14 New Cafes & Restaurants In April 2021: Kyoto Vibes, Patisserie w/ Neon Lights, & Dog-Friendly Spots

By Rachel Yohannan on 06 Apr 2021

Senior Digital Editor

It ain’t no April Fools’ joke - we take our food very seriously. As any foodie would know, the hunt for cool new eateries never ends, and we simply must tick them all off our list, no matter how long it takes and how far we must travel within this little red dot. We’ve done the homework for you, and our list of new cafes and restaurants for April 2021 is all you need to get through this month with.

While you’re here, check out our list of 17 things to do in April 2021 for outing ideas.

Read on for 14 new cafes and restaurants in Singapore for February 2021!

#1: MoMiJi - Kyoto-style cafe with scenic backdrops of all 4 seasons

Photo from @bellamarinda via Instagram

We’ve found a little piece of Kyoto in Singapore, and that would be MoMiJi, a Kyoto-style cafe at Bukit Timah that has gone all out with its Japanese-themed decor. Pick one of the four seasons, head over to a seating booth of your choice, and imagine you’re dining with an actual view of bald snow-topped trees, cherry blossoms, fiery Autumn leaves - it’s that realistic.

Photo from MoMiJi Cafe

Their specialty is the Kyoto Hotsand (from $18.20) - a warm sandwich filled with red beans and butter, accompanied by your choice of Matcha Ice Cream, Matcha Pudding, Mochi Ice Cream, or Yaki Imo (sweet potato).

Photo from MoMiJi Cafe

With tea culture particularly strong in Kyoto, it is only fitting that they serve pure Matcha ($7.20), Hoji Cha Lattes ($8.20), and Sen Cha ($6.20) - all made with tea leaves sourced from Japan itself. Get a Tea Set (from $10.20) consisting of tea, Warabi Mochi, and a Kyoto Biscuit for better value for money.

Read our full article on MoMiJi Cafe here.

#2: Gentle Roast - brunch spot at Thomson

Photo from @gentleroast via Instagram

Upper Thomson has added yet another new brunch spot to their already-extensive list of cafes: Gentle Roast, a cosy space with both an air-conditioned indoor area and al fresco zone.

Photo from @gentleroast via Instagram

Mains here start from $17 for a Seafood Aglio Olio, going up to $24 for Beefy, a classic ribeye steak. Signature brunch items include Burnt Toast ($18), a sweet item with caramelised banana, avocado, cream cheese, and cornflakes, as well as Gentle Cheese (above) - sourdough topped with grilled mozzarella and cheddar with crispy bacon, sausage, and mini hashbrown.

Photo from @my_matcha_moments_sg

True matcha lovers will not be disappointed with their Matcha Cake ($7.80), which matcha-holic Instagrammer @my_matcha_moments_sg has heavily raved about for its rich flavour and perfect balance of sweetness and bitterness.

Photo from @eatwithfelz via Instagram

Address: 227 Upper Thomson Rd, Singapore 574359
Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 10am - 10pm | Saturday & Sunday: 9am - 10pm
Website

#3: La Fez - pink Moroccan-inspired cafe

Photo from @saltyaaron via Instagram

La Fez isn’t just a pink cafe. It’s a pink cafe that will transport you to exotic Morocco thanks to its Arabesque theme. Reminiscent of the earthy pink buildings in Marrakesh that are made using red clay, this eatery along East Coast has decor of grand-looking arches, touches of gold, and even has a palm tree inside to amp up the ambience.

Photo from @saltyaaron via Instagram

The Moroccan theme extends to the menu as well, with Tyma Chicken Tagine ($26.90) that’s cooked in traditional Moroccan earthenware, Majorelle Shaksouka with Feta Cheese, and Maghreb Baghrir Pancakes ($15.90). This is also a good opportunity to get acquainted with Middle Eastern desserts and coffee ($3.90).

Photo from @saltyaaron via Instagram

Read our full article on La Fez here.

#4: Yeast Side - 3-in-1 bakery, pizza bistro, and craft beer bar

Photo from @yeastside.sg via Instagram

First things first: Yeast Side is not located in the East, contrary to what its name might suggest. Now that we’ve got that misconception out of the way - we’re pretty certain that this sourdough bakery, pizza bistro, and craft beer bar all rolled into one at Bukit Timah is worth the visit, no matter which part of Singapore you live in.

Photo from @zzaktan via Instagram

There’s no need to fight for space, as this is a 2-storey establishment, complete with tall glass windows for a good eyeful of the surroundings outside.

Photo from @yeastside.sg via Instagram

If you’re here for just a light snack, try their Quiche ($6), Banana Bread ($5), or Sticky Bun ($5) that’s slathered in treacly caramel sauce and topped with nut chunks. We hear their coffees (from $3.50) are pretty solid too.

