Lola Faye pairs two of my favourite things: desserts and late nights. I had passed by it several times since it opened in mid-2021 but hadn’t been able to find the chance to step inside until now.
The first thing I noticed was the forest theme. It begins at a little alcove near the entrance which seems to have been built just for Instagram. The wall here is covered from floor to ceiling in dense faux foliage except for the centre where their cute logo sits. The forest décor continues on the other walls with images of verdant fronds. A wood-patterned floor and chocolatey brown seats complete the jungle vibe.
My love for all things sweet quickly overwhelmed my love for the planet, and I was distracted by the ice-cream cooler at the far end of the room. A sea of colourful and inviting tubs stared out at me and I couldn’t wait to get started.
What I tried
My colleague, Rachel had graciously agreed to help me through the mammoth task of stuffing myself with an endless array of desserts. We decided to begin with waffles. The choice was between Buttermilk Belgian Waffles (S$6) and Charcoal Blackout Waffles (S$7).
We went for the Charcoal Blackout simply because the dark shade seemed so unusual. The biggest decision was whether to treat ourselves to a single scoop of gelato (S$5) or a double scoop (S$9). Not wishing to discriminate, we chose 3— Cotton Candy, Milo, and Strawberry Cheesecake.
Of the trio of Topping Sauce (S$1) choices— Caramel, Chocolate, and Gula Melaka— we chose trusty caramel. What a sight the waffle was when it arrived topped with 3 scoops of ice-cream, icing sugar, caramel sauce, and Froot Loops!
The colour of this dessert was unusual and visually interesting, and the waffle was pleasantly soft and so very scrumptious. What did give Rachel and me a wonderful shiver down our collective backs was the Strawberry Cheesecake gelato. It was certainly one of the better ones I’ve tasted in a local cafe.
We all agreed that the Cotton Candy gelato had an ‘artificial’ taste to it. We later found out from our server that the gelatos at Lola Faye are not made in store. The Milo was, well, Milo and it can be considered treasonous for Singaporeans to find fault with Milo.
Along with the charcoal blackout waffle, we had asked for a Gelato Croissant (S$9.80). The price includes a single gelato scoop and we opted for their Biscoff Butter flavour. The croissant is also topped with icing sugar and a sauce (chocolate this time). Neatly tucked into the firm ball of gelato was the pièce de résistance, a Lotus Biscoff biscuit.
The croissant proved to be better than the waffle, surprising me with its airiness and texture. There is also a very high likelihood that I am biased because of the wonderfully rich and creamy Biscoff Butter gelato.
Girls are made of sugar and spice and all things nice so Rachel and I decided to give Lola Faye’s savoury menu a try as well. There was a grand total of four choices:Ayam Merah Wrap (S$11.90), Specialty Satay Wrap (S$11.90), Egg Mayo Croissant (S$5.90), and Chicken Mayo Croissant (S$6.90).
The satay wrap sounded the most promising and did not disappoint. However, the star of the dish turned out to be the nachos and cheese dip that were served on the side. We could not get enough! Rachel promises to come back just for this.
In the drinks department, Lola Faye has about 60 (!) choices for you across Hot and Iced Coffee, Frappes, Milkshakes, and a Fruity Fizzy tropical fruit range. We enjoyed our Chocolate Mint Oreo Frappe (S$7.90 for medium, S$8.90 for large), Strawberry Berry (S$6.90 for medium, S$7.90 for large), Blueberry Coral Milkshake (S$7.90 for medium, S$8.90 for large), and a Fruity Fizzy Strawberry Berry (S$3.50 for small, S$4.50 for medium, S$5.50 for large).
Final thoughts
There’s no shortage of all-night coffee shops in the Jalan Besar area, but if you’re looking for a late night dessert fix, or a Halal joint, Lola Faye is one of the best options.
Your sweet tooth will be spoiled for choice and their handful of savoury wraps and croissants will satisfy cravings for ‘real’ food.
The staff at this Muslim-owned cafe are really attentive and friendly— always a bonus for a memorable dining experience, if you ask me.
Where Lola Faye falls short is space. With seating for about 25, it’s struggling to keep up with demand. (Congratulations to them for having a problem that most cafes would kill for). However, we could see the people outside waiting for seats and that made it a bit uncomfortable for us to unwind with a post-meal gabfest at our table. Lola Faye doesn’t currently take reservations but maybe they should.
If you can find a seat, take it!
Expected damage: S$6-S$18 per pax
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Price: $
Our Rating: 3 / 5
Lola Faye
35 Hamilton Road, #01-03, Singapore 209204
Lola Faye
35 Hamilton Road, #01-03, Singapore 209204