Adventure, baby!

Bukit Timah

BREW MAISON: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, Singapore

 

Brew Maison

Brew Maison is a Japanese and Korean-inspired Western cafe that quietly opened very recently. Tucked away in a housing estate along Bukit Timah Road, it’s not very noticeable from outside and so has not yet attracted the hordes of cafe goers.

But they’re good. Oh, they’re really good!

BrewMaison01

I will admit that their decor and crisp turquoise-and-white colour scheme completely delighted and captivated me. They are my dream colours, and exactly what I want (and do) our home to be like. Everything in the cafe is so clean, airy and beautiful.. not to mention the large amount of space it occupies – absolutely perfect for young kids!

BrewMaison07

BrewMaison03 BrewMaison04 BrewMaison05 BrewMaison06

 

We were there for brunch, and this is their menu (below). It’s small, but I LOVE the photos!

BrewMaison10

 

The food didn’t take long to arrive, but we amused ourselves by pottering around (it wasn’t busy on a weekend morning) and checking out their decor.

BrewMaison11

The Cafe Latte was served in a big mug for $4. That is a bargain! It was milky and well balanced. My only complaint was that Brew Maison is famous (or rather, they crow on about this in their Facebook) for foam art on their coffee. It’s gorgeous, from what I’ve seen in photos. But both our coffees had ZERO foam art, not even a miserable little heart.

BrewMaison12

The Hamago Crossanwich ($5.20) is, dare I say, the cheapest you will find in any cafe in this country. And it was good! It’s a simple dish, and served simply with zero sides, but the ingredients were fresh and the croissant was flaky and buttery.

BrewMaison13

The Shibuya  ($6.50) looked both unappetizing and unexciting when it arrived. But it was AMAZING. My favourite dish and I’d order it again in an instant.

It consisted of a very special bagel at the bottom. Normally bagels are tough and chewy. This was soft and I could bite through it easily.. it was more of a bagel-soft bun? Big slices of shitake mushrooms sat on top of it, followed by a generous layer of soft sweet cooked onions (oh man these were good), followed by a big dollop of creamy scrambled eggs, and topped with a sprinkle of seaweed.

It sounds (and looks) odd, doesn’t it?? But it was excellent!! The flavours went together in perfect harmony and I would consider this to be their signature dish. 

BrewMaison14

The Tamago Sandwich ($4.30) was also very reasonably priced, and was a solid, good dish. We really enjoyed the fluffy and light brioche-style bread, with chilled egg and very fresh shredded lettuce inbetween. Yes, again, it’s a simple meal… but Brew Maison somehow manage to execute it very well.

BrewMaison15

Carter was very, very pleased with the food!

BrewMaison16

The L’experience chocolate cake ($4) had me REELING. It is beyond good. I wouldn’t consider it a cake. Think more of a chocolate mousse/rich cream.. sitting on top of a crispy base. It quite literally melts in your mouth, is full of rich chocolate flavour, yet doesn’t give the ‘heaviness’ of a dense chocolate cake.

It was amazing.

A definite must-order and I hope they never remove this from the menu!

BrewMaison17

Chris and Carter, food coma’d out from that luscious chocolate cake……

BrewMaison18 BrewMaison19

Is Brew Maison Carter-approved? Oh YES it is!

BrewMaison20

Last Bite: Brew Maison can serve up a main + dessert at under $10, which is no mean feat! The food is simple but well-executed, and we were delighted with the lovely ambiance and service.

Highchairs: Yes
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: No
Kids’ menu: No

Brew Maison
383 Bukit Timah Rd,
#01-9B Alocassia Apartments
Singapore 259727
Prices: $$
Hours:
Mon – Fri: 7:00 am – 10:00 pm
Sat – Sun: 8:00 am – 10:00 pm

THREE HANDS COFFEE: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, Singapore

THREE HANDS COFFEE - Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, Singapore, Brunch with my Baby

Three Hands Coffee has just opened its doors at Binjai Park, in the Upper Bukit Timah Area!

