One of Singaporeans’ favourite pastimes is cafe hopping. We are always on the hunt for new aesthetic cafes to satisfy our craving for artisanal bakes and tasty food, solid cuppas as well as a reason to update our Instagram accounts. But despite our love for cafes, we tend to stick to the ones that are located in more accessible areas, rarely venturing into unfamiliar territory.

However, little does anyone know that there are actually some pretty good cafes tucked away in far-flung corners of Singapore that deserve way more recognition than they are getting. Here, we have 10 ulu cafes in Singapore if you ever want time away from the world.

BOYLE’S COFFEE 

Bukit Timah Plaza is a pretty run-down mall that many people do not take a second glance at. However, the place is stuffed with hidden gems, and one of them is Boyle’s Coffee. Boyle’s Coffee is a small, artisanal coffee shop which sells great coffee and delicious light bites for when you’re feeling a bit peckish.

They sell some of the best cappuccinos that we have ever tried from a cafe. We also love their signature Espresso as well as their Yuzu Latte. For light bites, we recommend their Ham and Grilled cheese Sandwich which goes really well with the coffee. For the sweet tooth, you can try their Butter and Jam Toast and Sticky Buns.

L1-CS1 Bukit Timah Plaza
1 Jalan Anak Bukit
Singapore 588996
Mon to Thu: 9.30am – 9pm
Fri: 9.30am – 9.30pm
Sat & Sun: 9am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Beauty World

CHOCK FULL OF BEANS 

Tucked away in a quiet corner of Changi Village right next to the hawker centre is Chock Full Of Beans, and many people agree that this place is one of the best places to go if you’re looking for a good place for brunch.

Some must-try items here are their hearty Chock Full of Big Breakfast as well as their Eggs Benedict. For drinks, we recommend you order one of the 3D latte art drinks, they’re insanely adorable and great for the gram too!

Blk 4 Changi Village Road #01-2090
Tel: +65 62148839
Tue to Fri: 11.30am – 10.15pm
Sat & Sun: 9.30am – 10.15pm
Nearest Station: Pasir Ris

 COMMON CHEFS CAFE AND BAKERY 

When one asks for cafe recommendations, they would usually not expect to get one from Sembawang. Common Chefs Cafe and Bakery is one of those rare places, and it’s a good excuse for you to travel to the Northern part of Singapore.

They offer a wide range of western dishes, drinks and desserts at pretty affordable prices. We love their Single Cheese Burger, and we love the versatility of being able to choose what kind of meat we want for our patty. For dessert, do try out their customizable dessert waffles for a sweet treat.

8 Jalan Legundi, #01-13
Singapore 759274
Tel: +65 66591208
Tue to Fri: 12pm – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 11.30am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Sembawang and Yishun

Photo Credit: Flickr 

CREAMIER GILLMAN BARRACKS

Creamier Handcrafted Ice Cream and Coffees main goal is to make artisanal ice creams and coffees affordable luxuries for everyone. Tucked away in Gillman Barracks, Creamier is surrounded by lush greenery and makes for a picturesque place to escape for a day to have some alone time or to spend time with a loved one.

They rotate their selection of 18 mouthwatering ice cream flavours so there is always something interesting to try. Their ice cream is also produced onsite using premium ingredients from around the world, so you know you are always getting the best quality ice cream available.

Blk 5A Lock Road
Gillman Barracks
Singapore 108927
Tel: +65 62621087
Tue to Thu: 1pm – 9pm
Fri to Sat: 12pm – 11pm
Sun: 12pm – 10pm
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: Labrador Park

Photo Credit: Jubilee Coffee House

JUBILEE COFFEE HOUSE 

Changi Point is in the middle of nowhere for some of us, but its a place with a number of unique hidden gems, with one of them being Jubilee Coffee House. You rarely see eateries located inside an old-fashioned Bungalow, and that is one thing that makes Jubilee Coffee House so special.

This retro coffee house has an extensive menu with both western and fusion dishes. Some interesting things here to try are their Thin Crust Otah Pizza and their Ter Kar Bee Hoon. For dessert, we recommend their Tofu Cheese Cake and Jubilee Classic Cake.

580 Netheravon Road
Singapore 508516
Tel: +65 65430060
Mon – Thu: 10.30am – 1am
Sat/PH Eve: 9.30am – 1am
Sun/PH: 9.30am – 10.30am
Nearest Station: Changi Airport

SCHMEAR

Schmear at Quayside Isle was opened by a New Yorker who wanted to share his passion for bagels, and if you’re craving for some freshly baked New York-style bagels and some over-the-top meat platters, this is the place to be at.

