Nestled within the Sembawang Hills Estate neighbourhood, and the newest addition to the Upper Thomson enclave is Thus Coffee, a chic cafe that offers stellar grain bowls, pasta, brunch, hearty stews and coffee

Not only that, coffee aficionados can take pleasure in knowing that their coffee beans are freshly roasted in-house—something often overlooked at many cafes in Singapore.

Whether its superb coffee, a stellar array of brunch-style eats or simply just a place to escape the midday heat, the newly opened Thus Coffee at Upper Thomson is no doubt a worthwhile spot to check out should you happen to find yourself wandering around the area.

Decked out in weathered grey walls and simple furniture, this humble coffee joint exudes a rather relaxed and laid-back vibe that is just perfect for lounging or catching up on work. There is also a communal dining table that caters for larger groups.

Their food offerings typically revolve around your usual cafe fare with the exception of their Hearty Chicken Stew and Wagyu Beef Grain Bowl. Besides the usual coffee, tea and fresh fruit juice selection, Thus coffee also serves Argentian wine at only S$40 a bottle.

The Hearty Chicken Stew (S$16) starts off with a standard mirepoix—basically, a fancy French term to mean carrots, onions and celery—which gives the stew its savoury and mildly sweet base and is thickened with cream for that hearty quality. Tender, herbed potatoes are also added to give the dish texture and a heightened boost of flavour.

The tender and succulent chicken comes with toasted multigrain bread and a wedge of lime—which we thought was a wonderful touch to the dish as the sharp tang really helped to cut through the richness of the stew.

Humbly roasted in-house by the good folks at Thus Coffee, the standard Latte (S$5) went well above your usual cuppa. The initial whiff boasted deep, chocolatey notes while the first sip was earthy and crisp.

We may not be coffee experts, but we know a decent cuppa when we’ve had one—and this was definitely one of them.

Thus Coffee
4 Jalan Kuras
Singapore 577723
Tel: +65 8411 7565
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Ang Mo Kio

Most people regard one-north as the CBD of the west, but little did we know that this part of Singapore also happens to be a budding little dining enclave, filled with hearty eateries and stunning cafes.

We all know how important a good cuppa is to get us through a work day, so here are 8 cafes in one-north that you should definitely pay a visit to for great, revitalising coffee. The best part is that they are all within walking distance from one another.

Nothing perks us up on a hectic work day than a top-notch cup of properly brewed coffee. Here are 8 cafes in one-north for you to get your caffeine fix.

BREAD YARD

Bread Yard sprouted on campus in the early and inspiring days of the Singapore University of Technology and Design. It became quite the food icon of the university, drawing in crowds from outside the campus. In three years, the team made a decision to move out of the campus to gain wider access to the public.

At Bread Yard, bread is handcrafted with ancient Japanese and European techniques served with all-day breakfast, sandwiches, leavened pancakes, and aromatic drip coffees in a rustic and fast-casual setting.

1 Fusionopolis Pl,
Singapore 138522
(Closed on Sundays)
Mon to Fri: 8am – 7.30pm
Sat: 9am – 2.30am
Nearest Station: one-north

ONE MAN COFFEE

This extension branch of One Man Coffee serves the usual cafe beverages and some pastries. Small in size, this outlet serves as more of a grab-and-go for office workers working nearby in need of a solid cuppa.

We highly recommend trying their Nitro Cold Brew. It is surprisingly smooth and easy to drink with a subtle fruity note at the end, great for hot afternoons.

4 Fusionopolis Way, Kinesis #01-15,
Singapore 138635
Tel: +65 8181 2479
(Closed on Saturdays & Sundays)
Mon to Fri: 8am – 5pm
Nearest Station: one-north

COFFEE BANDITS

The only coffee and food truck in Singapore to date, Coffee Bandits move from place to place. But for the time being, they are planting themselves in Fushionoplis way in one-north. So if you are lucky enough you might just spot this bright yellow truck in the area.

