For students, working professionals, freelancers and digital nomads, conducive work-friendly cafes in Singapore are never enough and at some of these places, you still have to deal with unstable WIFI, boring freezer food and coffee that is mediocre at best. Now, who has the time for that?

Here comes O’Coffee Club Xpress—a casual cafe that is equipped with free WIFI, power sockets, a curated range of gourmet food and coffee selections, as well as convenient Grab & Go salads and sandwiches for the busy people.

O’Coffee Club Xpress isn’t just for those who are looking for a workspace; if you want affordable lunch sets or a place for a quick lunch, this will be your answer too.

With six outlets islandwide, here is everything to love about the new O’Coffee Club Xpress.

O’COFFEE CLUB XPRESS CONCEPT

With six outlets islandwide, O’Coffee Club Xpress can be found at SMU, Raffles Place, Jurong Point, North Point and Changi Airport Terminals 2 and 4. The cafe runs a fuss-free, semi self-service concept with a range of Western-style hot food options and superfoods at the Grab & Go chiller.

Setting themselves apart from other coffee chains in Singapore, visitors are able to enjoy hearty food made from fresh and natural ingredients daily.

HOT & COLD CAFFEINE BEVERAGES

At their latest Changi Airport T4 outlet, coffee addicts will be pleased with the range of caffeine beverages using coffee beans that are roasted locally. Their coffee beans are being sourced from 7 different countries. Watch them brew your coffees at any of the O’Coffee Club Xpress hand brew bar in Singapore where they feature 3 distinct brewing methods!

Their 100% Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee Beans are also available for purchase at the stores.

O’Coffee Club Xpress also have various types of iced blends for all those who do not particularly favour hot drinks. Choose from a wide variety of iced blends—including mocha, caramel and vanilla!

Another cold beverage option not to miss is the Frozen Espresso Latte, in which espresso is frozen into ice cubes and put together with milk so it prevents your drink from watering down.

NITRO COLD BREW ON TAP

Have we mentioned that their Cold Brew is amazing? The Organic Jeju Cold Brew is definitely a notch above the rest.

For those who have yet to try Nitro cold brew coffee, it is essentially draft coffee infused with nitrogen which results in a smoother mouthfeel when you drink it. Give the intense and refreshing cold brew a try! 

LIGHT BITES

The bestseller at O’Coffee Club Xpress is their customisable waffles. Diners get to pick their own waffle flavour—namely Matcha, Red Velvet, Charcoal and Original. But don’t stop there! Carry on your creation with their exciting savoury and sweet toppings.

Every waffle order is served with Coffee Maple Flavoured Syrup and Salted Gula Melaka.

We went for Matcha Waffle with Orange Mascarpone Cheese and Mixed Berries, Charcoal Waffle topped with Salted Egg Chicken and Red Velvet Waffle with Bratwurst Sausage and Scrambled Eggs.

For something comforting, give their Croque Madame a try. While it looks unassuming, the cheese-laden sandwich was the energy booster we needed to start our day on the right note.

Lavishly filled with layers of Virginia Ham, cheese, béchamel sauce and finished with a runny egg on the top, the Croque Madame makes for a great breakfast option! All you need is to pair it with a cup of hot coffee to complete the meal.

Those who are visiting O’Coffee Club Xpress in Changi Airport T4 can also opt for the French Toast, which is exclusively available at that outlet only.

If pastries are your thing, you will find plenty of options at O’Coffee Club Xpress. Watch the pastry chef craft them from scratch at the open kitchen beside the pastry counter.

Their in-store bakery carries all sorts of aromatic pastries and some highlights are Apple Turnover, Chicken Pie, Strawberry Basket and Jumbo Sausage Braid. All pastries can be warmed up upon request and are made fresh to order.

GOURMET FOOD SELECTION

Refuel your brains with some wholesome food; there are a ton of hot food options too.

Our favourite of the lot is the Chili Crab Pasta but be warned that it is not for the faint-hearted! It captures the essence of our favourite Singaporean local delight pretty well with the pasta being topped with a generous amount of chilli crab sauce and crab meat.

On days when you feel a little more famished, the Baked Yakiniku Chicken Thigh is what you need to go for. Together with the glorious golden brown chicken thigh, this dish is accompanied with creamy mashed potato and refreshing garden salad.

Full Breakfast, Eggs Benedict, Sausage & Mash and Salted Egg Prawn Pasta are just some other choices on the menu.

IT’S A MEATY MEATY AFFAIR

Lunch is the best time to visit O’Coffee Club Xpress as that is when you get to enjoy their Meaty Meaty Platter!

Featuring BBQ baby pork ribs, chicken chop, sausage, crispy bacon, sunny sid ups, mashed potato, side salad and creamy pepper sauce dip, this platter can be broken down into individual sets with sides.

GRAB & GO

If you are in a rush, O’Coffee Club has a convenient Grab & Go station that offers healthy and wholesome food options. A wide range of freshly-made salads and sandwiches are available, with the inclusion of our favourite Wasabi Prawn & Avocado and Smoked Duck salads on the premium line!

Besides that, all sandwiches can be warmed up upon request and are made fresh upon order!

Do note that every O’Coffee Club Xpress outlet differs in aesthetics and ambience, so even if you’ve been to one, you haven’t been to all. There are six outlets in Singapore waiting for you to check out!

This post is brought to you by O’Coffee Club Xpress.

&bsp;

The Daily Roundup at The Working Capitol – one of the hottest co-working spaces in Singapore - serves a simple purpose of offering fresh food and coffee. The menu is conceptualised by Chef Bruno Menard, and the star dish has to be their great selection of both sweet and savoury crepes. We love the space for its free wifi and minimalistic interior.

Great ambience, laid back vibes; that is what you will get at The Daily Roundup.

Before making a trip down here, we were salivating at pictures of their crepes posted on Instagram with only-positive captions. Little did we know that biting into these crepes could be so delightful. The pictures did not lie; they make great crepes.

We chose the Yuzu Butter Crepe (S$10) as it seemed like the most interesting of the lot. We have to admit that S$10 was slightly pricey, but the prices here are all nett.

The yuzu butter melted on the warm and freshly-made crepe shortly after it was being placed on our table. The distinct yuzu flavour was extremely concentrated, despite how simple it looked. You can choose to top up S$4 for a scoop of ice cream.

There are several other sweet and savoury crepe options. Some popular ones are Salted Caramel Crepe (sweet) and Completè Chorizo (savoury).

Every good cafe should serve great coffee and thankfully, The Daily Roundup gives us one more reason to return back with their pleasing cuppa.

The Daily Roundup
1 Keong Saik Road
#01-02 The Working Capitol
Singapore 089109
Tel: +65 6338 8035
Mon to Sat: 8am – 8pm
(Closed on Sundays)
Nearest Station: Outram Park

About the writer:
Cheryl is a staff writer for ladyironchef. She loves a good steak and an even better cuppa. She eats just about anything and everything. In her free time, she regularly starts on sci-fi or fantasy movie marathons.

Don’t you just love days where you get to spend some time alone in a cafe, away from the mayhem and just to catch up with yourself in a lovely space? Imagine yourself on a laptop with your favourite shows running, or simply catching up with some overdue work without any disturbance.

And the pleasure of scrolling through your Facebook feed or watch YouTube videos without having to worry about the excess data usage while munching on some food is priceless.

If all these sound tempting to you, then we are here to help. Days like these are when we really need a list of List of Conducive Cafes in Singapore with free Wi-Fi and power sockets to study and work at. Bookmark this guide, because we know it will be so beneficial.

#1 DRURY LANE

Located conveniently at one of the Tanjong Pagar shophouses, Drury Lane is a great place to work at and dine in. This quaint cafe with its own rustic charm is well loved for their pay-as-you-wish Matcha muffins and their unpretentious breakfast fares such as the Signature Morrocan Baked Eggs (S$12). Be sure to check out their Candy Bar Pie (S$5) too!

Note: No Powerplug.

94 Tanjong Pagar Road
Singapore 088515
Tel: +65 6222 6698
Mon, Wed to Fri: 9am – 10pm (Closed on Tue)
Sat to Sun: 10am – 6pm
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar

#2 D’GOOD CAFE

At D’Good Cafe, patrons are encouraged to customize their own brew of coffee blends from their range of single origin beans. Seats are aplenty in this multi-storey garden themed concept cafe in Holland Village, with swings and even sofa seats for one to bask in the cosy ambiance. For the lovey-doveys, you might want to bring your date up to the 3rd level where a romantic outdoor seating awaits.

273 Holland Avenue, #02-01
Singapore 278992
Tel: +65 6219 9807
Sun to Thu: 10am – 10pm
Fri to Sat: 10am – 11pm
Nearest MRT: Holland Village

#3 FIVE BY FIVE

Tucked away from the main roads of Upper Thomson, Five by Five is a cozy space that serves espresso beverages up to Melburnian standards. Coffees (from S$3) are made from Common Man Coffee Roasters’ 22 Martin Blend and one can expect an aromatic heavy bodied cuppa with a dark chocolate lingering aftertaste.

You would also be pleased to hear that it offers complimentary Wi-Fito all dine-in customers.

#4 JIMMY MONKEY CAFE & BAR

Jimmy Monkey is an Australian-style cafe at One North Residences, known for their coffee brewed with Slayer Espresso machine. Although slightly inaccessible, the trip down would be absolutely worth it with its quaint environment that will be the ideal place to get some work done.

Mains are served and brunch menu is available on weekends, not forgetting their alcoholic milkshakes to drown your work sorrows.

9 One-North Gateway
One North Residences, #01-51
Singapore 138643
Tel: +65 6777 8470
Mon to Fri: 8:30am – 10pm
Sat to Sun: 8:30am – 6pm
Nearest MRT: One North

#5 ONE MAN COFFEE

Known for their signature 6-minute eggs, One Man coffee at Upper Thomson Road is also every coffee enthusiast’s idea of happiness. The cafe uses coffee beans from The Axil Coffee Roasters originated from Melbourne; you will be whisked away to Australia with its rustic and laid-back vibe. Just plop yourself on one of their comfortable seats and you will be set for some great me-time.

215R Upper Thomson Road
Singapore 574349
Tel: +65 9658 1685
Daily: 9am – 5pm
Nearest MRT: Marymount

#6 PIES & COFFEE

Pies & Coffee will fit into any pie lover’s dreams, serving crumbly melt-in-your-mouth pastries that are hard to resist. Spend an afternoon sipping some coffee while indulging in some handmade pies for an ultimate experience. We recommend you to try their Sunriser ($12.90) with truffle mash and cheesy chicken sausages in cute mouse shaped pastry cups.

Rochester Mall
35 Rochester Drive, #01-02
Singapore 138639
Tel: +65 6570 0080
Daily: 9am – 11pm
Nearest MRT: Buona Vista

#7 REVELRY

Tucked away in Lorong Kilat, Revelry is a waffle specialty cafe in the west of Singapore which boasts a lively yet enticing vibe that illuminates the entire street. Stepping in, your spirits will instantly be lifted by the vibrant colours and colourful wall murals.

21 Lorong Kilat #01-02
Singapore 598123
Tel: +65 9278 0466
Mon, Wed to Thu: 11am – 10pm
Fri: 11am – 11pm
Sat: 10am – 11pm
Sun: 10am – 10pm
Closed: Tue
Nearest Station: Beauty World (Downtown Line)

#8 RISE AND GRIND COFFEE CO.

Another nice cafe in the West of Singapore that you can go to is Rise & Grind Coffee Co. Located just at the first floor of Bukit Timah Plaza, it occupies a cosy space with a partial alfresco dining area.

Bukit Timah Plaza
1 Jalan Anak Bukit #L1-CA1
Singapore 588996
Mon, Wed to Thu, Sun :9am – 9pm
Fri & Sat: 9am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Bukit Batok

#9 THE MUFFINRY

Churning out batches of decadent muffins every day, the variety of bakes at The Muffinry will leave you salivating for more. For the adventurous, you might want to try their famed savoury pizza or green eggs & ham muffins priced at S$3.50 each. The cafe has three levels, and power plugs are aplenty so yay to laptop-dead-no-more days!

112 Telok Ayer Street
Singapore 068581
Tel: +65 6509 6462
Mon: 8am – 6pm
Tue to Fri: 8am – 10pm
Sat: 11am – 4pm (Closed on Sun and PH)
Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer

#10 THE REFINERY

The Refinery at King George’s Avenue is a triple concept space that consists of a Yakitori kitchen, a bespoke cocktail bar and a designer workspace area. It is a lovely space to do some work and get your creative juices flowing.

115 King George’s Avenue
Singapore 208561
Tue to Sun: 6pm – 12am
(Closed on Mondays)
Nearest Station: Lavender

#11 TOBY’S ESTATE

Tucked alongside the serene riverside of Robertson Quay, Toby’s Estate has gained its popularity among locals and even tourists for their signature blend of coffee beans originated from a multi-award winning plantation in Panama. It has become the preferred place for most people to disengage from the hubhubs of the city.

8 Rodyk Street, #01-03/04
Singapore 238216
Tel: +65 6636 7629
Mon to Sun: 7:30am – 6pm
Nearest MRT: Clark Quay

#12 THE BOOK CAFE

At The Book Cafe, you will never be hindered by the thought of taking up needed space or worrying about the staff driving you away. The book-themed cafe provides a great escapade for patrons with its relaxing atmosphere to get on with work, or to watch the world go buy. Here, you will be equipped with countless of power plugs and a great Wi-Fi connection. Hallelujah!

Seng Kee Building
20 Martin Road, #01-02
Singapore 239070
Tel: +65 6887 5430
Sun to Thu: 8:30am – 10:30pm
Fri to Sat: 8:30am – 12am
Nearest MRT: Clark Quay

#13 THE BRAVERY

Opened by the folks behind The Plain and Ronin, The Bravery cafe is known for their unpretentious spread of all-day breakfasts. Here, you can expect to work with the crowd over a communal table or just indulge in your own me-time at their stand-alone tables. Be sure to try out their Lavender Latte (S$5.50) while you are at it!

66 Horne Road
Singapore 209073
Tel: +65 6225 4387
Mon to Fri: 9am – 7pm (closed on Tue)
Sat to Sun: 8am – 8pm
Nearest MRT: Lavender

#14 THE COFFEE DAILY

If distance is not an issue for you, then you might want to check out this humble establishment that is slightly off Serangoon Gardens Estate. You can help yourselves to the jar of complimentary gem biscuits, or order yourself a plate of their signature rainbow cake (S$10 nett) to put the cherry on top of your day.

75 Brighton Crescent
Singapore 559216
Tel: +65 6284 8894
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 10:30pm
Fri: 12pm – 11:30pm
Sat: 9:30am – 11:30pm
Sun: 9:10am – 10:30pm
Nearest MRT: Serangoon

#15 THE LOFT CAFE

Adorned with sofa seats and low hanging lamps, The Loft Cafe boasts a living room environment that makes anyone feel right at home. Studying or working there will be akin to working at your own premises, with a menu of food ready to satisfy your hunger pangs. We heard that their Wi-Fi signals are exeptionally good too!

268A South Bridge Road
Singapore 058817
+65 6221 2103
Tues to Sun: 7:30am – 11pm (Closed on Mon)
Nearest MRT: Chinatown

#16 W39 BISTRO & BAKERY

For those who are staying in the West of Singapore, check out W39 Bistro & Bakery – located on Jalan Mas Puteh off West Coast Road. This bright and cheerful cafe will lift your spirits as you enjoy a cuppa and a slice of cake while clearing your email inbox.

39 Jalan Mas Puteh
Singapore 128637
Tel: +65 6884 6884
Tue to Fri: 11am – 10pm
Sat to Sun: 9am – 10:30pm
(Closed on Mon)
Nearest MRT: Clementi

For more recommendations, read our guide to the best cafes in Singapore.

The Upper Thomson neighbourhood is experiencing a revival, with new cafes like November 8 and One Man Coffee opening in the area. Among them, you should swing by One Man Coffee for great coffee and delicious light bites like its ‘Toad in the Hole’ and the much-lauded French toast.

One Man Coffee shares the premise with Crust Pizza; the former opens from 9am to 5pm, while the latter starts from 5pm onwards. It is easy to miss One Man Coffee from the main road if you are not paying attention, so keep an eye out for Crust Pizza’s signage.

The cafe uses coffee beans from The Axil Coffee Roasters, one of the more popular coffee joints in Melbourne. One Man Coffee may not be the most fanciful cafe, but it has good coffee and inexpensive brunch food – definitely worth a visit if you always frequent the Upper Thomson area.

One Man Coffee
215R Upper Thomson Road
Daily: 9am – 5pm
Nearest Station: Ang Mo Kio/Marymount

For more recommendations, read our guide to the best cafes in Singapore.

We recently checked out Assembly Coffee, a 3-month old cafe located at Evans Lodge where you can also find Mr Prata and Hatched. The coffee is excellent, the food offerings are simple and easy on the pocket, and the space is small, but buzzing with energy.

Assembly Coffee prides itself as part of the third wave coffee movement. Every cup of coffee is brewed and created with dedication. It is not by chance that the latte art is pretty, and if you look across all the tables, you would realise the consistency and effort behind every cuppa.

The food menu is concise. There are sandwiches such as Egg Mayo (S$11.90), Scrambled Eggs Croissant (S$13.90) and Pulled Pork Sandwich (S$14.90); as well as light bites like Smoked Salmon Salad (S$12.90) and Chicken Pie (S$9.50).

If waffle is your thing, the Salted Caramel waffle (S$11.50) will have you dancing for joy. It impresses with its crisp edges and when paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, it makes a good dessert after a meal, or simply an ideal afternoon snack along with a cup of cappuccino. The other option is a Chocolate & Strawberries Waffle (S$11.50).

Among the numerous new cafes in Singapore, Assembly Cafe stands out for its commitment towards serving good coffee and simple comfort food. The cafe is already getting popular, and it can be quite difficult to get a table during the weekends. If you pass by the area during a weekday afternoon, we highly recommend dropping by for a cup of coffee.

Assembly Coffee
26 Evans Lodge
Tel: +65 6735 5647
Tue to Sun: 8am – 7pm
Nearest Station: Botanic Gardens

For more recommendations, read our guide on the best cafes in Singapore

It took us a while to visit The Bravery Cafe because we have heard mixed reviews about it. Some people mentioned that the seats are uncomfortable (which is true to an extent), while others commented that there is nothing outstanding and it is just another new cafe.

However, after our first visit to this cafe in the Lavender neighbourhood, we find ourselves returning whenever we are in the vicinity and in need of a caffeine boast.

The Bravery Cafe is opened by the folks who are behind the The Plain at Craig Road, which has been widely recognised as one of the better coffee places in Singapore.

But if we had to choose, we actually preferred The Bravery Cafe to The Plain because of the vibe of the place – it feels a lot more welcoming.

Other than the slightly uncomfortable furniture, it has all the factors that we look out for in a cafe. There is free wifi for those who are working on the go. The baristas make exceptional coffee, in particular, the lavender latte (S$5.50) is something that we will order every time.

Also, the food offering – which is somewhat similar to The Plain’s menu – is uncomplicated and affordable. Start your day off with a Crostini (S$7.50), or Eggs on Toast (S$8). The Pancakes Stack (S$15) – with bananas, ricotta cheese, honey and crusted pistachio – is also noteworthy. For those who want to do some reading, there is a small selection of good magazines. Parking is not expensive and relatively easy, with ample parking lots in the area.

The Bravery Cafe
66 Horne Road
Daily (except Tue): 8am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Lavender

For more recommendations, read our guide to the best cafes in Singapore

A lovely weekday afternoon, a quiet day to unwind and relax, a trip to W39 Bistro and Bakery in West Coast. We’ve heard a fair bit about this neighbourhood gem in the West, and a recent trip made us understand why it is well-loved for many reasons.

Stepping in to this little cafe is like stepping in to an English cottage in Summer; the aroma of freshly baked goodies perfumed the space, and the wooden furniture seemed to be dancing along with the soft whispers of the diners who were all there to escape the scorching afternoon sun and to seek solace in the cakes.

Yes, the cake. They bake a variety every day, but it is evident which is the crowd’s favourite – the Rainbow Cake. While we have had much better tasting ones, W39′s version was a pleasure to dig in to alongside our daily latte fix. The layers of colours were decadently laced with chocolate in between, and for S$19.90, you get two slices and two cuppa for a much-needed midday treat. Quite a value-for-money tea time special, and this gives us every reason to indulge in more cakes.

We opted for a second flavour – the chocolate cake. Moist, rich and sweet; good sugar for the soul, we’d say. A scoop of ice-cream would have been a perfect completion, though.

The table beside us was a family of 4, and among their orders was the Confit of Duck Leg with a fragrance so strong, we vowed to order that the next time we return. What seems to be another crowd favourite is the Wagyu Burger, that is pleasantly priced at an affordable S$20.

And while we haven’t tried, we heard they serve splendid breakfast, too!

W39 Bistro & Bakery
39 Jalan Mas Puteh
Off West Coast Road
Tel: +65 9646 5372
Tue to Fri: 11am – 10pm
Sat, Sun & PH: 9am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Clementi

Food blogging has given me interesting insights into the Food & Beverage industry. All I can say is it is definitely not an easy business, and I have nothing but respect for restaurateurs and the folks working there.

But sometimes, I’m really annoyed by the simple things that are missing. It seems like a no-brainer to me to do things the way they should be done, but it too often goes wrong somewhere. If I had it my way, here are 5 Changes I’d like to see in restaurants.

Provide free wifi

It’s nice to read that the Malaysian government just passed a law to mandate free WiFi for all restaurants in Kuala Lumpur. Being a frequent traveller, there’s nothing more frustrating than to keep searching for free WiFi hotspots.

While we are lucky that Singapore is one of the countries in the world with high internet penetration rate, not everyone has internet data on the go. Moreover, tourists will usually patronise restaurants that provide free WiFi, or at least it is one of the main motivating factors in choosing a place to dine.

Get someone who can speak well to handle the phone.

This is the first level of interaction between the restaurant and the (potential) customer. Screw this up, and you will never hear from the customer again. So for goodness sake, get someone who can speak well to handle the phone.

“Can I make a reservation for dinner on Monday night?”
“Can you prease repeat that?”
“Can I reserve a table for two on Monday night?”
“Oh ok lor, I will chope you a seat on Tuesday.”

Have a nice website, get on twitter and facebook.

In this modern era where everyone is connected to the internet, it is a must for restaurants to have a presence online. Every restaurant should have a decent website/blog to provide the basic information (more on this in another post), while building the relationship with customers via twitter and facebook.

Reward staff with 10% service charge.

The service line in Singapore does not have a very good reputation. This is hardly surprising since it is not seen as a respectable career, and it doesn’t pay very well.

From what I understand, not all restaurants give the 10% service charge collected to their staff. I know it is not easy for restaurant owners to run the business, but I think it is only fair to motivate and reward staff with some incentives.

Offer free tap water.

In Singapore, it is safe to drink water straight from the tap, and it is free. So there is no excuse for restaurants not to offer tap water. While drinks are a lucrative source of revenue, restaurants should not deny customers the option of having tap water.

What are some of the changes that you would like to see in restaurants?

This guide to the best cafes in Singapore was last updated on 26 October 2014.

Cafés have different interpretations in different countries. In the American context, a café or coffee house is a casual restaurant serving proper food and sandwiches. Whilst a café in other countries is simply a place that serves coffee with light snacks/desserts. Who can resist the lovely smell of brewing coffee, the chic display of desserts on cake stands, and the cosy ambiance of a cafe?

Here is our guide to the best cafes in Singapore:

ARTICHOKE CAFE

Artichoke Cafe’s menu is mainly influenced by Middle Eastern and Greek cuisine. The weekend brunch is highly popular, and it is recommended to make your reservation before heading down. Unpretentious food, a relaxed and casual setting, Artichoke ticked all the right boxes.

161 Middle Road
Sculpture Square
Tel: +65 6336 6949
Nearest Station: Bugis

ARBITE CAFE

The cafe’s interiors are rather non-descript – Arbite Cafe is just a simple space with white-washed walls, some tables and chairs. What makes it stand out from the crowd is the honest and delicious food. You can find main courses like Truffle Beef Burger, ($18.90), Squid Ink Spaghetti with Seafood ($23.90), Green Tea Tagliatelle with Smoked Duck ($23.90) on the menu. Also, they offer all day breakfast such as Croque Madame ($15.90), Eggs Benedict ($11.90), Gardener French Toast ($13.90).

66A Serangoon Garden Way
Tel: +65 6287 0430
Nearest Station: Serangoon

ASSEMBLY COFFEE

Assembly Coffee prides itself as part of the third wave coffee movement. Every cup of coffee is brewed and created with dedication. It is not by chance that the latte art is pretty, and if you look across all the tables, you would realise the consistency and effort behind every cuppa.

To sum up Assembly Coffee: Excellent coffee, a small and concise food menu serving inexpensive comfort food, and a small and charming space, Assembly Coffee is a gem and worth a visit.

26 Evans Lodge
Tel: +65 6735 5647
Tue to Sun: 8am – 7pm
Nearest Station: Botanic Gardens

BACKSTAGE CAFE

Backstage café, which is situated in the Kallang industrial area, offers a cool respite for those seeking a break from the weekly humdrum at work. While it didn’t get off to a stellar start (diners had to wait for about 45 minutes or more for their meals when the café first opened), we think it’s coming along well.

Look out for its Duck Confit ($18), Roasted Spring Chicken ($15) and Beef Burger ($17) for its mains. For dessert, you shouldn’t miss the café’s rainbow ($7.50 a slice) and red velvet cakes ($6.50 a slice).

158 Kallang Way
Tel: +65 6743 6893
Mon to Sat: 11am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Aljunied/ Potong Pasir

BAKERS & COOK

This artisan bakery cafe is tucked in Hillcrest Road and it serves an impressive array of breads and pastries. For those of you who do not stay in the west, you would be glad to know that they have recently opened a new outlet at Martin Road.

77 Hillcrest Road
Tel: +65 6469 8834
Nearest Station: Botanic Gardens

BATTERWORKS

Batterworks has the usual desserts like carrot cake, chocolate fudge brownies and cupcakes, but what makes them stand out is its range of savoury pastries such as roasted pork in flaky pastries, and curry flaky pastries. There is also a dine-in menu which offers inexpensive savoury food. You can find main courses (S$4.50 – S$6.90) like lamb stew pot pie, chicken bulgogi wrap and pulled pork wrap.

Batterworks is also listed in our guide to Everton Park neighbourhood cafes.

Blk 4 Everton Park, #01-42
Tel: +65 6438 2208
Mon, Wed to Fri: 10.30am – 7pm
Sat: 9am -6pm
Sun: 11am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Outram

BLOOMSBURY BAKER

30 Bendemeer Road
Tel: +65 6299 3450
Tue to Fri: 12pm – 8pm
Sat, Sun & PH: 10am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Boon Keng

BRIDGE CAFE

31 Seah Street
Tel: +65 6333 4453
Mon to Thu: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm till 10pm
Fri: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 12 midnight
Sat: 10am – 12 midnight
Sun: 10am – 5pm
Nearest Station: City Hall

BUCKTILE ST. CAFE

104 Faber Drive
Tel: +65 6566 7058
Daily: 12pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Clementi

BUTTER STUDIO

Located along Jalan Besar, Butter Studio is a halal-certified bakery cafe that specialises in cakes, cupcakes and tarts that are baked freshly on premise. Some of the must-try desserts include Salted Caramel Red Velvet, Chocolate Marshmallow Cupcake, and the much-lauded Sea Salt Nutella Tart.

147 Jalan Besar
Tel: +65 6294 7115
Sun to Thu: 10.30am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 10.30am – 12midnight
Nearest Station: Farrer Park/Lavender

CAFE MELBA

Housed in a beautiful glass building, Cafe Melba is chic and stylish, without being overly pretentious. It reminds me of PS Cafe, and while food here is not fantastic, I can see myself coming back regularly to have a quiet dinner. Cafe Melba’s weekend brunch is very popular; they do not take reservations, so make sure you go early to get a table. There is also ample parking available in the Goodman Arts Centre.

90 Goodman Road
#01-56 Goodman Arts Centre Block N
Tel: +65 6440 6068
Mon to Fri: 10am – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 8am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Mountbatten / Dakota

CARPENTER AND COOK

Carpenter and Cook is a vintage home store and artisan bakery café at Lorong Kilat. Since its opening in June 2012, we have been there many times and we are happy to report that it is now one of our favourite cafes in Singapore. A must-try is definitely its signature Passionfruit Meringue Tart. Pair it with a hearty cuppa and your afternoon is complete.

19 Lorong Kilat
#01-06 Singapore
Tel: +65 6463 3648
Tue to Fri: 12.00pm – 10.00pm
Sat: 10.00am – 10.00pm
Sun: 10.00am – 7.00pm
(Closed on Mon)
Nearest Station: Botanic Gardens

CHILLAX MASSAGE CAFE

Chillax at Serangoon Garden is a cafe and massage parlour. On the ground floor, the cafe serves simple and satisfying food such as pastas, truffle fries and breakfast food. The best idea is to head upstairs to the massage room for a good and relaxing massage before having your meal at the cafe.

28 Maju Avenue
1st Level Serangoon Garden Estate
Tel: +65 6244 5529
Nearest Station: Serangoon

CHYE SENG HUAT HARDWARE

Chye Seng Huat Hardware, opened by the folks behind Papa Palheta, is one of the most popular cafes/coffee places in Singapore right now.

From the outside, Chye Seng Huat Hardware looks like a run-down hardware shop – but don’t be deceived by its name and exterior, because it is actually a very hip coffee bar. In addition to the coffee bar, it also features a roastery, a coffee school and a private coffee tasting room.

Chye Seng Huat Hardware is listed in our guide to Singapore’s best coffee shops.

150 Tyrwhitt Road
Singapore 207563
Tel: +65 6396 0609
Tue to Fri: 9am – 7pm
Sat & Sun: 9am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Lavender/Farrer Park

COMMON MAN COFFEE ROASTERS

The latest venture by Barista Harry Grover of Forty Hands and the Spa Esprit Group, Common Man Coffee Roasters at Martin Road is a mature space dedicated to coffee lovers, and it has a 7kg roaster for roasting single origin coffee beans.

#01-00 22 Martin Road
Tel: +65 6836 4695
Daily: 7am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay

COFFEESMITH

62 Collyer Quay #02-11
Tel: +65 9339 6878
Nearest Station: Raffles Place

CHOCK FULL OF BEANS

A café that serves adorable 3D latte art, how cute is that? We found Chock Full of Beans sitting in a quiet corner of Changi Village (right next to the hawker centre), and were drawn toward the latte art that was on display.

While we were bowled over by the baristas’ serious attention to detail, we also enjoyed the cafe’s Iced Rose Latte and Lychee Lime Cooler. If you’re there for a meal, Chock Full of Beans serves mains and desserts, too.

#01-2090 Blk 4 Changi Village Road
Tel: +65 6214 8839
Tue to Fri: 11am – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 9am – 10pm
Nearest station: Pasir Ris

CLUB STREET SOCIAL

Tucked in a quiet corner of Gemmill Lane, Club Street Social has the vibe of a Manhattan bistro-bar. It is one of my favourite new places in town.

On the menu, they have several categories like salads, breakfast, panini, crostini, and tramezzini. Breakfast is served all day, so you can get your favourite breakfast food like scrambled eggs with toast after a long day at work. I’ve tried their panini, and it is one of the best I’ve had.

In the day, it is a cool bistro/restaurant which serves simple but delicious food. When night falls, it transforms into a uber-chic bar where you can go for a nice cocktail.

5 Gemmill Lane
(Off Club Street)
Tel: +65 6225 5043
Mon to Fri: 11am – 10.30pm
Sat: 9am – 10.30pm
Sun: 9am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Outram/Raffles Place

COAST AND COMPANY

The latest venture by Papa Palheta – the good people behind Loysel’s Toy and Chye Seng Huat Hardware – Coast and Company at Siglap Drive is the type of cafe that you wish it would open in your neighbourhood so that you can pop by regularly. Papa Palheta has teamed up with homegrown bespoke bicycle shop Coast Cycles to open Coast & Company, which combines coffee shop and bike workshop into one.

“Good coffee for an even better neighbourhood”, we agree with Coast and Company’s tagline wholeheartedly.

54 Siglap Drive
Tel: +65 6448 7608
Tue to Thu: 9am – 7pm
Fri to Sun: 9am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Kembagang

CRAFT BAKERY & CAFE

24A Lorong Mambong
Tel: +65 6467 7710
Daily: 9am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Holland Village

CRAFTSMEN SPECIALITY COFFEE

One of the newest cafes to open in the East, Craftsmen Speciality Coffee at Siglap V has already garnered a strong following among locals and expats who are staying in the neighbourhood. The food menu is simple and it consists of mainly all day breakfast and brunch items like Croissant Sandwiches (S$15), Toast (S$5 – S$15), Pies (S$9.50 – S$12.50), as well as sweet and savoury Waffles (S$15).

2 First Street
Siglap #01-01
Mon to Thu: 8.30am – 8pm
Fri & Sat: 8.30am – 9.30pm
Sun: 8.30am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Kembangan

CREAMIER

It is impressive to see a cafe/ice cream shop doing well in a HDB estate, so if you are living in the area, and looking to satisfy your cravings for ice cream and waffles, this is one place you can consider.

#01-835, Block 128
Toa Payoh Lorong 1
Tel: +65 6250 1476
Tue to Thu: 12pm – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 11pm
Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Braddell

DEPARTMENT OF CAFFEINE

The Duxton Hill area has seen a revival in the recent years, and there are many new restaurants, bars and cafes opening in the neighbourhood. If you work in the area, or if you are looking for a new weekend brunch spot, one of the places that you should check out is Department of Caffeine.

Main courses on the weekday menu include Minute Steak (S$16), Chicken Fillet Burger (S$15), and a 8 Hour Pulled Pork Burger (S$14.50). You must not leave the cafe without trying its Buttermilk Waffles (S$12.50).

15 Duxton Road
Tel: +65 6223 3426
Mon to Fri (except Wed): 10.30am – 7pm
Sat & Sun: 9.30am – 7pm
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

D’ GOOD CAFE

Cute latte art, inexpensive food and a convenient location, it’s no wonder that D’ Good Cafe has been doing well since opening at Holland Village.

273 Holland Avenue
#02-01/02
Tel: +65 6219 9807
Sun to Thu: 10am – 9pm
Fri & Sat: 10am – 10pm

DRIPS BAKERY CAFE

Drips Bakery Cafe at Tiong Bahru serves gourmet coffee on the menu along with hot foods, cakes and buns.

82 Tiong Poh Road #01-05
Tel: +65 6222 0400
Mon, Wed & Thu: 10.30am – 9.30pm
Fri: 10.30am – 11pm
Sat & Sun: 10am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Tiong Bahru

DRURY LANE CAFE

Few things are more therapeutic than enjoying some alone time and have coffee while reading a book on a quiet afternoon. One of the cafes in the Tanjong Pagar neighbourhood that we go to regularly is Drury Lane.

With a name like Drury Lane and a London-esque shopfront, we thought that the cafe was named after the street in Covent Garden, London. But to our surprise, we found out from a recent chat with one of the staff that the name was actually inspired by the lyrics from a nursery rhyme, The Muffin Man. How cute.

94 Tanjong Pagar Road
Tel: +65 6222 6698
Mon, Wed & Thu: 9am to 8.30pm
Fri: 9am – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 10am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

FART TARTZ

If you’re looking for a café to grab Instagram-worthy pictures, Fart Tartz’s probably it. The café first grabbed our attention with the rows of adorable-looking mudpies ($5.50 each) that look like potted plants and cakes in old-school glass jars, but there’s definitely more to it.

The friendly owner, who opened the café two months ago with his wife, is kept so up-to-date with the latest Insta-worthy trends, he even helped us style our tray of goodies. Plus, we are happy to report that we enjoyed every last bite of the mudpie we had. Consider us impressed.

#02-04 Hall 2, 1 Expo Drive
Mon to Thu: 8am – 6pm
Fri to Sun: 8am – 8pm
Nearest station: Expo

FIVE AND DIME

Located along River Valley Road, Five & Dime is a cosy and simple cafe that dishes out wholesome comfort food. On the weekends, it has the usual brunch fare like Big Brekkie (S$22), Buttermilk Pancakes (S$15) and Eggs Benny (S$18).

297 River Valley Road
Tel: +65 9236 5002
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 10am
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 12 midnight
Sun: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

FLOCK CAFE

One of the newest cafes in Tiong Bahru, this coffee spot serves sandwiches such as Bacon & Egg ($10.90), Pork Cheek and Gruyere ($11.90), as well as breakfast food like Scrambled Eggs and Toast ($6.90) and French Toast Pancakes ($8.90).

78 Moh Guan Terrace #01-25
Daily (except Tue): 9am – 5pm
Nearest Station: Tiong Bahru

FOOD FOR THOUGHT CAFE

Food For Thought at Singapore Botanic Gardens is an ideal place for weekend brunch; you can take a nice stroll in the park after having scrambled eggs and sausages, with a cup of coffee. Moreover, most of the dishes are reasonably priced.

1 Cluny Road #B1-00
Singapore Botanic Gardens
Tel: +65 6338 4848
Mon to Sun: 8am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

FORTY HANDS

This coffee house focuses on sustainably produced speciality coffee, stocking Fair Trade and Direct Trade coffee beans. Besides coffee, they also have a range of cakes, pastries and sandwiches on the menu. For those who are looking for a place to have brunch, 40 Hands Coffee has a brunch menu available all day from Friday to Sunday.

Blk 78 Yong Siak Street
#01-12 Singapore
Tel: +65 6225 8545
Tue: 8:30am – 6:30pm
Wed & Thu: 8:30am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 8:30am – 11pm
Sun: 8:30am – 6:30pm
Nearest Station: Tiong Bahru

FFL FRESH FRUITS LAB

Located in the Kembangan neighbourhood, Fresh Fruits Lab is a must-visit for folks who are staying in the East of Singapore. It is a bright and cheerful spot that is tastefully designed to a laboratory theme. Think iced water served in beakers, and fruit juices served in test tubes and conical flasks. The menu is also specially designed to incorporate a fruity element; even their side salads for the main courses come with generous chunks of fresh fruits.

351 Changi Road
Tel: +65 6677 6741
Tue to Thu, & Sun: 11am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 12midnight
Nearest Station: Eunos/Kembangan

HABITAT COFFEE

This little cafe along Upper Thomson Road is worth a trip. It is a cosy chill out spot which has comfort food such as sandwiches, salads, pastas and breakfast food. Most of the items on the menu are under S$20. Make sure you try the Eggs Tomato Relish, Truffle Fries, and churros when you are there.

Habitat Coffee  is also listed in our guide to Upper Thomson neighbourhood.

223 Upper Thomson Road
Tel: +65 6456 2567
Tue to Fri: 11am – 10.30pm
Sat & Sun: 10.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Marymount

HATCHED

Hatched, an egg-inspired restaurant, is one of the places that first started the idea of serving all day breakfast in Singapore. Be it baked, boiled, fried, scrambled or poached, you can find all kinds of egg dishes here.

267 Holland Avenue
Tel: +65 6463 0012
Tue to Sun: 9am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Holland Village

HATTER STREET

Hatter Street is one of the newest dessert cafes to open in the heartlands. Located in a HDB estate – just a few units away from popular Thai eatery Nakhon Kitchen – it offers desserts with a twist.

Block 212 Hougang Street 21 #01-333
Tue to Sun: 1pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Kovan

HOUSE

House is one of my favourite restaurants in Dempsey. They have a variety of food selections on the menu, and I love the desserts there! Do drop by for a visit if you have not been there before.

8D Dempsey Road
#01-01 to 06 Tanglin Village
Tel: +65 6475 7787
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 6pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Sat & Sun: 11am – 4pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

HOSHINO COFFEE

This popular coffee chain from Japan specialises in hand-dripped coffee and its signature soufflé pancakes.

68 Orchard Road
#03-84 Plaza Singapura
Tel: +65 6338 3277
Daily: 11.30pm – 9pm
Nearest Station: Dhoby Ghaut

HYDE & CO

Hyde & Co. has long been one of our favourite minimalist cafe hang-outs in Singapore. Our love for this cafe stems from the fact that it reminds us strongly of quaint English cafes in London, similarly exuding a comforting and cosy atmosphere.

785 North Bridge Road
Singapore 198573
Tel: +65 6635 5785
Sun & Mon: 11am – 6pm
Wed to Sat: 11am – 10.30pm
(Closed on Tue)
Nearest MRT: Bugis

GROUP THERAPY CAFE

One of the latest cafes to open in the trendy Duxton road, Group Therapy Cafe is a space that is tucked away on the 2nd storey of a reconstructed shophouse above Etna Italian restaurant. I fell in love as I stepped inside the cafe. The best thing is, it is not as crowded as not many people know about them yet. Definitely one of my new favourite cafes in Singapore.

49 Duxton Road Singapore
Tel +65 6222 2554
Tue to Thu: 11am – 6pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 11pm
Sun: 10am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

JEWEL COFFEE

Jewel Coffee at 1 Shenton Way has quickly become one of the more popular coffee boutiques in the Central Business District (CBD). If you love coffee, and work in the area, there’s no reason not to visit the cafe. It is quite the ideal location to meet your clients or stop by for a coffee break.

Jewel Coffee is listed in our guide to Singapore’s best coffee shops.

1 Shenton Way #01-07
Tel: +65 6636 9452
Mon to Fri: 7am – 9pm
Sat: 8am – 5pm

129 Rangoon Road
Tel: +65 6298 9216
Tue to Thu: 9am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 9am – 12midnight
Sun: 9am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

JIMMY MONKEY

It is not easy to find Jimmy Monkey cafe at One-North Residences, but once you get there, you’ll never want to leave. It is a very cosy cafe where you can chill-out and have a cup of good coffee.

9 one-north Gateway
#01-51 one-north residences
Tel: +65 6777 8470
Mon to Fri: 8.30am – 8.30pm
Sat & Sun: 8.30am – 6pm
Nearest Station: one-north

JONES THE GROCER

If you are looking for a nice place to hang out with friends, go to Jones the Grocer at Mandarin Gallery. It is a lovely space to have a cup of coffee and desserts for afternoon tea.

333A Orchard Road #04-21/23
Mandarin Gallery Singapore
Tel: +65 6836 6372
Daily: 9am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

JUST WANT COFFEE

Just Want Coffee is the place to stop by for your caffeine fix for those who are working in the area. This coffee bar first started in Johor Bahru in 2009, and the Everton Park outlet is its first venture in Singapore. It serves an impressive selection of brews made from house blends and single-origin beans. Cakes are also available to go along with your cuppa.

Just Want Coffee is listed in our guide to Singapore’s best coffee shops.

#01-27 1 Everton Park
Tel: +65 6225 8115
Mon to Thu: 8.30am – 6.30pm
Fri & Sat: 9am – 8.30pm
Nearest Station: Outram

KITH CAFE

Kith Cafe at Park Mall is a nice place to hang out when you are in Orchard, especially if your friends are on a budget, as most of their items are reasonably-priced under $20.

9 Penang Road
#01-01E Park Mall
Tel: +65 6338 8611
Daily: 8am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Dhoby Ghaut

L’ETOILE CAFE

One of the earliest cafes to open in the Rangoon Road neighbourhood, L’Etoile is a quaint and charming French themed Japanese café. On the food menu, you can find all day brunch, salad, soup, sandwiches as well as desserts.

160 Owen Road
Tel: +65 6298 2872
Mon to Fri: 11am – 10pm
Sat, Sun & PH: 9am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

LITTLE PART 1 CAFE

Little Part 1 Cafe is an indie cafe located at Jasmine road near Thomson Plaza. It is one of the best hidden cafes in Singapore. For folks living in the Thomson/Bishan/Ang Mo Kio area, now you know where to go for dinner.

15 Jasmine Road
Adelphi Park Estate Singapore
Tel: +65 6451 7553
Mon to Wed: 12pm – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Thu & Fri: 12pm – 3pm, 5pm – 10pm
Sat: 12pm – 12 midnight
Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Nearest station: Ang Mo Kio

LOLA’S CAFE

Almost all the dishes on the brunch menu (10am – 3pm) and dinner menu (6pm – 10pm) at Lola’s Cafe are priced below S$15 nett. For a wallet-friendly meal, note down Lola’s Cafe.

5 Simon Road
Tel: +65 6343 1808
Tue: 3pm – 11.30pm
Wed & Thu: 10am – 11.30pm
Fri to Sun: 10am – 12 Midnight
Nearest Station: Kovan

LOTS GOURMET STOP

Changi Garden, 965A Upper Changi Road North
Tel: +65 6633 9651
Tue to Thu: 10am – 4pm
Fri to Sun: 10am – 3.30pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Simei

LOWERCASE

Situated inside the LASALLE College of The Arts campus, Lowercase is a space that combines food, art and community. The food caters mainly to students and it is relatively affordable.

1 Mcnally Street
Block D #01-01
Tel: +65 6337 5581
Mon to Sat: 8.30am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Bugis/Little India

LYNN’S CAKES & COFFEE

For those who are staying in the west of Singapore, Lynn’s Cakes & Coffee at Eng Kong Terrace – just a few units down from Necessary Provisions – is a nice place to check out. It is a clean and quaint little cafe where you can expect sweet treats like carrot cake, red velvet cake, chocolate cake and rainbow cake that are freshly baked on-site. Definitely a new great addition to the Bukit Timah neighbourhood.

Eng Kong Park
21 Eng Kong Terrace
Singapore 598993
Tel: +65 9231 7920
Wed – Thu: 10am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 10am – 12 Midnight
Sun: 10am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Clementi

MAISON IKKOKU

A coffee shop in the day and a cocktail bar by night, Maison Ikkoku is located along Kandahar Street in the Kamong Glam neighbourhood.

20 Kandahar Street
Heritage Centre
Tel: +65 6294 0078
Mon to Thu: 9am – 7pm
Fri & Sat: 9am – 10pm
Sun: 9am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Bugis

MARMALADE TOAST

Marmalade Toast is a hidden gem in Orchard Road. The cafe is a simplified version of Marmalade Pantry restaurant. They have a pretty straightforward menu of salads, wraps, sandwiches and desserts – everything priced reasonably under $10.

#02-11 Ngee Ann City
391 Orchard Road
Tel: +65 6733 8489
Mon to Fri: 8am – 7pm
Sat: 9am – 7pm
Sun & PH: 10am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

MU Parlour

It is easy to miss MU Parlour if you are not paying special attention to the shops on the second level. It’s the kind of place that is introduced through friends’ recommendations. And this is exactly how we came to know about it. Besides serving gourmet burgers, MU Parlour also has a range of desserts and cocktails.

16A Lorong Mambong
Holland Village
Tel: +65 6466 9336
Daily: 10am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Holland Village

NASSIM HILL BAKERY

If you are looking for a spot to escape the crazy crowd in town, head to Nassim Hill Bakery at Tanglin Post Office. It is a bakery and bistro in the day, and a charming bar in the evening.

#01-03 Tanglin Post Office
56 Tanglin Road
Tel: +65 6835 1128
Tue to Sun: 8am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

NECESSARY PROVISIONS CAFE

Necessary Provision is a gem and a wonderful spot for people who stay in the West of Singapore.

When we first heard about Necessary Provisions, we were really excited for a few reasons. First, we know that they will have good coffee as it is by the folks behind the now-defunct Smitten Cafe. Second, the cafe is very near to my place – we can get there in ten minutes. Third, we have always lamented the fact that we lack a good coffee joint in this part of the island. While we have seen many cafes sprouting up over the past few years, somehow, there are not many cafes that serve good coffee in the west.

Eng Kong Park
21 Eng Kong Terrace
Tel: +65 9231 7920
Tue – Thu: 10am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 10am – 12 Midnight
Sun: 10am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Clementi

Photo credit: Furry-Photos

NEKO NO NIWA

Neko no Niwa, Singapore’s first cat cafe, is located at Boat Quay, the cafe is named Neko no Niwa, which means ‘cat garden’ in Japanese. Neko no Niwa has 13 resident cats, and it is charging S$12/pax for the first hour, and S$5/pax for the subsequent 1/2 hour block.

54A Boat Quay, Level 2
Tel: +65 6536 5319
Mon to Fri: 11am – 10pm
Sat & PH: 10am – 10pm
Sun: 2pm – 9pm
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay/Raffles Place

NOM BISTRO & BAKERY

Quite possibly the first cafe to open in a community club, Nom Bistro & Bakery is a simple and no-frills cafe that serves homemade fare at inexpensive prices. Main courses include Beer Battered Fish & Chips (S$12.90), The Ultimate Burger (S$12.90), and Slow Roast Chicken Leg (S$12.90).

Nom is also known for its rainbow cakes which are available in oreo, salted caramel and chocolate flavours.

Level 1, Macpherson Community Club
400 Paya Lebar Way
Tel: +65 6747 3839
Daily: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Macpherson/Paya Lebar

NYLON COFFEE ROASTERS

Located in a small shophouse at Everton Park Estate, Nylon Coffee Roasters is a gem for coffee lovers, and the place to go for a quality cup of coffee. This specialty coffee shop sources, roasts and brews amazing coffee beans from around the world. They are the experts and we should all pay homage to coffee together with them.

Nylon Coffee is listed in our guide to Singapore’s best coffee shops.

4 Everton Park #01-40
Tel: +65 6220 2330
Mon to Fri: 8.30am – 5.30pm
Sat & Sun: 9am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Outram

OLD HEN COFFEE BAR

Established in July 2014, Old Hen Coffee Bar is a relatively newcomer in the local café scene. Located next to La’ Coffee, Old Hen offers the standard cappuccino, latte and flat white, but the must-try is its signature cold brew – which is extremely satisfying on a hot day.

88 Rangoon Road #01-03
Tel: +65 6341 5458
Mon: 12pm – 10pm
Wed to Fri: 12pm – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

ONE MAN COFFEE

Being hidden is trending right now and One Man Coffee is doing an excellent job. One Man Coffee shares the same venue as Crust Pizza and you will not see its signboard until you near the entrance of Crust Pizza.

Espresso blends are being rotated from time to time but consistency of coffee remains satisfying. Its most popular blend would be The Axil’s Seasonal, directly imported from Melbourne, Australia but sourced from Brazil and Colombia. Other than the coffee, must-order would definitely be their signature brioche French toast (S$10).

One Man Coffee is also listed in our guide to Upper Thomson neighbourhood.

215R Upper Thomson Road
Daily: 9am – 5pm
Nearest Station: Marymount

ORIOLE CAFE & BISTRO

Oriole Cafe is one of the places that we frequent whenever we are in town. Besides having good coffee, it also serves pretty decent food – in particular, the fish and chips and beef cheek tagliatelle are our favourites.

Oriole Cafe is listed in our guide to Singapore’s best coffee shops.

96 Somerset road
#01-01 Pan Pacific Serviced Suites
(Opposite Brotzeit 313 @ Somerset)
Tel: +65 6238 8348
Mon to Thu: 11am – 11pm
Fri: 11am – 12 midnight
Sat: 10am – 12 midnight
Sun: 10am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

PACAMARA BOUTIQUE COFFEE ROASTERS

Pacamara Boutique Coffee Roasters is one of the new kids on the block, but not that new if you are familiar with OZ Specialty Coffee. Formerly located at the other part of Upper Thomson, the brand has undergone a major revamp and repositioning and now sits proudly as Pacamara at the edge of the busy stretch of Upper Thomson. It is a much bigger scale, with a proper dine-in space because they serve more than coffee and desserts now.

185 Upper Thomson Road
Tue to Sun: 9am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Ang Mo Kio/Marymount

PARK CAFE BAR

PARK is a nice addition to the Holland Village neighbourhood. The cafe offers a selection of salads, sandwiches, pastas and drinks.

281 Holland Avenue #01-01
Mon to Fri: 10am – 2am
Sat & Sun: 8.30am – 2am
Nearest Station: Holland Village

PENNY UNIVERSITY

402 East Coast Road
Tel: +65 6345 9055
Tue to Thu: 8.30am – 6pm
Fri & Sat: 8.30am – 12 midnight
Sun: 8.30am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Eunos/Kembangan

PERCOLATE COFFEE

A great addition to the Bedok neighbourhood, Percolate Coffee is well-designed, chic and serves good coffee. Predominantly brown, the café sits about 20 people, with small wooden tables and chairs, and a simple vase of Baby’s Breath on every table. Nothing overly pretentious or chi-chi, just a space for you to unwind over a cuppa and light music.

There is a small selection of cakes like Red Velvet, Lemon Raspberry and Salted Caramel, while coffee beans are from Papa Palheta and Nylon Coffee Roasters, so you can take your pick on your Whites and Capps.

Percolate Coffee is also listed in our guide to Cafes in Singapore’s Residential Neighbourhoods.

136 Bedok North Avenue 3 #01-152B
Tel: +65 8259 0316
Mon: 10.30am – 9.30pm
Wed to Fri: 10.30am – 9.30pm
Sat & Sun: 9am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Bedok

PLAIN VANILLA

Plain Vanilla Bakery has been gaining a legion of followers and it is easy to see why. Freshly baked good old-fashioned cupcakes – with flavours like cinnamon brown sugar, chocolate hazelnut, red velvet and milk chocolate chip. Simple joy like these always tugs the heart strings. Its newest cafe along Yong Siak Street has a small communal table where you can sit around to have a cupcake and drinks.

Plain Vanilla is also listed in our guide to Tiong Bahru.

1D Yong Siak Street
Tue to Fri: 11am – 8pm
Sat: 9am – 8pm
Sun: 9am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Tiong Bahru

PIQUE NIQUE

Pique Nique by Chef Pang Kok Keong is located at the basement of Takashimaya and serves favourite American comfort food like mac & cheese (S$12 – S$16), hot dogs (S$8.5 – S$11), burgers (S$10 – S$13), all day breakfast (S$7.5 – S$13.5), and desserts (S$4 – S$8).

#B1-01 Takashimaya Shopping Centre
Ngee Ann City Tower A
391A Orchard Road
Tel: +65 6238 6705
Daily: 10am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

PS CAFE

Known for its chic and elegant ambiance – PS Cafe is the place to be seen. Other than the two branches at Dempsey and Palais Renaissance, they have recently opened a new cafe at Ann Siang Hill. PS Cafe may not have the best food, but regulars go back again and again for the ambience.

28B Harding Road
Tanglin Village (Dempsey Road) Singapore
Tel: +65 6479 3343
Nearest Station: Orchard

45 Ann Siang Road
#02-02 Singapore
Tel: +65 6222 3143
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

RABBIT CARROT GUN

With a tongue-in-cheek name like Rabbit Carrot Gun, it is hard not to do a double take when we passed this watering hole along East Coast Road. Like its name suggests, Rabbit Carrot Gun does not take things too seriously. The menu is full of quirky dishes that fortunately turned out fairly well.

49 East Coast Road
Tel: +65 6348 8568
Tue to Sun: 8am – 12 Midnight
Nearest Station: Eunos

REVOLUTION COFFEE

For people who work in the Buona Vista area, Revolution Coffee at Portsdown is worth checking out for lunch. Look forward to handcrafted speciality coffee, all day breakfast, freshly baked goods and casual cafe food like sandwiches and pastas.

21 Media Circle, #01-03A
Off Portsdown Road
Mon to Fri: 8am – 5pm
Sat & Sun: 10am – 6pm
Tel: +65 6777 2110
Nearest Station: Buona Vista

RIDERS CAFE

One of the most popular brunch spots in Singapore, Riders Cafe at Bukit Timah Saddle Club needs no introduction. It is wonderful place to escape to if you want a sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

51 Fairways Drive
Bukit Timah Saddle Club
Tel: +65 6466 9819
Sun to Thu: 8am – 9pm
Fri & Sat: 8am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Botanic Gardens

ROKEBY CAFE

15-9 Jalan Riang
Tel: +65 9106 0437
Tue to Sun: 9am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Serangoon

RONIN

17 Hong Kong Street
Daily: 8am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay

SELFISH GENE CAFE

While cafes are sprouting out everywhere these days – most with predictable and mediocre brunch, Selfish Gene Cafe at Craig Road stands out for their consistency in delivering good comfort food.

40 Craig Road
Tel: +65 6423 1324
Mon to Fri: 10am – 5.30pm
Sat & Sun: 9am – 5pm
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

SARNIES CAFE

136 Telok Ayer Street
Tel: +65 6224 6091
Nearest Station: Raffles Place/Telok Ayer

SHROVE TUESDAY

Shrove Tuesday is a cafe that offers waffles, pastries and ice cream in the Toa Payoh neighbourhood. If you ever find yourself in the area, drop by and treat yourself to a waffle (S$5) with a scoop of ice cream.

#01-32, 94 Toa Payoh Lorong 4
Tel: +65 6258 2254
Sun to Thu: 10am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 10am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Bradell

SPRMRKT

SPRMRKT prides itself on redefining your local supermarket experience. It is a space where food, retail and art mingle together. You can enjoy a cosy meal at the bistro while shopping for daily necessities and random gifts.

The food is simple and unpretentious. There are two menus at SPRMRKT. The all-day breakfast menu dishes out the usual favourites such as Eggs Benedict ($14) and Breakfast Croissant ($7) everyday.

2 McCallum Street
Tel: +65 6221 2105
Mon to Fri: 8am – 9pm
Sat: 9am – 4pm
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

SPRUCE

One of the most popular brunch spots in Singapore is Spruce at Phoenix Park. If you are going there on weekends, make sure you call to get a table in advance.

320 Tanglin Road
Phoenix Park Singapore
Tel: +65 6836 5528
Nearest Station: Orchard/Red Hill

STATELAND CAFE

Located on Bali Lane, Stateland Cafe has been making a name for itself for serving waffles with different flavours. Served with a scoop of ice cream, and topped with homemade cream cheese glaze, the Red Velvet Waffle (S$14.90) indeed lived up to its name. Other flavours include Black Forest, S’mores, and Toffee Nut.

Stateland Cafe is also listed in our guide to Singapore’s best waffles.

30 Bali Lane
Tel: +65 9296 4997
Mon, Wed & Thu: 12pm – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 12midnight
Sun: 11am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Bugis

SUNDAY MARKET

Located on Lim Tua Tow Road, Sunday Market serves a small but concise menu including toasts, pastas, duck dishes, salad and waffles — most dishes are reasonably-priced below S$15.. The coffee was sadly run-of-the-mill, but we will come back again for the Savoury Pancakes with Roasted Duck and Garlic Hoisin (S$12.90) and the excellent Sirloin Rendang Toast (S$15.90).

Sunday Market is also listed in our guide to Cafes in Singapore’s Residential Neighbourhoods.

22 Lim Tua Tow Road
Mon to Fri: 1am – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Serangoon

SYMMETRY CAFE

Symmetry is beautiful in a rustic sort of way. The brick walls and dim lights lend a cosy feel to it, making it perfect for a simple and casual meal.

On weekdays, Symmetry does decent pastas for lunch; our favourite being the Penne ($22) which comes with a delicious truffle-tinged cream sauce and a heaping amount of mushrooms and rocket leaves. Dinner is a more sophisticated affair, with mains such as Beef Short Ribs and a whole Baby Barramundi.

9 Jalan Kubor #01-01
Tel: +65 62919 901
Tue to Thu: 11am – 11pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 12 midnight
Sun: 11am – 7pm
Nearest Station: Lavender/Bugis

TART BLANC

Tart Blanc at Millenia Walk specialises in tarts. Best sellers include Banana Chocolate Silk Tart (S$7) and Blood Orange Matcha Tart (S$7.50). We also love the Raspberry Praline Tart (S$7.50) and Blueberry Lavender Chocolate Tart (S$7.50). If you love tarts, this quaint cafe deserves your support.

Millenia Walk #01-102
9 Raffles Boulevard
Tel: +65 6238 6893
Nearest Station: City Hall/Promenade

TIONG BAHRU BAKERY

Tiong Bahru Bakery, opened in collaboration with celebrity baker, Gontran Cherrier, needs no introduction. It is one of the hottest places in town, and you can find a huge variety of bread and pastries.

56 Eng Hoon Street
#01-70 Singapore 160056
Tel: +65 6220 3430
Daily: 8am – 8pm (closed on Tue)

252 North Bridge Road
#B1-11/12 Raffles City Shopping Centre
Singapore 179103
Tel: +65 6333 4160
Daily: 9am – 10pm

TO-GATHER CAFE

Tucked away in a cosy corner of the Bedok North area, To-gather café, which is named after the concept of the old children’s song, “The More We Get Together”, evokes a homey vibe – inspirational quotes and poems line almost every wall of the café, which includes a feature wall plastered with post-its containing notes, confessions and more quotes written by its customers.

While we didn’t get to try its mains, its desserts – warm chocolate lava cake and chocolate brownie – hit the sweet spot after our dinner. With prices ranging from $7.90 for pasta dishes to $3.90 for desserts, we say the place is pretty affordable.

Blk 84 Bedok North Street 4, #01-25/27
Tel: +65 6445 1011
Tue to Thu, & Sun: 11am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 11pm
Nearest stations: Tanah Merah or Bedok

TOLIDO’S ESPRESSO NOOK

For those who frequent Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodles, you might have noticed Tolido’s Espresso Nook – a casual and laid-back cafe that serves coffee and simple comfort food like pastas, sandwiches and all-day breakfast.

It has a value-for-money lunch hour menu (from 12pm to 2.30pm) that features dishes like Bacon Mushroom Aglio Olio, Triple Cheese Baked Penne, and its signature Rosti with smoked bratwurst.

Tolido’s Espresso Nook is also listed in our guide to Cafes in Singapore’s Residential Neighbourhoods.

Block 462 Crawford Lane #01-63
Tel: +65 6648 0178
Tue to Thu: 9.30am – 7pm
Fri & Sat: 9.30am – 10pm
Sun: 9am – 6.30pm
Nearest Station: Lavender

THE LOKAL CAFE

136 Neil Road
Tel: +65 6423 9918
Mon to Fri: 8am – 6pm
Sat & Sun: 9am – 4pm
Nearest Station: Outram

THE TASTEMAKER STORE

The Tastemaker Store is like a mix of new and old. Sitting within the old estate of Bukit Ho Swee, it is a clean space that is well-utilised and furnished with a very understated flare. Long lamps and potted plants hanging from the ceiling spell the character of the cafe, and light retro tracks fill the lovely space with a comforting touch of the 70s.

The Tastemaker Store is also listed in our guide to Cafes in Singapore’s Residential Neighbourhoods.

Block 22 Havelock Road #01-705
Daily: 9am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Tiong Bahru

THE TINY ROASTER

The Tiny Roaster reminds us of Omotesando Koffee and Nylon Coffee Roaster – small, humble and homely. It has just opened two months ago in a tiny outlet on the ground level of a HDB in the West Coast neighbourhood.

Besides supplying coffee beans, coffee equipment and related merchandise, The Tiny Roaster also serves a selection of black brews, ice cold brews, or white brews in its coffee studio.

The Tiny Roaster is a welcome addition for folks who are staying in the West of Singapore. We will definitely be dropping by regularly when we need our caffeine fix.

The Tiny Roaster is also listed in our guide to Singapore’s best coffee shops.

612 Clementi West Street 1, #01-288
Tue to Sat: 11am – 8pm
Sun: 11am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Clementi

TIAN KEE & CO.

Tian Kee & Co is nestled within the old estate of Dakota, and its rural setting exudes an old charm that is so rare in the present Singapore. When we first drove past the unassuming block of low-rise flats, we saw a lovely sight – simple but traditional-looking monochrome signboard, wooden high table and seats, and ceiling fans. We knew we were going to like this retro concept.

Tian Kee & Co. is also listed in our guide to Cafes in Singapore’s Residential Neighbourhoods.

12 Dakota Crescent #01-48
Tue to Sun: 9am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Mountbatten

THE BRAVERY

Other than the slightly uncomfortable furniture, The Bravery has all the factors that we look out for in a cafe. There is free wifi for those who are working on the go. The baristas make exceptional coffee, in particular, the lavender latte (S$5.50) is something that we will order every time. Also, the food offering – which is somewhat similar to The Plain’s menu – is uncomplicated and affordable.

For those who want to do some reading, there is a small selection of good magazines. Parking is not expensive and relatively easy, with ample parking lots in the area.

66 Horne Road
Daily (except Tue): 8am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Lavender

THE BOOK CAFE

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.

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

THE COASTAL SETTLEMENT

Many of my friends are big fans of The Coastal Settlement (TCS). Some of them like it because of the lovely atmosphere, while others love it because it is a hidden gem in the east of Singapore.

This is a destination to dine in comfort and to simply forget about everything – Sentimental oldies loop softly in the background, crystal chandeliers hang from the low ceiling and cast warm light against the wooden furniture, scents of fresh roast and bakes fill the air…

200 Netheravon Road
(Near Changi Village)
Tel: +65 6475 0200
Tuesday to Sunday: 10.30am – 12pm

THE COFFEE DAILY

The Coffee Daily has quite a few good things going for it: the cafe serves a pretty good cup of coffee; the staff are always friendly, genuine and welcoming; it is a cosy place with free wifi to revise for your exams, or to catch up with friends.

75 Brighton Crescent
Tel: +65 6284 8894
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 10.30pm
Fri: 12pm – 11.30pm
Sat: 9.30am – 11.30pm
Sun: 9.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Serangoon

THE FABULOUS BAKER BOY

Located at The Foothills (directly opposite Liang Court), The Fabulous Baker Boy is a lovely place to spend the afternoon. We like that it is not too crowded during weekday dinners as not many people know about them because of its semi-secluded location.

On its menu, you can find main courses like prawn fettuccine ($18), lamb shank ($24), pastrami sandwich ($10.50). And of course, this being a bakery cafe, there’s no way you can leave without trying the cakes. The Ab Fab Red Velvet Cake is one of the best we’ve had in Singapore.

The Foothills #01-15
70 River Valley Road, Singapore 179037
Tel: +65 6694 8336
Daily: 12 noon – 11pm

THE PLAINS

The Plains, located on Craig Road, is a Melbourne-style cafe where you can go with friends to have perfectly poached eggs and a cup of good coffee.

50 Craig Road
#01-01 Singapore
Tel: +65 6225 4387

THE PROVISION SHOP

The latest addition to the Unlisted Collection Group, The Provision Shop is a new venture by Cocotte’s head chef, the group’s general manager, and operations manager, with hotelier Loh Lik Peng taking a consulting role.

It is a casual eatery which dishes out simple yet delicious meals at affordable prices. Some dishes that are worth trying are Reuben sandwich (S$10), eggs Benedict (S$10), and the homemade pastas (S$14 – S$16). Remember to save room for desserts, too. We love the blueberry lemon cake (S$6.50)!

Block 3 Everton Park #01-79
Tel: +65 6225 9931
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 9pm
Sun: 9am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Outram

THE PROVIDORE

#02-05, Mandarin Gallery, 333A Orchard Road
Tel: +65 6732 1565
Daily: 09:00 – 23:00
Nearest Station: Somerset

THE ORANGE THIMBLE

Located just beside Tiong Bahru Bakery, The Orange Thimble is a space where art meets cafe. It is a place where you can grab an espresso and meet like-minded people and talk about anything under the sun.

The food at The Orange Thimble, however, isn’t exceptional. In fact, I wouldn’t come here just for the food. But I like the place. It has a nice vibe, I can definitely see myself coming back to chill out with a group of friends over coffee.

56 Eng Hoon Street #01-68
Tel: +65 6223 8068
Tue to Sun: 11am – 9pm

TOBY’S ESTATE

The food at Toby’s Estate is nothing special. However, I can see myself returning for the good coffee – in fact I have been here a few times for my caffeine fix – and if you are working or living in the area, I am sure that it will become your new to-go coffee place.

8 Rodyk Street
#01-03/04 Singapore
Tel: +65 6636 7629
Daily: 7.30am – 6pm

6 Scotts Road
Level 3 Scotts Square
Tel: +65 6636 1816
Mon to Fri: 9am – 10.30pm
Sat & Sun: 8am – 10.30pm

WIMBLY LU

Wimbly Lu Chocolate Cafe is a dessert place located in the residential area at Jalan Riang. Part of Wimbly Lu’s charm is that from the moment you walk in, it strikes you as a quaint, whimsical kind of place. It is ideal for whiling away a few hours with friends.

15-2 Jalan Riang
Tel: +65 6289 1489
Tue to Fri: 12pm – 10.30pm
Sat & Sun: 9am – 11pm

WHEELER’S YARD

28 Lor Ampas
(Off Balestier Road)
Tel: +65 6254 9128
Tue to Sat: 11am – 8pm
Sun: 10am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Toa Payoh/Novena

WINDOWSILL IN THE WOODS

A cosy cafe at Jalan Besar that focuses on pies and only pies. No cakes, no cupcakes, only sweet pies. Strawberry lemon pie, S’mores pie. Windowsill in the woods also has a savoury food menu which features dishes like pasta, pork patty burger, kongba bao, griilled cheese sandwich.

Tue to Thu: 11am – 9.30pm
Fri: 11am – 10.30pm
Sat: 10am – 10.30pm
Sun: 10am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Lavender

WOODSHED

204 Rangoon Road
Tel: +65 6299 4308
Tue to Thu: 11am – 10pm
Fri: 11am – 11.30pm
Sat: 9am – 11.30pm
Sun: 9am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

W39 BISTRO & BAKERY

Folks staying in the west will be very happy to know about W39 Bistro & Bakery, located on Jalan Mas Puteh off West Coast Road. On weekends, they serve a hearty breakfast at very pocket-friendly prices. Egg lovers will go for the Hearty Breakfast (S$13.50) and Eggs Benedict (S$9). Other options on the menu include Braised Pork Cheek (S$13), Wagyu Burger (S$20) with fries), and Nyonya Mee Siam (S$9.50).

39 Jalan Mas Puteh
Off West Coast Road
Tel: +65 9646 5372
Tue to Fri: 11am – 10pm
Sat, Sun & PH: 9am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Clementi

YAHAVA KOFFEE

4 Jalan Gelenggang
(Upper Thomson Road)
Tel: +65 6554 7080
Nearest Station: Marymount

YELLOW CUP COFFEE

Central Square #01-09
20 Havelock Road
Mon to Fri: 7.30am – 6.30pm
Sat & Sun: 11am – 5pm
Nearest Station: CLarke Quay