Joo Chiat’s heritage neighbourhood thrives with unique F&B businesses

FROM being a fledgling F&B hotspot, the Joo Chiat area has firmly sealed its position as the trendiest enclave in the East with a wave of unique concepts opening up in just the past year alone. Along with the likes of La Bottega and Asador, the rows of charming heritage shophouses in the neighbourhood have been filled recently with newcomers that food fashionistas would ordinarily expect to find in town.

May, for example, saw openings such as Café Natsu by Lewis Barker of the one Michelin-starred Sommer - part of the Ebb & Flow Group; and Forma - a collaboration between pasta artisan Ben Fatto and The Cicheti Group. Ebb & Flow also has the trendy Tigerlily Patisserie on Joo Chiat Road, and the heritage bakery Chin Mee Chin close by on East Coast Road.

Housed in coveted corner units, Cafe Natsu and Forma add to the ‘towners’ who’ve fallen in love with the charm of the area, including Spa Esprit group founder Cynthia Chua who snapped up another corner shophouse late last year for her new gastrobar Drunken Farmer. The laid-back vibe, architecture - especially the dragon motifs on the building - were what drew her, she says.