Words by Jolin Ma, photographs by ladyironchef

The Pigeonhole is tucked away from the bustling city, perfect for people like me who love some serenity in life. This little cafe is located, in my humble opinion, in the best area to hang out – Tanjong Pagar. Drop by someday, any day and for the matter everyday to get pampered with an array of cafes and restaurants located along winding streets power packed with culture and goodness!

A book cafe & dynamic arts space promoting local NGOs, music, film, performance & art – The Pigeonhole brings in uncommon beers from around the world. Besides that, they also offer pure simple coffee and tea to please the hearts and stomach of everyone.

What should you do there?

Step 1: Bring your guitar or a book, your laptop or a buddy, or just step right in with nothing but your awesome self.

Step 2: Pick your favourite spot. Now, this can be tough. Though I love the 2nd sofa from the left of the cafe (you will definitely know what I am talking about when you head there), my friends love the beanbags or the tall chairs. TAKE YOUR PICK!

Step 3: Wonder around the cafe and spot little treasures of art. Then, as you walk back to that special spot, stop by the counter to order a nice cuppa. My favourite is a double shot soy piccolo latte with ice. Immensely heavenly on a warm day. They even serve food now! Grab those too!

Step 4: Enjoy. Day dream. Imagine yourself as a lazy cat. And, if you are lucky, sometimes there are random events or meetings held there.

Check out The Pigeonhole guys. Quote “one-soy-piccolo-latte” to get a coffee therapy and rehab for the soul. Cheers!

The Pigeonhole
52/53 Duxton Road
Tel: +65 6226 2880
Tue to Thu: 10am – 11pm
Fri: 10am – 1am
Sat: 11.30am – 1am
Sun: 11.30am – 8pm

Holland Village is known as a cluster of restaurants which has a mix of different cuisines. The newest addition to the area is MU Parlour – a cafe serving desserts, burgers, and cocktails. Prices range from $4 to $6.50 for a dessert, while you can get their ‘gourmet’ burgers for $13 to $16.

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.

MU Parlour has a very pretty and cosy space. We fell in love with it the moment we stepped in. It is the perfect place to hang out, read a book, and watch the world go by.

As usual, we had a hard time trying to decide on what to order as everything was very appealing. In the end, we chose to share a cheesecake, a mint chocolate cake and a lemon tart.

One of the first things that caught my attention was that the passionfruit cheesecake ($6) does not have a crust base. I do not know about you, but for me, a cheesecake is not really a cheesecake without crust. That being said, we enjoyed MU Parlour’s version as it was very pleasant. The cheesecake was compact, smooth, and not too sweet. I would order it again when I go back.

We were hesitant to get the tarts because we saw that the filling was separated from the tart base. But being a fan of lemon meringue tart ($4), I decided to get it anyway. True enough, it was run-of-the-mill, and we did not finish it.

We also tried the mint chocolate cake ($6.50) – a very dense chocolate dessert which has more ganache than cake. I love the praline base, as well as the combination of chocolate and mint.

Besides the ones that we had, MU Parlour also has other desserts like blackcurrant chocolate cake ($6), coffee chocolate mousse ($6.50), and black forest cake ($6).

For those of you who frequent Holland Village, you should definitely drop by MU Parlour for desserts and coffee. Remember to say hello if you see me there.

MU Parlour
16A Lorong Mambong
Holland Village
Tel: +65 6466 9336
Sun to Thu: 11am – 11pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 2am
Nearest Station: Holland Village

How many people can say that they are happy at what they are doing? Not many. But I am quite sure the folks at Nylon Coffee Roasters can do that, as they are truly passionate about their coffee.

They have taken over a small shophouse and created a lovely coffee paradise in the sleepy Everton Park Estate. Who would have thought that cafes could survive in a heartland residential area?

They roast their own beans, they talk about coffee as if reciting poetry, and they serve your cuppa with lots of love. One of the best coffees in Singapore? Yes, I think so.

In case you are going to gather a group of friends to go there and chill-out after reading this post, Nylon Coffee Roasters is more of a take-away place than a dine-in cafe. It has only three seats, and the small space can probably accommodate less than ten people at any time.

We need to support people who are brave enough to chase after their dreams, so make a trip to Nylon Coffee Roasters at Everton Park (near Tanjong Pagar/Outram) and get a cup of coffee.

