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There are some meals you enjoy and move on from. Then there are the ones that turn into an entire afternoon of eating, chatting, ordering “just one more thing” and quietly planning your next visit before you have even left. My recent lunch at Bibik Violet’s new Great World outlet with my bestie was firmly in the second category. The all-day Peranakan café, bakery and emporium opened its second Singapore location at Great World on 14 July 2026, following its first home at Temasek Shophouse. The new 74-seater space brings its comforting Peranakan cooking, handmade kueh and nostalgic bakes to the River Valley and Kim Seng neighbourhood.
We went expecting good food. What we found was a warm, vibrant space that made us want to slow down, stay longer and sample far more than originally planned.
A café that feels like a colourful Peranakan home
Bibik Violet is not designed as a quiet, minimalist café. It is joyful, busy and full of character. The Great World outlet features rattan chairs, fringed lampshades, batik accents, hanging plants, vintage recipe books and heritage-inspired decorative pieces. Together, they give the café the warmth of a family home while still feeling polished enough for a special lunch or afternoon catch-up. My bestie and I absolutely loved the ambience. There was colour everywhere, but it never felt overwhelming. The combination of wood, greenery, patterned details and vintage touches made the space feel lively and nostalgic at the same time.
It is also the kind of place that works for many different occasions. You could come here for breakfast with your parents, lunch with colleagues, an afternoon kopi date or a relaxed dinner with the family. For us, it was the perfect setting for a long overdue bestie catch-up.
The beef rendang was the star of our table
The beef rendang was easily one of the highlights of our meal. Rich, deeply flavoured and comforting, it was the sort of dish that immediately demanded another spoonful of rice. The beef was beautifully tender while the sauce carried the deep, aromatic flavour you expect from a slow-cooked rendang. What stood out was how balanced it felt. The spices were pronounced without overpowering the meat and the richness did not become tiring after a few bites. It was bold, satisfying and exactly the kind of dish we would return for.
For diners who enjoy sharing, Bibik Violet’s menu lends itself naturally to ordering several dishes for the table. The all-day selection spans local one-dish favourites, small plates and Peranakan classics including Nyonya Laksa, Prawn Mee, Nasi Lemak, Satay, Kueh Pie Tee, Buah Keluak Soft Rib, Babi Pongteh, Ayam Goreng Berempah and Chap Chye. Come hungry and bring someone who does not mind sharing.
Chicken macaroni soup for the comfort-food win
The chicken macaroni was another surprise favourite. It may sound simple compared with the richer Peranakan dishes on the menu, but that simplicity is exactly what made it so enjoyable. Warm, soothing and wonderfully familiar, it tasted like the kind of meal someone would prepare for you at home when you needed a little comfort.
The broth was light enough to sip between bites of the more robust dishes while the macaroni and chicken made it substantial enough to enjoy on its own. It would be an especially lovely choice on a rainy Singapore afternoon, for younger diners or for anyone craving something gentle and nostalgic.
Bibik Violet describes its Great World menu as one that moves easily from morning kopi to family dinner and the chicken macaroni captures that all-day, home-style spirit particularly well.
The kopi deserves its own visit
We could not leave without trying the kopi and we were very glad we did. Strong, fragrant and comforting, it was exactly what we wanted after the meal. More importantly, it gave us an excuse to continue sitting, chatting and working our way through the kueh counter. That kopi-and-kueh combination is where Bibik Violet really shines as an afternoon destination. You do not necessarily need to arrive for a full meal. The café is equally suited to a mid-afternoon break when you want something sweet, something caffeinated and somewhere pleasant to catch up.
Until 31 August 2026, guests at the Great World outlet can enjoy kopi or teh for S$1 daily from 3pm to 5pm. The promotion is exclusive to this location. Frankly, that is a very convincing reason to organise your next tea-time date.
A kueh counter that makes choosing difficult
The kueh counter greets guests near the entrance and is likely to derail any plan to “just have coffee”. Bibik Violet’s handmade Nyonya kueh and cakes are prepared daily in limited batches. At Great World, the selection includes new Black Sesame and Yam Ang Ku Kueh flavours alongside Mung Bean and Peanut. There is also Kueh Talam, made with a layer of white coconut cream over a purple sweet potato base.
We absolutely loved the kuehs. They were colourful, inviting and ideal for sharing, although sharing becomes considerably harder once you find a favourite. The textures are a major part of the appeal. Soft, chewy, creamy and gently sweet, these are treats that feel nostalgic without being overly heavy. Paired with the kopi, they brought our meal to a very satisfying finish.
The counter also carries nostalgic bakes such as Marble Loaf Tea Cake, Pandan and Gula Melaka Marble Chiffon Cake, Pineapple Upside-Down Cake, Banana Loaf Cake and Rum Balls. They join signatures including Orange Sugee Cake, Pandan Chiffon Cake and Pulot Hitam Tart. Kuehs and cakes can be enjoyed at the café, taken home individually or ordered as whole cakes, gift boxes and platters. That makes the counter worth visiting even when you are not dining in.
Durian lovers have another reason to visit
To celebrate the Great World opening, Bibik Violet has also introduced three limited-time durian desserts available until 31 August 2026. The Durian Chendol adds durian to the familiar combination of shaved ice, pandan jelly, coconut milk and gula melaka. Sago Gula Melaka with Durian pairs sago pearls with gula melaka and Mao Shan Wang durian pengat while Pulut Tai Tai with Durian Kaya combines blue pea glutinous rice with durian kaya and durian pengat.
For those who prefer the classic version, a durian-free chendol will remain permanently on the Great World menu. These desserts are certainly not shy. They are designed for committed durian fans, so consider sharing one after your meal unless your love for durian knows no limits.
Our verdict
Bibik Violet at Great World gets several things right at once. The space is beautiful without feeling formal. The menu offers familiar local comfort food alongside richer Peranakan favourites. The kopi encourages you to linger and the kueh counter makes leaving empty-handed almost impossible.
For us, the beef rendang was the standout, followed closely by the comforting chicken macaroni soup. Add the kopi, handmade kuehs and a lively afternoon with my bestie and it became one of those meals we will remember fondly. This is not simply somewhere to grab food between errands at the mall. It is a place to settle in, order for the table and let lunch slowly turn into tea.
Bibik Violet at Great World
Address: 1 Kim Seng Promenade, #02-K101/K102, Great World, Singapore 237994
Opening hours: Daily, 10am to 10pm
Last order: 9.30pm
Nearest MRT: Great World MRT
Reservations: Walk-ins are welcome
Average Rating