Founded by Tiong Hoe Gim Kee Trading Co—a reputable pioneer in Singapore’s competitive coffee industry with more than half a century worth of experience in roasting coffee beans—Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee opened at Stirling Road in Queenstown HDB Estate back in 2014 and it remains one of the most popular coffee shops in Singapore until today.

Coffee is naturally serious business at Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee. It is a paradise for all coffee lovers. While most of us head there for a good cup of coffee, budding baristas can also look forward to a splendid showcase of brewing equipment, espresso bar accessories and coffee beans from all over the world.

Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee currently roasts its coffee beans on site, but they are in the midst of moving their coffee roaster to another space.

Set foot in and you will be greeted by gigantic sacks of coffee beans and a crowd of coffee enthusiasts.

Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee boasts several roasted single-origin and an espresso blend. Prices range from S$3.70 for an espresso to S$5.30 for an iced cappuccino.

Coffee blends are typically on a rotational basis, which means you will probably get to savour a different type of coffee each time you visit Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee.

Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee
170 Stirling Road
Singapore 140170
Tel: +65 6473 1133
Mon to Fri: 8.30am – 5.30pm
Sat and Sun: 9am – 4pm
Nearest Station: Queenstown

When you think of Alexandra, you’ll think of IKEA, Alexandra Village Food Centre and ABC Brickworks hawker centre. Of course, we love these three options but there are tons of other places you can explore in or nearby the Alexandra area, just in case you’re looking for some cafe grub!

Whether it’s cold brew coffee, burgers or truffle fries, we’ve got you covered with this guide to cafes in the Alexandra area!

CARRARA CAFE

Decked in marble tables and rose-gold accents, Carrarra is a pretty Instagram-worthy cafe serving some interesting dishes ranging from Western pasta and waffles to hawker zhi char classics.

Try their Salted Egg Yolk Fried Chicken Waffle, Marmite Wings and their Signature Chilli Crab Seafood Pasta! Those with a sweet tooth can savour their freshly-made waffles with their home-made gelato.

Carrara Cafe
2 Jalan Bukit Merah
#01-5148
Singapore 150002
Sun to Thu: 11.30am – 9.30pm
Fri & Sat: 11.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Redhill

ELYON CAFE

If you’re into Keto diets, try Elyon Cafe – a cafe specializing in all-things Keto! This humble cafe is run by passionate people who believe in the health benefits of keto-food while not compromising innovation and taste!

Indulge in some snacks such as Crispy Enoki Mushroom Fries or try one of their signature noodles – the Roma Carbonara Shirataki Noodle or the Tom Yum Seafood Shirataki Noodle. Who says healthy can’t be delicious too?

Elyon Cafe
126 Bukit Merah Lane 1
#01-202
Singapore 150126
Mon to Fri: 11am – 7pm
Sat: 11am – 9pm
(Closed on Sundays)
Nearest Station: Queenstown/Redhill

FOLKS & STORIES

Specializing in all sorts of cookies with quirky toppings and infusions is Folks & Stories. Their humble storefront is neatly nestled away in the quiet streets of Queenstown. Set up by SMU Alumnus Jody Ang, each cookie has distinct and unique personalities.

Their range of cookies (S$3.50) include the Quirky Tastemaker (Rosemary Dark Chocolate), the Curious Merrymaker (Cream Cheese Dark Chocolate) and the Inquisitive Wanderer (Green Tea White Chocolate).

Folks & Stories
Block 163 Stirling Road, #01-1238
Singapore 140163
Mon to Fri: 10.30am – 6pm
Sat: 10.30am – 4.30pm
(Closed on Sundays)
Nearest Station: Queenstown

GEOMETRY

Artisanal ice cream parlour Geometry is located right beside ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre. The shop is simple yet intimate; think geometric-inspired lamps, potted plants and wooden benches. From Dark Chocolate Truffle to Earl Grey Tie Guan Yin, all their ice creams are free from artificial ingredients and preservatives.

2 Jalan Bukit Merah
#01-5142
Singapore 150002
Tel: +65 6255 6366
Sun to Tue & Thu: 12pm – 9.30pm
Fri and Sat: 12pm – 11pm
(Closed on Wednesdays)
Nearest MRT Station: Queenstown / Redhill

QI PHILOSOPHY CAFE

Boasting a serene garden-like interior filled with greens and plants, QI Philosophy Cafe is a great place to unwind, relax and have some healthy cafe grub. If you like Sweet Potato Fries,  their rendition is pretty great and comes with some tangy mayonnaise to complement the mild sweetness.

An interesting dish they have is their Laksa Pesto which is a dry laksa with pesto and an onsen egg. Quite the unique take on dry laksa and it’s a must-try!

Dawnson Road
Sky Terrace@Dawson 93, #01-02
Singapore 142093
Tue to Sun: 10.30am – 9pm
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: Redhill

REFUEL II CAFE

Sporting a nice and clean wood and tile-themed interior, Refuel II serves comforting all-day brunch and popular nosh!

