Originating from Kyoto, Kurasu is a popular cafe that serves specialty coffee from selected roasters around Japan and Matcha Latte. It is one destination you have to stop by for a morning pick-me-up.

Kurasu has recently opened Kurasu Orchard Stand at Orchard Building opposite Orchard Cineleisure and Mandarin Gallery. It aims to bring Japanese specialty coffee into the heart of the busiest shopping district in Singapore.

Kurasu Singapore offers the same lineup of coffee in their Kyoto branch with coffee being shipped fresh weekly in an express package.

Starting as a small online store selling homeware in 2013, Kurasu has since expanded their business to include both physical and online stores providing specialty coffee, tea, and Japanese brewing equipment that has been carefully roasted in their Nishijin Roastery.

If caffeine is not your thing, Kurasu Singapore has another signature drink—Matcha Latte, using top-grade matcha powder from Kyoto.

Drop by Kurasu Orchard Stand to try their coffee and Matcha Latte the next time you are in town.

Kurasu Orchard Stand
Grange Road, #01-03, Orchard Building
Singapore 239693
Daily: 9.30am – 5.30pm

Parallel Kitchen & Bar is a new cafe at Quayside Isle on Sentosa by the same team behind Parallel Coffee Roasters at Club Street.

The outlet at Quayside was opened in end July 2022 and you can enjoy breakfast and brunch favourites, as well as a full dinner and bar menu at the new concept.

Located at the end of Quayside Isle facing W Hotel Singapore, Parallel Kitchen & Bar is a pet-friendly space with a few tables at the outdoor area.

The main dining area is located on level two (above SolePomodoro Trattoria Pizzeria) and it comes with a view facing the Marina.

Parallel Coffee Roasters was started back in 2017 with the aim of serving good coffee at affordable prices. Parallel Kitchen & Bar shares the same idea and you can get good specialty coffee at super affordable prices. An espresso is only S$2.90 while a latte/cappucino is S$3.90.

All espresso-based drinks are served with a double shot. And on top of that, there is no extra charge for iced drinks.

The new Common Man Coffee Roasters at Quayside Isle, in comparison, charges S$8 for an iced white coffee.

Parallel Kitchen & Bar has an extensive food menu from breakfast & brunch dishes, to mains, pastas and desserts, with prices starting from S$19 for a dish.

The Breakfast Burger (S$22) featured a housemade chicken patty, bacon, fried egg, and caramelised onions sandwiched berween two toasted brioche buns.

For something sweet, go for the Pancake Stack (S$22) which came with a stack of fluffy pancakes with blueberries, strawberries, kiwi, granola and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Nothing overly complicated, just simple brunch fare for a lazy weekend.

Drop by Parallel Kitchen & Bar by Parallel Coffee Roasters for brunch and affordable specialty coffee the next time you are at Sentosa.

Parallel Kitchen & Bar
31 Ocean Way, #01-15,
Singapore 098375

Singapore Coffee is a beautiful and fancy cafe at Raffles Hotel Arcade is a fancy place to hang out with your friends and enjoy some desserts and coffee.

Specialising in sourcing and blending the finest quality coffee grown throughout Asia, Singapore Coffee is a paradise for coffee lovers.

From espresso, to drips, cold brew and even traditional kopi, you name it, they’ve got it.

If you are visiting the cafe for the first time, be sure to try their signature Kopi Shake™—an interesting connocation which is pre-blended with both evaporated and condensed milk.

Made with Singapore Coffee’s Blend N01, the Tiramisu N01(S$18) came with strong coffee flavour and paired wonderfully with the Kopi Shake.

Other than coffee and desserts, Singapore Coffee also offers savoury mains which come from the Raffles Hotel’s kitchen. There are local delights including Nasi Lemak (S$25), and Mee Goreng (S$25), while you can also get other options such as Lobster Roll (S$42), Pasta (S$38) and Eggs Benedict (S$21).

Prices are naturally not cheap at an atas place like Singapore Coffee. Expect to fork out S$8 for a cup of Latte, S$9 for a cup of iced kopi, and S$15-S$18 for a dessert.

Singapore Coffee
328 North Bridge Road #01-13
Singapore 188719
Tel: 8878 7093

Founded by Tiong Hoe Gim Kee Trading Co—a reputable pioneer in Singapore’s competitive coffee industry with more than half a century worth of experience in roasting coffee beans—Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee opened at Stirling Road in Queenstown HDB Estate back in 2014 and it remains one of the most popular coffee shops in Singapore until today.

Coffee is naturally serious business at Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee. It is a paradise for all coffee lovers. While most of us head there for a good cup of coffee, budding baristas can also look forward to a splendid showcase of brewing equipment, espresso bar accessories and coffee beans from all over the world.

Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee currently roasts its coffee beans on site, but they are in the midst of moving their coffee roaster to another space.

Set foot in and you will be greeted by gigantic sacks of coffee beans and a crowd of coffee enthusiasts.

Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee boasts several roasted single-origin and an espresso blend. Prices range from S$3.70 for an espresso to S$5.30 for an iced cappuccino.

