If you live in the West, you would know very well the severe lack of cafes in the area. Once again, the East of Singapore triumphs in bringing us over to explore even their most ulu parts for their food and eateries. Oh, the pain and humiliation.
Despite that, we have managed to sniff out and reveal these very elusive Singapore cafes in the west. So the next time you just want to relax with a cup of coffee in your hand while in the wild west, you can do so just 10 – 15 minutes away. No need to dress up and go all the way to the East (which is literally another country to us westies) to ‘chill’. Here is the list of some lifesavers for the westies.
1. The Usual Place
Only about a five to 10 minutes walk away from Chinese Garden MRT station, this cafe serves pretty common food, but check out their Salted Egg Prawn Pasta ($12.90)! If you are a fan of liu sha baos, salted egg yolk crab and the like, you know you need to give this a go. The costs of other items are pretty affordable as well, so you get your bang for your buck at the usual place.
The Usual Place: 346 Jurong East St 31 #01-73, Singapore 600346 | Tel: 64251517 | Website
2. Time Table Cafe
Serving very affordable western fare like the Mushroom Spaghetti ($8.80), Time Table Cafe is a simple, casual cafe with down-to-earth service and food, even if the menu is rather limited. Enjoy delicious desserts and coffee over warm hospitality at this cosy cafe.
Time Table cafe also offers FREE WIFI with power outlets, great for work discussion using electronic devices over coffee. Students get a 15% discount too!
Time Table Cafe: Block 456,Jurong West, Street 41, #01-726, Singapore 640456 | Tel:65665088 | Website
3. Miam Miam
Miam Miam’s French toasts gained some popularity awhile back, but besides their airy French toasts they have the fluffiest pancakes and soufflés too! Before you dig in to your dessert, check out their handmade spaghettis and rice dishes. Or, you could have dessert first then decide later. Or you could have dessert then another dessert. I mean, it is all the same right?
Miam Miam: 3 Gateway Drive, #01-21/22, Westgate Singapore 608532 | Tel: 6837 0301| Website
4. Benten Cafe
Do not mistake this cafe for the popular (or used to be) cartoon series: Ben 10. While this is not about a young boy transforming into several different aliens with the help of a digital watch from outer space, it may just be as exciting.
Ben 10 serves Japanese-Western fare, so think about not only their pastas and baked rice, but also hamburger steaks, Japanese curries and parfaits. They are known for their affordability, so students take note. Good food and cheap prices? Definitely exciting for me!
Benten Cafe: 1 Jurong West Central 2, #03-20/20A Jurong Point Shopping Centre, Singapore 648886 | Tel: 6791 0882 | Website
5. Pitchstop Cafe
Hidden away in Nanyang Technological University (NTU), this place must be a godsend for those living in hall (their dormitories). Even if you ignore the fact that NTU is located far in the West, getting there still can be difficult and confusing. So a decent cafe within campus grounds is something to shout about. But something noteworthy is that they serve wood-fired pizzas – fresh and piping hot, that would definitely win microwaved pizzas by a mile.
Pitchstop Cafe: 16 Nanyang Drive, NTU Innovation Centre B1, Unit No. 01-108, Singapore 637722 | Tel: 67924338 | Website
6. Dean & DeLuca
Recently opened HillV2 boasts several restaurants, such as Kinsa Sushi, Cedele, Wine Connection and more. You can also find the third Dean and Deluca we have in Singapore there. This cafe, hailing from New York City, is perfect for a weekend brunch. Think croissants, pastries and American breakfasts. Mmm, While you are there, grab some of their in-house branded foodstuffs to enjoy at home.
Dean & DeLuca: HillV2, 4 Hillview Rise #01-01, Singapore 667979 | Tel: 6710 7282 | Website
7. Han’s Cafe and Cake House
In a dilemma? Sometimes it can be difficult to decide where to eat during dinnertime. Especially for big groups, because you know, someone wants to have Western food and another, maybe some local food. Serving both Western and local food, Han’s is your solution! Serving steaks and pastas alongside hor fun and fried rice, the cafe will placate both parties and hopefully stop a hangry (hungry + angry) fight from breaking out.
Han’s Cafe and Cake House: 50 Jurong Gateway Road, #B1-03, Singapore 608549 | Tel: 6708 6757
and
1 Joo Koon Circle, #02-26/27/28, Fairprice Hub, Singapore 629117 | Tel: 6708 6773 | Website
8. Third Place
Named so due to its three tying concepts – eating house, cafe and bar, its outlets are located deep within the industrial areas in Jurong West, Boon Lay and Tuas areas. Yes, they have three, all in the ulu parts in the West.
Thanks to its Eating House features they have all sorts of different stalls and cuisines there! Munch on pizza and drink some fish maw soup while waiting for your salted egg cheese crab to arrive. Need I say more?
Third Place: JTC Cleantech One, 1 Cleantech Loop, #02-32, Singapore 637141
and
JTC Medtech One, 2 Tukang Innovation Grove, #01-01, Singapore 618305
and
18 Tuas Avenue 7, Singapore 639272 | Tel: 6852 3333 | Website
9. W39 Bistro & Bakery
Cosy and homely, this is a cafe for kicking back your legs and relaxing with a bunch of friends. They have a brunch menu, which means you get your usual favourites like American style platters and eggs benedicts.
As a plus, they have renditions of local foods like mee siam and nasi lemak. Check out their tender duck leg confit, which falls apart beautifully with a prod from a fork.
W39 Bistro & Bakery: 39 Jalan Mas Puteh, Singapore 128637 | Tel: 96465372 | Website
10. The Tiny Roaster
Serious coffee lovers will appreciate this. The Tiny Roaster roasts their coffee beans in-house. Set in industrial décor – brick, grey walls and cement floor, it really induces a sense of relaxation here. Pair a cup of coffee with the two only kinds of food available there: their affogato and dark chocolate tartlets, as the cafe stands by their belief in serving food that would not overshadow their coffees.
The Tiny Roaster: The Tiny Roaster, Blk 106 Clementi Street 12, #01-62, Singapore 120106 | Website
