Taking over the space previously occupied by the legendary Lim Seng Lee Duck Rice at South Buona Vista Road, Australian-style Paddy Hills serves cafe food in the day, and Asian-inspired small plates after 5.30pm. There is a strong fusion aspect to their offerings which aim to surprise the tastebuds, as seen in their intriguing Cauliflower Fritters with paprika salt and masala yogurt ($12). For brunch, share their gorgeous Berry Ricotta Hotcake ($19) — a huge, fluffy, crisp cake that's topped with berries, mascarpone, berry sugar and beautiful edible flowers. Also go for their Squid Ink Tagliatelle ($23), a Japanese fusion dish topped with ever-so-lightly seared scallops. For dinner, select from their wide array of yakitoris and share their Golden Man Tou Sliders ($23)!
Joining the increasingly buzzy Keong Saik Road stretch is Banana Tree. A boutique dessert cafe concept from Korea, Banana Tree offers a variety of pretty desserts in a minimalist, spacious cafe setting. Its glass ceiling allowing streams of natural sunlight to create a warm, alfresco-esque cafe experience. Dessert items available include their Flower Paap (pudding in a flower pot), Som Som (cotton candy) lattes and Pot Bingsu (shaved ice). Go for their creamy signature Banana Flower Pot Pudding ($6.50) and their Red Bean Pot BingSu ($12). If you're in the mood for just coffee, go for their iced Banana Som Som Latte ($7), which comes topped with cotton candy!
A sister outlet of the original Grin Affair at Everton Park has opened its doors at Bishan, and it serves more than their signature cakes-in-jars. The Bishan outlet serves crisp and light meringue waffles made with only egg whites and soya milk, and you can choose from both sweet and savoury toppings. Go for the slow-roasted chicken waffle with bacon and maple cream ($7.50) if you're in the mood for something savoury, or the waffle topped with durian gelato, almond flakes and toffee sauce ($10) for a good sugar fix.
Tucked away in Gillman Barracks is Red Baron, a new cafe/ bar concept operated by the good people behind Artistry. Expect brunch fare like salads and sandwiches, as well as a small selection of sweets and craft beers. Go for their French Toast ($7) — toasted brioche heaped with caramelised bananas, sopped in gula melaka sauce, and finished with a sprinkling of dessicated coconut.
Nestled in the quiet Biopolis cluster at One-North, Tête-à-Tête Café (pronounced "tatt-a-tatt") is a Parisian-style cafe serving cakes, pastries, brunch and an extensive selection of Basilur teas. With its wondrously high ceiling and spaciousness, this place makes for a perfect hideaway for those in the West, especially on Saturdays. Go for the Lemon Meringue Tart ($6.90) or the Flourless Black Forest Cake ($7.90) for something light, or bring your friends and treat yourselves to a Pastry Trio ($18 for three pastries) and pair it with some of their Basilur Specialty Teas ($5 for a small pot; $9 for a large pot).
It appears that there is an opening of a new Korean dessert joint every few weeks, and joining Banana Tree this month is O'ma Spoon, situated on the fourth floor of Marina Square. O'ma Spoon offers a variety of milk-based bingsus in both single and 2-people portions as well as a few other items such as their Injeolmi Toast, with the price ranging from $4.80 to $22.80. Go for their Strawberry and Green Tea Bingsus for a cooling, melt-in-your-mouth treat.
