Cluny Court (501 Bukit Timah Rd), which sits prominently at the junction of Bukit Timah and Farrer Roads, has enjoyed a long, if quiet, history. The beautifully preserved 1928 two-storey shophouse gained its first gourmet tenant in the form of Da Paolo Il Giardino (#01-05, 6463 9628) in 2003 and Da Paolo Gastronomia (#01-01, 6468 7010) in 2005, but has been slow to develop since. Since late 2007, it has gathered a raft of appetising names. 

Relish (#02-01, 6763 1547), a comfort food outlet by Wild Rocket, serves cheerfully hip burgers. Cheekily titled ‘Happy Meals’ comprise burgers paired with beers and fries; highlights include the char siew pork on focaccia burger, and a garam masala lamb pita with mint hummus burger. We love the Belgian dark chocolate and mint milkshake, along with an Indonesian-inspired avocado and gula Melaka shake. Not to be outdone, Karma Kettle and Rhapsody (#01-05B, 6314 3483 pictured left) is the upstart that’s giving European and Asian cuisine a cool, colonial-era Indian twist. Owners Priti and Dhiraj are the proud purveyors of the signature English lavender chicken, tangy pork vindaloo, toasted black pepper crab jaffles, and the Eton Mess, a classic Eton graduation dessert of strawberries, meringue, marmalade, cream and vanilla sponge. But a meal would not be complete without one of its luscious homebrewed teas – the masala chai latte, or our favourite, tiramisu tea with Hershey’s chocolate bits. 

Pop by the stand-alone gourmet store (#01-01A;6314 3482) next door for a hand-picked selection of fine olive oils, syrups and vinegars. Rounding off your shopping spree, Denise Wine Shop (#01-04B, 6468 0933) has moved in, making it a tough choice between vino and the dark chocolate cakes at Awfully Chocolate (#01-05, 6469 0565). 

If good looks are as important as good taste, Inside Living by Ziegler (#01-03B, 6468 1602, pictured right) a home furnishings store that offers intricately maximalist glassware and tableware. And there’s more to look forward to – with antiques store Mu Dan (#01-02, 6467 9227) shrinking its second-floor showroom, the sprawling space will be turned into a retail bazaar. Stay tuned.