With social distancing guidelines relaxed in Singapore, it’s the perfect time to venture outside with your best Judys in tow to catch up on the latest goss. What better place to spill some T than in some of the island’s LGBT-friendly cafés?
Taboo, 57 Duxton Road, Singapore 089521
Mention the word “taboo” in Singapore, and all the gays will know what you’re referring to: The island’s iconic dance club located in Neil Road that sparked many a hook-up amid late-night drunken parties.
Unfortunately, the next generation of gays will have to take their dancing shoes elsewhere. Taboo, which opened its doors in 1997, has traded its free-flow drinks specials for something a little less inebriating. After moving to its new premises in Duxton, owner Addie Low’s sparkly nightclub is now a sparkly café.
The concept is a “collab café”, meaning Taboo doesn’t serve its own food. Instead, it has teamed up with home business Haoke to put Hakka food on the lunch menu. For dinner, the caterer is private dining f’ve, which specialises in Indonesian, Thai and Peranakan cuisine.
If you’re not in the mood for food, drop by for a drink anyways! Check out its Instagram for the latest drink promos. Happy hours are from 3pm to 630pm.
PS Cafe, 45 Ann Siang Road #02-02, Singapore 069719
There are a number of different PS Cafés in Singapore, but the one in Ann Siang Hill will always be dearest to my gay heart. There’s just something about its interior decor that’s classic and timeless – just like its lip-smacking Sangria and oh-so-yummy Sticky Date Pudding.
Not many people know this, but older gay gentlemen will remember Project Shop Blood Brothers – a menswear shop popular with the gays in Singapore that at its height had 15 outlets in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. In 1999, the shop opened a little café in its Paragon outlet – and soon that little café became the café that could, as the brand’s clothing business went bust.
Today, PS Cafés are synonymous with brunch, and are often the locations of networking nights for the LGBT community in Singapore.
Sun Ray Cafe, 79 Brighton Crescent, Singapore 559218
Sun Ray Café is probably one of the most underrated cafés on this list, given its owner Dave is not one to be in the limelight – even though he comes with decades of brewing experience and a few awards to boot.
Over the years, he has put that expertise to good use – besides running the café, he also operates Parchmen and Co., the café’s specialty coffee and tea arm of the business. The café, which is located in Serangoon Gardens, is popular among the LGBT crowd, but it is appealing also to pet-owners, as it has a separate room inside the café that allows pets.
Drinks aside, the food is good and reasonably priced. If you ever find yourself in Serangoon Gardens, be sure to pop by – especially if you’re feeling parched.
MOD Cafe, 1A Kuo Chuan Avenue Singapore, Singapore 426888
Arguably Singapore’s best-known café owner among the gays in Singapore, Bill recently closed the beloved Eight Café in Bukit Pasoh Road after serving delicious and value-for-money meals for more than 10 years. But if you think the handsome chef is hanging up his apron, think again.
Bill (Instagram @billho720) is now owner of the MOD Café, a pink container-style café located near the junction of East Coast Road and Still Road.
On the inside, you’ll find a minimalist design with white walls decorated with hand-painted florals. Fans of Bill will know the chef is quite the artist, with a fondness for chalk paintings.
The café has a nice selection of food, including cheesecakes from the Cheesecake Factory. Also available are homemade waffles and sandwiches. If you want to try something creative, give Bill’s new scallion waffles a taste. Oh, and don’t forget to order a cup of coffee too, of course.
