This Two-Storey Industrial Cafe Nails The Look, But Is The Food Just As Good?

Coexist Coffee Co. is a popular brunch cafe in Paya Lebar

If you frequently spend your weekends cafe hopping, Coexist Coffee Co. should be a familiar name. The homegrown cafe first opened in 2021 on the rooftop of a nondescript industrial building in Hillview. Since then, the brand has become a mainstay in Singapore’s cafe scene, even expanding to two more locations: one in Pasir Panjang and a flagship cafe at Lifelong Learning Institute in Paya Lebar.

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Apart from the IG-worthy interiors, their cafe is known for its hearty brunch fare and unique brews. But how do these offerings hold up five years on? We dropped by their flagship outlet for a meal to find out.

Food at Coexist Coffee Co.

Food-wise, you can expect an extensive menu of sandwiches, mains, and plates of pasta with an Asian twist.

We started our meal with their popular Black Pepper Crab ($23++).

If you’re a fan of spice, this is the dish for you. The linguine was tossed in a punchy blend of black pepper and chilli padi, zhnged up by a generous drizzle of olive oil and soft garlic cloves for added fragrance.

The pasta itself was well executed and cooked to a perfect al dente texture. We also appreciated how well it held up, despite being left out in the sauce for a while.

It would be a crime not to mention the soft shell crab. The crab boasted an addictively crisp exterior that made the whole crab, including the shell, easy to devour. As we dug deeper into the crustacean, we found juicy, succulent meat and pockets of rich, creamy roe within.

Up next was the Laksa Fish & Chips ($26++), featuring tempura halibut, fries, fresh mesclun salad, and a saucer of the cafe’s house-made laksa cream sauce.

FYI, if you’re feeling fancy, you have the choice to swap the regular fries for their Truffle Fries for an additional $3++.

Unlike other spots, the fish here had just the right amount of crispy batter, complementing the ultra-soft and flaky meat within. Given the excellent texture, it was a shame that the fish itself had little to no seasoning.

While the laksa cream sauce did help to elevate the otherwise bland dish with its hint of coconutty spice, it was too runny and bland for our liking.

On the other hand, the thin-cut fries were delightfully crisp and seasoned well with a good amount of salt.

We also had their signature Coexist Breakfast ($28++): a platter of fried herbed potatoes, juicy sauteed mushrooms, pork and garlic sausage, maple bacon, fresh greens, roasted tomato, and toasted sourdough, topped with eggs done your way.

Our favourite part of this dish was the thick, meaty pork and garlic sausage. Each bite had a satisfying snap, bursting with rich, savoury juices. All this may sound a tad overwhelming, but the fluffy, creamy scrambled eggs and the acidity of the tomato helped balance out the heavy flavours.

We also enjoyed the side of herbed potatoes. Each piece was lightly crisp on the outside, yet fluffy on the inside.

The thick-cut bacon was cooked well, too, with the perfect ratio of silky fat and lean, but tender meat. That said, we struggled to detect much, or any, of the promised maple flavour.

Given the almost $30 price tag of this dish, it’s also worth noting that the portion size was a lot smaller than we’d expected. A more generous serving of meat—perhaps an additional sausage and slice of bacon—would’ve definitely helped to justify the steep cost.

As foodies, we always have room for dessert. To satisfy our second stomachs, we ordered a slice of their Pistachio Mille Crepe ($8++).

Made up of at least 20 thin layers of crepe, the dessert was delicately soft and fluffy. The layers were held by smooth pistachio cream, adding a light, earthy sweetness to each bite. The generous scatter of coarsely crushed pistachios also added a satisfying crunch, providing a welcome textural contrast to the fluffy crepe.

Our only gripe was that some parts of the cake were a touch dry and could’ve done with more cream.

A visit to Coexist Coffee Co. wouldn’t be complete without trying their coffee. Popular options include the Iced Mocha ($7++), which combines sweet Valrhona chocolate with a double shot of espresso, and the Coconut Cold Brew ($7++), blending 12-hour cold brew coffee with coconut water.

They also have several specialty drinks on offer. Our favourite was the Snow White ($7.50++), featuring frothy, creamy aerocano (foamy iced espresso) blended with sweet apple puree for a refreshing, fruity finish.

Ambience at Coexist Coffee Co.

The massive two-storey cafe sees moody, monochrome interiors offset by warm and woody elements for a chic yet cosy ambience. There are plenty of seats available, with enough space to accommodate around 80 diners comfortably, in tables of two to six. Take your pick from the wooden tables, countertop seats, or the breezy alfresco dining area outside the cafe.

Do note that the second floor is reserved for private events, and is only open to diners when the cafe gets crowded.

Coexist Coffee Co.’s Paya Lebar outlet is conveniently located a short six-minute walk from Paya Lebar MRT Station.

Coexist Coffee Co. – Eatbook review

Coexist Coffee Co. offers a wide selection of brunch fare in an IG-worthy setting. That said, several dishes fell short of expectations. As a well-established name in Singapore’s competitive cafe scene, we were definitely hoping for more, especially with the steep prices. Still, it’s a place we’d visit again for their standout pasta and unique drinks.

If you’re looking for more cafes, check out our guide to the best coffee cafes in Singapore. Otherwise, read our guide to the best JB cafes for a solo trip, from hand-brew coffee to art-jamming spots.

Address: 11 Eunos Road 8, #01-02, Lifelong Learning Institute, Singapore 408601
Opening hours: Daily 8:30am to 5:30pm
Website
Coexist Coffee Co. is not halal-certified but uses no pork or lard.

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Photos taken by Nathania Tay.
This was an independent review by Eatbook.sg.
By: originally written by Anthia Chng on 22 February 2022.