Located on the far eastern end of the island (and thus a little harder for the working adult to access), Temasek Polytechnic’s Culinary Academy is home to two student-run restaurants. Sugarloaf, located on the ground floor of the school, is the more unassuming of the two, dishing out quick-service salads, sandwiches, pastries and the occasional local fare with a canteen-style ordering system.
Staffed by the students working towards a diploma in Culinary and Catering Management at the polytechnic, Sugarloaf’s main clientele are its school’s students, who benefit from having a better-than-average canteen option. Unique here are the fishbowl-like windows that offer a close-up peek of the students at work churning out prawn pasta salads and strawberry cheesecakes at a quick clip.
Packed and hot lunches are on the menu here ($3-$5), but aim to pop by at the very last week of each operation period – timed to coincide with the end of the school’s term – where the students are given free reign to run the café by designing their own menus and mocktails to serve, as well as decorating their restaurants to themes like Harry Potter or Wild Wild West, which past graduates of the module have done so. Natasha Hong
See website for cafe opening dates.