Cafe Wishlist

After more than a year of wanting to try Third & Sixth Bistro Bar, I finally managed to drag a few friends along with me to sample their offerings. Now, the only question is why it took me so long.

Their eponymously named No. 36 burger ($14) is beautifully crafted from a high quality beef patty that's tastefully thick and grilled to a cool pink medium rare (note to self: ask for it to be cooked medium the next time), followed up by a pile of strikingly sweet caramelized onions being laid atop the beef. A slice of cheddar cheese is then melted to marry the onions and beef together, followed up by two smoky rashers of bacon which are sensually draped atop the whole affair before the meaty menagerie is entombed by crusty, toasted multigrain buns.

The patty itself is a party in your mouth, due to it being superbly seasoned and tantalizingly juicy, before the creaminess of the cheddar and the savoriness and smokiness of the bacon elevates this beautiful beefy patty right into burger bliss. The bun is rather subjective, as one of my friends found it a bit too crusty for his liking while I personally enjoyed the crustier texture which contrasts well with the soft texture of the minced beef patty. Do note that the burgers are standalone, and the sides of fries come separately. And in all honesty, $10 for sweet potato fries and another $10 for shoestring fries with truffle mayonnaise on the side is kind of exorbitant.

Surprisingly, Third & Sixth was very quiet for a Saturday night, and service was excellent. In fact, the supervisor even had ample time to recommend us beers to go with our burgers, and the differences between Thatcher ciders. Overall, this Bistro is a choice venue to get your burger and boozing on at.

Set in the foyer of The Working Capitol, this cosy cafe serves up crepes and coffee in a spacious, quiet environment — perfect for a light meal with a good book, a business meeting, or getting some work done. If you're here for dessert, go straight for sweet crepes like Yuzu Butter ($12), served with Yuzu-infused Bordier butter and sugar, or the Chocolate ($12), served with chocolate pearls and Valrhona chocolate sauce. For something savoury, try a galette (unlike crepes, this is made with buckwheat flour). The Smoked Salmon ($18) with Scottish smoked salmon, capers, a crumbled hardboiled egg and homemade creme fraiche is a tasty choice. The coffee (from $3.50), made with Papa Palheta coffee beans, is a good option if you're in need of a caffeine hit, but the interesting Homemade Ginger Beer with Honey ($7) with its punchy ginger flavour will instantly lift your spirits!

Avg Price: $15 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Cassie Ong

Just across from Fluff Bakery is The Lab, a Muslim-owned cafe with an experimental menu that ranges from burgers to bao sliders and milkshakes. Come if you're craving for a burger meal with your friends in a relaxed setting. Don't miss the standout Burger Stack ($17) — a juicy homemade beef patty topped with portobello mushroom and melted cheese, sandwiched between two toasty buns. It also comes with a side of mixed sweet potato and potato fries which you must dip in the Danish blue cheese aioli. If you must have ketchup with your fries, know that it's playfully served in a mini plastic beaker (that we secretly want to keep). Vegan options are available as well. Try the Porto Peanut Burger ($13), that comes with a juicy portobello mushroom, topped with The Lab's chunky peanut gravy, onions and cucumbers. Complete your experience with their Iced Cappuccino ($6), which comes served in a beaker of warm milk and syringe of espresso.

Avg price: $25 per person
Photo by Burppler Hwans Lim

This whitewashed, light-filled cafe along Upper Thomson Road is perpetually buzzy, drawing in the crowds with its Instagrammable dishes and hipster vibes. Pacamara Boutique Coffee Roasters is a joint venture between Thailand's Pacamara Coffee and Oz Specialty Coffee, so you can expect great coffee alongside tasty food. Come with friends and start by nibbling on some Truffle Fries ($8). The menu has been revamped recently, so save space to try the amazing brunch grub like the Ocean Mac & Cheese ($18.90) — oven baked pasta with chunks of crab meat and prawns, topped with smoked salmon. We also like the Duck Confit Hash ($20.90) — shredded duck leg confit on top of rosti, mushrooms, poached eggs and drizzled with hollandaise sauce. Come night time, the menu sees more proteins and pastas, like the irresistible Steak Frites ($25) with truffle hollandaise sauce. Wash it all down with a cup of Iced Thai Coffee ($6) or a bottle or two of craft beers (from $10.90). Pacamara does not take reservations so come early to avoid a long wait.

Avg price: $25 per person
Photo by Burppler Joyce Lim

Eastsiders, there's no need to travel all the way to Upper Thomson for One Man Coffee's dependable, affordable brunch that never disappoints. This second outlet is conveniently located at MyVillage, and like its Thomson outlet, is also within Crust Gourmet Pizza Bar. Seats are limited, so come early to snag a spot if you're coming for a meal. This makes for a great coffee pit stop too — a Piccolo ($4) with an extra shot ($1) for an instant boost. We're happy to share that the standards are consistent, so you can be assured that their signature Gashouse Egg with Bacon Jam ($10) will be just as impressive here. This simple breakfast dish of thick brioche with a runny egg in the middle is blanketed with melted cheese and served with a side of salty-sweet bacon jam. The Big Brekkie ($15) is also excellent — two poached eggs placed on sourdough rye, served with a side of superbly candied bacon, roasted cherry tomatoes, button mushrooms and baby spinach. End your meal on a sweet note with the Brioche French Toast ($10), probably one of the most pocket-friendly in Singapore. According to Burppler Jocelyn Wong, the Caramelised Bananas and Salted Caramel version with its glorious salted caramel sauce is "worth every single bit of my calories"!

