Under Der Linden @ Portsdown Road - Floral Escape With European Vibes

Tucked away along Portsdown Road at One-North, Under Der Linden offers diners a floral-themed dining escape, blending European vibes with whimsical charm. The restaurant draws inspiration from the medieval poem "Under der Linden", infusing its interiors with pastel blooms, whitewashed walls, and arched details. The result is a serene, picture-perfect setting, and one of the rare pet-friendly restaurants in Singapore where even furry companions are welcome indoors.

Ice Latte 4.2/5

Kickstart the meal at Under Der Linden with a refreshing Ice Latte, smooth and lightly aromatic, setting the tone for a relaxing dining experience.

Burrata Garden Delight 4/5

For our lunch, we started with the Burrata Garden Delight ($22). A whole vine tomato sits on top of a bed of mizuna salad. Slice open the tomato, and it reveals a creamy burrata hidden within. The dish is light, fresh, and visually playful, marrying creamy richness with the peppery crunch of mizuna greens.

Crispy Calamari Fiesta 4.2/5

The Crispy Calamari Fiesta ($16) is super addictive, with its exterior perfectly crisp while the inside remains firm and tender. A comforting sharing dish that is simple yet executed with finesse.

Duck Confit 4/5

The Duck Confit ($32) is very well executed. The duck was tender and fell off the bone with ease. It is paired with compressed nashi pear, beetroot purée, and natural jus. The sweetness from the pear and beetroot balances the richness of the duck, creating a harmonious bite.

Wagyu Beef Burger 4.2/5

The Wagyu Beef Burger ($29) features a juicy, medium-rare 200g wagyu patty sandwiched between two soft and fluffy buns. Layered with onion compote, bacon jam, miso aioli, and cheddar cheese, the burger is flavour-packed and indulgent, easily one of the highlights of the menu.

Under Der Linden stands out as more than just a floral café. With its elegant interiors, pet-friendly policy, and well-executed menu, it makes for a charming spot for dates, gatherings, or simply a peaceful retreat from the city's bustle. The food is not only beautifully presented but also thoughtfully crafted, making it a dining destination that marries aesthetics with flavour.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Under Der Linden
5B Portsdown Road
#01-02
Singapore 139311
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Nearest MRT: One-North (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon, Wed-Fri: 10am - 330pm, 530pm - 9pm
Sat-Sun: 10am - 9pm
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at One-North MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop opposite One-North MRT station (Stop ID 18151). Take bus number 191. Alight 3 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Liberty Singapore @ Marina Bay Financial Centre - Special Weekend Discount, 1-For-1 Asahi Draft and Close-up Magic

Liberty Singapore at Marina Bay Financial Centre (MBFC) Tower 2 has introduced the "Liberty X Asahi Weekend Escape", featuring attractive weekend deals and live close-up magic performances by magician Ming Da on 23, 30 August and 6 September 2025. With great food, drinks, and entertainment, it makes for a lively weekend hangout spot.

Asahi Draft

Kick off the weekend with the Asahi Draft 1-for-1 Promotion, where you get 2 pints for the price of 1. A refreshing way to unwind after a long week – cheers to the weekend!

Nori Truffle Fries 4/5

To go along with the drinks, there’s a variety of bar snacks. A crowd-pleaser is the Nori Truffle Fries ($12). The crispy fries are topped with parmesan and served with truffle mayo, adding a touch of indulgence to the classic bar snack.

Weekend Special (2 Brunch Mains for $59) - Liberty Breakfast 4/5

Weekend Special: 2 Brunch Mains for $59. The Liberty Breakfast ($32) is a hearty all-day breakfast platter comprising Butifarra and Chorizo sausages, bacon, asparagus, mushrooms, hash browns, sourdough, and your choice of eggs. A generous and satisfying brunch plate that works anytime of the day.

Liberty Burger 4/5

The Liberty Burger with Fries ($32) features a juicy grilled wagyu patty, paired with aged cheddar, streaky bacon, caramelised onions, and Liberty’s signature BBQ sauce. Sandwiched between fluffy buns and served with crispy fries, it’s a comforting and well-executed classic.

Prawn Tagliatelle 4.5/5

The standout among the brunch mains is the Prawn Tagliatelle ($34). Cooked perfectly al dente, the pasta is coated in a robust sambal lobster bisque, with tobiko adding delightful bursts of briny flavour. Two large, fresh prawns, grilled to perfection, crown the dish – a must-try for seafood lovers.

Artisanal Pizza from 3.5/5

Artisanal pizzas are also available from $12.90. We tried the Margherita ($26), made with Poolish dough that combines Italian Caputo flour with Japanese flour. The result is a light and airy crust, though the flavours leaned towards the safe side.

Smoked Meat Platter 4.5/5

The Smoked Meat Platter (U.P. $138, now $98) is a huge weekend steal. It comes with 200g of Char Siu Pork Belly and 200g of Kalbi Short-rib – both succulent, tender, and deeply flavourful. Despite the discount, the quality is uncompromised, and the accompanying Asian salad provides freshness to balance the richness. For pork lovers, the Char Siu Pork Belly (U.P. $24) is also available at 50% off ($12).

