocolate bars, cookies and gift sets.

Exclusive for the festive season, Awfully Chocolate has launched a new range of Artisanal Christmas Cakes that include luxurious and decadent Christmas Fruit Cake Brownie (S$78 for 800g), Crème Brûlée Cake (S$98 for 1.8kg) as well as many others.

Awfully Chocolate
ION Orchard, #B4-50,
2 Orchard Turn,
Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 6884 6377
Daily: 10am – 10pm

HEYTEA SINGAPORE

Dedicated to serving high-quality brews made using only the freshest and top-quality ingredients, it is no surprise that HEYTEA is the most highly sought-after tea brand in China—and now, Singapore. The original inventors of the acclaimed cheese tea, HEYTEA has garnered many fans across Asia and inspired a global trend.

Having opened its very first outpost outside of China in Basement 4 of ION Orchard, the cheese tea giant serves massive queues on a daily basis. Their tea leaves are specially sourced and blends are customised for their own use only and with it, they brew a myriad of thirst-quenching, refreshing beverages that come with a generous dollop of their signature Cheezo.

HEYTEA Singapore
ION Orchard, #03-0528/#B4-29
2 Orchard Turn
Singapore 238801
Tel: +656908 0019
Daily: 10am – 10pm

LUXURY FASHION BOUTIQUES GALORE

Boasting floor upon floor of luxury brands and boutiques, ION Orchard is a shopaholic’s heaven. The 3rd floor of the mall recently underwent a revamp and features more internationally-renowned brands such as Valentino, HUGO, PINKO, Longchamp, Diane Von Furstenberg (DVF) and Karl Lagerfeld.

Feeling like you need a wardrobe makeover? Pick up a printed dress from Diane Von Furstenberg; a pair of shoes and some accessories from Karl Lagerfield and a bag from Longchamp.

With big names such as Kendall Jenner and Kaia Gerber being the faces of these brands, get a piece of Europe and its incredible fashion right here in the heart of Orchard Road—at ION Orchard.

Now you know where to get luxurious Christmas presents too, yes?

This post was brought to you by ION Orchard.

All the rage about cheese tea and the original inventor of the cheese tea trend is finally coming to Singapore, and it is none other than OG tea brand, HEYTEA.

HEYTEA first started out as a humble tea shop in the Guangdong province in 2012. Since then, the brand has expanded to more than a hundred shops in China including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhen and Shenzhen—all of which have garnered massive queues that can go up to 7 hours long.

Dedicated to serving high-quality brews made using only the freshest and top-quality ingredients, HEYTEA leaves little to wonder as to why it is the most highly sought-after tea brand in China—and soon, Singapore.

HEYTEA is opening its first-ever overseas outpost outside of mainland China here in Singapore’s ION Orchard on 10th November at 10am. And to show their sincerity and love for the Singapore audience, they are opening with a bang so expect 1-for-1 promotion and goodie bags to be given away for the first 3 days. Here is a preview of the menu!

Proudly adhering to high standards and the use of high-quality raw ingredients, HEYTEA distinguishes themselves by making sure customers can taste the freshness from the very first sip. Only the best quality tea leaves, fresh fruits, natural rock sugar and natural cheese go into the making of every cup of tea here.

And talk about dedication; HEYTEA’s tea leaves are actually solely grown for the brand, so the tea leaves and blends cannot be found anywhere else!

What’s more, HEYTEA has flown in a group of staff from China to Singapore’s outlet, just so you get the real deal and that the local staff are given proper training and to upkeep the standards from there on.

HEYTEA’S SIGNATURE CHEEZO TEA SERIES

Be sure to try out HEYTEA’s signature Cheezo Tea series, such as the classic King Fone (S$5.50), Ever Spring (S$5.50) and Aqua Green (S$4.50). Sure to impress fans of cheese tea, this series may even convert those who were sceptical about the trend.

