Cafes in the CBD
Café Kitsuné
Cafe Kitsune was the first of the four cafes we visited, taking up a little corner of City Hall’s Capitol Singapore. The cafe itself had a pleasant atmosphere, even though it was a little cramped, and the design of the cafe added a sense of comfort; a pleasant colour palette of white, sleek concrete and warm wood tones interspersed with greenery; the glass walls with shelves filled with cafe-esque items like coffee cups, paper bags of coffee grounds and cute, tiny coffee taster cups; particularly, the woven-back cafe seats carried a ambience reminiscent of Parisian style cafes.
Despite the area around the cafe being decorated with Christmas themed props in preparation for an event of some sort, the cafe itself was remarkably quiet and peaceful, with only a few other patrons in the cafe at the time.
The Coffee & Food
Upon being seated, the staff quickly gave us two menus to peruse through, from which we decided to order the $5 Kuro Goma Financier, an apparent seasonal special, while I personally decided to get an $8 hot latte, and was pleasantly surprised by their wide variety of non-dairy milk offerings, which included oat, almond and soy alternatives, helpful for those of you who (like me) are lactose intolerant, or if you simply prefer non-dairy milk alternatives.
Due to the relative quietness of the cafe that day, it didn’t take long for the coffee and pastry to arrive – and when they did, we were quick to split the financier into quarters for us to eat. The Kuro Goma Financier was pleasant, with a nutty aroma encased in a doughy, chocolate exterior, yet it wasn’t much more than that. Although it was a decent pastry, the Kuro Goma Financier wasn’t much else aside from a sweet, chocolate cafe treat, and was hardly worth the $5 dollar price tag, especially for the size of the pastry, which wasn’t very large at all. Most worrying of all, it didn’t really pair well with the coffee – although I had ordered a hot latte with oat milk, and perhaps would mix better with a stronger coffee or a coffee of less sweetness compared to what I had ordered.
The coffee I had ordered cost me $9, inclusive of an additional $1 surcharge for the oat milk I had decided to add, and all in all, the coffee was nice and aromatic. There was nothing too exotic about it; it was a nice, simple latte which was pleasant to sip on while conversing – and the coffee itself was rather large, making it slightly more worth its $9 price tag, even if it may be a bit basic for some.
Service wise, the staff were all around pleasant and fast, and I appreciated their initiative to keep the menus once we had ordered our coffee and pastries.
All-in-all, I would recommend Cafe Kitsune as a pleasant place to meet with a friend or two, carrying a nice, comfortable atmosphere to relax and converse in, which is relatively accessible from City Hall MRT – making it a good place to meet friends in the CBD, should you wish – although their coffee and pastries are nothing special, and are certainly pricier than some places, the price tag pays more for the comfy, parisian ambience of the cafe, and I certainly wouldn’t mind going back to Cafe Kitsune purely for the ambience, just to chat with friends.
Food/Drink: 6/10
Atmosphere: 1010
Cost: 3/10
Accessibility: 10/10
Service: 8/10
Glasshouse
Tucked away at a homely corner of CHIJMES, the second cafe had a unique design of which 2 of their 4 walls were made of glass, giving a sense of sitting outside while enjoying the cool blow of the air conditioner on a hot Singaporean afternoon. Despite being situated right beside the busy Victoria Street, being inside the cafe offered a sense of peace and tranquility, perfect for those who desire to escape the hustle and bustle of the CBD area while ironically being in the centre of it.
The first thing that pleased us was the exceptional service; once we stepped into the cafe, an employee quickly allocated us our table and swiftly brought us the menu.
The waiting time for the food was quite decent as well, with our cake and drink coming in less than 10 minutes. We decided to try one of their specialty House-made Cakes, a Lemon Loaf with Lemon Drizzle, setting us back $8. As for the beverage, I opted for a Keemun Panda Tea, costing $5. The cake was soft and buttery, melting in my mouth, with the lemon taste flavourful yet not overpowering. The tea was served in a special cup, with a component to hold the leaves as it brewed within. Despite this cool factor, it could not justify its price tag as it tasted just like a normal black tea in the end.
