In mid-2014, Haji Lane was best known for indie and quirky fashion. Its narrow stretch of pre-war shophouses between Beach and North Bridge roads was also becoming a food enclave. AsiaOne reported that at least 10 new food and beverage outlets had joined the restaurants, cafes and bars across Haji Lane and neighbouring Bali Lane in about a year.
They sat alongside established names such as the Mexican restaurant Piedra Negra, Bar Stories and the live-music venue BluJaz Cafe. What follows is the line-up as it stood in 2014. Prices, hours and plans are those of that year, and anyone heading there today should check each venue’s current details first.
A lane where every cafe had its own idea
The newcomers set out to offer an experience, with food and ambience given equal weight. Some cafes doubled as art spaces. Others displayed cakes among quaint furniture and whimsical decor. Operators said they did not see one another as direct competitors, since each concept was different. One co-owner of I Am, the Amsterdam-inspired bistro-cafe, described the lane’s bohemian feel. He said its narrowness and old shophouses recalled small European alleys, and that the space felt communal and carefree.
Beyond the two lanes, eateries were also appearing across Kampong Glam, including a halal Vietnamese restaurant on Jalan Pisang and an Italian pizza bar on Jalan Klapa.
Bali Lane in 2014
Choo Choo Chicken (33 Bali Lane) was a Korean eatery that opened in January 2014. It served crispy fried chicken in sweet, spicy or soya-based sauces, at S$15 for eight pieces in 2014. It also offered burgers and a Korean rice cake with seasoned rice, seaweed and fillings such as tuna, kimchi and spam, at S$6.90. Lunch sets started at S$7.90, and it opened from 11.30am to 11pm daily.
Stateland Cafe (30 and 32 Bali Lane) served breakfast dishes, including French toast at S$11.90, and scrambled eggs on waffles or Eggs Benedict at S$14.90 each. Pastas cost S$10.90. Desserts included thick toast with toppings such as Nutella and chopped nuts, and waffles in flavours such as red velvet and chocolate. A plain waffle with berries and maple syrup started at S$9.90. It was closed on Tuesdays.
I Am’s second outlet (31 Bali Lane) was planned for September 2014. Sitting between Stateland’s two shopfronts, it was to be a New York-inspired bakery-cafe.
Pita Bakery (29 Bali Lane) was about two months old. It made pita from scratch for neighbouring Mediterranean restaurants, cafes and hotels. It also sold small quantities to walk-in customers, at S$10 for a packet of 10.
Jiv Jago Vegetarian Cafe (17 Bali Lane) served vegan and vegetarian pastas, pizzas and burgers. A meal cost about S$8 to S$15 a person, and it was closed on Sundays.
Haji Lane and North Bridge Road
I Am (674 North Bridge Road, at the corner of Haji Lane) was a breezy, non-airconditioned cafe. Its menu covered sandwiches, burgers, pastas, pizzas and fish and chips. The top sellers were its seven-layer cake and rainbow mille crepe cake, at S$8.90 a slice. Diners spent about S$10 to S$30 each.
The Pantry at Shop Wonderland (37 Haji Lane) sat on the shop’s first floor. It sold cakes, coffee and some savoury items sourced from bakeries including Maple & Market, Carpenter & Cook, The Gourmet Pie Company and The Audacious Cakery. Examples were black sesame cupcakes, a gula melaka cake with almonds and coconut, and pies.
CAD Cafe – Coffee Art Design (23 Haji Lane) served coffee and juice. It also offered breakfast items such as scrambled eggs on toast and grilled cheese toasties, plus soups, salads and dinner mains. It was closed on Mondays.
Eisky Fabulous (11 Haji Lane) was a takeaway shop selling “smooshies”, a cross between a smoothie and a slushie, built on a fresh watermelon base. Flavours included strawberry, green apple and cappuccino, and prices started at S$3.50.
Koi Bangers + Izakaya (9 Haji Lane) was due to open in July 2014 as an offshoot of Koi Sushi + Izakaya on Club Street. It planned bangers and mash alongside sushi and sashimi with a twist.
Cake Delights Bakery (664 North Bridge Road) was a family-run bakery about two months old. Its cupcakes came in flavours such as milo, salted caramel and red velvet, at three for S$10. Cake orders needed five days’ notice, and it was closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Around Kampong Glam
Pho 4 All (7 Jalan Pisang) was a halal Vietnamese restaurant serving pho in beef or chicken broth, from about S$7 a bowl. It also offered desserts such as red ruby.
26 Tapas Bar (26 Kandahar Street) offered East-meets-West tapas, including chicken wings with house chilli sauce, curried prawns and smoked duck with green apple. It also served pasta and pizza. Dishes ranged from S$5.90 to S$17.90.
Don Antonio Pizza Bar (2 Jalan Klapa) was about a month old and run by a chef-owner from Naples. Pizzas came with toppings such as sundried tomatoes, pepperoni and porchetta. Pastas included pacheri with Genovese sauce and ravioli with porcini mushrooms, butter and sage. Prices ran from about S$15 for antipasti to S$24 for a pasta, and it was closed on Mondays.
Eazy Eazy Kitchen (29 Bussorah Street), formerly Sarang Cafe, had teamed up with the retail shop Eazy Eazy. Dishes included demi-glazed chicken, Cajun-style grilled dory, pizzas and sandwiches at S$10 to S$20 each. Thai dishes were planned.
Working Title (48 Arab Street) served lasagna, aglio e olio with smoked salmon, sandwiches, pizzas, eggs and toast, and ice-cream sandwiches. A pizza slice cost about S$5 and a burger about S$15. It opened from 10am daily, until 10pm on Sunday to Thursday and midnight on Friday and Saturday.