Situated amidst the hustle and bustle of Upper Thomson Road is a brand new addition to Singapore’s cafe scene—Columbus Coffee Co.

Managed by the same people behind Atlas Coffeehouse and Lunar Coffee Brewers, Columbus Coffee Co. is a stylish new brunch concept that delivers a straightforward menu with exceptional yet not overly-pretentious dishes and a curated selection of coffee brews. Coffee aficionados may be interested to know that the coffee beans are roasted by Two Degrees North Coffee Co.

Served by a team of energetic young baristas and waitstaff, enjoy the warm and friendly hospitality at Columbus Coffee Co which officially starts its operations today. 

Taking over the now-defunct Wolfpack, Columbus Coffee Co. is designed with functionality in mind—making use of industrial decor, wooden furniture and greenery to create a comfortable and inviting environment that does not compromise on style.

The Cheese Burger and Curlies (S$19++)—one of the two burger options available on the menu—impressed us with the combination of textures and flavours that left us yearning for more after we were done.

What you will find sandwiched between two butter brioche buns is a juicy herbed beef patty, fried sherry onions, creamy slaw and the most addictive topping of all—sharp cheddar that melts in your mouth. The hearty dish comes with crispy curly fries as an accompaniment.

Their All-Day Brunch features a list of comforting mains and one that we would highly recommend is the Columbus Buttermilk Fried Chicken (S$14.50+), which is essentially buttermilk marinated chicken wings that are deep-fried to a perfect shade of golden brown.

We sank our teeth into what was possibly one of the juiciest buttermilk chicken wings we have tried in a long time. Diners can also opt for Hot Sauce (S$1) and beer (Half Pint – S$5, Full Pint – S$8.50) to fully complete the ultimate fried chicken experience.

As for desserts, Columbus Coffee Co. carries a range of Buttermilk Waffles in five different flavours. We decided to go for the Earl Grey Caramel Waffle (S$12.50++) which features a freshly made waffle, chopped strawberries, a scoop of earl grey-flavoured ice cream and generous caramel sauce drizzled over top.

Our recommendation is to tuck into the waffles immediately once it it served as it may turn slightly soggy once the ice cream melts over it.

Other options on their menu include Pastas such as Aglio Olio (S$16++), Mushroom Bacon Carbonara (S$19++) and light munchies with the likes of Shoe String Fries (S$8+) and Chili Beef Nachos (S$12++).

Choose your own espresso blend—Atlas or Nautica—and have it prepared in various ways such as a Long Black (Reg – S$4.50++, Large – S$5++), Cappuccino (Reg – S$5++, Large – S$5.50++), Latte (Reg – S$5++, Large – S$5.50++) and more.

As mentioned earlier, Columbus Coffee Co. gets their coffee beans from Two Degrees North Coffee Co., a renowned roaster that sources their single origin beans from coffee capitals of the world, Ethiopia, Colombia and Kenya.

Columbus Coffee Co.
220 Upper Thomson Road
Singapore 574352
Tel: +65 6253 6024
Daily: 9am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Marymount

There is little chance that you will stumble upon Paper Crane unless you have heard of that place. Hidden in the grounds of Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations (SCWO) in Waterloo Street, this cafe is within walking distance from Bras Basah MRT Station.

Paper Crane is an unpretentious cafe that serves comforting Western food. Their attractive menu boasts All Day S$10 Deals and other Western main dishes that are below S$20.

Visitors do not have to pay for GST or service charge at this cafe.

Choose from the spacious al fresco seating area and indoor seating by the window if you prefer to stay away from the heat. However, do note that indoor seating is limited to four to five people only due to space constraints.

The Beer Battered Ah Hua Kelong Sea Bass and Chips (S$15) is a value-for-money dish. Under the beer battered crispy skin is soft and juicy sea bass which tastes great on its own without the need for any sauce.

Another favourite is Paper Crane’s Southern-style Fried Buttermilk Chicken with Slaw and Fries (S$15). We could hear the delightful crunch from the crispy skin crumbling into pieces in our mouths. The dish comes with the usual western sides—coleslaw and fries.

Those who enjoyed their homemade chilli can purchase it in bottles at the cafe.

If you are on a budget, they have a range of dishes for only S$10 on the menu such as Spaghetti in Pesto, Greek Chickpea Salad and Popcorn Chicken with Chili and Coriander Mayo.

Otherwise, pick from Kimchi Fries with Grilled Steak and Cilantro Mayo (S$15), 48 Hours Sous Vide Beef Brisket Sandwich with Fries (S$18), Spaghetti with Grilled Prawns in Prawn Butter Sauce (S$20) and more.

Paper Crane
96 Waterloo Street
Singapore 187967
Tel: +65 6837 0836
Mon to Sat: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Bras Basah