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

For more recommendations, please read my list of best cafes in Singapore

It’s really nice to see so many new cafes sprouting up around Singapore. I’ve been going on a cafe-hopping adventure, and one of the places that I went to is L’etoile Cafe at Owen Road.

The French-themed Japanese cafe is a real hidden gem, so if you are looking for a place to hangout with your friends this weekend, you can consider coming here.

Getting to L’etoile is not that difficult. Take the North-East line, alight at Farrer Park and find exit D which leads to Owen Road.

The ground floor is pretty much like a regular cafe with simple furnishings. It is the second floor (the first picture of this post) that makes the cafe stand out.

They did a good job mixing and matching old furniture. The result: a quirky and whimsical look that you can’t find elsewhere. I particularly loved the birdcage painting on the wall.

The current brunch menu is simple and affordable. They have several items like big breakfast ($9.5), eggs benedict ($5.9), banana nutella toast ($5.9), French toast ($5.9), and French crepes ($5).

From what I understand, they will be introducing a new all day brunch menu in the coming weeks. For now, their food menu is available till 3-4pm.

L’etoile cafe is a place where you can have a cup of coffee, read a book, and watch the world goes by. It’s also a place where you can hangout with a group of friends and play card games all day long. I like that it is not too crowded, and the off-the-track location makes it feel as though you are going on a quest to find a hidden treasure.

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

For more recommendations, please read my list of best cafes in Singapore

Thinking about what to do on a Sunday morning? Let’s find a nice cafe for brunch, have a cup of coffee, read a book and watch the world goes by.

The once-sleepy Tiong Bahru estate seems to be coming alive as more and more cafe – Drips Bakery Cafe, Forty Hands, and Open Door Policy – open in the area.

The Orange Thimble cafe at Eng Hoon Street is one of the new additions, and it joins Group Therapy Cafe in my list of new favourite cafes in Singapore.

For now, The Orange Thimble remains a nice hidden cafe. My friends have repeatedly warned me not to blog about it, so they are probably plotting a plan to murder me as I type this. You should quickly go down before more food blogs write about it.

The art cafe is divided into five sections. Directly behind the main area, there are two small tables in the corridor leading to the backyard.

There is also a mini art gallery where you get to sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee while admiring the art pieces.

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

The Orange Thimble Cafe in Tiong Bahru serves all day breakfast on weekends – English breakfast comes with eggs, sausages, bacon, sauteed mushroom, roasted tomatoes with toast for $11.5. Other items on the menu include: Shepherd’s Pie ($9), Egg Mayo sandwich ($8.5) and English Breakfast Burger ($5.5).

Singapore Food Blog Review
The Orange Thimble Cafe
56 Eng Hoon Street #01-68
Tel: +65 6223 8068
Tue to Sun: 11am – 9pm

For more recommendations, please read my list of best cafes in Singapore

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I am always good at finding the best places to eat, but when it comes to drinks, I am lucky to have a group of friends who are familiar with the Best Bars in Singapore. To most people, alcohol is very important, but I always prefer eating to drinking.

Together with Cafe Fables and A Thousand Tales (vintage furniture store), Bar Stories is a funky bar nestled within a shop house in Haji Lane. Apparently Cafe Fables operates in the day, and it transforms into Bar Stories when nightfall arrives.

Depending on individual preferences, the mixologists will create different cocktails right before your eyes. It was very interesting to watch them prepare each drink with different ingredients and liqueur – it felt like watching a performance.

The drinks at Bar Stories are very unique, and quite unlike the usual ones that you get from other bars. They use fresh food for every cocktail, so there is no artificial colouring.

I was tempted to reply “surprise me” when Jeff the mixologist asked me to make my order. Since it was my first time there, I decided to play safe and told him I like anything-sweet. He whipped out the Honeydew Sake Martini ($22, see above picture) in an instance, and I really enjoyed it.

My friends had the Midori Sour ($22) – a gorgeous shade of light green, pretty to look at and pleasant to drink; the Absinthe Forward Martini ($25) which had a heavy dosage of Absinthe & Gin and smacked us right in the face; and the Kyoho Grapes Martini ($25), a cheerful red mixture that made us rather gigglish. I don’t know about you, but pretty colours always make cocktails nicer to drink.

