Christmas is all about feasting and gathering with the people you love, so hands up if the idea of having a relaxing afternoon with sweet treats or savoury bites can make you free up your busy schedule! Here are 10 casual afternoon tea places to dine-in with friends, or takeaway for a potluck party or two.
Known for their jiggly souffle pancake stacks in Osaka, Belle-ville Pancake Cafe has finally opened their second outlet in Singapore at Square 2. Those who are here for the first time can order a classic Millefeuille Pancake ($7.90++ for four, $11.90++ for eight pieces) to share, while those looking for something more for the ‘gram can get the more colourful Strawberry and Mixed Berry Pancake ($11.90++ for two, $14.40++ for four pieces) instead. Served warm with a fluffy centre, each layer was absolutely moreish when paired with sweetened cream and salted butter.
Check out our full review of Belle-ville!
Address: 10 Sinaran Drive, #01-152, Square 2, Singapore 307506
Opening hours: Daily 8:30am to 8:30pm
Tel: 6259 8229
Website
Image credit: @sinpopobrand
Sinpopo Brand is one of the first places that comes to mind whenever I’m tasked to fill up the dessert table. Their premium goodies such as the popular Gula Melaka Cake ($8) will definitely impress when its full-bodied gula melaka and pandan flavours reel you in at first bite.
Order one of their locally inspired log cakes such as Gula Melaka Log Cake ($68), Pandan Pulut Hitam Log Cake ($68), or Putu Piring Log Cake ($68) to bring a more homely spin to Christmas!
Address: 10 Sinaran Drive, #01-20, Square 2, Singapore 307506
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 10pm
Tel: 6256 5966
Website
Xing Fu Tang has been the talk of the town with their cold luscious milk and warm gooey pearls combo. Known as Taiwan’s number one brown sugar bubble tea, they have also made waves on our shores thanks to their iconic stir-fried pearls, which are soft to the centre with hints of deliciously burnt sugar. A cup of Brown Sugar Boba Milk goes at $5.30 a pop—a worthy conclusion to a good meal.
Address: 10 Sinaran Drive, #02-65/66/67, Square 2, Singapore 307506
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 10pm
Website
Image credit: @ayeoz5
The name Tai Cheong Bakery is synonymous with Hong Kong delights, especially egg tarts and toasts. Unlike the one at Holland Village, this branch offers only takeaways for their Egg Tarts ($2), Pandan Tarts ($2), Chicken Pie ($3) and more. These adorable gems are neatly packaged in boxes of four, making them presentable gifts to bring to a Christmas gathering or a simple addition at tea time with friends.
Address: 10 Sinaran Drive, #01-15, Square 2, Singapore 307506
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 10pm
Website
Image credit: @joendough
Expect a comforting all-day breakfast spread or a solid cup of joe at Joe & Dough. Sit down and catch up with friends over their aromatic Signature d.r. Joe 1914 coffee ($6.50), along with a Skillet Baked Eggs with Chicken Bratwurst ($13) which stays warm even after a good hour of chit-chatting. Alternatively, end the year being healthy with a Smashed Avocado Tartine ($12) which has buttery avocado slabbed onto a toasted slice of sourdough.
Address: 10 Sinaran Drive, #01-156, Square 2, Singapore 307506
Opening hours: Daily 8am to 9:30pm
Tel: 6397 2669
Website
Image credit: @carmelate
Decked out with comfy seats, Awfully Chocolate at Greenwich V give folks at Seletar somewhere to chill after lunch or dinner. Pair a slice of Flourless Chocolate Cake ($7.90) with a scoop of Hei Ice Cream ($4.90) for the ultimate chocolate dessert. The cake is gluten-free, yet it possesses such a smooth texture and rich flavour. Psst…be a darling and give the host at your Christmas party a pint of Hei Ice Cream at $15.50 or a beautiful Ruby Chocolate Raspberry Cake at $98! They also have a takeaway store at Square 2, if you’re at Novena looking to grab and go!