I’m completely delighted because there aren’t that many coffee places in the West side of Singapore, so I always welcome a new one.

It shares premises with Taberna Wine Academy (which opens in the evening), and thus Three Hands Coffee is only open in the daytime. It’s not immediately obvious that this place exists (they’re still working on getting signage up), so you have to poke around for a bit!

The interior is spacious and very comfortable. Check out all those sofas! SO good for kids to chill out on.

THREE HANDS COFFEE - Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, Singapore, Brunch with my Baby

 

Despite the incredible rows and rows of wine bottles all around the cafe, Carter didn’t knock or smash any (whew), and spent most of the time lounging around on the comfortable sofas like he owned the place.

THREE HANDS COFFEE - Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, Singapore, Brunch with my Baby

 

This small counter area is where the magic happens. They brew their coffee here, and also heat up some pastries and savory dishes.

THREE HANDS COFFEE - Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, Singapore, Brunch with my Baby

 

On the side wall is a few drawers crammed with pastries galore.

THREE HANDS COFFEE - Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, Singapore, Brunch with my Baby

THREE HANDS COFFEE - Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, Singapore, Brunch with my Baby

 

Their coffee, brewed from beans by Papa Palheta, is done very carefully. Each morning, the barista calibrates the machine just-so, because the beans vary.

The result is a balanced, rich cup of coffee. I know there’s zero bitterness, because I drank this with no sugar. I never drink coffee with no sugar.

THREE HANDS COFFEE - Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, Singapore, Brunch with my Baby THREE HANDS COFFEE - Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, Singapore, Brunch with my Baby

 

They are still in the process of bringing in a proper savory menu.

For now, we were treated to a little off-the-menu goody – a toasted butter croissant with shaved ham, cheese and greens.

It was very fresh, and I loved the golden croissant, which wasn’t oily at all.

THREE HANDS COFFEE - Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, Singapore, Brunch with my Baby

 

We also had their Almond croissant, which we thoroughly enjoyed because it wasn’t too sugary. It was flaky, yet moist inside, and the almonds were crunchy and fresh.

THREE HANDS COFFEE - Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, Singapore, Brunch with my Baby THREE HANDS COFFEE - Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, Singapore, Brunch with my Baby

 

 
Last Bite: Three Hands Coffee is new on the block, and already wows with their carefully-brewed coffee and fresh pastries.
 
Highchairs: No (in the process of getting them)
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: No
Kids’ menu: No

Three Hands Coffee
17 Binjai Park
Singapore 589825
Phone: n/a
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon – Sun: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
 
 

THE FRENCH LADLE: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Bukit Timah, Singapore

THE FRENCH LADLE: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Bukit Timah, Singapore

 

I have such a soft spot for The French Ladle. It’s pretty close to where we live, and is what I consider to be a kickass French restaurant in a neighbourhood area. The service is good. Always good. And their food? It never fails to impress us, and I’ve been there almost ten times!

THE FRENCH LADLE: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Bukit Timah, Singapore

 

The inside feels really homely, and seats just a few tables. It’s busy on weekday lunches and weekends, but is quieter on weekday evenings. Specials are written up on the blackboard.

THE FRENCH LADLE: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Bukit Timah, Singapore

THE FRENCH LADLE: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Bukit Timah, Singapore

 

Look! Hunter was presented with some paper and a set of coloured pencils to draw with. He loved scribbling away, and I was delighted that he was kept amused during the meal.

THE FRENCH LADLE: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Bukit Timah, Singapore

 

Complimentary warm baguette with salted butter. There is much to be said about a restaurant that serves complimentary chilled water AND a bread basket. It is SO appreciated, especially because we all know about kids and their insane obsession with carbs….. Hunter self-buttered each slice and… errr…. ate the whole basket.

THE FRENCH LADLE: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Bukit Timah, Singapore

 

Their Mushroom soup comes thick with mushrooms, and is served piping hot.