Tell me your life stories and I’ll buy you a drink. There is really nothing like a good cocktail after a long day of work. Have you been to Bar Stories at Haji Lane? What is your favourite drink there?

Singapore Food Blog Review
Bar Stories & Café Fables
55-57 Haji Lane
2nd Floor Singapore
Tel: +65 6298 0838

I am impressed with Forty Hands Cafe. Despite its (ulu) location within a shop house in the Tiong Bahru area, the cafe has been doing very well since its opening.

However, I felt that the food was average. They are always crowded, though, especially for weekend brunch. Also, I didn’t fancy the narrow layout of the place. Having said that, 40 Hands Cafe is still one of the nicer cafes in Singapore.

They have a few sandwiches (prices ranging from $8-$10) on the menu, but hey, breakfast food is all about eggs! The egg items like the Eggs Benedict, Baked Eggs and Big Breakfast are priced below $20.

We had two sets of the Big Breakfast: one with scrambled eggs and the other with poached eggs. The portion was generous and it came with mushroom, grilled tomatoes, sausages, eggs, toasts and greens. The Baked Eggs, on the other hand, was extremely salty and we didn’t manage to finish it.

And of course, people go to Forty Hands Cafe for the coffee. Known amongst the array of coffee joints, 40 hands is one of the few cafes that serve up the best coffee in Singapore.

It is quite difficult to find Forty Hands Cafe. Your best bet is to take a cab and hope that the driver knows where is Yong Siak street (near Tiong Bahru market). Book lovers will also be happy to know that the popular BooksActually has relocated to the same street. I think the idea of visiting a book shop after a good Sunday brunch is very appealing.

For more recommendations, read my list of Brunch in Singapore | Best Cafes in Singapore

Singapore Food Blog Review
Forty Hands Cafe
Blk 78 Yong Siak Street
#01-12 Singapore
Tel: +65 6225 8545

Operating Hours:
Tuesdays: 8:30am – 6:30pm
Wednesdays & Thursdays: 8:30am – 10pm
Fridays and Saturdays: 8:30am – 11pm
Sundays 8:30am – 6:30pm
Closed on Monday

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Note: Kki at Ann Siang Hill is currently closed, and it is currently looking for a new premise.

I first heard of Kki Cafe at Ann Siang Hill from a friend, and then another friend mentioned it too. I was about to visit Kki, but suddenly, all the media and food blogs in Singapore started to write about it. I am not sure about you, but I am not one who will follow the crowd, so I decided to wait for the hype to die down.

Finally, my chance to visit Kki Patisserie came. After having dim sum at Majestic Restaurant, my friends wanted some cakes for desserts, so we dropped by Kki Cafe. Given that there are so many new dessert places in Singapore, is Kki Cafe worth the trip?

It took us a while to decide on the cakes. Even though we’ve read about the popular cakes at Kki Cafe like Antoinette and Little Red Hiding Hood, we were feeling adventurous so we randomly picked three cakes.

Amongst the three cakes that we had, my favourite was the Emily ($9). Just look at the first photo of this post: the cake had a beautiful shade of red, and the subtle champagne mousse was gorgeous.

The Souffle Cheese ($6), on the other hand, was exceptionally ordinary. It was light and moist, but I thought that the flavour was somewhat missing.

We also enjoyed their rendition of the Noisette: Hazelnut Dacquoise layer with Chocolate & Praline Cream. It was a slice of delicious cake!

So all in all, would I go back to Kki Cafe at Ann Siang Hill for cakes? I don’t think so.

Kki Cafe has very pretty Japanese desserts, but there are many lovely cake shops in the area like Flor Patisserie, Bonheur Patisserie, and Patisserie Glace that have equally good cakes at a lower price point.

Having said that, I think Kki cafe is a nice place to enjoy a slice of cake while reading your favourite book. There is also The Little Drom Store, a quirky vintage store selling all sorts of random things.

Read: Dessert Places & Patisserie | Best Cakes in Singapore | Best Cafes in Singapore

Singapore Food Blog Review
Kki Cake Cafe
7 Ann Siang Hill
Tel: +65 6225 6650

Operating Hours:
Daily: 12pm – 7pm
except Saturday 12pm – 4pm
& closed on Monday.

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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