Merry Men Kitchen and Bar @ River Valley, Singapore

Opened by four unlikely friends, who came from different career backgrounds (lawyer and physiotherapist? Wow.), the concept of their brainchild - Merry Men Kitchen and Bar is fairly simple, and that is to provide a platform for friends to gather, relax and unwind after a long day of work. Of course, the act of unwinding is not unwinding without good and affordable food, accompanied by a few jugs of good imported beer at the river-side. Sounds like a perfect place to hang out on a Friday night? It sure is. If you're there on a weekend morning or afternoon, do expect leng lui's jogging with their dogs, but obviously that is not the main focus. If you know what I mean.

Just the Place @ Punggol Settlement, Singapore

Punggol is a beautiful place, in fact, it is well-developed now (although a bit ulu la) as compared to other coastal areas such as the east coasts. Besides newly-built HDBs, Punggol now boasts several entertainment spots, like cycling/jogging tracks, prawning facilities and a hell lot of cafes and restaurants. We were there cycling one Sunday afternoon and we decided to pop by some of the cafes to try them out. Just the Place might be just the place you are looking for a quick break to have some bites, or simply just to chill the shit out on a hot weekend afternoon with some brunch... or well, beer on a Friday night. Albeit being just a year old, this cafe has already gathered a steady stream of followers.

"Our food is wholesome like German cooking with French finese and always served with the warm hospitality of the Italians."

Grin Affair @ Everton Park, Singapore

Tuck away under a HDB at Everton Park since 2011, Grin Affair serves their offerings in beautiful glass jars wrapped with recycling paper. It doesn't take a genius to guess that they are into the recycling initiative. This petite cafe is opened by Jody Ang, a self-taught baker whose love for handicraft blossomed into a profession. 

At Grin Affair, they encourage you to return the used jars, in return of freebies, like dried fruits or even more cakes! It's definitely a marketing strategy, but one that promotes the well-being of Mother Nature. Moreover, their creations are all made of natural ingredients and no artificial colouring and flavouring. For starters, go for their best sellers of mousse cake selection with various flavours, such as Hazelnut ($6.50) - gorgeous layers of soft sponge cake layered with crunchy crumbs and fresh cream. It doesn't look fancy, but does pack a bite full of textures and flavours.

Backstage Cafe @ Kallang Way, Singapore

Backstage Cafe is located at a industrial park in Kallang Way, somewhere between Kallang and Aljunied. Although it does sound slightly ulu, the ambience is beautifully crafted, accompanied by a spacious, industrial-style interior and high ceilings - definitely the kind of place where you can chill and watch the world goes by. One of the best things with cafes appearing in neighborhood locations is that people do not rush you. Ya know? Sometimes, you just wanna shout "kua simi kua?!"

+39 Gelato Bar @ Circular Road, Singapore

Nestled within the vibrant Circular Road, the newly opened +39 Gelato uses state-of-the-art gelato machines to craft up the most delicate desserts in their rustic and industrial-inspired bar. Of course, machines are one thing, these highly-skilled gelato chefs make their prized babies in-store on a daily basis, so you won't need to worry about stale, overnight gelato. Moreover, the natural and high-quality ingredients are sourced only from the best. It all sounded really exaggerated. Until you try them.

Food Tasting at Harry's Bar @ Boat Quay, Singapore

Today limbeh is introducing a new place for brunch in the CBD. Harry's bar, better known for its bar grubs and alcohol, has recently launched their breakfast and brunch menu (available from 8am to 10.30am daily). This is definitely good news for office workers who might want a switch from their usual kaya toasts and soft-boiled eggs at nearby kopitiams. If that is not a good reason to attract you, how about its location at boat quay with a 5-star view of the Singapore river matched with some river breeze on a hot day. Oh yeah.