THE FRENCH LADLE: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Bukit Timah, Singapore

 

I was initially disinterested with the Mushroom risotto when it arrived. It’s a vegetarian dish – not my cup of tea 😉 But…. I LOVED it when I had a bite, and proceeded to scoop more onto my plate 😉 The dish was laden with fat chunky mushrooms (of various varieties), draped with creamy risotto rice and perked up with shaved Parmesan. Oooo… it was delicious! The sweetness of the mushrooms really came through, contrasting with the softness of the buttery risotto.

THE FRENCH LADLE: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Bukit Timah, Singapore

 

We were so impressed with their Steak frites. The shoestring fries were a hit with Hunter (no surprise there), but it was the steak that I loved. It was meaty, and a great bite, and was served with just a small dollop of herbed butter so the beef flavour really came through. It was cooked to perfection. Served at a sizeable portion, this is great if you’re into red meat.

THE FRENCH LADLE: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Bukit Timah, Singapore

 

And… what I thought was the best dish.. the Duck confit pasta. I think this is one of the best pastas I’ve eaten – ever. The spaghetti was cooled el dente, enveloped in a light cream sauce (that was not too thick or overpowering), and scattered with Parmesan. But it was the duck confit that had us reeling – it was astonishingly tender and moist, and in FAT chunks! In fact, I ended up with lots of duck left over, and not much noodles to go around 😉

An absolute must-order!

THE FRENCH LADLE: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Bukit Timah, Singapore

 

Last Bite: The French Ladle offers home-style French food that is absolutely delicious. We never fail to leave impressed. Their Duck confit pasta is a winner in our book!
 
Highchairs: Yes
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: No
Kids’ menu: No

The French Ladle
2 Pandan Valley
Pandan Valley Condominium #01-206
Singapore 597626
Phone: 6467 7505
Prices: $$$
Hours:
Tue – Fri: 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm, 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Sat: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm, 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Sun: 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm, 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
 
 

THE LIVING CAFE (re-visited): Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, Singapore

THE LIVING CAFE: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, Singapore

 

Remember I visited The Living Cafe a couple of weeks ago? Back then, all I had was a Soy latte, which is a pretty poor effort for a food review 😉

Well, I went back! With Chris in tow! He was both horrified and interested at The Living Cafe, after learning that they do no red meat, no cow dairy, no white sugar, no preservatives, no additives, no artificial colorings and include gluten free alternatives on the menu. The specialise in raw food, or raw-fusion food. And that sort of spiel is enough to make a grown man shudder 😉

And it was surprisingly packed out on a weekend brunch. Almost every table consisted of at least one foreigner, so I suppose it’s pretty hot with the expat community. I don’t think your typical ‘ol local Singaporean auntie or uncle is going to be able to stomach this kind of food.

THE LIVING CAFE: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, Singapore

 

I didn’t realise the last time I went, but the cafe provides colouring paper and crayons for kids, which is popped on a small stool near the front entrance. It’s actually the kids menu (which looks good), but Carter had a grand ol time scribbling all over it with gusto.

THE LIVING CAFE: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, Singapore

 

I had a Flat white with hazelnut milk ($5.50) and, I gotta say, it’s way better than soy milk. It basically tasted like it was made with regular milk! Sadly though, no nice foam art so the coffee looked pretty basic, and it was served in a tiny cup.

THE LIVING CAFE: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, Singapore

 

The 6th Avenue rosti ($20) Sweet potato rosti, smoked salmon, avocado, poached egg, wasabi mayo was outstanding. TRULY AMAZING. I personally thought it was one of the best brunch rostis I’ve had. The sweet potato used is a winner (as compared to the regular potato version), and the egg was poached to perfection. The avocado (it was originally asparagus but I swapped it to avocado) was perfectly ripened, and the whole dish was a luscious explosion of sweet and salty, crisp and creamy.

The portion size is very small, and would be best made 50% larger, but at least it is kick-ass amazing.