With its wide variety of food, generous portions, and irresistible weekend promotions, Liberty Singapore makes for a great dining and drinking spot at MBFC. Whether you're here for brunch, pizza, smoked meats, or to enjoy pints of Asahi while being entertained by magic, the Weekend Escape promises both fun and value.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Liberty Singapore
Marina Bay Financial Centre (MBFC)
Tower 2
10 Marina Boulevard
#01-04
Singapore 018983
Tel: +65 6322 3777
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Nearest MRT: Downtown (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 8am - 10pm
Sat-Sun: 1030am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Exit D. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Cafe Oriental @ Amara Singapore - August Local Legends Series: KEK Seafood

In celebration of SG60, Amara Singapore has partnered with two iconic local legends to present a unique dining experience at Cafe Oriental, blending nostalgic flavours with creative modern interpretations.

During my visit in May, I had the opportunity to experience the collaboration with the century-old Chin Mee Chin Confectionery, featuring signature savoury dishes like Curry Chicken, Char Kway Teow, and Mee Siam, alongside sweet treats including Kaya Toast, Chocolate Cupcake, and an exclusive Durian Horn Pastry.

From August 5 to 31, the spotlight shifts to renowned zi char brand KEK Seafood, known for its wok hei-rich classics and inventive creations. Diners can savour the collaboration during lunch (12pm to 2.30pm) and dinner (6pm to 9pm) at Cafe Oriental.

Spicy Crab Meat Pasta 3/5

The Spicy Crab Meat Pasta offered a sweeter, milder take than what we'd personally prefer. However, it may serve newcomers to the dish well, although our pasta was slightly overcooked.

Prawn Paste Chicken Burger 3.8/5

The local favourite 'Har Cheong Gai' can be found in the Prawn Paste Chicken Burger, served with a side of crunchy sweet potato fries. The chicken patty was thick and juicy, but it was a touch dry overall.

Lala Pot 4/5

The Lala Pot swaps the usual clear broth for a hearty collagen base, served with thick vermicelli and a splash of brandy on the side. Clams were fresh and sweet.

Butter Cereal Fish & Egg Fried Rice 3.5/5

The cereal fish from the Butter Cereal Fish & Egg Fried Rice was a standout, being both crispy and tender, with a distinct butter aroma. The egg fried rice, however, was dry and fell short of expectations.

Black Pepper Angus Beef

While we don’t take beef, we heard fellow dining companions mention that the Black Pepper Angus Beef was peppery and tender.

Marmite Pork Chop 4/5

The Marmite Pork Chop featured thick pork cuts coated in a well-balanced marmite glaze, sweet and savoury.

Bak Kut Teh 3.8/5

Surprisingly enjoyable, the collaboration’s Bak Kut Teh had a peppery broth that was aromatic without being overpowering, paired with tender ribs.

Spiced Chilli Prawns with Mantou 3.8/5

The sweet chilli sauce in the Spiced Chilli Prawns with Mantou was mild enough for spice-averse diners. Served with fried mantou for dipping.

KEK Signature Moonlight Horfun 4/5

One of our KEK Seafood's must-order items is definitely the KEK Signature Moonlight Horfun. Wok-hei flavour remains distinct here, and the horfun is satisfying.

Chocolate Cupcake, Durian Horn Pastry

We got to sample desserts from Chin Mee Chin, their Chocolate Cupcake and Durian Horn Pastry. These old-school-style bakes will satisfy those with a sweet tooth.

Reservations for KEK Seafood at Amara Singapore can be made through https://singapore.amarahotels.com/offers/local-legends-cafe-oriental-x-keng-eng-kee-seafood.

Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Cafe Oriental
Amara Singapore
165 Tanjong Pagar Road
Singapore 088539
Tek: +65 68792626
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Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 11am - 830pm
Sun: 11am - 6pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn left and walk down Peck Seah Street towards Gopeng Street. Turn right onto Gopeng Street and walk down Gopeng Street. Turn left onto Tras Street and walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

ToMo Cafe @ Upper Thomson - Popular Joo Chiat Cafe with Insta-Worthy Specialty Drinks Opens New Outlet in Upper Thomson

ToMo Cafe opened its third outlet at Upper Thomson on 8 October 2024, following its success in Joo Chiat and Neil Road with popular, Instagram-worthy drinks and hearty, Japanese-style food.

This new location will introduce outlet-exclusive dishes, including rice bowls and handcrafted burgers.

To celebrate its opening, the first 100 customers in October will receive a free cloud drink, with November offering free ‘chuffles’ to the first 100 diners. Both promotions are valid with any purchase made.

Iced Houjicha Goma Cloud Latte 4.2/5

From their list of speciality drinks, I was immediately attracted to the Iced Houjicha Goma Cloud Latte ($8), which combines a slightly nutty base of houjicha and a creamy, rich layer of black sesame cloud cream. I thoroughly enjoyed this combination, but it's best enjoyed quickly.

