I think we can all agree that Korean cafes are in a league of their own. Most of them boast unique concepts that place emphasis on both aesthetics and menu offerings; just walk around Hongdae, Gangnam, or Ikseon-dong on your next trip to Seoul, and you’ll get what I mean.
Korean-inspired cafes are also all the rage on our shores, and here’s a worthy contender you’ll want to check out the next time you find yourself in town.
Taking over the space in Design Orchard previously occupied by Alchemist, that has since moved across the road to the Heeren, is NOWAFTER.
Not much has changed, interior-wise. The space is still industrial-themed, but with a cool monochromatic touch, peppered with sleek metallic accents and matte black furnishings.
We hear the owner of NOWAFTER used to run a cafe in Korea, which makes a lot of sense, given that the menu featuring coffee, bakes, and savoury bread is not unlike what you can find there.
If you’ve heard of NUDAKE, an artisanal dessert shop in Seoul, and its bestseller, PEAK, a charcoal croissant tart with matcha cream, you’ll find NOWAFTER’s Charkey Bun (S$13) very, very similiar.
Remember the viral Korean garlic cream cheese bread everyone was obsessed with a few years ago?
This is an elevated version that is very much on theme, comprising a soft charcoal bun with mozzarella, garlic herb butter, and truffle sour cream that can be pulled apart and enjoyed in segments.
The range of desserts include the Matcha Basque Cheese Cake (S$10), topped with mascarpone vanilla cream; Sourdough Charcoal Waffles with Gelato (S$15); and alcoholic Blackmisu (S$13) — it is so popular that the cafe has resorted to offering it, along with the Charkey Bun, on a rotational basis due to “limited kitchen space”.
As for drinks, the trio of cream-topped Einspanners (S$9.50) in flavours like Uji Matcha and Black Sesame, as well as the Dark Cocoa Vanilla Latte (from S$7.50), are slurp-worthy, and not just easy on the eye.
Although prices are on the steeper side, we can foresee the crowds continuing to pour in.
It is indeed a great spot (especially during non-peak hours) to grab coffee and dessert, soak in the vibes, snap some IG-worthy shots, and pretend like you’re actually in Korea, after all!
NOWAFTER
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???? 250 Orchard Rd, #03-01, Singapore 238905
???? 9am–6pm (Daily)
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I'm always feelin' either boozy or boujee ✨