THE LIVING CAFE: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, Singapore

 

Chris opted for the Hormone free chicken, onions, goats cheese, cashew cheese pizza ($20), and it actually did come out looking like a pizza! The base, however, didn’t taste like a regular pizza base. It has more of a pita texture and floppiness (it’s very thin), and very grainy because of all the wholemeal flour used. I’m not saying this is bad, but it was just very different to regular pizza dough. If you’re aware of this and embrace the fact, you’ll like it 🙂

The toppings were delicious – the chicken was tender and chunky, and the cheese gave it the necessary kick of flavour. The pesto was a little on the skimpy side, so the edges became a tad dry (because, again, the wholemeal flour is different to regular pizza dough).

Still, a very impressive effort to recreate a healthy wholemeal pizza, and it was pretty good!

THE LIVING CAFE: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, Singapore

 

Oh boy, their Raw chocolate ganache tart ($8.90) is fabulous. Ask for it to arrive with your food, and set it aside to come to room temperature by the time you finish your mains. It’s not chocolate, it’s cacao, but it damn near tastes just like chocolate! Very rich, very creamy chocolate, in fact.

The base is a mix of nuts and coconut oil, so it does give off a strong coconut flavour. I normally don’t like coconut, but this sat well with me. It’s a bit chewy, a bit crumbly, and very good paired with the rich creamy chocolate.

THE LIVING CAFE: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, Singapore THE LIVING CAFE: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, Singapore THE LIVING CAFE: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, Singapore

 

 
Last Bite: The Living Cafe’s brunch menu truly impressed us with it’s thoughtfully cooked and delicious food. Their 6th Avenue Rosti is a mustorder!
 
Highchairs: Yes
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: No
Kids’ menu: Yes

The Living Cafe
779 Bukit Timah Road
Singapore 268759
Phone: 6762 8029
Prices: $$$
Hours: Mon: 11:00 am – 7:00 pm, Tue – Fri: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm, Sat: 9:00 am – 10:00 pm, Sun: 9:00 am – 7:00 pm
 
 

CARPENTER & COOK: Kid-friendly cafes, Bukit Timah, Singapore

Carpenter & Cook

Carpenter & Cook has a pretty unfortunate location for most (it’s far out west) but since I do live far out west, I consider it a pretty brilliant location! 😉 That said, I do reckon it’s worth the trip because you’ll find few (no?) cafes like it in Singapore.

Look at the cafe, in all it’s beautiful vintage charm:

CARPENTER & COOK: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit-Timah, Singapore

 

Most of the vintage decor and furniture in the cafe is up for sale, but they don’t come cheap. Personally, I love poking around their lovely cookies-in-a-bag and homemade jam (which are delicious!).
CARPENTER & COOK: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit-Timah, Singapore

 

They don’t do any freshly-cooked hot food, which is a bit odd and a huge shame. To compensate, they offer a (pretty impressive) selection of pastries, tarts, and desserts. Everything is displayed by the counter, which is fantastic for a visual order-er such as myself. I feel like I’m spoiled for choice!

CARPENTER & COOK: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit-Timah, Singapore

CARPENTER & COOK: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit-Timah, Singapore

CARPENTER & COOK: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit-Timah, Singapore
Some of their beverages are served in these gorgeous old-school mugs. I LOVE them. Complimentary water is offered – huge props to them for this!
CARPENTER & COOK: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit-Timah, Singapore

 

Their coffee comes in a tiny mug, but is deliciously creamy.

CARPENTER & COOK: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit-Timah, Singapore

 

The Croissant is a total STAR. Flaky layers of pastry, with a buttery fluffy inside. Carter gobbled this right up!

CARPENTER & COOK: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit-Timah, Singapore

 

I personally love the Almond croissant, which I’d recommend if you feel like something sweet. It’s a regular croissant draped in a crisp almond ‘cap’, and scattered with almond flakes. Delicious.

