8 New Cafes & Restaurants Around Buona Vista To Check Out
From a romantic steakhouse to a floral-filled space, make these new establishments around Buona Vista your new hangout spot
By Michelle Lee SM -
Home to a number of tech as well as education and science institutes, the Buona Vista district (especially the nearby Holland Village enclave) also houses a diverse range of good eats, with yet more newcomers opening their doors — including popular cafes opening new branches in the hood. Looking for a new office lunch spot or residing around the area? Here are the new entrants to swing by.
If you love Hong Kong fare, then you'll likely be acquainted with Legendary Hong Kong, with interiors that bring to mind old-school cha chaan tengs.
It's opened the doors to a new outlet at Rochester Park, housed in a two-storey colonial bungalow. Compared to its sister eateries, the decor here is a touch more elevated, with chandeliers and wooden fixtures alongside framed pictures of famous actors and olden-day Hong Kong.
You can expect the same expansive menu of dim sim and classic Hong Kong-style delights such as bolo buns, wanton noodles, roasted pork and condense milk-slathered thick toasts. But there are also Rochester-exclusive dishes to try out.
Legendary Hong Kong is at 10A Rochester Park Singapore 139258. Visit its Facebook page for more information or reservations.
Across Holland Village and nestled along the quieter stretch of shophouses at Chip Bee Gardens is Keong Saik's latest outpost.
Anchored by a counter and display of mouthwatering pastries, the interiors take on a retro vibe with mosaic tiles, arched windows, and round tables with wooden chairs - perfect for a leisurely break. The bakery-cafe is best known for its pastries and cakes with an Asian twist, particularly the signature Sor Hei, a black and white Danish pastry that nods to the ma jies of Keong Saik in the olden days.
One Chip Bee Gardens-exclusive to try is Hei, a black sesame mousse, feuilletine and dacquoise cake. Or if you're up for something savoury, order the Mushroom Soup Croissant Cube, which sees a soup made from three types of mushrooms housed within a flaky cube-shaped pastry.
Keong Saik Bakery Chip Bee Garden is at 44 Jalan Merah Saga, #01-42, Singapore 278116.
If you're in the mood for steak, head to French steakhouse Les Bouchons' romantic new outlet at Rochester, housed in a two-storey bungalow with a verdant al fresco area. Inside, you'll find vintage decor as well as various artworks; the first storey has a more laidback vibe while the second level exudes boasts elegant interiors flanked by walls of wine bottles.
Think classic French fare, such as a velvety French ceps soup with truffle oil ($17++), or a rich slab of foie gras terrine on toast ($26++). Prefer a lighter starter? The French Heirloom Beetroot Salad ($17++) with mildly sweet beets is worth sampling. For steaks, executive chef Mickael Cornac recommends the Grilled Sirloin Wagyu (MB +7/8, $92++) cooked medium-rare. All steak dishes come with a free flow of twice-cooked homemade fries — you won't be able to stop at one basket.
End with desserts, which sees classics like a double chocolate lava cake, creme brulee spiked with orange Curacao, and the Ile Flottante, a traditional dessert of a pillowy meringue floating in a pool of creme anglaise.
A weekday three-course set lunch is priced at $35++. Les Bouchons Rochester is at 10 Rochester Park, Rochester Commons, Singapore 139221. Closed on Mondays. Visit its website for more information.
Next to Les Bouchons is Gary's. Taiwan-born Singaporean chef Gary Wu brings to his namesake restaurant, also housed within a two-storey bungalow, his brand of contemporary Italian-Japanese fare.
Kick off with starters like a Red Prawn Tartare ($26++), a zesty concoction of Botan Ebi and Gambero Rosso prawns, or the iconic Gary’s Garden Salad ($26++), with vegetables artfully arranged atop mashed potato to resemble Singapore’s skyline.
If you’re embracing carbs, there’s the Signature Seafood Pasta ($28++) with a slow-cooked seafood stock that’s flambeed with brandy, or the Scottish Bamboo Clam ($36++) — squid ink pasta's served together on the clamshell, and flambéed with white wine. Otherwise, go for juicy Iberico Pork Jowl ($38++) or the 150-day Grass-fed Tenderloin ($42++) that’s chargrilled, then finished with veal juice and a red wine reduction.
Gary’s is at 41 Rochester Drive, Singapore 138582. Visit its website for reservations or more information.
It's quite literally bananas at Crazy Nana. This cosy cafe shines the spotlight on bananas, sourced from the owner's own farm in Batu Pahat, Malaysia. Think plates like Banana French Toast ($3.80), Banana On Toast ($3.80), Banana Mini Wraps ($3.80), and the signature Crazy Nana Pisang ($6.90).
And lest you think they only serve banana-centric dishes here, there are also options like mee goreng, mee siam, nasi lemak and rojak - though the rojak comes with a pisang (banana) version, too.
Crazy Nana is at 1 Fusionopolis Place, #01-17, Singapore 138632.
If the scorching weather's getting to you, cool off at gelato cafe GelatiAmo at One-north. The cafe, sporting a Mediterranean-inspired space woven with modern elements, is helmed by chef Loris Massimini of Ristorante Pietrasanta, and is all about authentic creamy treats made without premixes, colouring, or preservatives.
You’ll find classics on the menu, such as Vanilla, Salted Caramel, Chocolate (made with 76 per cent cacao), Earl Grey, Melted Butter Coffee (made with Brazil single-origin coffee grinds) and more. Or go for gorgeously indulgent flavours like Ferrero Rocher, or a Burrata Balsamico, an icy take on Ristorante Pietrasanta’s popular cheesecake with balsamic vinegar. The gelato is priced at $4.20 per scoop, $7.80 for a double scoop, and an additional $0.80 per scoop for premium flavours.
GelatiAmo is at 1 Fusionopolis Way, Connexis B1-11, Singapore 138632. Visit its website for more information.
This pretty restaurant is inspired by the medieval German lyrical poet Walther von der Vogelweide. And if its romantic floral decor seems to ring a bell, that's because it's helmed by the same folks behind Cafe de Nicole's flower and Le Jardin. It's pet-friendly too, so you can hang out with your furbabies.
Dine on breakfast options, and modern European fare, from pasta to steaks, duck confit, and sharing plates of lamb rack, pork tomahawk, and lemon sole meuniere.
Under Der Linden opened in late December last year, but it's recently also unveiled a new dessert space called Linden Dessert Space just above the restaurant. However, it's temporarily closed till further notice, so check out its Instagram page for updates.
Under Der Linden is at 5B Portsdown Road, Singapore 139311.