new cafes singapore

Apartment Coffee Settles into New Home But Retains Quaint Minimalist vibes

In Singapore’s crowded speciality coffee scene, Apartment is one of the few brands that managed to build up a devout cult following for themselves. Not many cafes match up to the cosiness of its clean whites, soothing neutral tones, and minimalist charm. Even fewer cafes can rival its expertise in hand-pour coffee. Continue reading “Apartment Coffee”

51 tras review

New Tanjong Pagar Cafe 51 Tras is a Flourishing Collective of Creative Energy 

[Updated: 51 Tras has closed.] Nestled along a bustling lane, Just a stone’s throw away from Tanjong Pagar MRT, you’ll find a verdant panelled door at 51 Tras Street that leads inward into a spacious, industrial space. A space where, as you pass through the door arch, you can feel the distinct rumblings of electronic music vibrating through your body.

Continue reading “51 Tras”

epigram book cafe review

Balestier Market Collective Provides Epigram Books, Specialty Coffee & Kaya Toast

Despite the name, you’d find that Balestier Market Collective isn’t located in the Balestier neighbourhood — or a location bearing any semblance to a market. In fact, this speciality coffee bar is actually hidden within the uppity vicinage of SAM at Tanjong Pagar.

Continue reading “Balestier Market Collective”

waga waga den review

Waga Waga Den Is South Beach’s Newest Futurist Japanese Marvel

A sleek black glass monolith protrudes out of the ground, fenced in by an outer area populated with sleek white marble fittings and two dainty trees that extended skyward undeviatingly. Only a cryptic logo of Waga Waga Den is emblazoned onto the facade of the enigmatic glass enclosure as a hint of what’s inside.

waga waga den review

The interior is yet another striking minimalist marvel — svelte black tables are welded to the metallic structural skeleton while zen garden pebbles lined the perimeter to give it a distinct cyberpunk edge.

What ties Waga Waga Den’s futurist aesthetic together succinctly is a cluster of overhanging geometric lights which flicker and snake vividly, like you’re sitting in a futuristic Tokyo district or something out of Westworld.

most aesthetic cafes singapore

Waga Waga Den’s lavish sense of aesthetic is unrivalled by even the chicest brunch spots in Singapore — that said, it’s not designed as a mere cafe for coffee runs.

Conceived by the Black Cow team, this new spot at South Beach is envisioned as a tranquil unwinding hangout and lifestyle concept for CBD denizens.

waga waga den

While still figuring out operation nuances currently, they will progressively modify and eventually roll out after-work luxuries such as Sake that come straight from Black Cow itself.

It is with that vision in mind that all the intricacies are planned out and crafted into the space, especially the picturesque garden featuring oblique marble benches that actually draw out their insignia when viewed from above. 

best cafes singapore

Ultimately, Waga Waga Den is meant to be a holistic hybrid that will allow customers to lounge in its vogueish premises round the clock — so even the shadows in the bar area will evolve based on the Sun’s position of the day and how daylight trickles in through their ceiling-height glass panes.

Refined Japanese Flavours

waga waga den coffee

As with Black Cow, their new concept places a lot of pride in procuring premium ingredients to ensure pristine quality is translated into their offerings.

Provenance is assiduously planned for at Waga Waga Den, where premium ingredients like Japanese red sugar and some of the best quality Kyoto Matcha are sourced for.

waga waga den menu

At this fledgling phase, the main focus is funnelled into fine-tuning their coffee for the vicinity’s daytime crowd. In the long run, offerings will change with the seasons, as is the norm with speciality coffee, but the espresso blend will persist as a Brazilian-Guatamelan blend to ensure quality control.

The menu at Waga Waga Den is considerably varied but the unique creations that will probably capture your attention are their unique “cloud” drinks.

waga waga den cloud coffee

Extremely unique in presentation, the Cloud ($9) is a coffee that’s adorned with luscious mounds of chocolate-dusted clouds at the brim. A rare sight of the unique cloud as the progenitor of the style, Omotesando, had already ceased operations in Singapore.

Being milk-based, Waga Waga Den’s speciality is blessed with a soft creamy body to match the medium roast profile of the espresso. The overall profile is balanced, robust, and enriched by a beautiful dose of fragrant chocolate. No artificial sweetener, just good quality chocolate.

waga waga den warabi mochi

Atop their drinks, Waga Waga Den also has a few food items on the menu —mainly Japanese in scope— and their Warabi Mochi ($10) was what jumped out at me. Mochi is a simple tidbit but that also means deficiencies are made even more glaring.

Suffice to say, the Warabi Mochi here is executed to perfection. To the teeth, they are fluffy, light, and delightfully chewy while to the tongue, the coating and syrup imparted a brand of toasted sweetness that was bright but elegant.

minimalist cafes singapore

Aesthetics-wise, Waga Waga Den blows most of its Singapore competition away — very few cafes are given this elaborate attention to detail. In a way, it’s a small enclave in the CBD area where you’d feel spirited away to a futuristic Japan or Korean suburb.

Operations are still in process of fine-tuning, so this isn’t the finished product yet. But if they remain steadfast in their devotion to fine quality, I can’t wait to see what the future will bring.

Waga Waga Den

WebsiteFacebook | Instagram 

  • Address: 38 Beach Rd, #01-14 South Beach Tower, Singapore 189767
  • Hours: (Tues–Fri) 8:30pm–3:30pm, (Sat–Sun) 9:30pm–4:30pm
 
rookie's coffee shop review

Rookie’s Coffee Shop is a Fun Cafe Adventure with Dirty Bandung & Swiss Rolls

“There is a method to my madness.” Said Junior, owner and head barista of the newly opened Rookie’s Coffee Shop at Queensway. The usual bells and whistles of a typical new cafe opening aren’t present — the space is as unpretentious as you can get. (Read my interview and profile piece on Junior here.) Continue reading “Rookie’s Coffee Shop”

kyo kohee matcha

Zen Japanese COffee Takeaway Kiosk Kyo Kohee brews up Sublimely balanced Matcha Latte

A diminutive corner shop awash in a spectrum of gentle whites and cream, tucked away under one of the pervasive skyscrapers of Tanjong Pagar — that’s KYO Kohee, a new cafe providing a small pocket of minimalist tranquillity amidst the speed of CBD life.

Continue reading “KYŌ Kohee”

best food clarke quay

Flavourful Mee Goreng & Authentic Indonesian Classics at Fangko Coffee

Looking for the heartiest Indonesian flavours that would make even a native sweat from the heat? Then Fangko Coffee at Clarke Quay is the perfect place for you — they have spice levels that go from a harmless level 1 to tongue-searing 12. Continue reading “Fangko Coffee”

supernova cafe

Atlas Group’s New Supernova is a Vougiesh Cafe Lookbook Come to Life 

Local Natives, Mumford & Sons, etc. — a string of indie bops reverberate through the spacious constrains of Supernova’s chic cafe space along Tanjong Katong road. Continue reading “Supernova Cafe”

grey area coffee roasters

Grey Area Coffee Roasters Finally Brings Specialty Coffee to Kampong Bahru

Passion is what leads many of us on voyages to achieve our dreams, and for the owners of Grey Area Coffee Roasters, it’s a dream come true for them when they finally opened their chic, slate-hued little slice of haven down at Kampong Bahru. Continue reading “Grey Area Coffee Roasters”