PET-FRIENDLY VENUE – IN FULL BLOOM

This fairytale-like garden cafe is a picturesque spot to while away your weekend mornings

This fairytale-like garden cafe is a picturesque spot to while away your weekend mornings with your furry best friend

Tucked away in a quiet corner of the East, Cafe de Nicole’s Flower is a charming spot to enjoy a delicious cup of coffee and a slice of cake — with your pet by your side. Come camera-ready, or with your phone fully-charged: this flower bar-cum-cafe is adorned with beautiful, fresh blooms and quaint knick-knacks that make every corner of it Instagram-perfect.

The owner, Nicole, honed her flower-styling skills in Korea before opening Cafe de Nicole’s Flower in Singapore in January this year. The elegantly-dressed lady boss combines her passion for flowers with her love for good coffee, transforming this good-sized space near Siglap into a pretty, homely corner.

THE AMBIENCE

It is early morning as we make our way to Cafe de Nicole’s Flower for a spot of breakfast. Stepping through the glass door framed by a flower arch, we found ourselves in a secret garden of sorts. A flower cart by the door overflows with fresh tulips, peonies, roses, and hydrangeas imported from Kenya and Holland. The longstemmed flowers are dressed prettily in pastel hues. Natural wood fittings add a rustic touch, while delicate white curtains soften the harsh sunlight filtering through the glass walls of the cafe.

Early mornings are usually quieter at the cafe, making it easier to snag a coveted table by the window in air-conditioned comfort.

The space tends to fill up by lunchtime, so be prepared to dine al fresco if you come past noon — the outdoor area is kept cool with shade and circulating fans overhead, and there’s also a green, grassy area for your pet to roam about. Just be sure to keep your pet on an extended leash though, as the cafe leads out to the main road.

FOOD AND DRINK

Keeping in theme with the flower shop, every drink and dish here is inspired by the vibrant colours of the fresh blooms.

The Mermaid’s Tears is highly recommended by Nicole, who came up with the idea for this drink. A lidded carafe of butterfly pea tea is served on a wooden tray with a vial of honey lemon syrup. Whip out your camera to capture the moment when you mix the tea and syrup — the sapphire-blue tea turns a vibrant shade of

mulberry, a pretty and tasty concoction laced with floral notes and zest.

For brunch, tuck into Nicole’s Favour, a hearty plate of smoked salmon, sliced avocado, pork sausages, and chicken thigh served with mixed salad and toasted sourdough. The Original Pancakes with Hokkaido Strawberry Ice Cream is a must-order for those with a sweet tooth, or those craving the perfect food shot for their Instagram feed. The fluffy souffle pancakes are sprinkled with icing sugar, and garnished with fresh berries and dainty sea lavender flowers. A scoop of icy strawberry ice cream on the side is a delightful contrast to each forkful of warm pancake.

ENTERTAINMENT

Cafe de Nicole’s Flower is located at the corner of the compound, which means extra space for your fur kids to roam about. There are plenty of vintage knick-knacks to admire, as well as an assortment of magazines to read while your nurse a milky latte. Nicole also offers flower workshops regularly, so picking up the art of floral arrangements might be something to try your hand at!

ACCESSIBILITY

If you’re ferrying your pet about, you’re probably taking private transport. Parking space here is ample, with parking lots flanking both sides of the cafe. For your friends meeting you and your fur kid there for a tete-a-tete, it is a 15-minute bus ride from Eunos MRT station, with the bus stop directly outside the cafe’s location at Telok Kurau Road.

PET-FRIENDLINESS

Cafe de Nicole’s Flower offers ample space indoors for your pet to wander about in air-conditioned comfort, though a signage on the door requests that you keep your pets leashed at all times. The cafe’s house pet, a grand British Shorthair that goes by the name Lao

Ban (Mandarin for ‘boss’), is a dignified character that is happy to share his home with fellow pets. There is also a patch of wild grass outdoors, where your pets are welcome to roam and scamper about.

At the moment, Cafe de Nicole’s Flower does not have a petfriendly menu, so be sure to pack your furry friend’s favourite treats with you.

CAFE DE NICOLE’S FLOWER

#01-01

224 Telok Kurau Road,

Singapore 423836

Opens from 8.30am - 8.30pm, Tuesdays to Sundays