Although there are plenty of cafes in Singapore known for their kopi and kaya, should you have a hankering for a decent flat white and avocado on toast, you’ll be pleased to know the city state is brewing with everything from hipster cafes to speciality coffee roasteries ready to satisfy your cravings.
Whether you want to grab and go or enjoy a leisurely Sunday brunch, Urban List has rounded up the best cafes in Singapore for good food and even better coffee in 2024.
Elixir Coffee and Wine
24 Holland Grove Road, #01-18 Parksuites
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Elixir Coffee and Wine originally opened in 2019 as Elixir Boutique Roasters, a laidback cafe in Bukit Timah that specialised in small-batch filter coffees and premium espressos, alongside a hearty brunch-to-lunch menu. However, earlier this year it reopened in Holland Grove as a coffee bar with a brunch menu during the day and pizza and wine bar by night.
The brunch dishes, served from 8:30am to 3pm are simple yet robust. Our top picks are the selection of freshly-baked tartines and the French toast with Ispahan cream, roasted hazelnuts and dried rose petals. Pair your meal with a coffee using beans sourced from Blacklist Coffee Roasters in Perth, Australia. Once the clock strikes twelve, it’s really all about the pizza and wine.
The French American Bakery
49 Haji Lane
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The French American Bakery is known for its freshly baked pastries, cookies, desserts, and their now famous hot chocolate topped with torched marshmallow. In fact, the little takeaway-only joint on Haji Lane has become so popular there’s often a queue out the door.
As the name suggest, the bakery serves up a mix of French treats like buttery croissants, flaky kouign-amanns, torched-to-order crème brulée, and light and airy madeleines, as well as American-style cookies and loaf cakes. While the bakery isn’t halal certified, the bakes are all Muslim-friendly as no gelatine or alcohol is used.
If you’re after something in particular, we recommend ordering online ahead of time to avoid disappointment as their bakes often sell out.
Wildcard
405 Havelock Road, #01-03 Furama RiverFront
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Tucked away in the Furama RiverFront Hotel, Wildcard is a self-confessed café by day and wine bar by night. Founded by sommelier Charlene Yeap and Maxi Coffee Bar owner Denise Lum, Wildcard’s coffee and wine programmes are seasonally themed, featuring beans and bottles from independent farmers and artisans. Order a flat white today and you’ll be treated to Bomba De Fruta, a natural Colombian coffee which has a deep sweetness and tropical fruit notes.
If you're in the mood for something a little stronger, Wildcard also happens to be Singapore's only supplier of Bar Termini's famous bottled Negronis and new Il Diciotto amaro, which are available to enjoy at the bar or to purchase by the bottle.
As for the food, you can expect a small but mighty menu of rotating sweet and salty bites alongside heartier dishes which are available at peak times. Highlights include the oxtail donut (a savoury braised oxtail ragout housed inside a fluffy doughnut with espresso BBQ glaze and bone marrow crumbs) and the prawn sando (prawn katsu, chilli aioli and celeriac remoulade served on a milk bun).
Wild Honey
#03-01/02 Mandarin Gallery, 333A Orchard Road and #03-01, 6 Scotts Square, 6 Scotts Road
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Serving up a selection of globally inspired all-day breakfasts, Wild Honey is always a popular choice when it comes to the best cafes in Singapore. The menu was inspired by the owners’ travels around the world, so you can expect dishes like Tahitian coconut pancakes with coconut yoghurt, fresh mango, passion fruit and maple syrup and Tunisian spicy shakshuka (onion, tomato, red pepper and chilli) with chorizo and eggs.
We recommend pairing your meal with a Turkish coffee, which is brewed in a traditional copper pot and is much more aromatic and thicker than other coffees. With two locations across Singapore—Mandarin Gallery and Scotts Square—it’s never been easier to get your breakfast fix regardless of the time of day.
Lola’s
5 Simon Road and 48 Lorong Mambong
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Lola’s is a delightful neighbourhood cafe in Singapore. The kind of place that always smells like freshly ground coffee and delicious baked treats. Known for its unpretentious comfort food and chic yet comfortable interiors, the brand has two outlets across Singapore—Kovan and Holland Village.
The menu features brunch favourites like waffles and pulled pork and avocado eggs benedict as well as grain bowls, pasta and the best charred Brussels sprouts we’ve ever eaten. The loaded tater tots and roasted harissa cauliflower also deserve a special mention. As for the coffee, they have two carefully selected beans available. The first is their house blend which is roasted by Dutch Colony Co. and is dark and bold, the second is a seasonal blend which is roasted by Double Up Coffee and is much lighter and more floral tasting.
East Coast Commune
1000 East Coast Park, #01-03
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Located at the Marine Cove enclave at East Coast Park, East Coast Commune is the perfect place to enjoy a cuppa while soaking in nature. The cafe is dotted with Scandi-themed furnishings, live plants, teal feature walls and marine-themed artwork as an ode to their coastal location.