Photo from @handstands_and_hops via Instagram

Address: 9 King Albert Park, #01-09 King Albert Park Mall, Singapore 598332
Opening hours: Wednesday: 4pm - 11pm | Thursday to Sunday: 9am - 11pm (Closed on Monday & Tuesday)
Website

#5: Icebar - neon ice cream cafe with free claw machine games

Photo from GirlStyle SG

Icebar brings everything you’d want in an ice cream cafe, and more. Creamy cold scoops and waffles aside, their space is decked out in cheeky neon light signages that create a groovy aura. Needless to say, you’ll be whipping out your phone for tons of photos here.

Photo from GirlStyle SG

Flavours here include classic Belgian Chocolate and Hong Kong Milk Tea, as well as Japanese-inspired Uji Matcha and Hokkaido Milk with Strawberries. If you’re feeling adventurous, try Burnt Pineapple - something you probably won’t find at other ice cream parlours.

Photo from GirlStyle SG

The cherry on top? All patrons will receive 5 free tokens with every $10 spent, to use at the claw machine arcade next door!

Photo from GirlStyle SG

Read our full review on Icebar here.

#6: Neptune - Japanese-inspired brunch cafe

Photo from @_rachyrachel via Instagram

Neptune may not be a galaxy-themed cafe, but it’ll sure take you out of this world. Their sea green exterior complemented with shades of cream already makes them inviting, and you’ll be glad to know this relaxing colour scheme carries on with the interior, coupled with wooden furniture.

Photo from @foodparesseux via Instagram

Dishes here are Japanese-inspired, with dishes such as the Seafood Somen ($22.90) and Pork Nikomi & Fried Rice ($25.90). Starting off with brunch items like Chilli Crab & Chorizo ($22.50), the menu changes twice throughout the day - once at 11am and later on at 5pm for dinner - where heavier items like Shrimp Scampi ($21.90) add Steak ($32.90) take centrestage.

Photo from @cutiemcnugget via Instagram

Bring your bundle of joy along - the al fresco seating area is pet-friendly!

Photo from @eatwithfelz via Instagram

Address: 237 East Coast Road, Singapore 428930
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday: 9am - 10pm | Sunday: 9am - 7pm (Closed on Monday)
Website

#7: Feima Stone Hotpot - Taiwan vibes aplenty

Photo from Feima Stone Hotpot

Once you get past the “vending machine” that is Feima Stone Hotpot’s quirky semi-concealed entrance, you might just find yourself wondering if you’ve transported yourself to Taipei’s Raohe Night Market. Although it’s mainly just due to a wall decal, this backdrop is a spitting image of the famous food street in Taiwan, giving you all those holiday feelz once more.

Photo from @rontreechan via Instagram

What’s interesting about this hotpot joint is that some of the ingredients are first cooked dry-style in the pot with sesame oil, before the broth gets poured in. This results in a more fragrant and flavourful soup base for your other ingredients to bubble in.

Photo from @jarylzjs via Instagram

Read our full article on Feima Stone Hotpot here.

#8: La Vie - French patisserie with mini art gallery

Photo from @hellolynd via Instagram

From the outside, French patisserie La Vie might look like any standard minimalist cafe with white marble tables, but head in and you’ll discover that it also doubles up as a mini art gallery, where patrons can admire and even purchase local artists’ paintings that line the otherwise plain walls.

Photo from @immichelleteo via Instagram

The desserts here are just as colourful as the artwork. Popular picks include the Watermelon Strawberry Cake ($9.50) with rose chantilly cream, a delicate lychee and rose cake called Chloe ($8.50), as well as Kaiser ($9) a passionfruit sponge with jelly-like mango mousse and fruity popping boba.

Photo from @kellyseratelier via Instagram

The biggest surprise here lies in the entryway to the toilet, where a whole different world awaits with mirrored walls and glowing orbs in blue and purple. Now that’s what we call, taking the toilet selfie to a whole new level.

Photo from @zippyzipeng via Instagram

Address: 204 Jalan Besar, Singapore 208890
Opening hours: Tuesday to Thursday: 11.30am - 8.30pm | Friday to Sunday: 11.30am - 10.30pm (Closed on Monday)
Website

#9: Sommer - European fine-dining restaurant

Photo from @sommerdining via Instagram

One glance at Sommer and you’ll know that it’s the sort of restaurant that you’d want to save for a special occasion with bae. Located at luxury condominium The Sail at Marina Bay, this European fine-dining restaurant solely serves full-course meals, with a la carte not an option.

Photo from @ohtastyfats via Instagram

Pick from 3 tiers of menus: Discovery ($68), Inspiration ($168), and Experience ($228), with the latter two offering more courses and more premium ingredients. With 6 courses, the most affordable menu is considerably reasonably-priced, with Japanese Red Bream or Wagyu Short Rib as your main.

Photo from @greedybutpicky via Instagram

Food is art here, where everything from the scallops to the petit fours are painstakingly arranged with impeccable attention to detail. Speaking of art, the walls of this classy space come lined with paintings that add warmth to the contemporary interior, creating the perfect environment for a fancy date night out.