Their best selling item on the menu has to be, of course, their hand-rolled NY bagels. You can choose to either personalise your own bagel with various toppings or go for their scrumptious options such as The New Yorker and The Central Park.

31 Ocean Way
#01-03 Quayside Isle, Sentosa Cove
Singapore 098375
Tel: +65 92362876
Wed to Mon: 8am – 10pm
(Closed on Tuesday)
Nearest Station: Harborfront

SOEK SENG 1954 BICYCLE CAFE

Tucked far away from the hustle and bustle of the city is Soek Seng 1954 Bicycle Cafe. The owner of this quaint place is a passionate vintage bicycle collector who proudly displays his beautiful vintage bicycles for all to see all around the cafe.

Their menu is a combination of local, western and Japanese mains that are mostly below $20. Some of our favourites here would have to be their Katsu Don as well as their Ayam Panggang.

#01-01 Maj Aviation Building
80 Seletar Aeropsace View
SIngapore 797563
Tel: +65 66596124
Tue to Sun: 10am – 10pm
(Closed on Mondays)

THE COASTAL SETTLEMENT 

The coastal settlement is a large, spacious cafe that can accommodate up to 300 people. This beautiful, rustic gem is a great place to head to if you want to go somewhere to get away from the hectic city life.

Their brunch menu is available on weekends and public holidays from 11am to 4pm, with some of their popular items being their Big Breakfast and Eggs Benedict. We also enjoyed their roasted chicken and truffle fries as well as their truffle mushroom fettuccine.

200 Netheravon Road
(Near Changi Village)
Tel: +65 64750200
Tue to Sun: 10.30am – 9.45pm
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: Pasir Ris

WHISK AND PADDLE

Whisk and Paddle is definitely one of the more popular places to go to for food if you’re in Punggol, and even if you don’t live in Punggol, its worth a travel down.

If you love breakfast food, this is a great place to go to. They serve delicious breakfast dishes such as classic Eggs Benedict. If you want something to share around with friends, you can always opt for a main like their popular Ham & Pineapple Pizza. Do try their very famous Mac and Cheese as well if you love all things creamy and cheesy!

10 Tebing Lane, #01-01
Tue to Fri: 3.30pm – 10.30pm
Sat, Sun & PH: 9.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Riviera (Punggol LRT)

WILDSEED CAFE AND BAR 

Who knew that a place called Seletar Aerospace Park could be home to a cluster of great dining areas? One of our favourites here would definitely have to be Wildseed Cafe and Bar, which is a beautiful cafe with a farm-to-table concept that serves hearty lunch and brunch in the day and turns into a casual bar with an amazing grill selection in the evening.

Their mouth-watering Wagyu Beef Burger is definitely a hot favourite here, and we feel that it goes really well with their all-time popular Avocado Shake. For dessert, do try The Highland Pancakes for a satisfying sweet treat.

3 Park Lane
Singapore 798387
Sun to Thurs: 9am – 11pm
Fri, Sat and Eve of Ph: 9am – 1am
Nearest Station: Punggol

Hardly anyone enjoys the idea of returning to work on Monday after an entire weekend of pure relaxation and fun. But such is life, isn’t it?

Thankfully, there are more ways than one to alleviate said Monday blues and one of the best ways we know how is to treat ourselves to a solid cafe meal. Taking into consideration the full-works, from artisanal coffees, teas to a plethora of over-the-top cafe grub, if there was ever a way to cheer us up on a dull workday, those would surely help.

Here is our guide to 20 cafes in Singapore that open on Mondays for you to treat yourself on a dreadful, soul-crushing Monday.

% ARABICA

While % Arabica is known for its stellar cups of coffee, the brand’s venture at Chip Bee Gardens has introduced a food section to their menu so you can enjoy some scrumptious nosh that pairs perfectly with their soothing cups of coffee. This is also the only % Arabica outlet in the world to have a food menu.

44 Jalan Merah Saga, #01-58
Singapore 278116
Tel: +65 6261 4516
Sun to Thu: 8am – 6pm
Fri & Sat: 8am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Holland Village

CLINTON STREET BAKING COMPANY

Hailing all the way from New York City, Clinton Street Baking Co. is where you can look forward to a range of classic New York-style brunch fare including the esteemed Chicken & Waffles (S$21++) which features huge pieces of crisp-skinned, tender chicken nestled atop a fluffy buttermilk waffle.

