These cafes are all Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) certified and follow strict halal procedures.
The cozy bistro, with an alfresco area, in Bedok has a loyal following. There are halal versions of dishes like carbonara pasta with salami and black pepper sausages, beef ribs and crab pasta. Plus, it's got iced drinks like salty caramel.
This pretty Swedish bistro has the Scandinavian works, down to the minimalist Ikea-esque furniture. On the menu are favorites like Swedish meatballs, baked potato with shrimp, mayo and dill, as well as Swedish pancakes and crepes.
It's alfresco and it's by a pool, so that's two hits right there. Plus, the cafe has the whole industrial look with exposed ceilings and Edison bulbs. On the menu are naanwiches with fillings like chicken tikka and beef with kimchi, aside from the usual suspects like fish & chips.
Cutesy, cloud-stencilled decor aside, this cafe's strong point lies in their sweet treats. There are decadent and pretty desserts like rainbow cakes, multi-colored macaroons and cheesecakes. The Kampong Glam spot is pretty cozy and also sports a retail store with trinkets and stationery.
This one is a great place when you're looking for an icy respite from the heat. Located in Changi Village, the cafe does lots of pastas but we're really in it for the gelato that comes in kooky flavors like Horlicks, durian and chili chocolate.
Sure it's got the mandatory industrial look going on but this cafe strays from standard cafe offerings, with items like the Crabby Patty (breaded crab cakes with mango compote) as well as the baked potato drenched in beef pomodoro sauce.
These cafes don't have the official certification (notoriously difficult to get), but owners do follow halal laws. Ask if you have a specific questions about the establishments.
This dual-concept space houses Fictive Fingers' textiles and pouches and And All Things Delicious' bakery selling granola and sticky toffee pudding. Don't miss their scones that come in ever-changing flavors like orange and gula melaka.
It seems like we can't get enough of bakeries and sweet treats. This place has innovative cupcake flavors like chocolate milkshake and fries, but also have traditional flavors like red velvet and salted caramel.
The Haji Lane cafe is famed for its dizzying array of colorful cakes ranging from rainbow cakes to Russian black & white cakes. On the savory front, the Amsterdam-inspired cafe also serves sandwiches and beef meatball pastas.
This East Coast cafe is already a popular hangout for those who live in the area, thanks to its menu full of sweet treats like red velvet Nutella cupcakes and sweet pies. It also has sandwiches like smoked salmon and cream cheese; brunch items like scrambled eggs on tomato sourdough bread and coffees.
This hip little spot experiments with healthier versions of dishes like beef meatballs, all handmade from scratch. Although there's a huge dessert selection, everything is supposedly healthy. They even have a Paleo lemon pie with honey meringue for those health-conscious cafe goers.
Advertisement
Everyone loves a communal punch bowl or wacky vessels to share cocktails. Here are some of the best places to get them in Singapore.
The boys here have thought up of everything: the huge crystal bowl of Plan B ($230) is filled with reposado tequila, citrus, oolong, lemon berry meritage tea and is topped off with bubbly. It serves 20, so smaller groups should proceed with caution!
Aside from the addictive Korean fried chicken, we love the soju punch ($30) served in a bowl of carved out of watermelon and topped with soju and fresh juice. Proceed with caution.
The new cocktail menu has a few creations that are great to share. The Stamford Tea Party ($65) serves four and you have two choices: a gin-based citrusy cocktail or a cognac-driven peach creation.
This fusion Asian New York-style tapas bar serves a rendition of the classic watermelon soju ($68). Served in a watermelon bowl, it's got soju, watermelon juice and citrus.
The raucous Japanese-inspired bar has seven different punchbowls, so we're spoilt for choice here. There are classic cocktails like the rum-based Zombie, but we go straight for the potent Chatham Artillery with cognac, bourbon and dark rum that's topped off with bubbly. If something refreshing is what you're craving, opt for the tropical Pisco Punch (all $220).
The team have turned a Ketel One vodka cocktail challenge into a mainstay sharing cocktail. The Asian Sensation ($90) is served in a steaming dry ice copper kettle and Chinese tea cups. It's got elderflower liqueur and cinnamon syrup, so just think of it like a tea party.
This infamous "punchbowl" needs no introduction. After all, it's one of the definitive cocktails of the speakeasy bar. Served in a miniature bath tub, complete with a rubber duckie, Hot Tub Thyme Machine ($90) is quirky, with rum, earl grey and absinthe, and goes down easily.
Ethan Leslie Leong is no stranger to cocktail decadence. The punchbowl here is deceptively named Champagne Bowl ($298). There's no Champagne. Instead, it's got berries, fruit liqueurs, gin, vodka and white rum on top of Italian sparkling wine.
The locally-inspired cocktail bar has two punch bowls and cocktails to share. There's a Cheng Tng punch with dried longan, pearl barley and sago that reinterprets everyone's favorite hawker dessert, as well as the Ice Jelly (both $109)punch with rum, kwaifeh lychee, grapefruit and dark rum jelly.
The famed Barcelona bartender collaborated with Ketel One vodka for a range of cocktails to share, served in the same copper kettle as at L'Aiglon. It serves four and there are a few options to choose from but we particularly like the Geisha Blossom ($69) with chamomile, Darjeeling tea and sake.
Advertisement