You definitely have to try their Truffle Fries that are generously sprinkled with Parmesan cheese, their Fuel Me Up baked eggs with chorizo, crispy bacon, mushrooms, peppers and cheese! It’s served with crispy toast and is one of the most satisfying brunch dishes!

Refuel II Cafe
Block 28 Jalan Bukit Merah
Brickswork Estate, #01-4468
Singapore 152028
Mon to Fri: 11am – 9.30pm
Sat & Sun: 10am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Redhill

TIONG HOE SPECIALITY COFFEE

Tiong Hoe Gim Kee Trading Co is a reputable pioneer in Singapore’s competitive coffee industry. Its founder, Mr Tan Tiong Hoe, has more than half a century worth of experience in roasting coffee beans.

Their roasts are fragrant and addictive. Give their Pollen White Cold Brew Coffee a try – it’s delightfully creamy with a floral aftertaste from being infused with pure raw honey.

Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee
170 Stirling Road
Singapore 140170
Tel: +65 6473 1133
Mon to Fri: 8.30am – 5.30pm
Sat and Sun: 9am – 4pm
Nearest Station: Queenstown

THE COFFEE BELT

Open daily till 8pm, the third-wave coffee establishment is a wonderful place to catch up with friends over a good and strong cuppa, or to simply unwind into some me-time in the late afternoons.

With over 25 different flavours and types of drinks, The Coffee Belt’s comprehensive menu will cover everyone’s differing preferences. We’ve been there several times, and are still discovering new favourites! From the all-time favourite Aussie flat white (S$6.50), Chai Tea Latte (short – S$6.50, tall – S$7) to sinfully rich Iced Blended Coffee Frappe (short – S$6.50, tall – S$7), there is a drink for every mood.

The Coffee Belt
Lobby Level
Park Hotel Alexandra
323 Alexandra Road
Singapore 159972
Tel: +65 6828 8888
Daily: 7am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Queenstown / Redhill

SEEDS CAFE

This unique cafe is dedicated to providing training to differently-abled students from the Rainbow Centre it’s located in. Students will be trained in a separate area from the dining area then moved out to do different duties.

You can enjoy their very affordable food options ranging from Pies to Sandwiches and coffee. Their coffee blends are from Tiong Hoe Speciality Coffee, ensuring great quality as well!

Seeds Cafe
501 Margaret Drive
Rainbow Centre
Tel: +65 6817 9414
Singapore 149306
Mon to Fri: 7.30am – 6pm
Sat & Sun: 7.30am – 2.30pm
Nearest Station: Queenstown

For years, Famous Amos has been the “OG” cookie shop in Singapore. Now, it is time to welcome up and coming young bakeries doling out novel cookies that might possibly rival our well-loved predecessor.

Introducing Folks and Stories: a rustic baking studio nestled in the residential estate of Queenstown that serves up quirky cookie creations inspired by personalities of the people around them, as well as tea cakes and brownies.

Here’s what to expect from these young talents.

The outlet itself has no dining area, so customers will have to make their purchases online and self-collect it at their shop or opt for takeaway.

We went for Ambitious Sailor (S$3.50), a sea salt dark chocolate butter cookie. Inspired by those who strive hard and sail toward their goals, this cookie has an unassuming appearance, yet consists of a gooey, chocolatey inner goodness.

The fluffy cookie was crisp on the outside but had a soft, chewy middle that oozed decadent chocolate. We also enjoyed the melted chocolate chunks.

Since it was dark chocolate, we expected the chocolate to have a bitter taste, but it was on the sweeter side.

We tried one of their unorthodox creations: Curious Merrymaker (S$3.50), a double chocolate cookie infused with cheese. This cookie stood out to us as we had never seen cookies paired with cheese before.

The sweetness of the chocolate cookie surprisingly blended harmoniously with the savoury cheese, providing contrasting flavour profiles. The softness from both the cookie base and cheese also gave a comforting, luxurious mouthfeel.

Lastly, we tried Salt of The Earth (S$4.20), a milk and dark chocolate brownie. Their brownies are a bang for your buck, as it comes in a huge slab as compared to the measly ones sold in cafes.

Chocolate lovers will be fond of this brownie, as it had a crisp base and chewy center that oozed luscious fudge. It melted in our mouths when we bit into it, allowing us to relish the treat’s indulgent cocoa flavour. 

Folks and Stories is one of those underrated local baking studios that definitely deserves more recognition. Do them give them a try, as they might possibly give other cookie shops a run for their money.

Folks and Stories 
Block 163 Stirling Road
#01-1238
Singapore 140163
Tel: +65 8282 7375
Mon to Fri: 10:30am – 6pm
Sat: 10:30am – 4pm
(Closed on Sundays)
Nearest Station: Queenstown