Situated within Phoenix Park in the Tanglin area, Boufe (the word a portmanteau of "boutique" and "cafe") Boutique Cafe shares a space with Ohvola boutique. The usual brunch fare such as Eggs Benedict, Brioche French Toast and Croque Madame are served, but you should really try Boufe's Big Breakfast or "Triple B" ($21). Creamy scrambled eggs, sauteed mushrooms, bacon, sausages and a freshly baked buttery croissant — not a bad way to start your day at all.They serve fantastic pastries as well, of which the Strawberry Shortcake ($8) and Citron Tart ($5.50) stand out. Given the quality of the food and the killer combination of spaciousness, chic decor and warm ambience, this place will only become more popular with time.
This French cafe is a hidden gem along the rows of shophouses on Tras Street, perfect for starting your weekend at. With its beautiful, airy, light-filled interior, you're bound to feel like you're being transported to a Parisian cafe. Particularly good is the Croque Madame ($18), a classic French ham and cheese sandwich layered with bechamel and topped with a fried egg. The viennoiserie (croissant, pain au chocolat) are good as well, especially when paired with French butter and jams. Their menu is not extensive, which allows them to deliver quality - ultimately what makes food satisfying.
Because the prata here is so darn good, this humble stall commands a queue, especially on weekends. Everything is made from scratch using fresh, good quality ingredients, which is, sadly, not easy to find at prata stalls these days. Freshly made and fried, the prata here is crispy on the outside, chewy, buttery, very slightly sweet and most of all, not greasy. The kosong is good, but even better is their Coin Prata (essentially prata nuggets, 6 pieces for $3.50) — thicker, crispier, chewier, fluffier. Paired with curry that's spicier than the norm, this is one kickass breakfast. Besides prata, they also have nasi briyani, mee goreng, and the like.
Slightly under the radar for brunch is Super Loco, Lucha Loco's sister outlet. It makes perfect sense to enjoy your weekends here. Just imagine a tequila or mezcal cocktail in hand, washing down a table of Mexican food while enjoying the picturesque Roberston Quay. Start with the Esquites ($8) — grilled corn on the cob coated with mayonnaise, cotija cheese and chilli — a typical Mexican street food. The Breakfast Burrito ($18) is stuffed with steak, scrambled eggs, Mexican beans and caramelised onions, and is perfect for ravenous people. They also have tortas (Mexican sandwiches) and more common dishes like avocado toast and pancakes. Go for the guava and blood orange margarita ($16) if you can't decide on a drink!
Opened by the gutsy Zenn Eng, Cake Spade brings something fresh to the cake scene. Her tofu cheesecakes are genius, light and creamy at the same time, appealing even to those who don't like cheese or tofu (well, they don't actually contain tofu, it refers to the texture). The Strawberry/Peach Tofu Cheesecakes ($5.60) are must-try treats, as well as the Brownie Base Cheesecake ($6.50), which combines the best of two amazing worlds. What Cake Spade has really achieved is great balance and irresistible variety. Check out this little space for yourself, and get a few (or many) slices to share.
Known for their gorgeous HUGE cakes, The Fabulous Baker Boy is simply fabulous. Dig into their sinfully rich, chocolate covered FAB Red Velvet cake ($9) or their classic Big Lub's Carrot Cake ($8.50) with a cup of coffee. Set in The Foothills, it's a nice place to relax with a couple of friends on a languid afternoon. We suggest that you share a few slices, but hey, sometimes it's alright to be selfish.
You never need an occasion to justify eating cake, especially not at Lynn's Cakes and Coffee, where the cakes are moist and flavourful. They do classic cakes well, with a spot on cake-to-frosting ratio. If you're looking for great Red Velvet, Carrot Cake and Rainbow Cake, look no further. Their display case can have up to 12 flavours of cake at any one time, including other popular items like the Dark Chocolate Heaven and Salted Caramel Cake – you'd be spoilt for choice! Albeit slightly inconvenient, it is worth the travel. Prices range from $5.50 to $8.50.
The Bakery Chef offers quality bakes that are darn delicious and so very pretty. They offer dessert buffets every now and then — perfect for when you're feeling indulgent. The Chocolate Guanaja ($6) has an intense chocolate flavour, the Chocolate Praline ($6) is a crowd favourite, the gorgeously moist Rainbow Cake ($5.80) sells out fast, and the Lollipop Cheesecake ($7.20) is always a hit. If you suffer from the pain of being indecisive, go for their dessert platter! Grab your friends along because good friends share calories, right?
You might never want to have lava cakes anywhere else after digging into the oozy, flowy, rich lava cakes at Sync. Matcha lovers flock here for the very much raved about Matcha Lava Cake ($7.90) served with a scoop of matcha ice cream topped with choclate shavings. Its warm, rich, liquid matcha centre will leave you immensely satisfied. Their Vanilla Taro Lava Cake with yam ice cream and the Misugaru (traditional grains) Lava Cake with vanilla ice cream are definitely worth trying too! You will all be licking your spoons clean.
One of the most raved-about cakeries for their rich and sophisticated desserts, Mad About Sucre is not one to disappoint. Lovingly handcrafting every cake from scratch with no artificial flavourings and 20-60% reduced sugar, they give you a reason to indulge in more than just one deliciously well-balanced treat. Get the San Domingue ($12.80), a beautiful dome of chocolate mousse with caramelised plantain vanilla cream sitting on a Brittany crunch and topped with a rum-filled chocolate truffle. Do try the Passionne ($10.80) and Moulin Rouge ($10.80); despite having just a few cakes on the menu, each one is just as tantalising as the next!
Tsujiri is best known for its matcha desserts for all the right reasons. It's arguably the best place to quell your cravings for anything matcha. The soft serve here is dense, smooth and not too sweet, such that you can taste the slightly bitter matcha/hojicha. You can get just the soft serve in a cone, but if you're feeling a little more indulgent, go for the parfaits that come with a mixture of toppings such as mochi, azuki paste and matcha chiffon cake. As long as you're a fan of matcha/hojicha, this place will satisfy you; they have other treats too like cakes, drinks and floats.
You can always count on Creamier for good ice cream and waffles. If you love ice cream or waffles and haven't been here, you're doing it all wrong. The ice cream here is exceedingly creamy, smooth and dense, and the waffles are crispy, fluffy and eggy. Go for the Banana Chocolate Chip Crumble, Thai Milk Tea and Roasted Pistachio — almost every flavour is good, actually. However, Creamier is also known to be awfully packed all the time due to space constraints, so it'll do you good to visit during off-peak hours!
