Cafe Reviews: Cool Or Boo?
Two friends try out some new and old specialty cafés to see if they are worth the hype!
Written By: Shannon Ho and Boh Ke Yng
Pictures By: Shannon Ho and Boh Ke Yng
HVALA @ Keong Saik
Have you checked out the newly opened Japanese-themed café Hvala outlet at Keong Saik? For the full Japanese experience, the place is decked out in traditional Japanese wooden furniture and pottery, there are even sitting areas with tatami mats on the third level!
The wide range of authentic teas are shipped directly from a farm in Japan and the outlet is also fully vegan, using oat milk in all their drinks and gelatos instead of fresh milk. Hvala has left us an unforgettable time there as we could experience the Japanese culture without having to fly to Japan.
Try out their waffles and signature petit Matcha and Hojicha cakes ($8.80).
Apart from desserts, you should definitely try out their signature Iced Matcha Hojicha Latte ($7.00) as you are able to enjoy a combination of both teas.
Check out their website: Hvala Singapore
Butter Bean: Funan Mall SG
Butter Bean is BreadTalk’s new café concept that serves a wide range of modernised breakfast selections. They currently have two outlets, one in Funan Mall and the other in Vivo City. The interior gives off a very bright and upbeat mood with their yellow decor which made the experience more enjoyable.
We tried the Omu Cheese Toast ($4.20) and after the first bite, we fell in love with it. The inch-thick butter loaf was savoury with a toasted crisp edge. We also tried the Battered Fish Fillet Sandwich ($4.60) paired with thousand island sauce.
Both the toast and sandwich were appealing in its own way. Each hot pocket is stuffed with a delectable trio of omelette, sliced cheese and butterhead lettuce. Add $2.20 to make it a set, served with a choice of Iced Kopi or Teh Latte.
We also had the Laksa Love set which came with a drink. The laksa was pretty scrumptious as the prawns were fresh and the eggs were soft. Other drinks we tried were their BBrûlée Kopi Latte ($3.20) and BBrûlée Teh Latte ($3.20) that had a layer of salted cream foam on top and it was so good. It tasted even better when you mixed the foam with the drink, giving a sweet and salty combination.
Overall, it’s affordable and the portion is of the right size. Absolutely worth the visit and try!
Check out their website: Butter Bean Singapore
ChaTraMue
ChaTraMue is an authentic Thai milk tea brand that has recently re-opened in Singapore. It was once located at Amoy Street but closed in 2019. It is now located at Paya Lebar Quarter.
Unfortunately, we did not manage to try the soft serve as the machine was down that day. We tried the Oolong Milk Tea ($4.20) and the Signature Thai Tea Milk ($5.60). The Oolong Milk Tea had a strong aroma that is slightly different from the oolong milk teas that we usually drink from bubble tea brands. It was a pleasant surprise to us oolong tea lovers but it may be a little strong to those who are unfamiliar to the tea’s aroma. The Signature Thai Tea Milk topped with pandan-flavoured pearls is unique in Singapore and hence worth trying.
The drinks at ChaTraMue taste the same as the ones in Thailand and it feels as though Thailand has come to us! For those who do not stay near Paya Lebar, fret not as Cha Tra Mue has opened a new outlet at One Raffles Place!
Check out their website: ChaTraMue Singapore
Central Perk Cafe
If you’ve watched the popular American television sitcom Friends, you may be aware that a reunion episode of the show was expected to air this year but got postponed due to the pandemic. But fret not as you can still indulge yourself in the world of Friends by visiting this sitcom-inspired Central Perk café here in Singapore! The café was designed just like the set of the Friends and the food makes you want to watch the show all over again.
The café has different coffee brews with varying intensities representing each character. We tried Chandler’s and Rachel’s brew. Rachel’s was lightly roasted while Chandler’s was city roasted. As a non-coffee drinker, I felt that both brews ($8) were strong and couldn’t really tell a difference between the two, except that Rachel’s seemed like it had a hint of floral taste. However, for Ke Yng who can’t live without coffee, she loved Chandler’s brew. So if you’re not a coffee lover, you may not appreciate their brews. You can try out their other beverages too!
The menu also includes dishes inspired by the show. Such as Mrs Braverman’s Cheesecake ($16) and Joey’s Ride Along Sandwich ($21). We had Monica’s Too Much Garlic Aglio Olio ($28) and the sandwich for our mains. The aglio olio was served with huge prawns and scallops that were very fresh! Whereas the sandwich, packed with homemade Kurobuta pork meatballs, cheese and dressed in barbecue sauce, is served alongside fries. It was so filling that one would feel guilty after eating. It would’ve also tasted better if we took less time snapping pictures before digging in! Ultimately, Ke Yng and I both agreed that the aglio olio was the best.
For sides, we had the ROSS-TI Potato ($14) served with sour cream, bacon and scallions. We also had the cheesecake with berries and grapes served on the side. It helped us understand why Rachel and Chandler just couldn’t put their forks down - the cake was so soft and creamy and it tasted so rich in flavour but was still light on the palate.
Although most of the food was good, the price is a little steep. It’s definitely a great place to hang out with friends but make sure to warn everybody about the cost!
Check out their website: Central Perk Cafe Singapore
