While nearby Tiong Bahru, Holland Village and perhaps River Valley have been known to be the café hopping hotspots, the Redhill area is getting popular with more F&B opening up there.
Here are 10 cafes you can find at the Alexandra, Redhill, Bukit Merah areas:
Geometry
2 Jalan Bukit Merah #01-5142, Singapore 150002
Opening Hours: 12pm – 9.30pm (Sun – Thurs), 12pm – 11pm (Fri – Sat)
Ice Cream Café Next to ABC Market
It felt like a Mathematics lesson on “Geometry” when owners Shuxian and Jeslyn named their ice cream cafe as such due to the formulas and equations needed to create their gelatos (The café business has been passed to new hands.)
With a total of 18 flavours to choose from, expect interesting flavours such as Earl Grey Tie Guan Yin, Mandarin Orange Sorbet and Watermelon Lychee Sorbet.
75% of the flavours were classified under “Premium” flavours at an additional $0.70 per scoop due to the fresh fruits added.
3 bases were available as a base with a single scoop of gelato: Tart ($9.90), Belgian Waffle ($8.50) and Brownie ($8.90).
The French tarts were freshly baked and served warm. Its base had a contrasting chewy centre, buttery fragrance, and taste that resembled that of a cross between almond tart and Taiwanese pineapple tart. Geometry (Jalan Bukit Merah)
Carrara Café
Blk 2 Jalan Bukit Merah #01-5148, Singapore 150002
Tel: +65 6250 9952
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 9:30pm (Sun – Thurs), 11:30am – 10pm (Fri – Sat)
Ice Cream Cafe Serving Mentaiko Pasta And Marmite Fried Chicken Waffles
Carrara Café is located at Blk 2 Jalan Bukit Merah, of walking distance from ABC Brickworks Food Centre, few shops away from fellow ice-cream café Geometry.
There are 3 components to Carrara – a café, bistro and creamery.
All Day Breakfast choices include Sausage Cheese Rosti ($17.90), Turkey Bacon Eggs Benedict ($16.90), Big Breakfast ($16.90).
Mains served were familiar items you get from the typical Singapore-café, with Chilli Crab Pasta ($17.90), Tom Yum Seafood Pasta ($13.90), Truffle Breakfast Pasta ($13.90), Chicken Chop Aglio Olio ($12.90), Fried Chicken and Waffle ($12.90), Salted Egg Fried Chicken and Waffle ($13.90) and Fish & Chips ($12.90).
You can have a scoop on the Signature Waffle ($8.50) topped with chocolate sauce with a side of maple syrup.
The outer layer was suitably crispy, matched with thick fluffy batter. The accompany scoops of Thai Tea and Coconut ice cream which I ordered were creamy, with pronounced flavours of each. Carrara Café (Jalan Bukit Merah)
Refuel II
28 Jalan Bukit Merah, Singapore 152028
Tel: +65 6265 7368
Opening Hours: 9am – 9pm (Mon – Sun)
Refuel Café can be found at 744 Bedok Reservoir Road and 28 Jalan Bukit Merah, and this Refuel II Café is considered quite a hidden find of a short walk from ABC Brickworks Food Centre.
All Day Brunch items incude Full Tank ($15.90), Salmon Benedict ($13.90), Salmon Pesto with Scrambled Eggs ($14.50), Pulled Pork Benedict ($13.90), Fried Chicken Waffles ($13.90), Porky Egg Waffles ($13.90),
For something more fillings, you can have mains of Honey BBQ Ribs ($15.90), Honey Lemon Chicken ($14.50), Baked Chicken Stew ($14.50) or pasta dishes of Bacon Aglio ($12.90), Spaghetti Carbonara ($13.50) and Creamy Shrimps & Mussels ($13.90).
The Double Chilli Crab Pasta ($14.90) is called “double” because there are both flaky crab meat and crispy soft shell crab, in a spicy, creamy and eggy tomato base sauce. Good to know that the soft shell crab is first fried with a special spice coating.
Noticed that they gave quite a lot of sauce, and it was strong in flavours, from the tomato-tanginess, sweetness, to the spicy kick.
