Slowmo Sunday: Wheeler's Yard

Every Sunday, I will travel to places far & wide, hunting down cafes/eateries that are either already huge in popularity, or those that are off the beaten track (yes, they do exist even if it's busy Singapore we are talking about) I will be rating them based on the food & price range, the decor & whether its a place worthy to notice or to be noticed.

First up in my Slowmo Sunday series, I headed down to Wheeler's Yard. Located within the heartland area of Whampoa & Balestier, it indeed fulfilled the criteria of ulu in terms of finding the place. 

According to their website, Wheeler's Yard is a place where "bicycles, coffee, food and all things vintage meet", and they definitely have spare no effort to spruce up the place with lots of vintage references. 

The Wheeler's Yard legendary blue door. Yes, the one that you have seen it repeatedly in your Instagram feed.

What makes Wheeler's Yard stand out amongst the tight competition for cafes is its open-space concept, coupled with a industrial-themed decor. The magic combination of vintage decor & fittings, together with the placement of bicycles both in and outside of the cafe has hit a chord with both bicycle enthusiasts and impressionable youths alike.

PS: The photos below are just some i took. The place is indeed filled with plenty of things to shoot. 

When it comes to their food, Wheeler's Yard's offering wasnt decent, but not exactly something to rave and shout about. I had ordered their Grilled Chicken, which on the menu was 1 of their recommendations, whereas my colleague (my travelling partner/guide, given he stays near the area) went for something lighter, Honey Butter Waffles

Given the many bad reviews around HGW and forums, I wasnt expecting much to be honest. However, the grilled chicken turned out to be decent, with the mushroom and mashed potatoes providing a delectable balance to the chicken.

My colleague felt that the Honey Butter Waffle was lacking in terms of both crunch and the buttery factor that constitutes to a good waffle. For me, the honey syrup wasnt too sweet, and it complimented the buttery texture of the waffle.

I was still in the mood for more, hence I went to order something considered a must for cafes: Truffle Fries. Wheeler's Yard's Truffles Fries wasnt exactly the best that I have tried around, but it wasnt too bad either. I personally prefer the fries to be of a thinner cut, however the generous serving of shaved Parmesan cheese was right up my street. Additionally, I would have hope for a dip to go along with the fries. I didnt manage to finish it (that normally is rare for my standards) as I found the taste to be getting more repetitive and boring after eating more of it.

All in all, Wheeler's Yard is definitely a cafe for you to check out, in terms of its decor (its vintage feel provides aplenty of #ootd backdrop possibilites) and of course, their bikes (especially if you are in the market for chic-looking bicycles). The service is prompt and the staff are bubbly and cheerful (their reviews over at HGTW the past 3 mths has been markedly improved). However, their food to be is a slightly overpriced as compared to other cafes selling similar grub, and that their quality of food sadly leaves something to be desired upon.

MrPaoKalLiao's ratings: 3/5

Do leave your comments below on whether you liked Wheeler's Yard more than I do, or simply to share your thoughts with me :)

Wheeler's Yard

28 Lorong Ampas

How to get there

1. Take the train to NS19 Toa Payoh, then walk. It's actually quite clear cut and easy to navigate.It will take you ard 15-20mins, and I have included the directions here (i would recommend following the grey path)
2. If you aren't interested in walking that far (although it truly isn't), take 145 from Toa Payoh Interchange and alight at the 4th stop (don't include the bus interchange itself). From there on, walking will take you around 6 mins, i have included the directons here as well

Opening Hours

Tue - Thu: 1030 - 2200

Fri - Sat: 1030 - 2300

Sun: 1030 - 2200

*Do note that the kitchen closes between 1700 - 1800 daily for turnover

Closed on Mon

Contact No: +65 62549128