Photo from @sommerdining via Instagram

Address: 2 Marina Boulevard, #01-02 The Sail at Marina Bay, Singapore 018987
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday: 12pm - 2pm, 6pm - 9.30pm (Closed on Sunday & Monday)
Website

#10: Sweets Craftsman - Mount Fuji-themed cake rolls

Photo from @eatingwitheating via Instagram

If there’s one thing you should visit Sweets Craftsman for, it’s their Fujiro ($7.80). This eye-pleasing cream-filled cake roll is designed to look like Japan’s Mount Fuji, in flavours of in flavours of Matcha, Tieguanyin and Chocolate Raspberry.

Photo from Sweets Craftsman

Another dessert item Japanophiles would want to try here is the Strawberry Shortcake ($6.80), which comes with a hint of matcha.

Photo from Sweets Craftsman

Another bonus is their homely, cottage-like interior with simple wooden furniture and potted plants adding some colour. It’s a small space with just 4 seats, so you might have to be prepared to wait if you’re hoping to dine-in.

Photo from Sweets Craftsman

Read our full article on Sweets Craftsman here.

#11: Persea - low-carb Mediterranean cuisine

Photo from @persea.sg via Instagram

Persea focuses on low-carb dishes, but hold up - it’s not salads and “rabbit food” as some might wrongly assume. Here, you’ll get a hearty Mediterranean feast packed with flavour and good fats. We’re talking Lamb Rump ($28), Nude Scotch Egg ($26) with pork fennel sausage and lemon aioli, and Barramundi ($30) with flower clams, saffron sauce. And yes, there are also desserts, namely Rosemary Basque Cheesecake ($16) and Yoghurt Parfait ($14).

Photo from @iris.nihao via Instagram

Food aside, dining in this 2-storey shophouse is an experience in itself. On one floor, white bar stools and matching tables are set against a lovely salmon pink feature wall, and on the other, it’s an all-white affair spiced up with abstract art.

Photo from @iris.nihao via Instagram

The forest green spiral staircase separating these two sections has a curious curled shape, making it an interesting focal point - and of course, a stellar photo spot.

Photo from @iris.nihao via Instagram

Address: 23 Ann Siang Road, Singapore 069703
Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday: 5.30pm - 10.30pm | Saturday: 11am - 2.30pm, 5.30pm - 10.30pm | Sunday: 11.am - 3.30pm
Website

#12: Miso Salmon - healthy Japanese bowls piled with ingredients

Photo from Miso Salmon

Judging by its name, it’s really not hard to guess what Miso Salmon is all about - Japanese dishes with an emphasis on seafood. And a huge heaping of that is what you’ll get, with their $15 bowls piled high with salmon, udon, and toppings like shimeji mushrooms, black fungus, bamboo shoots, and sweet corn.

Photo from Miso Salmon

If you so prefer, build your own bowl by picking between udon or shirataki noodles ($8), choosing your soup base such as Original Shiro Miso, Garlic Miso, or Sesame Miso, and adding your favorite main seafood ingredients ($4) and add-ons ($1).

Photo from Miso Salmon

Address: 60 Peck Seah Street, Singapore 079323
Opening hours: 11am - 9pm daily
Website

#13: The Dempsey Project - upmarket grocer with cafe space

Photo from @belle.yorkie via Instagram

Upmarket grocery store Jones the Grocer has undergone a makeover and are now known as The Dempsey Project with a refreshed concept. Their cosy, in-house cafe space still remains, with breakfast dishes, burgers, and hearty mains like Truffle Mushroom Risotto ($28) and BBQ Pork Ribs ($34).

Photo from @shaunamun via Instagram

The inclusive menu ensures that there are a sizeable number of options for everyone, including vegans and those who require gluten-free dishes. Now the whole squad can dine out without limitations!

Photo from @thedempseyproject via Instagram

As with a number of other cafes and restaurants in the vicinity, this place has a dog-friendly outdoor dining area.

Photo from @consicousfoodindia via Instagram

Address: Block 9 Dempsey Road, #01-12, Singapore 247697
Opening hours: Sunday to Thursday: 8am - 9pm | Friday & Saturday: 8am - 9.30pm
Website

#14: Mukjja - Korean jjajangmyeon and fried chicken

Photo from @happykl19 via Instagram

There’s always something comforting about Korean food, and authentic Korean eatery Mukjja delivers that with a home-cooked quality that’s sure to please your belly. The star of the show here is their jjajangmyeon, with the black bean sauce made from scratch in-house! This costs $10.80, but if you’re craving something soupy as well, you can get this in a combo bowl with Spicy Seafood Noodle Soup for $18.80.

Photo from @nickelorpenny via Instagram

Also popular are their Sweet and Sour Pork (from $24) and Fried Chicken (from $32) with Garlic Sauce or Hot Soy Bean Sauce.

Photo from Mukjja

The decor here is kept no-frills, but is pleasant enough with light wood and white walls - much like a homelier version of minimalist coffee houses in Seoul.

Read our full article on Mukjja here.

For previous editions of our monthly compilation of new cafes and restaurants: