Located at Marine Cove in East Coast Park, East Coast Commune is a family-friendly cafe that serves speciality coffee, cold pressed juices, hearty sandwiches, fresh bakes, natural wines and craft beers.

One of the most beautiful cafes in Singapore, it is a great hangout spot which is worth travelling to East Coast Park for.

What we like about East Coast Commune:

• Beautiful cafe with a high ceiling and lots of potted plants
• Family-friendly cafe with an indoor play area and baby changing room
• A space that is perfect for all ages—families, couples, friends and kids
• Reasonably-priced pasta, sandwiches and brunch food
• Great location at East Coast Park (just next to McDonald’s)

The name reflects its intention to be a gathering spot for all ages—there’s something for everyone here. The kids can have fun at the indoor play area while the adults can enjoy a leisure brunch with a cup of coffee, or a craft beer or two.

East Coast Commune’s menu features a selection of Sourdough Sandwiches (S$11), Pasta (S$19), The Brekkie (S$18), Fried Chicken & Waffle (S$18) and Fresh Sourdough Waffle (S$12).

Classic sweet waffles (S$12) with ice cream, whipped cream, maple syrup, icing sugar.

Cappuccino (S$5)

Baby changing room

We love the vibe of East Coast Commune and we will definitely be back soon!

East Coast Commune
1000 ECP, #01-03, Singapore 449876

In the super fast-paced rat race in Singapore, it’s getting increasingly difficult to have more alone-time. It’s super hard just to get a few hours to ourselves, yet even then, we might have other priorities outside of work, school and all.

Here’s a list of cafes you can visit if you want to take a short breather from life. They’re quiet and perfect for being alone while sipping on a hot drink, watching as life passes you by even just for an hour or two.

AMBER EMBER

This cosy cafe is relatively new but has already made a name for themselves, not just for their quirky food options and delicious coffee but also their wonderfully decorated exterior and interior. A cup of their freshly-brewed coffee is the perfect accompaniment for a book or just to watch a show on your smartphone.

Amber Ember
730 Upper Serangoon Road, #01-01
Singapore 534613
Tue to Fri: 10am – 5pm
Sat & Sun: 10am – 6pm
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: Serangoon

Photo Credit: Instagram

COOK & TRAS SOCIAL LIBRARY

This elegant cafe doubles as a hidden book cafe. Just stepping into the space makes you feel like you’ve stumbled upon a library lounge in old London. Decorated with warm amber lights and beautiful wooden furnishing, all you need to do is grab a book, some cocktails or their all-day dining dishes, and you’ll be set for a few hours of me-time.

Cook & Tras Social Library
2 Cook Street
Singapore 078857
Daily: 6.30am – 12am
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

GATHER THE MISFITS

Taking over the now-defunct CPlus+ is the extremely Instagrammable cafe – Gather The Misfits. They bring interesting toastie flavours to the table, along with a myriad of coffee selections, drink choices and pastries.

Their space is cosy, homely and comfortable. It’s perfect for catching up on some studying, work or just to relax and rewind after a stressful week.

Gather The Misfits
217 Rangoon Road
Singapore 218457
Tel: +65 9298 7291
Mon, Wed to Sun: 10am – 6pm
(Closed on Tuesdays)
Nearest Station: Farrer Park/Boon Keng

GLYPH SUPPLY CO

This minimalist cafe in the heart of Orchard Road is clean, quiet and serves great coffee. They’ve even added some house-fermented Kombucha to their list of handcrafted beverages! If you’re looking to spend the afternoon people-watching, reading or even just chatting with a pal, head over to Glyph Supply Co.

Glyph Supply Co
111 Somerset Road, #01-06
Singapore 238164
Mon to Fri: 8.30am – 7.30pm
Sat & Sun: 10am – 7.30pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

HVALA

What says “zen” better than a Japanese matcha cafe? Hvala’s newer outlet at TripleOne Somerset boasts a pristine layout, resembling a zen Japanese garden. It’s a great place to read, scroll through social media or just relax while sipping on a matcha or hojicha latte. They also have a great range of Japanese-inspired desserts to munch on while you rewind.

Hvala
111 Somerset Road
TripleOne Somerset
Singapore 238164
Daily: 11.30am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

JING SI BOOKS & CAFE

A cafe dedicated to Shih Cheng Yen, a nun, who also goes by the name “Jing Si”. The name means “silent contemplation”, and her books and works aim to inspire goodness and kindness in whoever reads them. The cafe has a quiet, warm and zen vibe where you can read and sip on a drink in peace.

Jing Si Books & Cafe
134 Geylang East Avenue 1
Singapore 380134
Tue to Sun: 11am – 7pm
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: Aljunied/Paya Lebar

Photo Credit: Instagram

KATASUMI KOOHII

This Taiwanese and Japanese-inspired cafe is a quaint little hidden gem nestled in Bukit Pasoh. They serve a variety of chiffon cakes, bakes and coffee. They provide a nice cosy space for patrons to just sit and relax, maybe even with a book in hand as the day passes.

Katasumi Koohii
25 Bukit Pasoh Road
Singapore 089839
Mon, Wed to Sun: 12pm – 8pm
(Closed on Tuesdays)
Nearest Station: Outram Park

KURASU

Hailing from Kyoto, this quiet cafe is tucked away in Odeon Towers. They don a minimalistic setting and serve fragrant coffee and a great matcha latte. Surrounded by glass walls, you can watch as cars and people zoom by as you enjoy your cuppa. Whether you’re there alone or you bring a friend, it’s a wonderful place for some quiet time.

Kurasu Singapore
331 North Bridge Road
#02-01, Odeon Towers
Singapore 188720
Mon to Fri: 8am – 5pm
Nearest Station: City Hall

Photo Credit: Instagram

MELLOWER COFFEE

This Shanghai-originated cafe has grown in popularity in Singapore, with its first Global Flagship store located in Bugis, an area known to be a cafe hotspot. It has a spacious wood-themed layout but yet maintains a calming, quiet ambience. We recommend their cold brews to accompany you for the afternoon.

Mellower Coffee
108 Middle Road, #01-01
Singapore 188967
Daily: 8am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Bugis

THE BOOK CAFE

It is a great chill-out place where you can sit down, have a cup of coffee, read a book, and watch the world go by. The food there is pretty affordable too! Besides having a wide selection of magazines and newspapers, the cafe also has plenty of power-points for folks who are on their laptops.

The Book Cafe
20 Martin Road
Tel: +65 6887 5430
Sun to Thu: 8.30am – 10.30pm
Fri & Sat: 8.30am – 12 midnight

Instagram-worthy cafes are all the rage, with the photogenic walls and food that are impeccably plated. However, sometimes all we need is a comfortable place to lounge around while enjoying a good book.

Book cafes are highly underrated. How wonderful it is if we could just escape from the hustle and bustle of life, and just have some quiet time alone with a book in hand!

Sounds like something that appeals to you? We’ve collated a list of 5 Book Cafes scattered around Singapore to take you on a journey of a lifetime through its pages, all while enjoying a hot cup of joe and a delicious plate of food.

Photo Credit: The Moon

THE MOON

Featuring books that are written by women as well as artists and writers of colour, The Moon boasts a collection of books that do not shy away from stories that cover a variety of delicate topics. Books here range from cannibalism to the social history of 80s teen fiction, dinosaurs, modern art and the refugee crisis.

The Moon aims to be a bookstore that provides underrepresented writers and stories a place to belong that reflects the world for what it is, without a layer of sugar coating.

The Moon also has a lovely, cosy cafe that provides options for everyone with as many dietary restrictions possible. These includes dairy-free, gluten-free and vegan food choices for a more inclusive menu.

37 Mosque Street
Singapore 059515
Sun to Thu: 11am – 9pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 12am
Nearest Station: Chinatown

Photo Credit: The Book Cafe

THE BOOK CAFE

Casual and comfortable, The Book Cafe allows its guests to take refuge in its relaxing ambience and lounge on their plush sofas for a chill day off. Otherwise, The Book Cafe also provides everything you would need for a productive day; from electrical power-points to free wireless access and even a photocopy machine.

Choose between dining in comfort or enjoying the outdoors at their al fresco dining area. No matter where you pick, diners are offered an appetising and extensive menu that boasts an all-day breakfast as well as a wide array of drinks, including alcoholic options!

20 Martin Rd
Seng Kee Building, #01-02
Singapore 239070
Tel: +65 6887 5430
Daily: 8.30 – 9.45pm
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay

Photo Credit: The Reading Room

THE READING ROOM

A charming book cafe by day that turns into a lively bar when night falls, The Reading Room is housed within a shophouse that boasts tasteful decoration and a stress-free ambience that invites guests in.

