Kaya toast and eggs is the nation’ favourite breakfast combination. Together with an aromatic cup of local-style coffee or tea – or what we affectionately call kopi or teh – it is the simplest form of comfort food and one that we will never get sick of.

Whenever we dine at YaKun or Toast Box, we’d wish for an operator to reinvent the environment of a toast-and-eggs joint with a modern and cafe-like take. So when we heard about La’ Coffee - located next to Old Hen Coffee Bar in the Rangoon Road neighbourhood - we headed down on its first week of operation to check them out.

La’ Coffee is not your usual kaya toast places like Yakun and Toastbox; it is quite essentially a modern café that focuses on old school snacks such as traditional bread like Kaya Toast (S$3.50), Butter Sugar Toast (S$3.50); traditional coffee and tea (S$3.50 – S$4) – Teh, Teh O, Kopi C, Kopi O – as well as Asian snacks like Yam Cake (S$4) and Chee Cheong Fun (S$4). You can opt for the Combo Set (S$8.50) which comes with toast, half boiled eggs and coffee/tea.

Actually, La’ Coffee is a really good concept, but it could have been more well-executed if more thoughts were put into the designing of the place, as well as the little details like its music and choice of furniture.

Nonetheless, it is one new kid to check out. Prices are naturally higher than your usual kaya toast places, but what you get in return is a different café experience – think of having traditional coffee in a clean and comfortable modern spot.

La’ Coffee
88 Rangoon Road #01-02
Tel: +65 6341 7525
Mon to Thu: 8am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 8am – 1am
Sun: 9am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

Established in July 2014, Old Hen Coffee Bar is a relatively newcomer in the local café scene. Located next to La’ Coffee in the Rangoon Road neighbourhood, 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.

So, why the name ‘Old Hen’? We do not know either, and sadly, there is no juicy story behind its catchy name. But that is fine, because we love to seek beauty in random trivia like that. Besides, the name comes along with a cute logo of an illustration of – well, you got it – a hen.

Old Hen Coffee Bar is a cosy unit that sits at Rangoon 88, a SoHo building along Rangoon Road. What may seem like a small and unassuming unit is actually an inviting space that you can retreat to when you need a coffee break, or when you need somewhere quiet to catch up on your emails or to read your newest issue of Kinfolk.

If you need some snacks, why not get a slice of Red Velvet Cake? Old Hen Coffee Bar gets their daily supply of fresh bakes from the highly popular Kreme Couture Bakery, so you know your dessert will be nothing short of fantastic. Other quick fixes include sandwiches and wraps of the day.

We spoke with the team of young and exuberant owners of Old Hen Coffee Bar, and learned that they received training at a reputable barista school in Bangkok. While it is indeed a decent cuppa, there is much to be improved but we believe their passion will shine through and we already foresee a pool of loyal customers who work in the area, and friends who’d come from all parts of the island to render support.

Well, we always love people who turn passion into work, for they will give nothing but their best.

Old Hen Coffee Bar
88 Rangoon Road #01-03
Singapore 218374
Tel: +65 6341 5458
Mon: 12pm – 10pm
Wed to Fri: 12pm – 10pm
Sat: 10am – 6.30pm
Sun: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

Rangoon Road is one of those areas that we’d love to think of as the “last frontiers of Singapore”. In our memories, we grew up knowing Rangoon Road as one laid back neighbourhood scattered with coffee shops, little eateries and workshops. When one thinks of Rangoon Road, Ng Ah Sio and Founders Bak Kut Teh come to mind.

However, the neighbourhood is more than just bak kut teh. While Rangoon Road may not have evolved much, it is no less quaint and lovely. Today, many new cafes have opened in the neighbourhood and it is hardly a surprise given the strategic location.

Here is a guide to cafes in the Rangoon Road neighbourhood.

#1 BRUNCHES CAFE

Situated along Rangoon Road, this furniture-cum-bakery cafe has an exceptional decor, cluttered with countless of vintage furniture which you can bag home at a price. Here at Brunches Cafe, you will not feel like you are dining in the usual cafe setting but in a factory store instead. One of the most distinct furnishing includes a mini-cooper turned dining table, allowing you to dine with an nostalgic experience you will never forget.

96 Rangoon Road
Singapore 218381
Tel: +65 8685 8488
Mon, Wed to Sun: 9am – 7pm
Closed on Tue
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

#2 JEWEL CAFE & BAR

Jewel Coffee’s second outlet at Rangoon Road is much spacious than its original coffee shop in Shenton Way. Well-loved by the executives and expats – its first wave of supporters – Jewel sees a younger and hippy crowd at its two-story space at Rangoon Road. Still serving quality brew that is consistent and always pleasing, Jewel Cafe & Bar is a marvellous option to head to when you need a good cuppa.

They have a pretty decent food menu too, and though prices are slightly steep, we really enjoyed the ricotta pancakes we had.

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

#3 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.

Well-loved by many and with a steady stream of loyal supporters over the years, think of it as an artisan cafe with a tastefully-done up space, where you can settle down at a table by the window to hear the rain splatter over a slice of azuki cake.

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

#4 OLD HEN COFFEE BAR

Established in July 2014, Old Hen Coffee Bar is a relatively newcomer in the local café scene. It is a cosy unit that sits at Rangoon 88, a SoHo building along Rangoon Road. 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.

What may seem like a small and unassuming unit is actually an inviting space that you can retreat to when you need a coffee break, or when you need somewhere quiet to catch up on your emails or to read your newest issue of Kinfolk.

88 Rangoon Road #01-03
Singapore 218374
Tel: +65 6341 5458
Mon: 12pm – 10pm
Wed to Fri: 12pm – 10pm
Sat: 10am – 6.30pm
Sun: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

#5 P BISTRO

Unlike most of the new cafes that are more hype than substance, P Bistro at Owen Road – just down the road from L’Etoile Cafe – is a refreshing addition to the local dining scene. The no-frills bistro dishes out comfort food at reasonable prices. They may not taste extraordinary, but they make good meals.

Expect dishes like Carbonara (S$15), Beef Bolognaise Spaghetti (S$16), Coq au Vin Jaune (S$22), Roast Chicken with Mushroom Sauce (S$18) and Duck Confit (S$28).

142 Owen Road
Tel: +65 6392 2333
Sun to Thu (Closed on Mon): 11am – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

#6 THE COLD PANTRY

The Chocolate Root Beer Waffle (S$12.50) is out of this world. Although chocolate in the batter made the waffle slightly cake-ier in texture, we liked that the waffle still stayed crisp throughout and the added chocolate chip cookie, charcoal vanilla soft-serve and the homemade root beer sauce all came together perfectly.
131 Rangoon Road
Tel: +65 9179 7266
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 9pm
Fri to Sun: 12pm – 10pm
(Closed on Tuesdays)
Nearest Station: Farrer Park

For more recommendations, read our guide to Singapore’s Best Cafes.