Please don’t get the wrong impression. I don’t go to a different café every day! Some weeks, it may be two a day… But then some weeks, I have a quiet one and only make it to one. Added to this is the fact that I’m exploring various home brewing techniques using fresh roasted coffee beans from Perk Coffee (read their story here) or even supermarket coffee beans when I’ve run out of the good stuff means that my Three Sweetest Spots for the Week might now appear fortnightly or monthly. In the meantime, here is Round 2 which consists of an old favourite and a couple new spots. By the way, hands up if you want to hear more about my novice attempts at home brewing.
Dapper Coffee
They’ve still got the vintage glasses that I love so much.
This is truly a spot that I miss. Back when The Vegetarian worked on Amoy Street, I would drop by here frequently for a bit of quiet time. Read my previous review here. This week, I jumped at the chance to have a meeting in this neighborhood and it was just like coming home. The same old “Pirate Ship” ambience has not changed, same for the vintage glasses and copper table tops. It was a bit crowded with a young, hip crowd, complete with hipster beards and did I spot a man bun? But there were office people and fashiony people there too (the latter of which I was meeting up with). I decided to try the nut milk with my latte and the person taking my order (though trying not to turn her nose up at my query) suggested the almond milk for a sweeter finish. So that I ordered and it was very good.
Dapper’s latest offerings are their Unicorn Tears and Gold Brew, packaged up in funky bottles and drunk cold. You can order these online along with their gorgeous and unique array of cakes.
Looking down the bar galley from my seat by the window.
73 Amoy Street, Second Floor (Above Alati Restaurant)
Facebook: DapperCoffee
Instagram: dappercoffee
Opening hours:
Mon – Fri: 8am – 5pm
Closed on public holidays
The Clue-less Goat
Unassuming shopfront at Goldhill Plaza.
After being chastised for drinking coffee in the Balestier/Novena area without letting my friend know (she had recently moved to that neighborhood), I thought I should make amends and meet her for coffee. She suggested The Clue-less Goat and I, being a sucker for a good name like this, made a lunch date right away. This café is along the Thompson Road side of Goldhill Centre and you have to wander up close to recognise the black signage and glass front (or perhaps I need new glasses). Inside there’s a steady flow of coffee lovers and The Clue-less Goat uses beans from Common Man Coffee Roasters.
Coffee by Common Man Coffee Roasters.
Very refreshing to find a simple menu of sandwiches and an all day brunch menu. The Panko Chicken sandwich was reportedly rather nice and I enjoyed the Roast Beef which was suggested to me by the owner. Everything was well priced and it was a great spot to catch up and have a chat. I have to mention the crockery that was used for our sandwiches. Hand made by a friend of the owner, they added a bit of character and were gorgeous, rustic pieces that I would love to take home and use as a platter for cheese (or anything).
Panko Chicken sandwich, simple things make the tastiest bites.
Equally nice was the can-do attitude of the gorgeous, young staff at the café. We love a spot where you can send something back for not being right and have the same thing return but this time with all the flaws corrected. Well done to the team at The Clue-less Goat.
If it’s busy inside, this outside bench might do.
189 Thomson Road, Goldhill Centre
Facebook: thecluelessgoat
Instagram: thecluelessgoat
Opening hours:
Tues – Thurs: 8am- 6pm
Fri: 8am- 9pm
Sat: 9am- 9pm
Sun: 9am-6pm
Ronin Cafe
The most amazing brownie with a long black. A great combo – I promise.
Ok, I will admit that I actually went to Ronin a couple weeks ago but have been dying to make known that the chocolate brownie there was absolutely fantastic! Sure, it looks like a regular brownie, maybe even a bit dry and crusty but I assure you, it was worth ordering. I was not going to initially, because it didn’t look that spesh but on an afternoon where I had been running back and forth across town, I needed a sweet to keep me going. The chocolate brownie has a rather high salt content and though it might not look soft and moist, it is. That is why I am enthralled by it. Coffee is also great, by the way. Ronin is set back from the road a bit so keep your eyes peeled so you don’t miss it when you walk down Hong Kong Street.
17 Hong Kong Street, Singapore 059660
Opening hours:
Weekdays: 8am to 6pm
Weekends: 8am to 7.30pm
Cover photo at Ronin. All images by Angela Manners.