Coffee blends are typically on a rotational basis, which means you will probably get to savour a different type of coffee each time you visit Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee.

Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee
170 Stirling Road
Singapore 140170
Tel: +65 6473 1133
Mon to Fri: 8.30am – 5.30pm
Sat and Sun: 9am – 4pm
Nearest Station: Queenstown

Pacto by Parchmen is a new cafe at Jalan Besar Community Centre and it is opened by the team behind pet-friendly Sun Ray Cafe and Parched.

The Lavender neighbourhood is home to many wonderful cafes and following on the arrival of Habitat Coffee, Pacto by Parchmen is the latest addition to the area.

Sun Ray Cafe is known for serving excellent coffee at wallet-friendly prices and you can expect the same of Pacto by Parchmen.

Pacto by Parchmen uses an exclusive Pacto espresso blend of Ethiopia, Guatemala and Colombia beans roasted fresh from their roastery, Parchmen.

An espresso is priced at S$2, while you can get Latte and Cappuccino at S$4.

Other than coffee, Pacto by Parchmen offers a wide range of teas from Parchmen which includes Ao Fu Hou Dancong from Chao Zhou.

There is also a selection of cakes that are baked in house and you can enjoy them together with your coffee and tea.

Photos credit: Pacto by Parchmen

To celebrate their opening, they have a special promotion of 10% for all orders from now until 12 September 2021.

Pacto by Parchmen
69 Jellicoe Road #01-05 Singapore 208737
Jalan Besar Community Centre
Daily: 9am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Lavender

Habitat Coffee has moved from Upper Thomson Road to a new location at King’s George Avenue in the Lavender neighbourhood. It has soft launched on 3 August 2021 and you can get your coffee and brunch fix from their new home.

The cafe has been around at the previous location at Upper Thomson Road for the past 10 years, and despite the tough competition in the cafe scene, it shines and remains a favourite for many. Habitat Coffee is worth visiting because it serves good coffee and well-cooked dishes at reasonable prices.

Habitat Coffee’s owner, Ryan Pang, is also one of the owners behind Equate Coffee—a minimalist coffee shop in Tanjong Pagar that focuses on coffee and pastries.

Regulars to Habitat Coffee will be happy to know that the cafe has retained its signature dishes on the menu.

They will also be introducing a new food menu within the next two weeks, so it’s definitely something to look forward to when dine-in resumes.

The team at Habitat Coffee is passionate about bringing different coffee blends of varying origins and it certainly serves one of the best coffees in Singapore.

Habitat Coffee
803 King’s George Ave
#01-242/244
Singapore 200803

Foreword Coffee Roasters is a coffee chain and social enterprise which serves speciality coffee from Asia, while training and hiring persons with disabilities and special needs in their coffee kiosks to spread more awareness and empower the differently-abled in Singapore.

Foreword Coffee Roasters has opened its 5th outlet at Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music in National University of Singapore (NUS). But before you make a trip there, do note that the gorgeous coffee shop is currently open to NUS staff and students only.

Photo credit: Foreword Coffee Roasters

Foreword Coffee Roasters serves a myriad of coffee drinks and a few signature concoctions. In addition to these cuppas, they also offer rice bowls, waffles, pastries and cakes at the new outlet.

One of Foreword Coffee Roasters’s signature drinks is the Timeless Yuan Yang (S$6.50). A ristretto shot of their Yunnan Ouyang coffee blend with an Earl Grey tea ice ball blends perfectly with milk.

The first sip brought out the bright flavour of the Earl Grey instantly and as it faded on your tastebuds, the fruity yet bitter note of the Yunnan Ouyang Coffee could be tasted. It was an excellent modern rendition of the traditional Yuan Yang.

Foreword Coffee Roasters’s next signature drink, the 70% Dark Chocolate (S$6.50), was a delight to drink. This would be perfect for those who enjoy a milkier hot chocolate drink but want that rich chocolate aroma.

Photo credit: Foreword Coffee Roasters

The new space is using upcycled furniture—made of milk bottles and caps—which are made by sustainability partners with different expertise that turn waste into gems.

To further reduce waiting time, self-collection at UTown is available for NUS staff and students now, throughout this Phase 2 (HA)! Collection timings are from 12pm – 2pm with a minimum order of S$20.

To celebrate the opening of the new outlet at Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, Foreword Coffee Roaster has a special opening drink—Coconut / Attap Seed Ice Cream Latte! This special opening drink is also available at their Canberra Plaza and Temasek Shophouse outlets.

Foreword Coffee Roaster
Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, level 1
Mon to Fri, 8am-5pm

Opened by the same team behind Glyph Supply Co, Dough Coffee is a new Korean-inspired bakery & coffee shop at CHIJMES. It is quite easily one of the nicest cafes in Singapore right now, and long queues can be seen daily.

We paid Dough Coffee a visit and it made us miss Seoul a little more than ever.

Dough Coffee makes their own bread, pastries and pasta in-house.