Based on the people we observed in Glasshouse, it would be recommended to those who find themselves in the CBD area exhausted and wish to take a quick rest in a comfortable cafe. However, the food is slightly expensive and a full meal could cost in excess of $20.
Food and Drink: 7/10
Atmosphere: 8/10
Cost: 2/10
Accessibility: 8/10
Service: 9/10
Hellu Coffee
Modern, cosy and chic are the words that first came to our minds when we arrived at Hellu Coffee. Situated in a small alley within Far East Square, this cafe is perfect for a little pick-me-up coffee and croffles after a busy day.
While it did take us some time to navigate our way there, the snug atmosphere and friendly staff certainly made up for it. The wood-toned, minimalist interior accented with its warm, ambient lighting made it the ideal spot for a chill hang-out session with friends. Although it does lend credit to its reputation as a hole-in-the-wall cafe for its small space, it’s also highly popular with locals around the area, so do be sure to avoid the lunch crowd (12-2pm) and come at a later time, with more available seats!
We were unfortunately unable to find seats during our time there, but we did enter the shop to admire the classy interior and adorable trinkets decorating the walls. The cashier serving us at the counter was also incredibly friendly and helpful, recommending their signature Creamu drink series for us to try and the croffle menu, which is a croissant waffle first popularised in Korea. The cafe certainly was quite reminiscent of a quiet Korean cafe in the streets of Hongdae, but found within our Singaporean streets.
Eventually, we decided to order their Matcha Creamu (pictured below) for $8.90. Although it hovers on the more pricey end, the matcha flavour was clean and pronounced; while slightly more milky than usual, the drink is only lightly sweetened, the cream accentuating the bitter taste of matcha. This is a definite go-to for matcha lovers who prefer their drinks on the less-sweet side so that they can taste the true flavour of the popular green tea.
Overall, Hellu Coffee offers a satisfying cafe spot to simply relax and chill with a drink in hand and a croffle in the other. Despite the small space, avoiding rush-hour timings will guarantee you a spot in the cafe, or maybe even on the lounge chairs they placed outside the cafe for you to enjoy the sunlight while consuming your food. Give it a drop by soon!
Food and Drink: 7/10
Atmosphere: 8/10
Cost: 4/10
Accessibility: 6/10
Service: 8/10
The Food Peeps
Last but not least, nestled amidst the bustling alleyways of Chinatown, we found ourselves upon our last Cafe visit of the day – The Food Peeps. The oriental backdrop characterised by the presence of the nearby Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, alongside a seamless stretch of street vendors certainly added to the atmosphere of the establishment, definitely providing a refreshing and much-appreciated change in scenery. The cafe in stark contrast adopted a largely midwestern and modern theme, with weathered wooden furniture and a sprawling array of indoor vegetation, providing a sense of duality to it all. Despite not being fully enclosed, the cafe was surprisingly decently ventilated by the open-air air-conditioning, providing some relief from the scorching sun in Chinatown.
Swift in service, the waiters promptly allocated us a seat alongside a set of menus and complimentary water.
While advertised largely as a brunch-orientated cafe, with elements running the gamut of food from a large variety of “toasts” to “pasta bowls”, we were pleasantly surprised by the large array of drinks and sides plastered all across the menu. Ever so eager to participate in a democratic process, we would unilaterally decide upon a “Strawberries & Honey Bagelwich” (for its ‘interesting look’) alongside a simple Latte which set us back $8 and $5 respectively.
While potentially lying on the pricier side (in part due to its location), the bagel certainly tasted as ‘interesting’ as it looked, with a tangy spread of pink strawberry jam and the fruit itself being sandwiched between two slices of soft bagel bread - a far cry from the savoury taste one would usually expect from a bagel. The Latte came in a decently large serving and had the pleasant soothing aroma of what one would expect from well, a Latte. While having an amiable taste, nothing about the Latte could be considered extraordinary, which seems to be a recurring theme during our cafe-hopping expeditions.
Overall, The Food Peeps serves as a solid recommendation for those looking for a quick brunch or simply wish to catch up with friends amidst a new backdrop.
Food and Drink: 6.5/10
Atmosphere: 8/10
Cost: 3/10
Accessibility: 7/10
Service: 8/10
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