Nines Café
Nines Corner
The Menu
Coconut Heaven
Nines Perks
The Verdict
The Place
Getting There
Nines Café
Why pack the overcrowded cafés around town When you can chill out with your pals and occasionally even spot a celeb at Nines Café. You don’t have to be dressed to the nines to be allowed in this humble nook in the rather low profile Chinatown Point.
The café exudes a sophisticated feel with its iconic splash of black and white. You can also choose to get comfy on the few black leather couches by the glass window; that is if you fancy a view that overlooks Chinatown’s busy traffic. The café, however, does emanate a peaceful ambience despite this frenetic vista. From the café, you can also spot the neglected Speaker’s Corner at Hong Lim Park.
For those who prefer to dine al fresco, there are tables outside for you to enjoy your meal. Once the sun sets, lighted candles in small glass containers are brought out to set the mood for a romantic evening. At night, Chinatown turns into a peaceful haven and Nines Café is the perfect place to enjoy it all.
Michael Lim, the owner of the café, is friendly and usually maintains a close relationship with his customers, many of whom are regulars.
Nines Corner
If you’re wondering why this joint is a celeb magnet for local artistes like Mark Lee, Jeff Wang, and even Moses Lim, it’s because Michael used to work in a local film company, J Team Productions, which is owned by actor/writer/director Jack Neo.
Nines Café has also devoted a section of the café for displaying mementos from artistes and customers. It is dubbed the Nines Corner. Here, you can see personal testimonials written by patrons and even photographs taken with the artistes.
Fan clubs have also celebrated their idol’s birthdays here. Here at Nine’s Café, you don’t have to pay a fee to book the place; you can just simply drop by and buy some food and drinks. Just give Michael a call to reserve the place.
The Menu
If you’re looking to grab a bite, do opt for the tea-time set ($5.90), which is available from 3pm till 5pm. The set consists of coffee/tea and a sandwich, such as black pepper sandwich or egg and cheese sandwich.
There is also the Nines Mix ($10), a combination of snacks such as the shrimp parcel, chicken with seaweed, cuttlefish balls and crispy chicken.
Another must-try is the Teriyaki Chicken Steak ($10.50) and Teriyaki Chicken Sandwich ($4.50). The chicken is first marinated in teriyaki sauce before it’s grilled and the result is a satisfying piece of tender meat. One thing though, you might have to be a little patient as it takes about 15 minutes to prepare.
"Other cafes often pre-cook their teriyaki chicken, and reheat when the customers order. As a result, the teriyaki steaks are often chewy and dry," says Michael. "But here at Nines, we cook the teriyaki steaks only upon receiving the order from the customer. As a result, all our teriyaki steaks are cooked to perfection. Succulent and absolutely delicious."
You are spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing your beverage from the variety available. We recommend you try the Ice flavoured soda ($3), which comes in strawberry, blueberry or green mint. It’s refreshing especially on a hot day.
If you’re up for some dessert, Nines also sells walnut brownies ($3.80 w/o ice cream, $4.80 with ice cream), homemade butter cookies ($2.50), chocolate chip cookies ($3.50) and waffles ($2.90). You can even top off your waffle with a generous scoop of ice cream ($3.90).
Coconut Heaven
One item that you shouldn’t miss is the Marigold Coconut Ice cream ($4.80) as it is hardly available elsewhere. Served in a coconut husk, this smooth and creamy ice cream makes for a rather tantalising experience. Imagine eating coconut ice cream with fresh soft coconut flesh; once you start, you just can’t stop.
Nines Perks
Web enthusiasts will be glad to know that Nines Café offers FREE Wireless Internet access. Customers just need to bring in their laptops and exchange their NRIC for a network card to enjoy this service.
There is also a computer available for web access. It costs $5 for a half hour and $8 for one-hour block usage.
POSB card holders who spend more than $10 are entitled to a 15% discount as long as they pay with their POSB card through NETS. Students can also enjoy 10% simply by flashing their student pass upon payment. There is also no service charge and no GST.
The Verdict
A regular customer, Alvin Lim, 25, has this to say about the place. “Nines has a great ambience for you to chill out and relax. The staff are really friendly, and it's conveniently located at the city centre. Also, the food and drinks are comparatively cheaper [than] other cafes. Michael also often gives a new look to the cafe, adding pet fishes and changing the decor. It's always interesting and cosy to go there and relax.”
Rating:
3.5 out of 5 stars
The Place
133 New Bridge Road
#01-41 Chinatown Point (Singapore Handicraft Centre)
Tel: 6533-3509
Fax: 6533-3508
Email: ninescafe@pacific.net.sg
Opening hours
Mon till Sat 10am-midnight,
Sundays and Public Holidays noon-10pm.
Getting There
5 minutes walk from Chinatown MRT.
SBS 2, 12, 33, 54, 62, 81, 143, 147
TIBS 190, 520