Other than the bread and pastries, it has a small and concise selection of All-Day Breakfast, Pasta and Mains including Breakfast Platter (S$28), Spicy Kimchi & Tomato Pasta (S$22), and Wagyu Burger (S$26).

Matcha Mochi (S$5) is a popular option and it is baked using premium ingredients including ceremonial-grade matcha, milk mochi, azuki, Japanese flour and AOP butter. Sadly, it sounds a lot better than it tasted.

The Kouign Amann (S$5), on the other hand, was totally worth the price tag. The buttery pastry that is lavishly sprinkled with powdered sugar was beautifully layered on the inside.

We can’t do without our Iced White (S$$6), especially when the weather has been so merciless. The espresso shot was nutty and had a nice bitter aftertaste to it, and we would definitely pick up another cup if we were in the vicinity.

Dough Coffee
30 Victoria St, #01-30, Singapore 187996

Equate Coffee is a new minimalist coffee shop in Tanjong Pagar that focuses on coffee and pastries which include Canele and Ondeh cake.

One of the owners behind Equate Coffee is from Habitat Coffee and it is currently still in soft launch and will officially open to the public on 1 March 2021.

Choose from Espresso (S$3), Black (S$4.5), White (S$5), Chocolate (S$5), Mocha (S$5.5) as well as Filter Coffee (S$7). On top of that, Equate Coffee also offers traditional Kopi (S$2.5) and Kopi-O (S$2).

Enjoy your coffee with their caneles (S$) and ondeh cakes (S$7) which are baked in-house.

Photos credit: Equate Coffee

Equate Coffee is definitely a great addition to the speciality coffee scene in Singapore. Do check it out when you are around the area.

Equate Coffee
1 Tanjong Pagar Plaza, #02-25, Singapore 082001

Prairie by Craftsmen is a new cafe & restaurant at Cluny Court near Botanic Gardens which has an outdoor alfresco dine-in concept, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Opened by Craftsmen Specialty Coffee, the new concept took over the former premise of Bar Bar Black Sheep at Cluny Court and they had a soft launch on 20 Jan 2021.

Prairie by Craftsmen has a rather extensive menu. There is a selection of breakfast options as well as pastas and mains including Duck Confit, Ribeye Steak and Fish & Chips.

Photos credit: Prairie by Craftsmen

If you are heading over to Prairie by Craftsmen in the afternoon, do note that the kitchen will be closed from 3pm to 5pm, with the last order for lunch at 2.30pm. In that period of time, drink, pastry and cake will still be available for order. Their dinner service will resume at 5pm.

Prairie by Craftsmen
Cluny Court #01-05C, beside Botanic Garden MRT, Exit A

Side walkway via Cluny basement parking entrance
Tel: +65 6972 9142

Cupping Room Coffee Roasters is opening its first outlet in Singapore at Ngee Ann City.

One of the most established independent coffee shops in Hong Kong, Cupping Room Coffee Roasters is opened by the champion of the Hong Kong Barista Championship 2013.

Cupping Room Coffee Roasters Singapore is located on level two of Ngee Ann City, taking over the unit directly opposite Van Cleef & Arpels. The hoarding is already up and they will be officially opening to the public on 10 Oct 2020.

Photo Credit: Cupping Room Singapore

From first look, the interior of the Singapore outlet is very different from Cupping Room Hong Kong.

Photo Credit: Cupping Room Singapore

The space is conceptualised and designed by Brewin Design Office and it is inspired by the layers of coffee and milk mixing; nude tones weave between solid brown shades and are held together by concrete and stone elements.

The arrival of Cupping Room Coffee Roaster in Singapore is definitely great news for coffee lovers.

Cupping Room Singapore
391 Orchard Road
Level 2 Ngee Ann City
Singapore 238872

Read: 34 best coffee shops in Singapore that you have to visit at least once.

The coffee scene in Singapore has been thriving, especially with the entrance of many third-wave cafés. And it doesn’t show signs of stopping any time soon. This is good news for coffee aficionados as this means that there’s always a new place to get your caffeine fix.

Previously known as Dancing Goat Specialty Coffee, this coffee shop is not exactly new but it has since been rebranded as Narrative Coffee Stand.

Located on the ground floor of Bras Basah Complex, the coffee shop sports a Kinfolk-esque interior with some bar seats and communal seating.

We started off our day with a White (S$4.50). Delightfully smooth and nutty, it had a mellow acidity towards the end with some fruity tones. It was pretty clean on the palate too!

For espresso, Columbian beans from Nylon Coffee Roasters are currently served.

To accompany our cuppa, we got a Raspberry Chocolate Scone (S$3) that was warmed up upon order. Despite being a tad dry for our liking, the scone was crumbly and had pockets of melty decadent dark chocolate pieces and raspberry swirls.

Apart coffee and a selection of tea, Narrative Coffee Stand has a daily line-up of fresh bakes such as brownies, muffins and cinnamon for you to choose from too.

231 Bain Street
#01-05 Bras Basah Complex
Singapore 180231
Mon to Fri: 8.30am – 6pm
Sat, Sun and PH: 10am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Bras Basah