Should you be looking for a sweeter treat to conclude your meal, the Pancakes with Warm Maple Butter (S$19++) is another signature dish of their that you ought to try.

31 Purvis Street
Singapore 188608
Mon to Thu: 8.30am – 6pm
Fri & Sat: 8am – 9pm
Sun: 8am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Bugis/Bras Basah

EARLYBIRD CAFE

Earlybird Cafe is one of the newest additions to the slew of cafes that Jalan Pinang is home to. Minimalist exterior and aesthetically-pleasing bird-themed interior aside, Earlybird Cafe serves quality grub that is worth forgoing your diet for.

Their Chicken and Pancakes (S$19) may just be enough to have you ditch chicken and waffles altogether—this dish really hits all the right chords in terms of flavour! Get their adorable Flower Pot Tiramisu (S$8.50) to end of your meal on a sweet note.

17 Jalan Pinang
Singapore 199149
Mon to Thu: 8am – 9pm
Fri: 8am – 9.30pm
Sat: 9am – 9.30pm
Sun: 9am – 8pm
Tel: +65 9788 6858
Nearest Station: Bugis

FIVE OARS COFFEE ROASTERS

Boasting an aesthetically-pleasing botanical interior, impeccable service, amazing coffee and plenteous food offerings, Five Oars Coffee Roasters is definitely a new café in Singapore worth checking out.

Five Oars offers a tantalizing range of brunch fare—from interesting spins such as the Mentaiko Royale (S$21) to sweeter options such as the Valrhona Chocolate Pancakes (S$19.50). Coffee-goers will not regret getting a cuppa coffee as an accompaniment to their meal as they source their coffee beans from Ethiopia and Brazil.

39 Tanjong Pagar Road
Singapore 088462
Daily: 8am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

KEONG SAIK BAKERY

This is where you can find traditional, nostalgic yet contemporary bakes all under a single roof. The walls of Keong Saik Bakery are covered in a wallpaper that speaks about the heritage of the Keong Saik area which might just sweep you over with a sense of nostalgia.

Their menu mainly comprises a range of crusty croissants, bread and fluffy cakes. The Sor Hei—a black and white Danish pastry—would go highly recommended if you are looking for a light bite. Otherwise, opt for their all-day breakfast set which comes with a cup of coffee or tea, 2 soft-boiled eggs and a bun of your choice.

41 Keong Saik Road
Singapore 089146
Tel: +65 6909 3199
Daily: 8am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Outram Park

KURASU

Kurasu is a hidden gem located within Odeon Towers that serves speciality coffee from selected roasters around Japan. Originally starting out as an online homeware store, the brand shifted its focus to coffee and opened its first physical store in Kyoto in 2016.

Their Singapore outlet serves the same lineup of coffee as their branch in Kyoto, so you get to taste their superbly aromatic brews in our sunny shores. Matcha lovers must get a cup of their Matcha Latte, which promises to satisfy even the most discerning of taste buds.

331 North Bridge Road
#02-01, Odeon Towers
Singapore 188720
Mon to Fri: 9am – 6pm
Sat & Sun: 12pm – 6pm
Nearest Station: City Hall

POPPY POPS

This café situated on the rooftop of JEM in Jurong East will bewitch you with its charms. Furnished with modern elements including gorgeously lit bulbs and entwining vines, the cafe exudes a tranquil outdoor vibe perfect for a chill night out with your girlfriends.

Poppy Pops allows you to get creative and make your own DIY popsicles, where you can choose a topping and coating of your choice.

#06-03 JEM
52 Jurong Gateway Road
Singapore 608549
Tel: +65 6262 0339
Mon to Thu, Sun: 11am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Jurong East

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TWENTY EIGHT CAFE

Decked with minimal white walls and whitewashed window grilles, this spacious and modern industrial-themed cafe is a hidden-gem situated within the folds of Wilkie Road away from the bustling city.

Fully equipped with plenty of charging ports around, we reckon that Twenty Eight Cafe is an ideal spot for one to get some work done while sipping on a cup of coffee. Their menu is rather simple, albeit limited, offering several brunch items that will definitely fill you up.

28 Wilkie Road
Singapore 228051
Tel: +65 9720 2828
Mon to Fri: 7.30am – 5pm
Sat & Sun: 8.30am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Dhoby Ghaut

DRIPS BAKERY CAFE

Drips Bakery Cafe has been around for years and it is one of the usual go-to spots people who love sweet, freshly baked tarts and bread.

No one leaves Drips Bakery Cafe without getting a taste of their speciality tarts. Their signatures include avocado tarts, berry tarts and salted caramel tarts. If you are looking for a heavier meal that is more filling, fret not as Drips Bakery Cafe also serves a range of brunch fare.

#01-05, 82 Tiong Poh Road
Singapore 160082
Tel: +65 6222 0400
Mon to Thu, Sun: 11am – 9.30pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Tiong Bahru

THE BRAVERY CAFE

This Muslim-owned cafe situated just a stone’s throw away from Lavender MRT station is one that will impress you with their warm and intimate ambience coupled with tasty food. It is also one of the cafes in Singapore that provides a laptop-friendly environment for students and workers.

Their menu offers an extensive array of savoury treats, including all-day breakfast items such as the Bagel Set (S$14.50) and heartier mains such as steak and pasta dishes that are not overly expensive.

66 Horne Road
Singapore 209073
Tel: +65 9388 2973
Mon, Wed, Thu, Sun: 9am – 6pm
Fri & Sat: 9am – 10pm
Closed on Tuesdays
Nearest Station: Lavender/ Bendemeer

THE LOKAL

The LoKal is an Australian Restaurant-Bar that aims to serve comfort house-made Aussie food to their guests. The kitchen is helmed by Aussie Chef Darren Farr, the mastermind behind the healthy and hearty brunches such as the Smashed Avocado with Ricotta and Steak & Eggs.

You can also look forward to a myriad of Australian wines, monthly beer specials and easy drinking cocktails at The LoKal’s bar.

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136 Neil Road
Singapore 088865
Tel: +65 6423 9918
Mon & Tue: 8am – 4pm
Wed to Fri: 8am – 10pm
Sat: 9am – 10pm
Sun: 9am – 4pm
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar/ Outram Park

TOBY’S ESTATE

Toby’s Estate Signature Café & Roastery at Rodyk Street is founder Toby Smith’s first venture outside of Australia, where a team of world-class coffee experts is dedicated to creating and serving remarkable coffee every day.

At Toby’s Estate, you can enjoy some of the best coffees from all over the world and explore the amazing tastes and aromas of their coffee through different brewing methods. The aroma of coffee simply draws you in!

8 Rodyk Street
Singapore 238216
Tel: +65 6636 7629
Daily: 7.30am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Fort Canning

DAPPER COFFEE

The swanky interior of Dapper Coffee at Amoy Street resembles a cool British pub. The coffee aroma that filled the air was alluring and we were thankful for the good range of different coffee to choose from.

73A Amoy Street
Second floor
Singapore 069892
Tel: +65 9005 4790
(Closed on Sundays)
Mon to Fri: 8am – 5pm
Sat: 8am – 3pm
Nearest Station: Telok Ayer

FLAVOUR FLINGS

Nestled in Hougang, just a short 5-minute walk from Kovan’s McDonald’s, this humble cafe is the birthplace of Singapore’s nationwide salted egg yolk phenomenon. Their menu focuses primarily on brunch fare with eggs being the centrepiece of most of their dishes.

If you’re keen on melty, decadent cheese, then do try their Beef Steak with Cheese Raclette.

Blk 121 Hougang Avenue 1
#01-1348
Singapore 530121
Tel: +65 6286 0051
(Closed on Tuesdays)
Mon, Thu to Sun: 11.30am – 4pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Wed: 11am – 4pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Hougang/Kovan

KITH CAFE

Perhaps one of the most popular home-grown cafes in Singapore is Kith Cafe. Having expanded to several parts of the island, you can find them everywhere now and for good reason.

Their menu offerings are stellar and their coffee is simply solid. Whether you hankering for pizza, pasta or a full-on breakfast platter, there’s bound to be something to tickle your fancy.

6 Raffles Boulevard
Marina Square #02-49
Singapore 039594
Tel: +65 6352 4393
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Esplanade

ONE MAN COFFEE

One Man Coffee is a speciality coffee concept that focuses on the art of extracting great coffee from fine coffee beans. We kid you not, their coffee is one of the best around.

But as stunning as their humble brews and latte art let us not forget about their sensational lineup of food as well. Their Gashaus Eggs and Berries French Toast come highly recommended and are perfect to have during brunch.