Would have preferred chunkier crab meat for better bite and a lighter sauce, but it is a not-bad version for its price point.
Durian Lab Cafe
Blk 119 Bukit Merah Lane 1, #01-22 Singapore, Singapore 151119
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
Ah Seng Durian Opens Cafe With MSW Burnt Cheesecake And Cruffins
Ah Seng Durian has expanded with a 2nd outlet at 119 Bukit Merah, and this comes with their very first Durian Lab café next door (The shop is near Alexandra Village Food Centre.)
Just a note that the space is air-conditioned and so the aroma is trapped.
Over at Durian Lab, the cakes and pastries are supplied by 2 homegrown bakeries: Flor Patisserie and Keong Saik Bakery.
Both patisseries are incorporating Mao Shan Wang durians into the desserts from Ah Seng (himself).
The MSW durian desserts include Durian Tart ($8.50), Roll Cake ($8), Mille-Feuille ($11.50) and Short Cake ($8); while Keong Saik Bakery is also supplying Burnt Cheesecake ($11) and Burnt Cruffin ($6.50).
The Burnt Cheesecake ($11) was well-executed with a texture of smooth, velvety cream with some durian flesh for an extra bite, and an ice cream-like sensation when served. Durian Lab Cafe (Bukit Merah)
The Bakery Chef
Blk 161 Bukit Merah Central Singapore 150161
Tel: +65 6273 9211
Opening Hours: 11am – 7pm (Mon – Fri), 10am – 7pm (Sat – Sun)
Humble, Delicious Cake Cafe at Bukit Merah
The Bakery Chef may be a small 20-seater café, located at an inconspicuous location of Blk 161 Bt Merah Central, but its bakes easily beat what several other cafes offer. No surprise, as its chef (or chefs) all came from kitchens of various hotels.
Its open concept kitchen churns out quite a variety of cakes, pastries and macarons, with the most popular ones amongst customers being the Red Velvet Cheese Cake, Chocolate Guanaja, and Rainbow Cake (available in limited quantities).
My favourite was the tall Carrot Cake multi-layered with light cream cheese, being moist without being mushy, and not overly dense. Could be slightly more spiced, but I am not complaining.
Another best-seller from The Bakery Chef is the Burnt Cheese Cake. While their version is made with only one type of cheese, the texture was actually quite soft (though not considered molten).
What made it extra delicious was the added served of light cream with tinge of sea salt, that gave the cheesecake that added salty-sweet savour and moisture as you eat it with the cake. The Bakery Chef (Bukit Merah)
Qi Philosophy
93 Dawson Road, #01-02 Sky Terrace @ Dawson Singapore 142093
Tel: +65 69090198
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 9pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon
Cafe With Scenic Park View, Serving Healthy Meals At SkyTerrace@Dawson
Qi Philosophy is nestled within the compounds of SkyTerrace@Dawson, an award winning Build-To-Order (BTO) HDB development located at 93 Dawson Road.
What you get is a cafe set right in the middle of a scenic park environment next to Alexandra Canal Linear Park, with green communal spaces and a park connector just steps away.
So while you are having coffee, you can see families, joggers, and cyclists around.
For Asian delights, there are offerings of San Bei Ji or Traditional 3 Cup Chicken ($8.80), Nyonya Chicken Curry with Achar Pickles ($8.80), Ayam Ponteh ($8.80) or Stewed Chicken & Potato in fermented soy bean, Nasi Goreng ($8.80), Nyonya Dry Mee Siam ($8.80) and Qi Healthy Basmati Nasi Lemak ($12.80).
As for the Western menu, there are the Signature Laksa Pesto Pasta ($9.80), Rainbow Mentaiko ($9.80), Grilled Vegetables Marinara ($9.80), Miso Chicken Warm Bowl or Salad ($9.80), and a selection of Wraps, Sandwiches and Burgers.
Dishes served are generally lower in calorie and sugar. Qi Philosophy (Dawson Road)
Seeds Cafe
501 Margaret Drive, Singapore 149306 (located within Rainbow Centre Margaret Drive School)
Tel: +65 6817 9414
Opening Hours: 8am – 5pm (Mon – Sun)
Beautiful Café With Beautiful Heart
It is heartening to see the Singapore society getting more inclusive, and I make it a point to help cover some of these hidden gems that go beyond to help others.