CARPENTER & COOK: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit-Timah, Singapore

 

Their Quiche was a startlingly tiny slice for the price, I’d expected double the portion size. It’s enough for a petite snack, but is not sufficient (by FAR) if you’re thinking of having this dish as a main meal. That’s a shame, because the quiche is delicious, especially that buttery crumbly crust.

CARPENTER & COOK: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit-Timah, Singapore

 

Ahhh their Sea salt and caramel chocolate tart, which is famous by now. I’ve had it almost ten times, and it’s consistently good. It’s small for what you pay, but at least it’s done perfectly!

CARPENTER & COOK: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit-Timah, Singapore

 

Their Brownie pales in comparison to the chocolate tart (above). It’s nice, but nothing to shout about. In fact, I’ve actually completely forgotten what this tasted like..

CARPENTER & COOK: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit-Timah, Singapore

 

Standing near the entrance of Carpenter & Cook, isn’t the interior just lovely?!

CARPENTER & COOK: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit-Timah, Singapore
 
Last Bite: Carpenter & Cook serves up absolutely delicious pastries, tarts and desserts, albeit on the tiny side. But it’s the gorgeous vintage interior that truly charms us!
 
Highchairs: Yes
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: No
Kids’ menu: No

Carpenter & Cook
19 Lorong Kilat #01-06
Singapore 598120
Phone: 6463 3648
Prices: $$
Hours:
Tue – Sat: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
Sun: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
 
 

THE MARMALADE PANTRY: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, Bukit Timah, Singapore

The Marmalade Pantry

 

I’ve been to The Marmalade Pantry at the stables a couple of times, but never had a chance to write a review. I’m not sure why I never got round to it, because it’s a fantastic place for the family! The car park area is outdoors (the restaurant is in a standalone building) so be prepared for a super-heated car afterwards, but at least in the meantime, you’ll be dining in cool comfort indoors (though there are outdoor tables).

I’ve always loved The Marmalade Pantry for their drinks – they are consistently good. I personally find the Strawberry shake with ice cream ($9) is heart-stoppingly expensive (hey, it can get me THREE meals at the hawker centre!) but damn it is good. And at least it’s served in a large glass. It’s thick, full of ice cream, loads of flavour, and has fresh strawberries. The kids LOVE this shake, so this is always a must-order for us.

And their Iced Latte ($9) is always a winner. If I remember correctly, the menu said it had ice cream in it, but I also don’t -recall ours having any on this particular day, apart from lots of ice to chill the coffee-poured-on-top-of-milk combination. It’s a delight to have this chilled drink, though, on a hot and lazy weekend. Just a shame about the price!

MarmaladePantry02

 

Hunter and Carter share a Scrambled eggs with sausages and toast soldiers ($12), from the kids menu. The polish half off each, and are still hungry. So I realise that the portion size is pretty small for a kid and very young children can order one meal each. The eggs are done well, and the sausage is tasty, so I’m just happy they’ve gobbled it all up.

MarmaladePantry03

 

I’m impressed with the Steak sandwich with wasabi mayonnaise, caramelized onions and rocket ($24) and how it is presented. Laid out on a large platter, this is an EXCELLENT dish for a hearty eater – you won’t be disappointed. Even if the steak and large bun doesn’t fill you, there’s a tumble of (absolutely delicious) sweet potato fries that will.

MarmaladePantry04

 

The Spaghetti carbonara with soft-cooked egg, bacon bits and parsley ($24) is freaking awesome. It always is, every single time. The sauce is beautifully creamy, the bacon bits are charred perfectly, and that wonderful poached egg…. ooh!! This dish is a winner if you’re into more-ish creamy foods.

MarmaladePantry05

 

After you’ve had your meal, the kids can stretch their legs at the horse stables right outside. The grass is green, the great outdoors does such good thing for kids, and we are all happy. The kids are delighted to check out the horses up-close!

