The Neptune is a 70-seater cafe that offers both indoor and alfresco dining. The space is beautifully designed with a blend of white and their signature Neptune green. The green tiles combined with wooden tables and benches give the interior a nature-inspired, sleek look.

The cafe is also pet-friendly, so you’ll often see pet parents bringing their adorable doggos along. It’s such a nice touch, especially if you’re a dog lover like me!

Now, let’s talk about the food. The Neptune offers Japanese-inspired dishes, but I’m here for one thing and one thing only—the Carbonara (S$20.50). It’s made with shimeji mushrooms, bacon, umami cream, yolk, parmesan, and tagliatelle. Every single time, it slaps. Hard. The pasta is perfectly coated in this rich, umami-packed cream sauce, and when you mix in the yolk, it takes the creaminess to another level without being too heavy. The bacon adds just the right amount of saltiness to balance everything out. It’s amazing every time.

My partner, on the other hand, is all about the Aglio Olio (S$17.10). It’s a simple yet flavourful dish made with garlic, chilli, parmesan, and tagliatelle. Now, I’m usually not a fan of aglio olio because it can be a bit plain for my taste, but The Neptune does it right. The pasta is thick, al dente, and has a delightful chew to it. The garlicky taste is on point, and it’s a dish I find myself sneaking bites of when my partner isn’t looking.

But on this trip, he decided to go for the Sunday Ragu (S$22.50): slow-braised red wine short rib ragu, grana padano, and tagliatelle. The pasta was slightly, and I loved the short rib ragu as it was so tender!

As for drinks, we always stick to our favourites. For me, it’s the Einspanner (S$7.10). If you haven’t tried an Einspanner before, it’s a classic Viennese coffee that’s strong and rich with a layer of thick, sweet cream on top. The contrast between the bold coffee and the creamy sweetness is just perfection. It’s smooth and slightly bitter, and the cream adds a lovely richness that makes it feel indulgent yet comforting.

The Neptune is truly one of the OG cafes in Joo Chiat, and it’s easy to see why they’ve stood the test of time while others have come and gone. The place is always buzzing with people, so I highly recommend making a reservation. But honestly, even if you have to queue, it’s totally worth the wait.

Thanks for reading, and see you next post!