Iced Matcha Strawberry Cloud Latte 4/5

The Iced Matcha Strawberry Cloud Latte ($8) is another crowd favourite, combining matcha and a base of strawberry bits, topped with dairy-free strawberry cream. This was earthy and sweet. Other matcha options include the Iced Matcha Cloud Latte ($8) with sea salt dairy-free cream and the Kagoshima Matcha Latte ($7).

Yuzuri Apple Fresca 3.8/5

For a refreshing non-coffee option, try the sparkling Yuzuri Apple Fresca ($7), made with Aomori apple, yuzu, and cherry blossom extract.

Tako Karaage 4/5

Starting with the Tako Karaage ($12), we enjoyed crunchy, battered octopus chunks paired with a tangy yuzu kosho mayo. Though the chunks could be more evenly battered, we still found it pretty addictive. The substantial portion is also great for sharing.

Grilled Tiger Prawn Capellini 4/5

The cafe staff highly recommended the Grilled Tiger Prawn Capellini ($22). The hefty portion of capellini was tossed in a savoury mentaiko mayo sauce and topped with grilled prawns, ebiko and seaweed. I would recommend this as a sharing dish as the richness may get too heavy for one.

Fish and Chip Burger 3.5/5

The Fish and Chip Burger offered a crispy tempura dory fillet with sour cream tartar, lettuce, and tomato. Unfortunately, the shoestring fries were undercooked during our visit, but we understand it was an issue with the fryer, which will be quickly fixed.

Homemade Tiramisu 3.8/5

For sweets, we decided on ToMo's Homemade Tiramisu ($9), which has a jar of espresso-infused ladyfingers layered with homemade mascarpone cream. You can enhance it with a shot of Baileys or Kahlua for an extra $4.

We appreciated the openness of the kitchen staff to feedback and look forward to seeing improvements once the cafe officially opens its doors.

Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.


ToMo Cafe
185 Upper Thomson Road
Singapore 574333
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Nearest MRT: Upper Thomson (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 9am - 10pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Upper Thomson MRT station. Take Exit 5. Turn left and walk down Upper Thomson Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

Eden Cafe @ Jurong Lake Garden (Chinese Garden) - A Beautiful Cafe Surround by Lush Greenery with Room for Improvement in its Food

During the Mid-Autumn Festival, I visited the Chinese Garden to soak in the festive atmosphere with the stunning lantern displays and the Cloud Pagoda light show. Amidst the scenic surroundings, I decided to check out the newly opened Eden Cafe, located just beside the Cloud Pagoda. The café, with its picturesque location, seemed like the perfect pit stop to unwind and escape the heat.

Ice White 4/5 and Matcha Latte 3.8/5

Given the sweltering afternoon heat, my companion and I opted to sit indoors in the air-conditioned section of the café, which was a welcomed relief from the sun. We ordered the Ice White ($7), which uses coffee beans from Dutch Colony, and a Matcha Latte ($7.50) for drinks. The coffee was smooth and balanced, with a satisfying hit of caffeine to refresh us for the rest of the day. Meanwhile, the matcha latte was decent, offering a slight bitterness from the matcha that contrasted nicely with the milk. However, it could have benefited from a richer, more robust matcha flavour.

Rendang Burger 3/5

For food, we started with the Rendang Burger ($20). The burger featured a juicy beef patty layered with rendang sauce, a fried egg, tomato, and arugula, all sandwiched between charcoal buns. The burger was served with a side of fries and achar, a nod to the local palate. Unfortunately, the rendang sauce didn't quite hit the mark for me. While the beef patty was cooked well, the rendang's flavour didn't complement it. The sauce lacked the rich, deep spiced profile typical of a good rendang, making the overall dish feel disjointed. Some tweaking could certainly improve the flavour harmony here.

Singaporean Har Cheong Gai Waffles 3/5

Next up was the Singaporean Har Cheong Gai Waffles ($22), which had potential but ultimately fell short. The Har Cheong Gai (prawn paste chicken) itself was excellent — juicy, flavourful, and fried to a crispy perfection. However, the waffles didn't hold up their end of the dish. They lacked the expected light, airy texture, and there was an absence of buttery flavour. A crisp exterior with a fluffy inside is what makes a great waffle, but here, they were somewhat flat and lacklustre, making it a disappointing pairing with the well-executed chicken.

While the ambience of Eden Cafe is undeniably beautiful, with its tranquil garden surroundings and cosy indoor setting, the food didn't quite live up to expectations. The Rendang Burger needed a more robust, more cohesive flavour profile, and the waffles in the Har Cheong Gai dish could benefit from a serious texture and flavour upgrade. That said, the drinks were refreshing and well-crafted, especially on a hot day.

Eden Cafe is still relatively new, and with some adjustments in the kitchen, it will have the potential to be a dining destination that matches the serene beauty of its location. For now, the café offers a nice respite for visitors exploring the Chinese Garden, but I hope to see some improvements in their menu to make it a spot truly worth visiting.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Eden Cafe
Jurong Lake Garden (Chinese Garden)
70B Yuan Ching Road
#01-04
Singapore 619629
Tel: +65 98630516
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Nearest MRT: Chinese Garden (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Thu: 8am - 8pm
Fri-Sat: 8am - 9pm

Direction:
1. Alight at Chinese Garden MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]