The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

If I could sum up my experience at this CBTL in few words, it would be that some coffeehouses are more equal than others. Even though TCBTL have outlets all over Singapore, and I have been to many, this has got to be my favourite. Owing to its location (and I say this from a selfish consumer POV) — I especially like this place because it is hardly ever bustling, except maybe on a weekend afternoon. If you prefer to spend an afternoon people watching– then you are better off at the Holland Village outlet.
Even the food seems better at this outlet. Placebo or not, I like to think I get more salmon slices in my salad, more cherries in my blackforest (yum!) and it never hurts to always have cute baristas in sight. Even though I sometimes find the furniture a little too closely spaced, it is usually never so crowded that you will have to sit directly beside someone/​be privy to someone’s gossip session. For those who are looking to do some work/​reading, be mindful that the lighting within the restaurant is not that good (don’t bother unless you are working on a laptop), but there is an outdoor space that receives plenty of sunlight though it might get quite warm in the middle of the day. Also, they never seem to be understaffed! Fast service, gentle comfort, whats there not to like?