It seems like cafe owners in Singapore have discovered the winning formula to stand out amongst their numerous competitors: bombarding the interior with flowers to create Insta-worthy backdrops.
Brown Butter, YTEA and many others have done it, and now there's a new floral cafe in town to add to your calendar: Knock Knock Cafe.
Keep reading to find out more!
Located a convenient 4-minute walk from Kallang MRT Station, Knock Knock Cafe had its soft launch on 19 April and is now officially open.
The flower-filled interior is undeniably photo-worthy but it also creates a relaxing ambience so even non-Instagrammers can appreciate it. Florals aside, the cafe has a soothing, minimalist look with a monochrome colour palette, marble tables, faux candles and patterned tile floors. The warm glow from the purple neon lights gives the space a cosy, bar-like atmosphere.
Photo from GirlStyle Singapore
Photo from GirlStyle Singapore
The prime seats for photos has to be the colourful floral wall with their logo written in neon lights.
Photo from GirlStyle Singapore
Other covetable seats are at the corner with a painted dome and neon signage, and a private room with flowers on the ceiling and a mirror for selfie and wefie opportunities.
Photo from GirlStyle Singapore
The floral aesthetic continues in the bathrooms too. You'll be greeted by two pandas on the way there, one of them with a flower crown, perhaps indicating which is for the ladies and gents. And the cubicles are decorated with tropical wallpaper.
Photo from GirlStyle Singapore
Any cafe hopper will know that all cafe food starts to taste the same after a while. If you're craving something different, Knock Knock Cafe is the place to surprise your tastebuds. They serve brunch items with a local twist like Har Cheong Chicken Wings ($7/$10), 'Lup Cheong' Carbonara ($16) and Seafood 'Laksa' Pasta ($18).
Hei bi hiam pasta is a food trend that we've always been skeptical about but we're glad we finally tried it at this cafe. The Tiger Prawn 'Hei Bi Hiam' Aglio Olio ($17) was spicy and rich with a fragrant shrimp aroma. The house made shrimp floss added a nice cheese-like texture to the pasta and the prawns were fresh.
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The texture of the Otak-Otak Burger ($17) batang fish patty was a little too puréed for our liking but it packs quite the punch with a variety of spices including lemongrass, chillies, ginger and tumeric. An unexpected highlight of this dish was the crispy fries which has a sweet aftertaste as well as the sambal mayo dip.
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Our favourite of the savoury dishes was the Golden Prawn Tacos ($13), made with deep fried shrimp, salted egg sauce, tobiko and veggies.
Photo from GirlStyle Singapore
They also serve classic dishes like Wagyu Beef Foie Gras Burger ($26), Spaghetti Vongole ($16) and Beer Battered Mentaiko Fish & Chips ($18).
For dessert, we tried the 'Ondeh Ondeh' Tiramisu ($12) which, unlike what its name suggests, does not contain coffee. It takes inspiration only in the layered form with pandan, gula melaka and toasted coconut flakes. Although the cream was light and airy, it was still quite a full-flavoured dessert and we'd recommend sharing it between at least two or three.
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A new Instagrammable drink worth a try is the Iced Bear Latte ($6.50). The frozen bears and puppies seem like a novelty just for the 'gram but they serve a practical purpose too. These cute little ice figures are made of chocolate or mocha which gradually melt along with the regular ice cubes, making sure that the drink doesn't get diluted. These Iced Bear Lattes are limited to only 30 servings a day, based on a first-come-first serve basis.
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Besides the Insta-factor, Knock Knock Cafe is worth a visit for their Western-Asian fusion food that's something different from typical cafe fare. One tip is to throw out everything you know about the original dish, be it tacos or tiramisu, and you'll be able to appreciate the dishes for the unique creations that they are.
From 1 to 30 September 2021, diners can enjoy 1-for-1 pastas for both dine-in and takeaway, that works out to be less than $10 per diner.
Knock Knock Cafe
Address: 101 Geylang Rd, Singapore 389211 (Near Kallang MRT Station)
Opening hours: Tues to SunL 12 - 10pm. Closed on Mondays.
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Text by: GirlStyle SG
