Sesame & Bagels is the new kid on the block serving up all-day bagels baked fresh daily and other light bites in NEWest, a largely unoccupied shopping mall in a residential area in Clementi.

At Sesame & Bagels, you can opt to build your own bagel – choose from a range of bagels and schmears – or go for one of their bagel sandwiches. Do keep a lookout for their daily special offerings of bagel sandwiches as well.

The best thing is that there is no GST or service charge!

For our first bagel, we tried the namesake Sesame Bagel (S$2.50) which we paired with two schmears: Cream Cheese (S$2.50) and Kaya (S$2.50). Cut into half and slightly toasted, the bagel was chewy and had a firm bite to it; just how we like it!

The generous amount of black and white sesame seeds that adorned the bagel gave it a nutty and earthy taste that contrasted well with the sweet and fragrant kaya as well as the rich cream cheese.

Next, we tried the signature Sea Salt & Pepper Bagel (S$2.50). Our schmears of choice were Cream Cheese (S$2.50) as well as Avocado and Feta (S$4). Although served slightly toasted and halved as well, we preferred this to the Sesame Bagel as it was fluffier and more moist.

We loved that we got a whole fruit-worth of fresh avocado slices that was enough for the entire bagel. Also, the acidity from the feta cheese provided an added tanginess which cut through the creaminess of the avocado and cream cheese.

Occupying the front shop space of the mall, Sesame & Bagels enjoys a lot of natural light which complements their minimalist interior. Also offering a selection of artisanal coffees and tarts, we basked in the calming atmosphere while enjoying our bagels.

Sesame & Bagels is a great place in the West to chill and honestly, there aren’t many cafes in Singapore that specialise in bagels so thumbs up for this one!

3 West Coast Drive
NEWest #01-89
Singapore 128021
Tue to Fri: 10am – 2pm, 5pm – 7pm
Sat to Sun: 10am – 4pm
Nearest Station: Clementi

Buona Vista is a little far-flung for those who do not reside in the West. The whole vicinity  is well-known for its educational institutes and facilities as well as high-technology research industries.

However, this buzzy part of Singapore happens to be a budding café precinct that is home to a handful of bistros and cafes and is an up-and-coming hipster neighbourhood that is worth exploring.

Whether you are looking for a scrumptious brunch fare or an artisanal cup of coffee, here are 9 Bistros and Coffee Spots in Buona Vista To Explore.

#1 AWFULLY CHOCOLATE

As the name of the café suggests, Awfully Chocolate specialises in rich and decadent chocolate cakes. The wide range of chocolate confections and pastries here is impressive and the price points are pretty reasonable. For a 6-inch All Chocolate Cake, you only need to pay S$34.

Awfully Chocolate
1 Vista Exchange Green
#02-18 The Star Vista
Singapore 138617
Tel: +6694 4805
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Buona Vista

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Photo Credit: victoinette

#2 BODACIOUS BAR & BISTRO

Decorated in an industrial style, Bodacious Bar & Bistro whips up a delicious line up of breakfast and comfort food. If you do not have the time for a hearty breakfast, this cosy bistro is also a great spot for a quick morning brew against a vastly green view.

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Bodacious Bar & Bistro
70 Biopolis St
Singapore 138547
Tel: +65 6778 9585
Mon to Fri: 11am – 10pm
Sat: 10am –10pm
(Closed on Sundays)
Nearest Station: Buona Vista

#3 CEDELE BAKERY KITCHEN

At Cedele Bakery Kitchen, you can expect a comprehensive menu with choices ranging from all-day breakfast, lunch and dinner items. There is also a takeaway section for the bakery—perfect for those who are in a hurry.

Cedele Bakery Kitchen
1 Vista Exchange Green
#01-19 The Star Vista
Singapore 138617
Tel: +65 6734 0763
Mon to Fri: 10am – 9.30pm
Sat and Sun: 9am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Buona Vista

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Photo Credit: randymionho

#4 JIMMY MONKEY CAFÉ & BAR

If you are on a quest to find good coffee in Singapore, you should definitely drop by Jimmy Monkey Cafe & Bar—an Australian-style cafe at One-North Residences. On their menu, you can find savoury and sweet bites such as Smoked Salmon Spaghetti, Truffle Potato Fries, French Toast with Maple Syrup and many more.

Jimmy Monkey Café & Bar
9 One-north Gateway
#01-51 One-North Residences
Singapore 138643
Tel: +65 6777 8470
Daily: 8am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Buona Vista

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Photo Credit: monkicafeholland

#5 MONKI CAFÉ

A stone’s throw away from Buona Vista MRT station, Monki Café is a newly-opened Taiwan-Western fusion café that offers savoury set meals and a wide selection of shaved ice desserts. Seasonal dishes are added weekly so there is always something new to look forward to.

Monki Café
43 Holland Drive
#01-41 Singapore 270043
Tel: +65 6258 8112
Tue to Sun: 10am – 10pm
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: Buona Vista

Photo Credit: rochestercafesg

#6 ROCHESTER CAFÉ

Calling all sweet tooths! Rochester Café is a new dessert café tucked away in Rochester Mall. The lovely dining establishment offers a delightful variety of layered cakes, ice cream, waffles and a decent range of hot beverages to pair with your sweet treats.

Rochester Café
35 Rochester Drive
#01-08 Rochester Mall
Singapore 138639
Tel: +65 9842 5821
Daily: 8am – 7pm
Nearest Station: Buona Vista

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Photo Credit: littlenuggetpaws

#7 SIXTY40

Located at Rochester Mall, Sixty40 operates as a café in the day and transforms into a casual bar at night. The gastrobar boasts a laid-back ambience, which makes it a great spot to hang out with your mates.

The best part? There are dart machines to keep you entertained!

Sixty40
35 Rochester Drive
#01-05 Rochester Mall
Singapore 138639
Tel: +65 6684 9028
Mon – Thur: 11.30am – 12am
Fri: 11.30am – 1am
Sun: 4pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Buona Vista

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#8 SWEE LEE SOCIAL CLUB

Music instrument institution Swee Lee is a home-grown brand and tucked inside the store is Swee Lee Social Club, a café where patrons can gather over a cup of coffee and light bites.

In addition to their stellar coffee, Swee Lee Social Club also carries juices and sweet treats such as Waffle & Co. (S$10) and Sweet toast (S$7).

Swee Lee Social Club
1 Vista Exchange Green
#01-01-07/10 The Star Vista
Singapore 138617
Tel: +65 6334 7703
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Buona Vista

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Photo Credit: thelawncafe

#9 THE LAWN

Tucked away in the lush greenery of Biopolis, The Lawn is a cosy café which specialises in salad and grills. You can customise your own meal by filling up a simple form and ticking off various combinations.

Featuring 12 tantalising grills, 30 toppings and various dressings, diners are spoilt for choice.

The Lawn
31 Biopolis Way
#01-07 Nanos
Singapore 138669
Tel: +65 6478 9739
Mon to Fri: 10.30am – 9pm
Sun: 10.30am – 4pm
(Closed on Saturdays)
Nearest Station: Buona Vista

Located on the first level of Gek Poh Shopping Centre in Jurong West, OH MY MANGO is a new dessert cafe that breathes new life into the somewhat run-down neighbourhood shopping centre. Specialising in Thai-inspired sweet treats, their menu boasts more than 40 different items from desserts to colourful beverages and even assorted Shibuya toasts that are available in both sweet and savoury varieties.

If you think that this is just another neighbourhood dessert pitstop, think again. On their menu, you can expect to find some pretty interesting offerings such as their Tom Yum Goong Toast (S$6.90) which is somewhat similar to a pizza except with the addition of the spicy and zesty flavours of Thailand’s iconic dish.

Those living in the West of Singapore truly have something to be glad about, especially with so many interesting cafes and eateries sprouting up around the area. Whether it’s a quick coffee run or a much-needed sugar spike, OH MY MANGO Dessert Cafe is a great option to consider.

This humble establishment has both indoor and outdoor seating but ordering is done in the separate unit just next door. Here, the overall appearance is kept minimalistic with plenty of hipsterish decors to give it a cafe-like vibe.

Their menu features more than 40 items ranging from sweet bingsu, a wide array of Shibuya toast options and a pretty extensive range of beverage options—from the iconic Thai milk tea to some quirky innovations.

Going by the name of OH MY MANGO, it would be a waste if we did not try at least one mango dessert, and boy were we impressed by the Fresh Mango Toast (S$10.90).

Comprising a scoop of mango-flavoured ice cream, cubes of deliciously sweet mango and a sprinkling of crushed almonds atop a thick and crispy slab of buttery toast, this to us gives the typical ice-cream-and-waffle combination a serious run for its money.

For the matcha fans, the Matcha Green Tea Bingsu (S$9.90) works up a real treat especially with the addition of a sticky red bean purée and crushed almonds that not only provides a nice texture to the bingsu but also bolsters the bitter green tea flavour with a hint of sweetness.

Anyone who loves Thai food will surely appreciate their Mango Sticky Rice (S$6). Simply put, this popular Thai dessert comes with no gimmicks attached. It comprises sweet sticky rice, fresh mangoes and a salted coconut sauce that you can pour over everything.

We have tried numerous variations all over, but the qualities that we believe determine a solid mango sticky rice dessert is the consistency of the coconut sauce and the freshness of the mango—which the good folks here nail down beautifully.

OH MY MANGO Dessert Bar
762 Jurong West Street 75
#01-334 Gek Poh Shopping Centre
Singapore 3640762
Tel: +65 9066 0426
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Boon Lay

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