MarmaladePantry14

 
A bit of a photo dump, but I just adore these photos my girl friend took of the kids! Sorry for the photo spam! 😛

MarmaladePantry06 MarmaladePantry11 MarmaladePantry12 MarmaladePantry13
 
Last Bite: Marmalade Pantry do killer (but expensive) drinks, and delicious mains. But what we love most is checking out the horses afterwards!
 
Highchairs: Yes
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: No
Kids’ menu: Yes

Marmalade Pantry
55 Fairways Dr
Singapore 286846
Phone: 6467 7748
Prices: $$$
Hours:
Tue – Fri: 15:00 – 23:00
Sat – Sun: 10:00 – 23:00
 
 

VIOLET OON’S KITCHEN: Kid -Friendly Restaurants, Bukit Timah Singapore

Violet Oon - Kid Friendly Restaurants, Bukit Timah Singapore

I’ve been to Violet Oon’s Kitchen a couple of times previously, but this was our first time there during Restaurant Week. The black-and-white bistro features signature Nyona food with a slight fusion twist, making the restaurant a very unique find in Singapore.

The kids were particularly pleased with the paper tablemats, which I could flip over and they could draw to their hearts content on.

Violet Oon - Kid Friendly Restaurants, Bukit Timah Singapore

 

The appetizer trio was beautifully presented, and was very very petite but pretty adorable. The Ngo Hiang was crispy on the outside but moist on the inside, and it was basically like a Chinese sausage. The Nasi Kuning had a lovely coconut flavour and was tinged bright yellow, however the rice was slightly on the hard side so the kids had a bit of trouble swallowing it! My piece of Beef Rendang was ATROCIOUS and inedible – it was simply one piece of gristle/chewy tendon and zero meat. When I pointed this out to the server, he was nonplussed and just said “Oh ok”, without doing anything about it.

A restaurant should always empower staff to fix problems and mistakes swiftly and positively.

Violet Oon - Kid Friendly Restaurants, Bukit Timah Singapore

 

I adored the Meatless meatball pasta. Yeah, you heard that right – they’re meatless meatballs!! And yet, they’re DELICIOUS. Made with walnuts and parmesan, these balls are fat and moist and just divine. This is the 3rd time I’ve had this dish, and I love it every time.

Violet Oon - Kid Friendly Restaurants, Bukit Timah Singapore

 

Their signature Vio’s shepherds pie arrives piping hot in a small pot. The potato is creamy and very buttery, and the meat inside is extremely tender though highly over-salted. 50% less salt and this dish would have been perfect. Wonderful comfort food on a rainy day 🙂

Violet Oon - Kid Friendly Restaurants, Bukit Timah Singapore

 

The Dry laksa features a coconut-based reduction and packs a real taste-punch! If you like laksa, you’ll like this. It’s spicy and sour and comes with fat prawns. Unfortunately for me, it also came with bean sprouts..

Violet Oon - Kid Friendly Restaurants, Bukit Timah Singapore

 

Their desserts are massive! The Bread and butter pudding with whiskey sauce needs to be shared between two people or you’ll overload on your carbs 😉 It’s a fat chunk of moist pudding, sitting in a pool of whiskey sauce that is pretty potent!

Violet Oon - Kid Friendly Restaurants, Bukit Timah Singapore

 

The Pulot hitam with vanilla ice cream was pretty overwhelming, as it came in a large deep dish with a giant scoop of ice cream. It’s sure to delight a dessert lover because it will fill you right up! I really enjoyed this – the plainness of the black rice went very well with the sweetness of the ice cream, and the hot and cold temperatures worked. I also like to tell myself that this is healthier than many other desserts out there…

Violet Oon - Kid Friendly Restaurants, Bukit Timah Singapore

 

 
Last Bite: Violet Oon’s Kitchen features traditional Nyonya food with a fusion twist, in a lovely bistro that’s comfortable and not too crowded. Be warned: their desserts are huge!
 