Address: 1 Seletar Road, #02-02, Greenwich V, Singapore 807011
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 10pm
Tel: 6556 0656
Website
Trust Cedele Bakery Kitchen to come up with a menu of healthy meals and afternoon tea delights. A personal favourite is the Christmas Turkey Prawn & Avocado Burger ($22) which is packed with grilled prawns, avocado, tomatoes, cranberry sauce, and a thick turkey patty. It has also become a habit for me to buy a slice of Carrot Walnut Cake ($7.50) to-go. Made with unrefined sugar, the cake is wonderfully moist from real carrots and crunchy from raw walnuts.
Address: 1 Seletar Road, #02-14, Greenwich V, Singapore 807011
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10am to 9:30pm, Sat-Sun 9am to 9:30pm
Tel: 6753 9946
Website
Image credit: @givevsomefood
Those looking for a halal-friendly coffeehouse can head to The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf for not only drinks, but their extensive menu of savoury dishes as well. While the Egg Club Sandwich ($10.90) is a simple yet fail-proof trio of turkey ham, egg, cheese, and bread, the Breakfast Platter ($12.90) is for those looking for a more filling meal with sauteed mushrooms, scrambled eggs, sausages and more.
There are also festive specials to look out for such as the pretty in pink Red Velvet Cocoa Ice Blended Drink ($8.50) and unique Speculoos Coffee Cheesecake ($6.90) that will wow your friends with its crunchy and nutty crumble on top.
Address: 1 Seletar Road, #02-01, Greenwich V, Singapore 807011
Opening hours: Sun-Thurs 8am to 10:30pm, Fri-Sat 8am to 11pm
Tel: 6555 7721
Website
Image credit: @rockymaster_sg
Certified halal in 2017, Rocky Master is anything but a boring cafe. Instead, it serves a good mix of all-day breakfast as well as Asian favourites. Enjoy hawker classics such as Pan-fried Carrot Cake with Prawns ($8.80), Laksa Supreme ($12.80), and Mee Siam with Prawns ($8.80). Don’t forget to give your meal an added kick of spice with their addictive house-made sambal chilli.
Address: 1 Hougang Street 91, #01-40, Hougang 1, Singapore 538692
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 10pm
Tel: 6243 6772
Website
Rocky Master is a halal-certified eatery.
With extended closing times till 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays, the Starbucks outlet at Hougang 1 shopping mall is a great excuse to not head straight home after dinner with friends.
Get in the jolly mood of Christmas with their adorable Christmas cakes this year. The Penguin Black Forest Cake ($6.90) and Winter Fox Hazelnut Cake ($6.90) will be a hit with both adults and kids alike for afternoon tea. Not forgetting the end-of-year must-haves—Starbucks’s Iced Peppermint Mocha and Iced Toffee Nut Crunch Latte at $7.60 each for a tall cup.
Address: 1 Hougang Street 91, #01-41, Hougang 1, Singapore 538692
Opening hours: Sun-Thurs 8am to 10:30pm, Fri-Sat 8am to 11pm
Tel: 6957 2583
Website
Festive feasting is not only about the food, but also the company. Head down with your loved ones to Square 2, Greenwich V, and Hougang 1 for a slew of activities and events from now till the end of the year.
If you are looking for more restaurants to fuel up at before desserts or tea, check out the newly opened Itacho Sushi at Square 2 or Umi Sushi at Hougang 1. Haruyuki Restaurant by Rakuichi Sushi at Greenwich V is another option for when payday rolls around. The menu covers many Japanese dishes such as sashimi sets, aburi sushi, skewers, ramen and more.
Be sure to download the ShopFarEast app which offers deals and rewards for shopping malls not only in this article, but those under Far East Organisation islandwide as well. This means savings in town at Orchard Central and Clarke Quay Central too.
This post is brought to you by Far East Malls.
Feature image adapted from @joendough, @carmelate, and @rockymaster_sg.
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