Cafes are aplenty in Singapore, especially in areas such as Tanjong Pagar and Holland Village. But that doesn’t mean that those of us over in the North East have to travel that distance to get our cafe meals.
While we don’t have the luxury of having all our options in one place, there are still some really amazing places you can visit. To make it easier to locate these gems, here are 10 Cafes in North-Eastern Singapore.
But before we get into the swing of things, let’s not confuse the North East Line (NEL) with the geographical definition of North-Eastern Singapore, we’ll be cover cafes in areas including Ang Mo Kio, Hougang and Punggol.
1. Arbite
Arbite is situated in Serangoon Gardens and their offerings differ from that of the other cafes in the area, selling interesting fusion dishes in addition to the normal cafe brunch items.
The Avocado and Smoked Salmon ($14) is one of their aesthetically pleasing brunch items consisting of tangy avocado mash and delicate smoked salmon topped with a micro herb salad.
As far as fusion dishes go, the Beef Rendang Mac and Cheese ($16) is pretty eye-catching. We felt that the Rendang flavours could afford to be stronger, but it was still a hearty and satisfying Mac and Cheese.
Arbite: 66A Serangoon Garden Way, Singapore 555962 |Tel: +65 9456 3807 | Opening Hours: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm (Mon – Fri), 9am – 10.30pm (Sat), 9am – 10pm (Sun), Closed on Wed | Website | Facebook
2. Lola’s Cafe
Loved by many, Lola’s Cafe is a frequent hangout spot for students and working adults alike. The vibes you’ll get when you dine at Lola’s is an odd mix of classy and retro, which surprisingly works well together.
The cafe is known for its brunch items, as well as its desserts.
We were recommended the Miso Salmon Grain Bowl ($18), and Breakfast Croissant ($14) for brunch. These popular items are well-balanced dishes, which will fuel you up for a hard day at work.
The salmon was tender, and took on the earthy flavours of the miso really well. The grain bowl is the perfect meal for those who are looking to eat clean.
On the other hand, you have the breakfast croissant filled with ham, scrambled eggs, and cheese. The essential components of a hearty breakfast.
Lola’s Cafe: 5 Simon Road, Singapore 545893 | Opening Hours: 10am – 11.30pm (Sun – Thurs), 10am – 12am (Fri, Sat), Closed on Mon | Tel: +65 6284 0349 | Website | Facebook
3. Ice Edge Cafe
Further down the road from Lola’s Cafe lies Ice Edge Cafe, the place to go for some hearty Western food. This diner-style cafe is the perfect place to hang out with friends and have casual conversations.
As far as food goes, the Seafood Aglio Olio Spaghetti ($16.80) and Cordon Bleu ($18.80) are crowd favourites. The spaghetti is pretty up there in the spice department and the seafood used is also quite fresh.
As for the cordon bleu, you’re looking at nacho cheese encased in fried chicken. When we plunged the knife into the chicken, the nacho cheese flowed out like golden yellow lava.
While we’re on the topic of golden yellow lava, their Mao Shan Wang Lava Cake ($14.80) is also a must-try if you’re a durian lover.
Ice Edge Cafe: #01-10 Simon Plaza, 2 Kovan Road, Singapore 548008 |Tel: +65 6858 5729 | Opening Hours: 11.30am – 11.30pm (Daily) | Website | Facebook
4. Lady Cake Boss
If we’re talking Instagrammable cafes, Lady Cake Boss takes the cake, literally. Located in The Midtown, this cafe occasionally hosts baking courses you can take part in.
As to why you should consider their classes, just take a look at their cakes!
The signature Mini 3D Mao Shan Wang ($10) is made fresh in the cafe’s kitchen. This best seller has quite a significant proportion of Mao Shan Wang flesh, which makes it taste as real as it looks.
Other gorgeous cakes you can get, include the Seasalt Caramel Cake ($7), and Gold Dust Belgium Chocolate Mousse ($6).
What makes their cakes so irresistible is the texture of the sponge — it’s not too delicate and has a little bite to it, similar to those from old-school bakeries.
Lady Cake Boss: #01-08 The Midtown, 1187 Upper Serangoon Road, Singapore 533971 | Tel: +65 9823 5048 | Opening Hours: 12pm – 10pm (Daily) | Website | Facebook
5. Foxhole Cafe
This peaceful cafe also resides in The Midtown. By making small tweaks to already tasty dishes, they take their food to the next level. The quirkiest thing about Foxhole Cafe is that the mains are served with either raspberry or truffle chips.
Their signature, the Chilli Crab Meat Crossaint ($14.90) is a fusion dish that has people coming back for more. This croissant is stuffed with a mixture of soft crabmeat and hard boiled egg; a little like the Singaporean remake of the egg mayo croissant.
It also packs some heat, albeit not too much. So, if you want to give this twist on the brunch item a try, Foxhole Cafe is where it’s at.
Foxhole Cafe: #01-18 The Midtown, 1189 Upper Serangoon Road, Singapore 534785 | Tel: +65 9800 3523 | Opening Hours: 11am – 9pm (Mon – Thurs), 11am – 10pm (Fri), 9am – 10pm (Sat), 9am – 9pm (Sun), Closed on Tues | Facebook
6. Mingle Mangle
If you’re a fan of ice cream (who isn’t?), the name Mingle Mangle may ring a bell — it is the birthplace of strange ice cream flavours, such as chilli crab ice cream and white chocolate ice cream.
They also sell a large variety of regular flavours, such as Sea Salt Caramel and D24 Durian. We went for a middleground flavour, salted egg yolk ice cream, on top of a crispy red velvet waffle.
Like the ice cream, they have waffles in a myriad of flavours too: Rum and Choc Chip, Charcoal, and Cookies and Cream, to name a few.
I’ll be honest, the waffle we had wasn’t amazing. It was a little on the hard side, but maybe it was just our luck. Regardless, go for the ice cream. It’ll be quite the experience.
Mingle Mangle: #02-07 Block 476 Upper Serangoon View Road, Singapore 530476 | Opening Hours: 1pm – 10pm (Mon – Thurs), 1pm – 11pm (Fri), 12pm – 11pm (Sat), 12pm – 10pm (Sun), Closed on Tues | Website | Facebook
7. Whisk & Paddle
Go to Whisk & Paddle for a scenic alfresco dining experience. The cafe overlooks the waterway, which makes for a great view to chillax to.
Whisk and Paddle has an all-day brunch menu, which means you can get eggs benedict for dinner!
You’re going to be surprised with this Eggs Benedict ($14.80) though, instead of muffins or toast, half a waffle is used as a base.
Word on the street is, the mac and cheese is really good too. Their menu is quite extensive, so there’s going to be something for everyone. When night falls, you can even indulge on one of their cocktails.
Whisk & Paddle: 10 Tebing Lane, Singapore 828836 | Tel: +65 6242 4617 | Opening Hours: 3.30pm – 10.30pm (Mon – Fri), 9.30am – 10.30pm (Sat, Sun) | Website | Facebook
8. Prodigal Roasters
It may be a little difficult to locate this outlet of Prodigal Roasters, as it’s buried deep within a residential estate. While the newer outlet in Tai Seng has a bigger and better menu, the original outlet offers cosy vibes that are hard to replicate.
I say cosy, because there are less than 10 seats in this outlet, a good place to visit and spend a quiet afternoon. I’d definitely get their Ice Miso Caramel Latte ($7) which has a similar concept to salted caramel but with more complexity because of the miso taste.
As for their baked goods, the selection changes every day. All of them are still tasty though, and I wouldn’t mind forking out extra cash for a slice their cakes to accompany my latte.
Prodigal Roasters: #01-112 Block 625 Ang Mo Kio Ave 9, Singapore 560625 | Tel: +65 9450 0484 | Opening Hours: 12pm – 10pm (Mon – Fri), 9am – 5pm (Sat, Sun), Closed on Wed | Website | Facebook
9. Twenty Grammes
And then there’s our favourite waffles and ice cream place, Twenty Grammes. The waffles and ice cream are longtime fan favourites, and their outlet at Ang Mo Kio keeps up the same standard as the original beach road one.
For the best IG shots, go for the Yuan Yang Waffle ($15), which alternates regular and charcoal waffle batter. You can also choose between scoops of gelato and tall swirls of soft serve.
Keep a look out for their limited time soft serve flavours which will give your waffles a special touch.
Twenty Grammes: #01-2353 529 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1, Singapore 560529 | Tel: +65 6816 1916 | Opening Hours: 12pm – 10pm (Sun – Thurs), 12pm – 1am (Fri, Sat) | Facebook
10. Wildseed Cafe & Bar
Located in Seletar Aerospace Park, Wildseed Cafe & Bar really lets you be one with nature. It incorporates a farm-to-table concept into its menu, using most of what’s offered from the edible garden outside the cafe.
They place a strong emphasis on making every component of their food in-house. The Morocano ($18) contains house-made hummus and braised beef brisket.
Their edible garden comes into play where desserts such as the Pea Flower Coconut Muffin ($6.50) are concerned. This bright blue muffin will surely put a pop of colour in your life.
Wildseed Cafe & Bar: 3 Park Lane, Singapore 798387 | Opening Hours (Cafe): 9am – 5pm (Daily) | Tel: +65 6262 1063 | Website