Highchairs: Yes
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: No
Kids’ menu: No

Violet Oon’s Kitchen
881 Bukit Timah Road
Singapore 279893
Phone: 6468 5430
Prices: $$$
Hours:
Tue – Thu: 11:30 am – 10:00 pm
Fri: 11:30 am – 11:00 pm
Sat: 9:30 am – 11:00 pm
Sun: 9:30 am – 10:00 pm
 
 

THE LIVING CAFE: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, Singapore

The Living Cafe

So I’m being really cheeky here….. because I didn’t actually eat at this place! But, I wanted to share it with you if you’re into the healthy-living and eating stuff.

The Living Cafe is all the rage among the healthy group – popular with expat mums and exercise fiends.

So what was I doing there? 

I was in the area because I wanted to check out the bike shop next door, as Hunter has outgrown his Y Velo balance bike and is ready for a proper 2-wheel bike. Considering Little Diner is also there – in all its truffle mac & cheese, fried chicken, and deep-fried oreos glory – I would never have considered popping into The Living Cafe. Except Little Diner was shut that day 😛

I was keen on just a coffee, so decided to pop in to check it out!

The cafe is lofty, airy, and gorgeous. I love how the sunlight streams in, making the cafe a relaxing place for a spot of lunch or a quiet coffee.

The Living Cafe - Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, Singapore

 

The dining area is downstairs, and the shop area is upstairs. The shop stocks Supplements, Superfoods, Herbals and Homeopathics. I told you this was a healthy place!!

The Living Cafe - Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, SingaporeThe Living Cafe - Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, Singapore

 

The downstairs dining area is pretty quiet on weekday afternoons, so you’ll have most of the place to yourself. The spaciousness of the cafe is excellent if you have a stroller in tow.

The Living Cafe - Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, Singapore

 

I’ll be frank – the menu freaked me out. It’s all about  healthy and raw food, which is all pretty foreign to me. My head spun a little when I read the menu, so I ended up ordering……………… nothing. I was just too overwhelmed!

The “TLC Cheese Burger” under the SIGNATURE RAW part of the menu looked so… odd.. that I was tempted to order it just to see what it would look and taste like 😛 Maybe I should go back and see!

The Living Cafe - Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, Singapore

 

A whole array of desserts – all raw, no nuts, no dairy, etc etc. Bases of cheesecakes etc are all made of crushed nuts, chocolate isn’t really chocolate, cheese isn’t really cheese, etc etc. It was all pretty fascinating to read, but the cakes definitely looked different to the ‘real’ thing, so I was afraid of trying them!

The Living Cafe - Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, Singapore

 

I ended up with a Soy Latte ($5). Actually, I’d just ordered a “Latte”, but was told they don’t have normal milk, “only soy or hazelnut”.

What did it taste like?

Definitely not the same as a regular milk latte! It had a similar and lovely first impression, but ended on a bit of an odd/sour note after swallowing. I presume this is what a soy latte tastes like?

The Living Cafe - Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, Singapore

 

So I apologise again that this actually isn’t an informative review about the food. But I still really wanted to write about this because I know many people out there want to eat healthy, and have an interest in seeing what raw food is all about. To their credit, The Living Cafe have an impressively extensive menu and get thumbs up for sticking to their morals.

I’m very tempted to go back and order a bunch of their food, to see how it all pans out 🙂

 
Last Bite: The Living Cafe is a beautifully decorated and sunlit cafe, boasting an impressive menu of raw and organic food, which will delight any healthy eater. Don’t forget to check out their shop upstairs!
 
Highchairs: Yes
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: No
Kids’ menu: No

The Living Cafe
779 Bukit Timah Road
Singapore 268759
Phone: 6762 8029
Prices: $$
Hours: Mon: 11:00 am – 7:00 pm, Tue – Fri: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm, Sat: 9:00 am – 10:00 pm, Sun: 9:00 am – 7:00 pm

 
 

BAKER & COOK: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, Singapore

baker & cook

 

Tucked away in a residential area, baker & cook lies among a row of restaurants and shophouses and is always crowded in the mornings. The smell of freshly-baked breads and pastries is gorgeous! They pride themselves as an artisan bakery & foodstore, offering simple but delightful food for brunch.

