BOAT QUAY – With no sign, no phone number and no menu, you might think that Ronin would be struggling to fill their seats, but in fact the opposite is true. This hole-in-the-wall hipster cafe on Hong Kong St is packed pretty much every day with patrons who come for the seriously good Genovese coffee and brunch bites. If you’re familiar with The Plain and The Bravery, then you’ll have a pretty good idea of what to expect as the owners are one and the same.
Why you should come here:
The decor is industrial and dim with lots of concrete, wood, and metal lampshades. Head to the counter to grab coffees and pastries to go, or settle into one of the seats and let the servers recite the menu to you. Don’t worry about remembering a laundry list of dishes because they’ve only got a few options available including sandwiches, scrambled eggs and French toast.
What we love:
This place has a really cool vibe with a lot of like-minded individuals who know about it from word-of-mouth. On any given day you’ll find a great mix of creatives and hipsters hanging out over coffees or doing a bit of work. Foodwise, the sandwiches are a good bet, especially the Dirty Ronin with egg, spicy chorizo, melted cheese and miso mayo inside a crispy panini bun. The creamy scrambled eggs are also delish, and you have the option to add portobello mushroom, avocado, bacon and a pork or lamb sausage on the side.
UJ Tidbit:
The whole no sign thing makes Ronin a bit hard to locate, so keep your eyes out for the dark building with a metal 17 HKST sign and double glass doors that lead into the cafe.
Damage:
About $20++ for a coffee and a bite.
Restaurant:Ronin
Where:17 HongKong Street, Singapore 059669
Hours:Mon – Fri, 8am – 6pm, Sat – Sun: 8am – 7:30pm
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