5 new brunches to check out in Singapore

The first ever Singapore Cafe Week is starting its run from Dec 10-13 and 17-20, with plenty of cafes offering prix fixe menus. But that’s not all that’s hot in the brunch world. From trendy, big-name restaurants to new indie cafes, here are some new breakfast spots to hit for brunch lovers (or those who can’t be bothered to be up before 11am).

For Fun, Cafe Fare

20F Specialty Coffee House

Jalan Besar’s brand new cafe may not join the ranks of Chye Seng Huat Hardware just yet, but its brunch grub is pretty fail-safe.
Try these: It tries to distinguish itself from the flock by offering duck & waffle ($22), with duck confit instead of the usual fried chicken; orange cinnamon French toast ($15), with bacon, mascarpone and mixed berries; and 20F Flats, a meats on flats dish with a choice of pulled duck and Chipotle sauce or pulled pork and fresh guacamole ($17 each). Beverage-wise, they have your usual coffee suspects (from espressos to flat whites), iced teas and indulgent milk smoothies.

Kimchi panini, The Da Bang

The Da Bang

New Australian brunch and dessert spot The Da Bang offers a rather crowd-pleasing array of Korean-style breakfast dishes.

Try these: Order the savory kimchi panini ($12) and the bulgogi panini ($12). The menu’s nothing ground-breaking but if you’re looking to fuel up with something simple, then items like nacho cheese omelette ($16), spicy chicken and avocado sandwich ($14) and the big breakfast, with sausages, English muffins, bacon and scrambled eggs ($18), should suffice. Wash it all down with pistachio milk ($6) or a salted butter caramel iced latte ($6.50).

For Fancy Restaurant Brunches

Ricotta pancakes, Adrift

Adrift

Dig into posh nosh with David Myers’ new brunch menu, which comes with unusual takes on classic breakfast items.
Try these: Available only on weekends, there are mains like the Adrift Benedict, with grilled rice cakes, dashi bacon, onsen eggs and chive-miso hollandaise; crispy chicken and sweet potato waffles drizzled with maple-umeboshi syrup; and ricotta pancakes with yuzu honey, vanilla persimmons and azuki bean ice cream. The spread costs from $88 per person, with a choice of a main course, dessert and buffet sides. Want a little morning tipple? An extra $70 per person will give you a free-flow of Champagne, fruit cocktails, beer and selected wines.

Aura

Aura

This hot new Baroque-style lounge, restaurant and rooftop locale at National Gallery Singapore isn’t just for the evening, Martini-swirling set.
Try these: If you’re set on starting your day on a chi-chi note, then order the crispy egg with grilled octopus and sweet cornmeal ($25), garganelli with lobster and Sicilian tomatoes ($38) or the quail casserole with beetroot and mascarpone orzotto ($28). Can’t quit your eggs Benedict addiction? Aura serves up a fancier version with salmon and sea urchin hollandaise ($24). And it’s never too early for aphrodisiacs—on the table are live oysters with lemon and tabasco ($24 for six).

English Sunday Roast, Bread Street Kitchen

Bread Street Kitchen

Gordon Ramsay’s new-ish venture at Marina Bay Sands now has a weekend brunch menu.

Try these: While it has typical items like eggs Benedict and buttermilk pancakes, we say skip the Singaporean basics and go for the excessive Sunday Roast, a traditional British, family-style spread. Don’t expect progressive plates here, as it’s all about classic (but delicious) English staples like roasted striploin beef with horseradish cream and gravy accompanied by potatoes. spiced honey carrots and greens and an indulgent Yorkshire pudding ($45 for a platter).