BakerCook02

 

My Egg mayonnaise, avocado spread and cress tartine ($13) was good. SO. GOOD. It’s a completely simple concept (which I later re-created at home), but executed so perfectly. Their egg mayonnaise was the perfect combination of chilled boiled egg and mayo, and it went so well with the thin slice of sourdough toast. The avocado spread, however, was pretty pathetic – just a tiny smear of avocado that did nothing to the dish. I would have been much more impressed with slices of avocado.

BakerCook04

 

My girl friend opted for the Tuna mayonnaise, parmesan, chopped boiled egg and chives ($13), which was very similar to mine, just with tuna instead.

BakerCook03

 

I forgot to steal some of my other girl friend’s Spanish Omelette (chorizo sausage, red & green capsicum, onion, cheese) ($16), darn! 😉 But the omelette looked plump and juicy. The toast, studded with nuts and seeds, looked thin and crispy, but I don’t think it came with butter to spread on.

BakerCook05

 

An excellent Large latte ($5), with one of the most adorable foam art I have been served. Very well priced for a solid cup of coffee, so absolutely no complaints.

BakerCook06

 

Their counter, laden with beautiful pastries and breads, is a real treat for the eyes (and nose!). I left with a couple of takeaway items to enjoy later 🙂

BakerCook07

 

 
 
Last Bite: baker & cook offer a simple but delicious brunch, and brew a lovely cup of coffee. Don’t forget to take home some breads and pastries before you leave!
 
Highchairs: Yes
Easy access: Yes
Change tables: No
Kids’ menu: No

baker & cook
77 Hillcrest Rd
Singapore 288951
Phone: 6469 8834
Prices: $$
Hours: Sunday to Thursday – 7am to 8pm , Friday to Saturday – 7am to 10pm
 
 

ASSEMBLY COFFEE: Kid-Friendly Cafes, Bukit Timah, Singapore

 Assembly Coffee

Assembly Coffee has gotten coffee aficionados and cafe-hoppers into a bit of a tizzy. They are fairly new and doing the rounds on social media right now. I’m not surprised. They manage to pull off that lovely trifecta of ambience-catered-for-cafe-hoppers (or people that consider themselves coffee connoisseurs), very decent coffee and food, and also very decent prices.

The interior is pretty tiny, and gets surprisingly packed toward lunchtime on a weekday. I’d imagine there would be a queue on weekends. Because of its small and contained area, I actually thought it was fairly kid-friendly – they can’t really escape!

Assembly02 Assembly03 Assembly04 Assembly05 Assembly06

Assembly Coffee brew up a robust and creamy coffee. I thoroughly enjoyed my Latte ($4.50), but lamented at how tiny it was.

Assembly07

I was dubious about whether the Pulled Pork Sandwich ($14.90) would be good, as their kitchen was tiny. We were thrilled when we discovered the pulled pork to be moist and juicy and tender, with a robust BBQ flavour that wasn’t overpowering. The fresh green apple slices cut through the pork flavour very well and the sesame-encrusted bun was fluffy and soft. This was top notch.

Assembly09

We were equally impressed with the Salted Caramel Buttermilk Waffles ($11.50). These were AMAZING. The waffles were moist and fluffy, but with a crisp golden-brown exterior. The salted caramel drizzled on top took it to a whole new level, and the rich vanilla ice cream topped it all off perfectly. A must-order.

 Assembly10

Assembly11

Last Bite: Assembly Coffee boast a cozy ambiance, as well as terrific food and coffee at reasonable prices. Their Salted Caramel Waffles are a must!

Highchairs: Yes
Easy access: No (a few steps up to get in)
Change tables: No
Kids’ menu: No

Assembly Coffee
26 Evans Road
Singapore 259367
Phone: 6735 5647
Prices: $$
Hours: Tue – Thu: 10:00 am – 9:00 pm, Fri – Sun: 9:00 am – 10:00 am