Avg price: $20 per person
Photo by Burppler Jocelyn Wong

Opened by the folks behind Strangers' Reunion, this gorgeous, light-filled cafe in Prinsep Street is a favourite among nearby art school students and office workers alike. Many come for the much photographed Ricotta Hotcake ($14.90). In comparison to Paddy Hills' prettier version, this is a little more rustic, more affordable and a whole lot more generous — you can comfortably share it among four. We like the caramelised sides and the contrasting textures of pumpkin and sunflower seeds and milky vanilla ice cream, but we must admit we started slowing down when we got to the cakey middle. For a lighter sweet treat, the Buttermilk Waffle ($12.50) with Greek Yoghurt, maple syrup and fresh fruit is amazing. If you're here for a proper meal, try the Corned Beef Scotch Egg ($17.50), which is beautifully crisp golden on its breaded outside. The meat within is punchy and flavourful, and even better when smeared with the accompanying tomato conserve. For drinks, try the Flat White ($4.90), which is moderately robust and smooth. We also like their excellent Syphon Coffee ($6.90) — one of the owners is actually the World Siphonist Championship 2015 winner! Pro-tip: It starts to fill up quickly from noon, so visit either before or after the lunch rush to avoid the crowds.

Avg Price: $25 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Marc T

By the same people behind Assembly Coffee comes Atlas Coffeehouse, an expansive, lofty Bukit Timah cafe decked out in marbled tiles and deep sea blue walls. Great for both quick coffee runs and long, lazy brunches, sail by for a Flat White ($4.50) and start the day with a relaxing read by the window bar. For brunch, get the ATLAS Super-Bowl ($17), a healthy yet tasty grain bowl filled with toasted quinoa, roasted squash and zucchini and tender peanut sesame pulled chicken. For more classic brunch flavours, go for the Creamy Mushrooms on Sourdough ($12) — a generous heap of mushrooms cooked with a splash of white wine and sundried tomatoes, which you must pair with the silky smooth Scrambled Eggs ($3 for add on). For dessert, we favour the Mixed Berries Compote Waffles ($12.50) over the pancakes — they are similar in taste but the former is lighter and more affordable. Pro-tip: It gets a little crowded at lunch time, so it's best to pop by around 11am.

Avg price: $25 per person
Photo by Burppler Xinyi Fu

The portion was big enough to fill my hungry stomach and the potato dippers were delicious. One of my fave places for affordable comfort food.

If you're itching for a refreshing caffeine fix on a hot day, stopping by Old Hen Coffee for a bottle of their famous cold brew would be a wise choice. Just a 3-minute walk from Farrer Park MRT station, this cafe dishes out light cafe bites, desserts and coffee. For something savoury, the Croque Monsieur comes highly recommended, as is the case for their Breakfast Toast -- a delicious combination of egg mayo, turkey bacon and cornflakes. Popping in for just a cuppa and some sweets? Choose from a selection of cakes and tarts on display. You'd be silly to leave without first getting hold of a bottle (or two!) of their Creamy White Cold Brew. Slightly sweet, creamy, and with little acidity, this is a truly refreshing beverage!

Situated within POMO in the Dhoby Ghaut area, Montana Brew Bar is a cosy cafe that serves a variety of burgers, waffles, sandwiches, and pastries. They boast a rather extensive waffle selection that comprises both savoury and sweet. No visit is complete without trying their signature Truffle Jalapeño Mac & Cheese 2.0 Waffle ($11.50) -- it's really quite shiok. For dessert, Montana offers a choice of either crispy or fluffy soufflé waffle bases for all sweet waffles. Whichever your choice may be, indulge in their Matcha Strawberry Fields ($9.50) with mango passionfruit spheres and white chocolate sauce. On the coffee front, Montana offers artisanal coffee blends -- from single origin roasts to their own special house blend.

Located a few steps away from Maxwell Food Centre, Monochrome Fusion Bistro's unique feature is their uber-stylish monochrome-themed decor and plating, as well as their meticulous attention to aesthetic. Not every item on the menu follows the colour scheme though, so to remain in-keeping with the theme and go for their Monochrome Aglio Olio ($25) -- a combination of normal and squid ink spaghetti served with edamame and a choice of either mussels or prawn -- or their Monochrome Squid Ink Risotto with pan-seared scallops and Parmesan cheese. A very attractively-priced $18.90++ lunch deal (soup + choice of a main + coffee/tea) is currently available on weekdays!

Bistro by day and sports bar by night, newly opened Atmosphere Bistro caters to both families looking for a great meal, and older crowds looking for a chill space to have a pint. Located at Parkland Green in East Coast Park, this is an awesome place for a relaxing meal with a seaside view. Start with the Lobster Bisque ($5.80) and Grilled Squid ($9.80), and follow up with some Baby Back Ribs ($19.80) or Flaming Pizza ($22.80) before ending off with their signature Molten Lava Cake ($11.80). Going in a group? Their Truffle Fries and Mini Burgers are great snacks for sharing too.