• If you love coffee, you would probably like it even more when it comes with a bit of art.
Now, I am by no means a coffee connoisseur, although I do know a good coffee when I taste one. But it doesn’t take a true connoisseur to appreciate coffee art, does it? And that’s exactly what you will get at Oriole Cafe & Bar. This lifestyle café has a flagship store at Pan Pacific Serviced Suites next to 313@Somerset and a second outlet at Republic Plaza.
S$5++
Rating:
You can get great tasting coffee at many places, but great looking coffee art? Not many. Over here, the coffee art here is done by award-winning baristas. One of them is Keith Low, the owner himself who also runs Whitebait & Kale and the European restaurant, Aerin’s at Raffles City.
If you do get the opportunity, do try to catch the baristas in action. I’m sure watching the way they transform milk into silky works of art would be an eye opening experience!
By itself, the cappuccino tastes pretty good. No need for extra sugar!
S$15++
Rating:
Of course, your stomach will not be filled by just drinking coffee alone. Grab quick bites like the Philly cheesesteak, which is interestingly served with a side of potato chips and greens.
The baguette is filled with pieces of succulent steak, onion, peppers…
… and loads of melted Swiss cheese! This sandwich is literally packed with flavour!
S$15++
Rating:
The prawn spaghetti comes with some sautéed prawns, rocket leaves and tomatoes. Unlike most aglio olio that tend to be milder in taste, this one is chock-full with flavour! Unfortunately, instead of being al dente, the spaghetti is too firm and undercooked.
Apart from Oriole, are there any other cafés that offer coffee art? Share with us in the comments!
Website
Oriole Cafe & Bar at Pan Pacific Suites
96 Somerset Road #01-01
Singapore 238163
Tel: +65 6238 8348
Oriole Espresso & Brew Bar at Republic Plaza
9 Raffles Place #01-23/23A
Singapore 048619
Tel: +65 6438 3843
May 10, 2010
6
Been to Oriole before. My friend can’t bare to drink the coffee because he doesn’t want to ruin the coffee art.
Besides just the great looks, the coffee was great too!
May 12, 2010
3472
Yup, the coffee looks great and tastes great! When we asked for coffee art, I was expecting it to come in the form of latte. But the guy recommended cappuccino instead, and that turned out to be a yummy choice.
May 10, 2010
1
Twice I visited Oriole, and twice, the pasta was overcooked.
Hmm….
May 12, 2010
3472
They probably heard that feedback and grew wary of overcooking it. In the end my pasta was undercooked. To be safe, stay away from the pasta?
May 11, 2010
13
Tried that once, didn’t know that it is open by the guy behind Whitebait & Kale. Cool! Like the ambience there and it is cooling even when sitting outside.
May 12, 2010
3472
Yup, there’s that very cool and chic, yet casual ambience. It suffices to say that I like the place :)
May 11, 2010
10
*yawn* coffee art is history.
however, a good philly steak is something droolworthy.
May 12, 2010
3472
Yup, the Philly cheesesteak is droolworthy. However, I have never had the ‘original’ and wouldn’t know if this one comes close.
May 14, 2010
19
The food seems very reasonably priced.
May 17, 2010
5
I envy you Veron xD you get to go to such beautifull places. I wish I had the same luck! (You made me hungry now xD)
May 25, 2010
2
Geek Terminal serves pretty good coffee art too.
May 27, 2010
3472
Ah yes :) It’s been a while since I last checked out the place. Additional perks: Friendly staff + free wi-fi
Jan 11, 2011
1
i believe geek terminal has closed in 2009.
the coffee at 40 hands are great
next one on my to-try list. papa palheta.
Jan 11, 2011
3472
Thanks for sharing! My friends and I were wondering whether Geek Terminal is still around. Sad to hear that they have closed.
40 Hands is already on my list. Just gotta get my lazy bum there one of these days! I like the fact that it’s in the Tiong Bahru neighbourhood.
Papa Palheta is new to me. Thanks for the recommendation!
May 25, 2010
1
McCafe.
May 27, 2010
3472
They did pretty awesome coffee art for us before: http://sparklette.net/food/mccafe/
But last we heard, they don’t do it anymore. At least, not at every outlet.
Jun 7, 2010
26
Heya…I alwis wanted to go there coz my fren claims it’s the best java in singapore. I finally went last fri but wasn;t impressed. It could be 1) it was crowded and noisy and cramp thus detracting the experience 2) I could have ordered the whole drink (Mint Mocha)
Otherwise, it was an expensive meal with so-so pasta. Fish n chips was good. Bread pudding could have been better.
Perhaps I shld just try the coffee recommended in the blog post next time
Jun 7, 2010
3472
Best java in Singapore? That’s a lofty call. I would say that the cappuccino here is pretty decent though. Obviously, the extra bit of eye candy doesn’t hurt.
If you were to ask me, I still like the 80-cent cup of kopitiam kopi. But that’s probably just me ;)
Jun 8, 2010
26
ya…best java is a bit over the top. hence u can imagine my disappointment. That said, i still am still searching for the best cuppa in the nation. hmm…coffee nation @Bali lane’s not too bad. TCC as well (just a tad bit ex though)
Jun 8, 2010
3472
I used to go for the Blue Mountain coffee at TCC. It’s really good, but rather pricey at SGD9.90 a cup (or is it 12.90). Happy to hear another recommendation for good coffee. Will check it out, thanks!
Jun 7, 2010
26
Ya McCafe. Cheap and surprisingly good. Those upmarket cafes wanting to charge so much shld learn from McD
Jun 7, 2010
3472
Many people write them off just because they are McDonald’s, but as you have rightly put it, the coffee is surprisingly good and more affordable than your average coffee house.
Jun 21, 2010
3
So have you tried the food at national geographic cafe? Was thinking about going down coming weekend to try it.
Jan 11, 2011
26
Ya papa palheta is awesome!
they claim to make ANY type of coffee drink u request!
And the best part is, u pay any amt u feel is suitable.
Nice ambiance but can get really crowded. but once u find a nice seat, u can chillax the entire afternoon there.
40 hands is a nice gem @Tiong Bahru area but dun remember much of the coffee but i heard is good.
(Note that the above places close rather early (~7p) but 40 hands told me that they may extend operating times. that was 2 months back)
My next place to try is Espressoul, the supposedly substitute for GT
Jan 11, 2011
3472
Pay any amount I want, seriously? I never thought this is possible in Singapore. How bold of the cafe to try out this daring concept!
Jan 13, 2011
26
yup! similar to one of my fave indian makan place – Annalakshmi, pay as you like!
shld chk it out.
u just ‘donate’ into the tin coin boxes provided ard the cafe
a bit out of the way though.
140 Bukit Timah Road, 229840
9838 3103
papapalheta.com
Sep 17, 2011
1
The sad thing about living in Singapore is that you can’t get a Philly Cheesesteak. Or can you… http://t.co/DGH8NIi8