Offering simple, delicious and affordable meals and coffee, from grilled cheese sandwiches to sweet muffins, this is a great spot for a quick lunch or coffee run.

Fusionopolis 2
Tue & Fri: 8am – 3pm
Nearest Station: one-north

JIMMY MONKEY

As one of the first few to set up shop in this area, this Australian-style hang out is mostly known for their brunch items such as French toast and eggs benedict, but many coffee aficionados make the journey to have a taste of their coffee blends too.

#01-51 One-North Residences,
9 One-north Gateway,
Singapore 138643
Tel: +65 6777 8470
Daily: 7am – 6pm
Nearest Station: one-north

ARKADAS CAFE

Arkadas Cafe is a good place to visit if you find yourself sick of the usual eggs and toast combination for breakfast. Pop by this Turkish joint for more exotic flavours. Tuck into authentic creations like hummus with pita bread, chicken kebab, and other Turkish sweet treats like baklava and créme caramel.

For your caffeine fix, they also serve a mean Turkish coffee that is sure to perk you up. A wide selection of tea is available but we highly recommend trying the coffee.

1 Fusionopolis View, #01-02,
Sandcrawler,
Singapore 138577
Tel: +65 6466 9918
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: one-north

HUGGS COFFEE

Nestled within Galaxis, Huggs Coffee is another coffee joint where you can satisfy your caffeine needs. Presenting artisanal coffee originating from places like Columbia, Brazil, and Vietnamese origins, coffee aficionados will be spoilt for choice. Huggs Coffee caters more to the office crowd, which is why it is not uncommon to spot them at several office districts in Singapore.

Pair your freshly brewed cuppa with one of their freshly baked pastries as well for something a little more substantial!

1-3 Fusionopolis Way,
Singapore 138633
(Closed on Saturdays & Sundays)
Mon to Fri: 7.30am – 7pm
Nearest Station: one-north

BAKERSFIELD SANDWICH BAR & PATISSERIE

Presenting something a little more different than your average coffee-and-cake joint is Bakersfield, a patisserie that serves quiches, sandwiches and beautifully crafted cakes and pastries. Hot favourites include their Black Glutinous Rice Coconut Cake as well as their Pistachio Strawberry Tart, but for something more substantial, you can consider their range of hearty sandwiches too.

#01-06, Innovis, 2 Fusionopolis Way,
Singapore 138634
Tel: +65 6250 2934
(Closed on Saturdays & Sundays)
Mon to Fri: 9pm – 4pm
Nearest Station: one-north

GREENWITCH

Serving up hearty and wholesome salad bowls, Greenwitch is a good spot for a casual lunch among co-workers and friends—who may or may not be calorie-conscious. In addition to greens, they also offer protein-packed grain bowls with meats like salmon or meatballs.

Healthy eats aside, they also brew up a mean cuppa so don’t miss out on that—especially their creamy flat white.

1 Fusionopolis Walk #01-12 Solaris Building
Singapore, 138628
Tel: +65 9155 1689
(Closed on Saturdays & Sundays)
Mon to Fri: 8am – 6pm
Nearest Station: one-north

For more recommendations, read our guide on 31 Cafes in the West of Singapore you must visit.

Kyu Coffee Bar—a new kid on the block—is strategically located right at the entrance of Prudential Tower in Raffles Place.

The three-week-old takeaway speciality coffee kiosk’s wooden frames instantly reminded us of Kitty Burns in Melbourne. CBD dwellers in need of a highly-caffeinated perk-me-up should drop by Kyu Coffee Bar for a quick energy boost.

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The minimalistic coffee bar is a business venture by Nine Press. You can look forward to aromatic beverages prepared with coffee blends from Knockhouse Supply Co. and Nylon Coffee Roasters.

Drinks aside, there is also a selection of petite savouries and sweets available. Why not grab a treat with a hot coffee for just S$6.50?

Coffee prices start from S$4.50 for a 8-oz cup and S$5.50 for a 12-oz cup. While prices are considered reasonable for Raffles Place’s standards, we heard from nearby corporate workers that it is still at least a dollar pricier than its previous tenant – One Shot Coffee.

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Kyu Coffee Bar also serves Tea by Clippers Tea (Timeless Earl Grey – S$4.50, Chamomile – S$4.50, Green Tea Strawberry – S$5, Evergreen – S$4.50), Matcha (S$5.50), Mocha (S$5.50) and Hot Chocolate (S$5.50). Top up an additional S$1 for ice and another S$1 to upsize it.

Complete your teatime break with a pastry. From Chocolate Flourless Cake (S$4.50), Earl Grey Tea Cake (S$2.50) to Pain Au Chocolat (S$3.20), there is surely something you fancy.

For something more substantial, get their Fish Ciabatta Sandwich or Chicken Ciabatta Sandwich (S$8.90 each).

Kyu Coffee Bar
30 Cecil Street, Level 1
Prudential Tower
Singapore 049712
Tel: +65 8233 3361
Mon to Fri: 8am – 4pm
Sat and Sun: Closed
Nearest Station: Raffles Place

It is a clean state of white.

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 the Upper Thomson neighbourhood, the brand has undergone a major revamp and repositioning and now sits proudly as Pacamara Boutique Coffee Roasters 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.

Its new space is bright and clean. Sleek lamps hang from the ceiling, shining down on the longitudinal wooden tables. Sunlight streams in through the huge panelled windows and fills the space with warmth. Sitting at the corner of the cafe is a rack of merchandise neatly displayed and ready for purchase – from filters to drippers, you are free to bring home a piece of Pacamara.

We actually love the minimalistic white-washed outlook of the cafe. We like it so damn much. But the food menu was a severe disappointment. What could have been otherwise a well-designed menu with both classic brunch favourites and interesting creations was let down by its price point and mediocre execution.

On our table was an item from the salad section, the brunch and the mains each. We really fancy a good beetroot salad for nothing is quite as gratifying than sweet beet slices alongside crumbly feta, chick peas and arugula. But Pacamara Boutique Coffee Roasters’ Beetroot Salad (S$14) is a ridiculous portion of five beet slices, some small squares of butternut and very countable arugula leaves with barely-there lemon vinaigrette dressing. This is by far the most expensive salad (for its puny portion) we’ve ever paid for in a cafe.

From the brunch menu (served till 2:30pm), we had the Red Velvet Pancakes (S$16) served with mascarpone and fresh berries. While it was rather fluffy, it came in a sad shade of brown and we were looking forward to the mild chocolatey sweetness, but to no avail. Seems like there is nothing really red velvety about the pancakes after all. Oh well. And the Wagyu Burger (S$22) from the mains came standing tall and complete with chips, but the patty was a tad too dry.

Our saving grace for the day? The White (5oz for S$5), that came with a decent latte art and a familiar taste of OZ Specialty.

It is a shame that such a cosy cafe with a strategic location would fail so badly in their food. Nonetheless, the big switch from a hole-in-the-wall coffee joint is still deserving of an applause and worth a visit.

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

In the recent years, we have seen the explosion of cafes in the local scene, and there is almost a new cafe opening every week. From hole-in-the-wall joints to specialty coffee houses and chic cafes, there are plenty of options to choose from when you are having caffeine withdrawal.

Follow our guide to the best coffee shops in Singapore.

Assembly Coffee

At Assembly Coffee, 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.

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

Chye Seng Huat Hardware

Opened by the folks behind Papa Palheta and Loysel’s Toy, Chye Seng Huat Hardware is considered one of the best coffee joints in Singapore by many.

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 what do you know? It is actually a very hip coffee bar nestled in the otherwise forsaken street across Lavender Food Centre! In addition to the coffee bar, it also features a roastery, a coffee school and a private coffee tasting room.

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

Department of Caffeine

With a name like that, it goes without saying that the folks at Department of Caffeine take their coffee seriously. They use sustainably-sourced speciality coffee beans, and you can be assured that every cuppa is up to the standard.

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

Jewel Coffee

Jewel Coffee at 1 Shenton Way has fast become one of the more popular coffee boutiques in the Central Business District (CBD). Coffee lovers who work in the area should really drop by the cafe after lunch to grab a cuppa for a little boost before going back to the pile of work and crazy stress. And oh, if you are looking for a weekend brunch spot, they have recently opened Jewel Cafe at Rangoon Road.

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

129 Rangoon Road
Tel: +65 6298 9216
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

Jimmy Monkey

Jimmy Monkey Cafe & Bar, an Australian-style indie cafe at One-North Residences, is a great addition to the local scene. If you are a coffee geek, you will be enthralled by the Slayer — a rare hand-built espresso machine which costs more than S$20,000 — at Jimmy Monkey. The coffee extracted on Slayer is exquisitely special and aromatic, and precisely because you can hardly get this quality in town, a trip down to this coffee joint will be worth every while.

9 One-North Gateway
#01-51 One-North Residences
Tel: +65 6777 8470
Sun to Thu: 8.30am – 8.30pm
Fri & Sat: 8.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: One-North

Kith Cafe

Kith Cafe is my favourite hangout place in Orchard Road. I go there at least twice a week and I am glad to report that besides having good coffee, they also serve hearty breakfast and fresh sandwiches on the menu.

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

Loysel’s Toy

Loysel’s Toy, also by Papa Palheta, is another good spot to enjoy your latte and cappuccino. One of the reasons why I like going there is because there is free parking – how rare in Singapore? The laid-back ambience makes it a nice place to catch up with your pals.

66 Kampong Bugis #01-01
Tel: +65 9451 0236
Tue to Fri 9am – 6pm
Sat & Sun 9am – 7.30pm
Nearest Station: Lavender

Necessary Provisions

Necessary Provision is a gem and a wonderful spot for people who stay in the West of Singapore. It offers several options for coffee. For espresso based coffees, choose between the Black (S$4) and White (S$5). They also do a Pourover: V60 or Chemex (S$6.50).

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

Nylon Coffee Roasters

There are plenty of coffee joints in Singapore, but Nylon Coffee Roasters – a small speciality coffee shop – stands out from the crowd. Tucked in the sleepy Everton Park estate, the folks at Nylon are supremely passionate about their coffee. Other than sourcing directly from socially responsible farms, they also roast and put their coffee beans up for sale.

Do note that Nylon is a tiny space as it is more of a wholesale place than a cafe, regulars come here mostly for takeaway coffee.

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

Oriole Coffee

Coffee addicts should include Oriole Coffee at Pan Pacific Serviced Suites in their list of favorites. Oriole specials include double ristretto servings of the Oriole espresso blend, as well as some of the award winning coffee creations. In addition, the coffee shop also has an extensive food menu which serves comfort food such as fish & chips, pork ribs and philly steak & cheese sandwich.

96 Somerset road #01-01
Pan Pacific Serviced Suites
Tel: +65 6238 8348
Mon to Thu: 11am – 11pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 12midnight
Sun: 10.30am – 11pm

The Bravery

The baristas at The Bravey make exceptional coffee, in particular, the lavender latte (S$5.50) is something that we will order every time. 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.

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

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.

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

Toby’s Estate

Another place that you can go for your caffeine boost is Toby’s Estate – an Australian coffee chain – at Robertson Quay. They are involved in the whole process – from buying their beans directly from farmers to roasting the beans and serving the quality coffee.

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

4o Hands

This coffee house in Tiong Bahru – by Australian Harry Grover and the Spa Esprit Group – focuses on sustainably produced speciality coffee, stocking Fair Trade and Direct Trade coffee beans. It is an independent Aussie-style cafe where you can go with friends to have coffee and simple comfort food like freshly made toasties, brunch and hotdogs.

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