In Good Company
#B1-06 Ion Orchard, 10:30am-9:30pm daily
With its wooden tables, suspended ferns and comforting fare, the 20-seater cafe housed within the newly-opened In Good Company store has an element of tranquillity that one would find in nature rather than a busy shopping mall.
Just like everything from the local ready-to-wear label, which offers modern wardrobe staples for women and children, the food (prices range from $5 for grilled toast to $18 for a prosciutto and truffle ciabatta sandwich) is decidedly fuss-free and lovingly prepared by local bakery Plain Vanilla. The menu is made up mostly of light eats as well as healthy yoghurt bowls for that extra burst of energy. Not to be missed are the moist cupcakes that Plain Vanilla’s reputation was built upon.
“We have always had a vision beyond just clothes for (the brand), so when we visited this space at Ion, we all knew in an instant that it would be perfect to have a cafe within the store. We wanted to create a more customer-centric space where they can take their time to shop and dwell longer,” said Ms Jaclyn Teo, co-founder of In Good Company.
Pedder On Scotts
Level 2 Scotts Square
For years, On Pedder has been known as the ultimate shoe destination with its wide selection of designer styles, and by the end of November, it’s where you can also go to get schooled in coffee, when Hong Kong-based The Coffee Academics opens a 3,000 sq ft cafe within the newly refurbished premises at luxe shopping mall Scotts Square. Those with a keen interest in the craft can learn about coffee through seven sensory stations, which allow you to blend and brew your own coffee using beans that have been harvested from café’s very own farm in Panama.
The team is still hush-hush about what will be served on its brunch, lunch and dinner menu, or how much things will cost, but judging by the Hong Kong menu, it’ll comprise tasty dishes like crispy fried fish tacos, milk braised chicken, crab and avocado salad and cinnamon sugar churros. And with new dedicated sections in the store for men and kids to pick up footwear, this has certainly become a family-friendly destination.
Gallery & Co.
National Gallery Singapore, 1 Saint Andrew’s Road
Forget kitschy trinkets – Gallery & Co., which is slated to open at the National Gallery Singapore in November, is set to change your perception of museum stores with well-designed products and good eats. And with names such as Unlisted Collection, Foreign Policy Design and Luxasia – all heavyweights in the food – design and retail industry respectively, backing this venture, expect nothing less than the best.
Offering glorious views of the Padang, the soon-to-be-opened cafe will feature dishes concocted by Chef Sufian Zain of Restaurant Ember that celebrate distinctive Southeast Asian flavours, as well as a selection of cakes, coffee and sweets sourced from local purveyors. On the retail front, look out for one-of-a-kind finds designed collaboratively by Southeast Asian and international artists, as well as a bookstore boasting an extensive list of titles.
Kilo @ PACT
#02-16 Orchard Central, 11:30am-3pm and 5:30pm-10pm (Tue-Sat) and 11am-6pm (Sun)
This multi-category emporium is where you can go to pick up artisanal perfumes from local label Code Deco; handcrafted jewellery from Killari; and quirky furniture designed by local brand Fred Lives Here, but since it opened in 2012, many also head here just for its Japanese-influenced fare at its cafe space Kilo.
The three menus available – lunch, dinner and brunch – offer a selection of salads, sushi rolls, pastas and Japanese rice bowls (dinner mains range from$24 to $33). The Burmese potato salad, beef tongue tacos, grilled baby corns and huevos rancheros (a Mexican fried egg dish) have become real crowd pleasers, noted general manager Ms Seraphina Woon.
To end off your meal on a sweet note, there’s dessert – chocolate lava cake, lemon pie with Italian meringue and churros – or you could also treat your nails to some intricate nail art at the in-house nail salon, Kiyone + Lim. It’s a cosy space that fits no more than 45 at one time, so be sure to call ahead of time.
Kapok
#01-05 National Design Centre, 11am-9pm daily
We love Kapok for its mix of niche brands, such as French clothing label Maison Kitsune, New York City-based sneaker label Common Projects and Hong Kong accessories label Mischa. It’s also brought French ready-to-wear label A.P.C, best known for its clean designs and selvage jeans, back into Singapore recently after the label closed its flagship store at Raffles Hotel in June. Another thing we love about it: the 50-seater cafe, which offers small bites, pastas, coffee and craft beer. There’s also the option of grabbing an outdoor seat on the patio which overlooks the historic St Joseph’s Church.
Word is that the store is making changes to its existing menu, which currently ranges from $5 to $15 for food, so keep an eye out.
Main image: The Coffee Academics
Like this? Check out the Female team’s favourite cafes and restaurants in Singapore.
