Fernweh: Aesthetic cafe in Chinatown with fun local fusion brunch fare, including roti john French toast
According to our good friend Google, apparently Fernweh is a German word and pronounced “fern-vey”.
It translates to something akin to a longing for faraway places — like “wanderlust” — which makes it all the more fitting that it’s located in the first-floor lobby of capsule hostel Beat 1932.
Fernweh might technically be a lobby dining concept, but there’s plenty of glam and pizzazz in its decor.
The al fresco facade is gussied up with popping lightning-yellow metal accents, while the inside is a bright and snazzy space filled with plenty of vibrant colours.
Honestly, you’d be forgiven if you thought Fernweh was just another brunch spot!
The quirkiest local flavours
Besides its aesthetics though, Fernweh’s menu is quite fascinating. It uses Asian flavours — local ones, in particular — quite creatively.
One example is the crispy mala tofu fries (S$12), where light tofu meets crunchy batter and lao gan ma mayo for a bit more punch.
For something closer to home, Fernweh also offers a cheesy rendang spring roll (S$1.20).
Who can say no to two very beloved and indulgent dishes, combined into one?
Is this what MasterChef judges envisioned when they asked for “crispy rendang”?
Jokes aside, it could do with a tad more umami in the rendang department.
However, what really captured our attention was Fernweh’s roti john French toast (S$16).
It’s essentially a savoury toast sandwich with minced chicken, shallots, cheese, onions, ketchup, and sourdough slices embellished with sheets of fried egg.
Overall, it’s a pretty solid and hearty dish with a lot of textures and a little bit of spice — though the sourdough can be a bit too hard to chew on.
At the end of your brunch, also consider adding an order of Fernweh’s novel tangyuan dessert.
It’s really quite unlike any other tangyuan. Instead of being served with sweet soup, or coated in sesame, the resto presents it with toasty peanut crackers and a scoop of black-sesame ice cream.
The tangyuan are filled with creamy black sesame filling too — so it’s a very fragrant and earthy treat.
If your brunch date asks for something creative and low-key, this under-the-radar spot could make for an interesting meal!
For more ideas on what to eat, read our stories on Myx, a new date-spot in Holland Village, and our take on “healthy” laksa at Aljunied.
Tue 11am - 10pm
Wed 11am - 10pm
Thu 11am - 10pm
Fri 11am - 10pm
Sat 11am - 10pm
Sun 11am - 10pm
- Chinatown
- Maxwell
Evan started off writing about food on Instagram, before joining outlets such as Buro and Confirm Good to pursue his passion. His best work usually comes after his first whisky shot in the morning.
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