1. Brut Cake, Shanghai, China
Husband-and-wife team, chef Jun Wu and food blogger Priscilla Young are behind this hip cafe in Shanghai’s bustling Jing’an district. Come for their crispy waffles and tart lemon curd, then take home a piece of upcycled furniture or a more suitcase-friendly hand-painted face mug (below).
2. Revolver Espresso, Bali, Indonesia
Using only organic fruit and veggies, and locally roasted and blended coffee beans, hipster cafe Revolver Espresso has built up a loyal following since opening up in Bali’s luxurious Oberoi district. Tourists can reminisce about their island coffee once they head home too, with Revolver’s branded line of threads including tees and sweats (below). There’s also a range of unisex jewellery available.
3. Cafe Kumbuk, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Committed to sourcing the freshest seasonal ingredients from local Sri Lankan growers, including home-grown tea and coffee, the sublime Cafe Kumbuk is one to add to your must-visit list. Their healthy lifestyle and stylish design aesthetic doesn’t stop at the menu. Cafe patrons can leave with a little piece of Kumbuk – try the honey & coffee granola, lavender sugar, rosemary salt and sweet hand-painted mugs.
4. DR.Inc, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Hidden away in leafy Bangsar, DR.Inc (pronounced ‘drink’) is a quirky retreat that feels miles away from humming Kuala Lumpur. Fresh-pressed juices and Made In Malacca ice-cream sodas are served up alongside cool accessories and homeware. Pick up a vibrant patterned clutch or cute cushion made with vintage Malaysian designs; don’t miss DR.Inc’s pop-up market events for great gifts.
5. PS. Cafe, Singapore
The fragrant aromas wafting from PS. Cafe are no longer just from the kitchen’s sensational truffle shoestring fries. The popular cafe chain has just launched an exclusive range of botanical soaps (below) designed and made in Singapore. The Earth-friendly line is made with fine ingredients such as pure aloe and Japanese camellia.
6. Cafe RuNam, Vietnam
This elegant European-style cafe with outlets around Vietnam serves a blend of Arabica and Robusta beans, all roasted in-house and served in eye-catching chinaware. Contemporary Vietnamese artist Nguyen Thanh Phong has collaborated with RuNam to produce a range of super-cool coffee cups (below), notebooks and phone cases depicting everyday Vietnamese street scenes.
SEE ALSO: Best cafes and places to have coffee in Hanoi
7. Featherstone Bistro Cafe & Lifestyle Shop, Bangkok, Thailand
Featherstone’s classic Parisian decor and stained-glass windows, which aren’t all that common in Bangkok, make it stand out from the city’s many cafes. Pop in for a single-origin drip coffee and a slice of coconut cake – and leave with handcrafted stone jewellery and artisanal French soaps.
– TEXT BY LUCY CLEEVE
PHOTOS: SUPPLIED, INSTAGRAM
This article was originally published by Singapore Press Holdings.