The menu consists of wholesome western fare with an Asian influence—think chicken and waffles with spiced chicken thighs and sriracha cream and crispy snapper marinated in turmeric and cumin. Special attention has been paid to the children’s menu, with healthy options such as chicken bowls and oatmeal on offer. The kid-friendly space also has ample room for strollers and is equipped with baby seats, a play area with open-ended toys and a curated library of books housed on low shelves.
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Sunday Folks
44 Jalan Merah Saga, #01-52 Chip Bee Gardens and 2 Orchard Turn, #04-11B ION Orchard
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From pillows of handmade caramel marshmallows to hand-stirred gula melaka mochi and freshly churned ice cream, Sunday Folks is dedicated to the craft of dessert making. With two outlets across Singapore—Sunday Folks Holland Village and Bynd Artisan + Sunday Folks ION Experience Store—those with a sweet tooth will be spoilt for choice.
If you’re looking to try something a bit different, the freshly baked croffles are a serious game changer. A hybrid between croissants and waffles, they are perfect for breakfast or just as a sweet snack during the day. They are even better when paired with their handmade ice cream and dark chocolate sea salt honeycomb. You can combat the sugar rush with one of their specialty coffees—single origin pour over from PPP Coffee or espresso speakeasy blend from Liberty.
Cédric Grolet Singapore
COMO Orchard, Level 1, 28/30 Bideford Road
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Cédric Grolet—one of the most globally-renowned pastry chefs—has opened the doors to his first pâtisserie in Asia on the first floor of COMO Orchard. Voted best pastry chef in the world by Grand Tables du Monde and World’s 50 Best Restaurants, he is renowned for his trompel'œil artistry.
Alongside a selection of pastries and sandwiches, Grolet has created a series of Singapore exclusives and a special tea menu inspired by the unique tropical fruit of Southeast Asia. The Lychee and Dragonfruit are crafted in his signature trompel'œil style, whilst his take on the Mooncake showcases his impeccable detailing, and playful use of flavours and textures. As for breakfast, you can’t go past the benedict croissant and quiche Lorriane paired with a milk punch (coconut milk infused with cold brew).
Tiong Bahru Bakery
Various Locations
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Tiong Bahru Bakery first opened its doors in 2012 on Eng Hoon Street in Tiong Bahru, offering the neighbourhood a range of French pastries and artisanal breads. One of the very first French cafes in Singapore, Tiong Bahru Bakery’s croissants have been voted by many as the best in Singapore and their kouign-amanns (Breton for butter cake) are all kinds of sweet, salty and wonderfully buttery.
As for the coffee, you can enjoy an aromatic cup from their specialty coffee bar by Common Man Coffee Roasters. And with 17 outlets across the country—our favourite is Tiong Bahru Bakery Safari on Minden Road—you won’t have to travel far to get your fix.
Homeground Coffee Roasters
15 Teo Hong Road
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Homeground Coffee Roasters initially started life as a pop-up shop, but it became so popular the team decided to open a permanent store. The space itself consists of two units—a cafe and a retail shop called Playground, which is a haven for homebrewers.
The cafe is dedicated to showcasing the full sensory experience coffee has to offer—from the point of preparation to your very last sip. Their baristas will take you on a guided sensory experience, making sure your brew is personalised to your tastes. There’s also a series of sweet and savoury dishes on offer, all of which have been designed to pair well with a cup of Joe—we recommend the grilled double cheese.
Surrey Hills Grocer
Various Locations
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Another authentic Australian destination, Surrey Hills Grocer is actually a cafe and a specialty grocer all-in-one. The name itself is an ode to two eponymous townships that reside in Australia. Inspired by the scenic autumn forest landscapes at the quaint Surrey Hills town in Melbourne, and the finest baked goods at Surrey Hills, an inner-city suburb of Sydney and hip strip known for its vibrant cultural and cafe scene, Surrey Hills Grocer was borne of a desire to bring that same tranquil, comfort and delight to the Singapore cafe scene.
Signature dishes at their ION Orchard outlet include the 48-hour braised short rib bowl (a 48-hour braised short rib plated with furikake-seasoned baby corn, seaweed salad, broccoli and molten egg), and BBQ pork shoulder benny (36-hour slow sous vide pork shoulder, maple bacon and benny drizzled with hollandaise and house BBQ sauce). We also highly recommend the turkey cranberry focaccia (black forest turkey ham and brie on sliced focaccia, sprinkled with Koko Black raspberry cocoa nibs, with microgreens on the side). Coffee aficionados can look forward to brews from some of Australia’s most popular and award-winning specialty coffee roasters including ONA coffee and Seven Seeds.