This stunning book cafe also offers an exquisite food selection, with options such as Lobster Eggs Benedict, Fluffy Homemade Pancakes and aromatic coffees to start your day right.

19 Bukit Pasoh Rd
Singapore 089833
Tel: +65 6220 9019
Mon to Thu: 11am – 11.30pm
Fri: 11am – 1.30am
Sat & Sun: 9.30am – 1.30am
Nearest Station: Outram Park

Photo Credit: Tzu Chi Singapore

JING SI BOOKS & CAFÉ

Get in touch with your spiritual side and practice mindfulness at Jing Si Books and Café. The store and cafe are decked out in oriental and Zen interior with dark wood touches that seamlessly fuse with contemporary uses of glass.

Hoping to provide a space to act as a spiritual oasis for modern city dwellers, the cafe offers a calm and serene refuge with fragrant cups of coffee or tea and vegetarian food options.

134 Geylang East Ave 1
Singapore 380134
Tel: +65 6747 3080
Daily: 11am – 7pm
Nearest Station: Aljunied

Photo Credit: Epigram Books

HUGGS-EPIGRAM COFFEE BOOKSHOP

Be greeted by a myriad of colours the moment you step into this bookstore and cafe hybrid. With an impressive collection of books displayed on their floor to ceiling book shelf, bookworms will be excited and thrilled to know that majority of the books here are all about Singapore. These books are written by local authors or set in Singapore or published by local publishers.

The bookstore also invites authors for a daily Author-in-Attendance event; it allows local authors to shine by providing an opportunity for more recognition and to share insights into their book. If you spot them in the store, don’t be afraid to say hi.

Epigram Books partnered with Huggs Coffee to provide the perfect space for coffee lovers and bookworms to convene together in a single space for aromatic local-style coffee brews, such as Latte Gula and Milk Teh Si, and delightful quick bites.

45 Maxwell Rd
The URA Centre, #01-01
Singapore 069118
Tel: +65 6292 4456
Mon to Fri: 10am – 7pm
Sat: 10am – 2pm
(Closed on Sunday)
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar/Telok Ayer

The Book Cafe is not a place that is known for food. Neither does it serve exceptional coffee. What sets them apart, however, is their cosy and relaxing atmosphere. It is a great chill-out place where you can sit down, have a cup of coffee, read a book, and watch the world go by. Besides having a wide selection of magazines and newspapers, the cafe also has plenty of power-points for folks who are on their laptops. Moreover, the food is relatively inexpensive. They serve simple food such as pasta, sandwiches, soup, sandwiches, desserts and all-day breakfast.

20 Martin Road
Tel: +65 6887 5430
Sun to Thu: 8.30am – 10.30pm
Fri & Sat: 8.30am – 12 midnight

Words by Jolin Ma, photographs by ladyironchef

The Pigeonhole is tucked away from the bustling city, perfect for people like me who love some serenity in life. This little cafe is located, in my humble opinion, in the best area to hang out – Tanjong Pagar. Drop by someday, any day and for the matter everyday to get pampered with an array of cafes and restaurants located along winding streets power packed with culture and goodness!

A book cafe & dynamic arts space promoting local NGOs, music, film, performance & art – The Pigeonhole brings in uncommon beers from around the world. Besides that, they also offer pure simple coffee and tea to please the hearts and stomach of everyone.

What should you do there?

Step 1: Bring your guitar or a book, your laptop or a buddy, or just step right in with nothing but your awesome self.

Step 2: Pick your favourite spot. Now, this can be tough. Though I love the 2nd sofa from the left of the cafe (you will definitely know what I am talking about when you head there), my friends love the beanbags or the tall chairs. TAKE YOUR PICK!

Step 3: Wonder around the cafe and spot little treasures of art. Then, as you walk back to that special spot, stop by the counter to order a nice cuppa. My favourite is a double shot soy piccolo latte with ice. Immensely heavenly on a warm day. They even serve food now! Grab those too!

Step 4: Enjoy. Day dream. Imagine yourself as a lazy cat. And, if you are lucky, sometimes there are random events or meetings held there.

Check out The Pigeonhole guys. Quote “one-soy-piccolo-latte” to get a coffee therapy and rehab for the soul. Cheers!

The Pigeonhole
52/53 Duxton Road
Tel: +65 6226 2880
Tue to Thu: 10am – 11pm
Fri: 10am – 1am
Sat: 11.30am – 1am
Sun: 11.30am – 8pm