Jimmy Monkey Cafe (One-North)

Jimmy Monkey Cafe (One-North) is a Melbourne-style café on the ground floor of One-North Residences, in Singapore's one-north business district. It is a place for good coffee and an unhurried brunch, with a menu of eggs, toast, pancakes and heartier plates for lunch.

Michael Ryan, who comes from Melbourne, opened Jimmy Monkey in 2011. He wanted to bring the easy, social café culture of his home city to Singapore. The name has a story behind it. As a small child on a trip to Singapore, he left his toy monkey behind, and hotel staff posted it back to him a few weeks later.

What to order

The menu mixes Australian brunch staples with bigger plates for lunch. Dishes change from time to time, so treat this list as a guide to the style of food:

• Vegemite toast soldiers: a long-running favourite here. Strips of toast with Vegemite, the salty Australian spread, made for dipping into soft eggs.
• Eggs on toast: the base of any Melbourne brunch, served in several ways.
• Pancakes: a sweet choice for brunch, or a plate to share at the table.
• Burgers and sandwiches: the more filling option if you come at lunchtime.

If you have never tried Vegemite, go easy at first. It is a thick, dark yeast spread with a strong salty taste. Australians spread it thinly, often with butter underneath.

The coffee

Coffee is the main reason many people come. The house espresso is the café's own Ironbark blend. When it opened, Jimmy Monkey brought in the first Slayer espresso machine in Singapore, a make prized by coffee bars. Order a flat white or a long black for the Melbourne classics. A flat white is espresso with a thin layer of steamed milk, so it tastes stronger than a latte. A long black is espresso poured over hot water. Cold brew is also on offer for hot afternoons.

Good to know before you go

• It suits a slow brunch or a coffee break more than a big dinner out.
• Look at the current menu on the café's website before you go, as dishes change.

Getting there

The café is at 9 One-North Gateway, unit #01-51 in One-North Residences. one-north MRT station on the Circle Line is the nearest stop. The area is a business and research district, with offices and labs all around.

Nearby

For a meal later in the day, One Fattened Calf serves burgers at Galaxis nearby. The Boiler in Buona Vista is a casual spot for seafood. If you want some fresh air, Kent Ridge Park is in the same part of the city. See our West Coast and Buona Vista restaurant guide for more places to eat. Coffee fans can also browse our list of cafés and bakeries and our guide to cafés and coffee in Singapore.

The current menu is on the Jimmy Monkey website.