Ralph’s Coffee
2 Bayfront Avenue, #01-71 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
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Luxury fashion brand Ralph Lauren opened its first cafe in Singapore, Ralph’s Coffee, at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands earlier this year. Serving a selection of coffee and light bites, including the brand’s signature Ralph’s Roast, made from organically grown beans from Central and South America, the Singapore cafe has become a big hit with the Instagram posse.
Although somewhat gimmicky, the range of classic American desserts (think cookies, cakes and soft serve ice cream) are surprisingly delicious. For those who don’t drink coffee, the Pineapple Shaken Tea is a must try. It’s essentially a blend of pineapple juice and tea, garnished with peppermint leaves—it also happens to be a Singapore exclusive drink.
Carrotsticks & Cravings
7 Rodyk Street, #01-34 and 5 Stanley Street, #01-01
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Founded by Melbourne born Terri-Anne, Carrotsticks & Cravings is an Australian inspired cafe that focuses on healthy food that not only looks good, but tastes good too. Loaded with superfoods and wholesome fare, the menu includes everything from smashed avocado on toast to salad bowls and protein shakes. Those familiar with Vegemite will be pleased to see the famous Aussie spread even made it onto the menu.
Carrotsticks & Cravings is also able to cater to a range of special dietary requirements with gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian and vegan options available—they even have keto (bulletproof) coffee. If you fancy doing Sunday brunch, we recommend heading to their Robertson Quay outlet, which is situated along the Singapore River and has plenty of seating available outside.
Coexist Coffee Co.
Various Locations
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Founded by three friends all of who have a passion for good coffee, Coexist Coffee Co puts in a lot of effort to brew the perfect cup. Sourcing and roasting their own beans, they make it a priority to meet their farmers and coffee exporters in order to understand where their coffee beans come from and the journey they go through. They then do batch after batch of roasting to find that sweet spot of flavour and notes, before pushing it out for the world to taste.
Their Coffee University X Micro Roastery—which offers workshops and accreditation courses—on Eunos Road 8 does a weekday pastry set promo, where you can pick up a pastry and a coffee for less than $10. Alternatively, their pumpkin hash toast and bangers and mash are the best we’ve tried. Those with a sweet tooth should definitely order the Milo cheesecake.
PS.Cafe
Various Locations
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Although PS.Cafe has various locations across the country, for a truly relaxing experience you can’t beat PS.Cafe at East Coast Park.
The bright and airy space takes its design inspiration from the seaside and offers a menu full of PS. classics alongside a few outlet specific dishes. For brunch we recommend the blueberry pancakes and breakfast grand slam bunwich which comes with a fried egg, crispy bacon, pork sausage, caramelised onion and raisin relish.
Punch
32 North Canal Road
Image credit: Punch | Facebook
Showcasing a simple menu with an all-day breakfast, Punch is known for its minimalist vibes and unique open courtyard which is a hit with the cool kids.
Although Punch does a really good poached eggs with avocado, we suggest trying something a little different. The banana porridge and earl grey pancakes with poached pear and white chocolate macadamia would be our top picks. Of course, if you simply can’t say no to eggs, Dean's Breakfast with poached eggs, melted cheese and Vegemite on seeded toast, and sliced avocado is the way to go.
The Providore
Various Locations
Image credit: The Providore | Facebook
The Providore is a well-loved cafe and deli which serves up good food and delicious coffee inspired by their own product range, together with the freshest seasonal ingredients.
Their breakfast menu is served until 11.30am weekdays and 3pm on weekends and public holidays. Highlights include the ricotta pancakes with caramelised banana and candied walnuts, the Spanish baked eggs, and the English breakfast which comes with grilled bacon and bratwurst sausage. For lunch, look no further than the club sandwhich which comes with a grilled chicken breast, fried egg, avocado, grilled bacon, lettuce, and aioli or the risotto with shredded duck confit, mushrooms, truffle oil, green peas, parmigiano reggiano, and crispy duck skin.
The Providore also has a great selection of artisanal breads and pastries which are made fresh each morning by their team of skilled bakers.
Merci Marcel
Various Locations
Image credit: Merci Marcel | Facebook
Adding a little Parisian flair to the Lion City, Merci Marcel has become a firm favourite with many thanks to its Instagram-worthy decor and tasty brunch offering. With six outlets across the island (our favourites are Tiong Bahru and Club Street), you won't have to travel far to get your fix.
There are two different breakfast menus available depneding on when you visit, but highlights include the homemade granola with fresh fruit and nuts, the French toast with berries and whipped cream, and the eggs benedict which comes with ham, mushroom, and hollandaise sauce. Their daytime menu includes the delicious Croque Marcel which comes with organic Bayonne ham, an organic fried egg, and French Morbier cheese served on sourdough, as well as a roasted whole eggplant with puy lentils, tomato preserve, and yoghurt.
Looking for more: Check out:
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