Every sip varies in textures and flavours. The first sip (make sure the opening of the cap is kept small) will be the mildy salty cheese. Continue sipping and you’ll slowly taste the different layers of cheese and tea. Then, when you finally reach the half-cup mark, that’s when the cheese and tea will be completely blended together and you can savour the milk tea-like taste.

For first-timers trying out cheese tea for the very first time, go for the King Fone—known as the classic Jinfeng Chawang in China (in other words, like the Oolong Tea we are all familiar with), it features a thick layer of smooth, creamy cheese atop their aromatic tea.

HEYTEA’S BERRY MANGO SERIES

Besides their usual Cheezo Teas, you must also try HEYTEA’s Berry Mango range of refreshing fruit-infused teas that also come with a layer of their creamy cheese.

Made with a blend of strawberry and mango respectively, both the Very Strawberry Cheezo (S$8.30) and Mango Cheezo (S$7.90) is absolutely refreshing like a summer cocktail you’d have by the beach—except this is better because HEYTEA.

HEYTEA’S FRUITY BOOM AND PURE TEA SERIES

For those who prefer their beverages without the cheese, HEYTEA also offers a variety of brews available under the Fruity Boom and Pure Tea range.

The various options are Lemon Boom (S$5.50), Golden Pineapple Boom (S$6.80), Orange Boom (S$6.80) and not forgetting our favourite of the lot, the Grapefruit Boom (S$5.90). It is jasmine tea infused with fresh grapefruits to give you this wonderful balance of sour and sweet.

Desserts are also available here at HEYTEA’s Singapore outlet.

Made to cater to the local palates and available exclusively in Singapore’s outlet is the Durian Ice Cream (S$4.80) and Salted Egg Yolk Ice Cream (S$4.80). Other desserts you may wish to try include the Tea King Ice Cream (S$2.80) and Mango Ice Cream (S$4.80).

HEYTEA is definitely our cup of tea. And we are sure it will be yours too.

Join the queues at ION Orchard on the 10th, and be sure to bring a friend along because it is 1-for-1 storewide for its first three days of operations!

Actually, maybe not. You can easily finish two cups on your own, right?

HEYTEA Singapore
2 Orchard Turn
ION Orchard Mall #B4-29
Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 6908 0019
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

This post was brought to you by HEYTEA.

Photo Credit: The Maple Mania SG

The Maple Mania—Tokyo’s famous Maple Butter Cookie—is now in Singapore!

Established in 2013, The Maple Mania is well-known for its Maple Butter Cookie that is ranked as the number one best-selling product in Tokyo Station for three consecutive years from 2015 to 2017.

A sister company of famous cheese cookie chain, Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory, The Maple Mania focuses on using pure maple syrup directly sourced from Quebec, Canada in its pastries.

What makes their maple syrup unique is the mixture of toffee, spice, herbs and floral flavours in it. Packed with this sweet syrup, The Maple Mania’s buttery cookies are perfect for those with a sweet tooth.

Here’s what you can expect from The Maple Mania’s flagship store at ION Orchard.

Photo Credit: The Maple Mania SG

The Maple Mania’s latest international business expansion to Singapore shores means that so you no longer have to fly all the way to Tokyo to get your hands on their delicious pastries!

Photo Credit: The Maple Mania SG

Besides the Maple Butter Cookies (S$13.50 for 9, S$25 for 18 and S$42 for 32), the store is also known for its Maple Baumkuchen (S$29.90) with a caramelised top, as well as the delicate Maple Financiers (S$16.80 for 6 and S$32 for 12).

Photo Credit: The Maple Mania SG

The notable Maple Baumkuchen is another bestseller at Tokyo Train Station. The cake is infused with pure maple syrup and the crystallized maple sugar are sprinkled over the cake to create a crunchy texture.

Photo Credit: The Maple Mania SG

If you are looking for a special Christmas gift to give this year, then look no further as these maple treats are not excessively sweet while retaining its original maple flavour that will delight both children and adults.

The Maple Mania
2 Orchard Turn
#B3-K2, ION Orchard
Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 9248 8475
Mon to Sun: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard