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

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

AMBER EMBER

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

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

Photo Credit: Instagram

COOK & TRAS SOCIAL LIBRARY

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

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

GATHER THE MISFITS

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

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

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

GLYPH SUPPLY CO

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

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

HVALA

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

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

JING SI BOOKS & CAFE

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

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

Photo Credit: Instagram

KATASUMI KOOHII

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

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

KURASU

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

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

Photo Credit: Instagram

MELLOWER COFFEE

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

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

THE BOOK CAFE

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

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

If there’s one food trend that has never died down, it is Japanese Green Tea – Matcha. In every cafe, you’re 90% likely to see a Matcha Latte or a Matcha-infused dessert somewhere on the menu. However, we would like to introduce you to Matcha’s just-as-delicious but less-talked-about counterpart – Hojicha.

Hojicha is kind of roasted green tea that carries a strong toasty, smoky flavour that is super delicious and earthy. It’s a unique flavour that you won’t forget once you try it! So here’s a list of the best Hojicha desserts in Singapore that will get you hooked onto this underrated flavour.

108 MATCHA SARO – HOJICHA MINI PARFAIT

The Hojicha Mini Parfait is our favourite dessert from 108 Matcha Saro! The dessert comes with a swirl of Hojicha soft-serve, a scoop of sweet red bean paste, chewy mochi balls and a generous drizzle of syrup. The toppings paired impeccably with the flavourful soft-serve – especially the mochi balls!

108 Matcha Saro
5 Temasek Boulevard
Suntec City, #B1-K5
Singapore 038985
Tel: +65 6259 4704
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: City Hall/Esplanade

Photo Credit: Creme Maison

CREME MAISON BAKERY – HOJICHA HAZELNUT PRALINE

First on our list is from one of the best cake shops in Singapore, Creme Maison Bakery. If you’re a fan of hojicha and really want a nice fluffy cake to sink your teeth into, their Hojicha Hazelnut Praline cake is the perfect dessert.

The earthy hojicha-infused brown sugar sponge is layered with sweet hazelnut praline and topped off with more hazelnuts; a real sweet treat!

Creme Maison Bakery
30 Tai Seng Street #08-03B
Singapore 534013
Tel: +65 8181 3689
Nearest Station: Tai Seng

DOPA DOPA CREAMERY – HOJICHA ICE CREAM

Located in the heart of the CBD, Dopa Dopa has made many fall for their silky smooth gelato. It’s hard to miss with their bright yellow interior and decor. One of their best flavours would definitely be their smoky Hojicha. It packs a huge punch of flavour without being grainy or too overpowering.

Dopa Dopa Creamery
29 South Bridge Road, #01-01
Singapore 058665
Tel: +65 6535 3539
Mon to Thu, Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay

HVALA – HOJICHA CAKE

Hvala’s Hojicha Cake features a light and airy Hojicha-infused sponge, layered with fresh cream, adzuki beans and a generous drizzle of thick Hojicha sauce. We loved how the smoky aroma of Hojicha was amplified by the bitter Hojicha sauce and the adzuki beans speckled through the layers gave a nice textural contrast to the cake!

This is the cake you can pass the time with, with a book in hand and a matcha latte to sip on.

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

Photo Credit: Instagram

KATASUMI KOOHII – HOJICHA CHIFFON

Hidden in Bukit Pasoh is a Katasumi Koohii, a Japanese-inspired book cafe serving up fresh bakes and cakes. One of which is a cloud-like Hojicha chiffon perfumed with the fragrant roasted tea. It’s also topped with a fluffy hojicha whipped cream to enhance the flavour!

The cafe is so cosy that you can spend hours with just a cake and cuppa, forgetting about the world for just a moment.

Katasumi Koohii
25 Bukit Pasoh Road
Singapore 089839
Mon, Wed to Sat: 12pm – 8pm
Sun: 12pm – 6pm
(Closed on Tuesdays)
Nearest Station: Outram Park

MIAM MIAM – HOJICHA PANCAKE

Miam Miam is known for their delicious fusion-style pasta and mains but not many know that they have just-as-splendid desserts on their menu as well! One of their desserts happen to be a Hojicha Pancake, consisting of a fluffy pancake, Hojicha whipped cream, azuki beans, mochi and brown sugar syrup.

The fluffy pancake absorbs the thick syrup, making it ultra decadent. Paired with the hojicha cream, red beans and chewy mochi, it’s a great Japanese fusion dessert that you’ll definitely enjoy.

200 Victoria Street
#02-14 Bugis Junction
Singapore 188021
Mon to Thu: 11.30am – 10pm
Fri: 11.30am – 10.30pm
Sat: 11am – 10.30pm
Sun: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Bugis

3 Gateway Drive
#01-21/22 Westgate
Singapore 608532
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Jurong East

NANA’S GREEN TEA – HOJICHA PARFAIT

What’s better than a scoop of hojicha ice cream? A scoop of hojicha ice cream with mochi balls, tea jelly, whipped cream, hojicha paste and cereal crumble! That’s everything in Nana Green Tea’s Hojicha Parfait. It’s intricately layered to give you maximum satisfaction so if you’re a big hojicha lover, you absolutely have to put it on your list of “must-eats”!

The Atrium @ Orchard, Plaza Singapura
60B Orchard Road
#03-80/82
Singapore 238891
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Dhoby Ghaut

SUGAR THIEVES – HOJICHA CROISSANT

With their ever-changing croissant line-up, Sugar Thieves keeps their fans constantly on edge for their new releases. One of our favourites has to be their Hojicha Croissant – a buttery, flaky pastry filled generously with thick, luscious hojicha-infused cream. It’s then dusted with more hojicha powder on top, making it a roasted-tea flavour bomb!

Sugar Thieves
Blk 333, #01-23
Kreta Ayer Rd
Singapore 080333
Tel: +65 9850 4377
Wed to Sat: 12pm – 6pm
(Closed Sun – Tue)
Nearest Station: Outram Park

TSUJIRI – HOJICHA ROLL CAKE

This fluffy, cloud-like cake was packed with so much hojicha flavour, you couldn’t imagine it until you try! Seemingly simple, this roll cake is anything but. The delicious roasted aroma of hojicha is contrasted by the whipped cream and sweet azuki beans it’s served with. Tsujiri is one of Singapore’s “OG”, most well-loved, matcha cafes and when you taste their desserts, you’ll know why.

176 Orchard Road
The Centrepoint, #01-101
Singapore 238843
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

TWENTY GRAMMES – HOJICHA SOFTSERVE ON WAFFLE

Launched for their 2nd anniversary and remaining as a popular menu item, Twenty Gramme’s Hojicha Softserve on Waffle is a must-try Hojicha dessert. The soft serve sits nicely in a cup with bite-sized waffle pieces, and is decorated with beautiful lavender-coloured edible flowers.

We loved the taste of the Hojicha soft-serve and waffle bits. Intense roasted flavours were present but not overpowering; just the way we like it!

Twenty Grammes
753 North Bridge Road
#01-01
Singapore 198721
Tel: +65 6717 1733
Mon to Thu, Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 1am
Nearest Station: Bugis