Seeds is another undiscovered café that is full of heart.
Its location may provide some indication of its mission, as it is found within Rainbow Centre at Margaret Drive School.
Therefore, Seeds is a vocational training ground for persons with disabilities so that they can transit to open employment, and a platform to advocate for a more inclusive community.
There is a small selection of pastries such as muffins and brownies, while the coffee is made from the Gachala blend roasted by Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee.
I like the name of the place. You help plant a seed, which can grow to a tall and strong tree, or even a harvest. Seeds Cafe (Margaret Drive)
Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee
170 Stirling Rd, #01-1133, Singapore 140170
Opening Hours: 8:30am – 5:20pm (Mon – Fri), 9am – 3:50pm (Sat, Sun)
50 years Heritage Of Roasting Quality Coffee
Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee started off as a coffee beans wholesaler and later transformed into a cafe in 2014.
With more than 20 different origins of specialty coffee from Africa, Asia and America, the homegrown local coffee roastery supplies their beans to various F&B brands in Singapore.
The espresso-based drinks include Long Black ($4.90), Piccolo Latte ($4.90), Cappuccino ($5.40), Latte ($5.40), Flat White ($5.40) and Mocha Latte ($5.90).
Cold brew is also available in 3 different flavours: Black ($7.50), Pollen White ($7.50) and Mocha ($8). Served in 330ml glass bottles, the technique they used for the cold brew here only requires 1 hour of steeping instead of the usual 12 hours or more.
Using the same 2 beans- blend of 50% Columbia and 50% Guatemala but with a darker roasting technique, honey is added to the milk in the Pollen White ($7.50) for the sweetness.
The Living Room Eating House
400 Lengkok Bahru, #01-01, Singapore 159049
Opening Hours: 7:30am – 5:30pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun
Local Food Café Found Hidden Within Leng Kee Community Club
The Living Room Eating House or Living Room @ Leng Kee is located at Leng Kee Community Club, which is a 10 to 15 minutes’ walk away from Redhill MRT station.
The café occupied quite a big space with friendly-cosy vibes, popular with families (you just pray that the children don’t cry too loudly and run around).
I can imagine that if customers can come in during non-peak hours to have a kopi and read a book.
Seems to be operated by a family, the café has rather personable service and serves up local delights in the likes of Nasi Lemak (from $3), Mee Siam ($3.50), Prawn Noodles ($4, $5, $6), Big Prawn Noodles ($8, $10), Bak Kut Teh ($6.5), and Chee Cheong Fun ($2).
These are your coffee shop pricing, or maybe just that 1 to 2 dollars more, with aircon-comfort. The Living Room Eating House (Lengkok Bahru)
PYROAST @ Henderson
102 Henderson Road (Sprout Hub) Singapore 159562
Tel: +65 9199 0467
Opening Hours: 10am – 7pm (Mon – Sun)
Specialty Coffee Stall Hidden Within A Converted Canteen At Henderson Road
PYROAST is a coffee stall found at Sprout Hub, a urban agriculture place located at Henderson Road.
Perhaps Sprout Hub is a totally foreign name to you, an urban farm and “food social hub located in the heartland of Redhill”.
The coffee place shares the space of a refurnished former canteen with Meat & Greet, o-Kome, and LOK-KOL. While hidden, it is worth exploring if you stay around in the neighbourhood.
From curating green coffee beans to roasting, the PYROAST team strives to deliver great quality coffee from bean to cup.
This is offer customers a good variety of roasted coffee beans and 100% customization to their needs and desired cup profile.
What you can expect include Hand-brewed coffee ($7 onwards), Latte ($4), Long black ($3.50), Espresso Boom ($5.50).
Good to know that there are more than 15 types of single origin and three home blends available here. PYROAST @ Henderson
Other Related Entries
10 Chio Cafes At Tanjong Pagar
10 Must-Visit TIONG BAHRU Cafes
10 Best Holland Village Cafes
10 Cafes And Brunch Places At River Valley
10 PAYA LEBAR Cafes
* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.