215R Upper Thomson Road
Singapore 574349
Tel: +65 9658 1685
Mon, Wed to Sun: 9am – 5pm
(Closed on Tuesdays)
Nearest Station: Marymount

Photo credit: SPRMRKT

SPRMRKT (CLUNY COURT)

Founded less than a decade ago at McCallum Street, homegrown brand SPRMRKT can now be found at Cluny Court right next to the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Diners can expect a menu of simple all-day-brunch delights as well as a myriad of fancier offerings.

We simply adore their Oven-Baked Eggs and various pasta offerings, but if you’re looking for something a healthier, you can consider one of their many wholesome SPRGRN Bowls too.

501 Bukit Timah Road,
02-13 Cluny Court,
Singapore 259760
Tel: +65 9736 4170
Mon to Thu: 8am – 8pm
Fri to Sun: 8am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Botanic Gardens

THE POPULUS COFFEE & FOOD CO.

Opened by the folks behind Two Degrees North Coffee Co. and the now-defunct Department of Caffeine, The Populus Coffee & Food Co. is a hot favourite among Singaporeans for their good coffee and better food.

You see, The Populus Coffee & Food Co. is everything a good cafe should be—a neat decor with plants and natural sunlight, comprehensive food menu with wholesome meals and homemade desserts, and a brilliant cuppa.

146 Neil Road
Singapore 088875
Tel: +65 6635 8420
Mon to 9am – 7pm
Tue: 9am – 4pm
Wed to Fri: 9am – 10.30pm
Sat: 9.30am – 10.30pm
Sun: 9.30am – 7pm
Nearest Station: Outram Park

THE TIRAMISU HERO

Aptly named, The Tiramisu Hero is a cute yet heartwarming cafe tucked along the stretch of Tyrwhitt Road. Everything about this cafe screams cute and sweet, and this goes likewise for the amazing spread of savoury and sweets on their menu.

They serve one of the best Tiramisu in Singapore.

121 Tyrwhitt Road
Tel: +65 6292 5271
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Lavender

TWO BAKERS

Two Bakers is one of the few cafes that does its savoury dishes and desserts really well. The two chefs here are Le Cordon Bleu Paris-trained so you can be sure that their food here is of a pretty high standard.

88 Horne Road
Tel: +65 6293 0329
Mon to Thu: 8am – 6pm
Fri to Sun: 9am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Lavender

Tucked away at Upper Serangoon Road next to the old Upper Serangoon Shopping Centre is newly-opened, Amber Ember.

Exuding a simple yet charming vibe, the interior is decked out in marble and wooden furnishings that are neatly decorated with potted plants and paintings, making it a nice place to retreat to and a great place for photos too.

Here, they sell a variety of brunch-style fare such as jaffles (a type of toastie that bears no similarity to a waffle), scrambled eggs on toast and coffee, but with an added twist that differs slightly to your average cafe food.

Starting our cafe trip off on a proper note, we ordered ourselves the White (S$5)—which is essentially a flat white. Amber Ember uses coffee beans from Cata coffee, which are freshly roasted daily and pack a robust, chocolatey note that is both incredibly aromatic and well-balanced.

Having heard so much about their fried chicken, we decided to order up the Amber’s Fried Chicken (AFC) (S$10). The chicken was decently crispy, however, the meat lacked a certain succulence to it and the drums were not as meaty as we would’ve liked. The saving grace, however, was their house-made blue cheese sauce and sriracha.

We also tried their Asian ‘Risotto’ (S$10), which was pretty much a fancy bowl of Chinese porridge that had been embellished with a variety of ingredients. We really enjoyed this dish and found it really comforting and satisfying.

The risotto had bits of braised pulled pork, fried shallots, garlic and a runny egg. We were a tad bit disappointed with the runny egg, which did not turn out as runny as described on the menu.

When we heard that they had a dish called Fu Yong Eggs (S$11), we were expecting a  modern rendition of the popular zi char dish. However, to our surprise, it was simply scrambled eggs and sauteéd mushrooms on a piece of sourdough.

Finally, we had the main thing that we came here for—Jaffles!

Out of the many options they had, we opted for their K-Pork Jaffles (S$10). The pork in the jaffles was slightly tangy due to the gochujang sauce used, but what surprised us was the purple sweet potato mash that came with it that was both sweet and deliciously creamy.

Amber Ember
730 Upper Serangoon Road, #01-01
Singapore 534613
Mon, Wed & Fri: 8am – 5pm
Sat & Sun: 9am – 6pm
(Closed on Tuesdays)
Nearest Station: Serangoon