From hidden coffee haunts to cosy nooks in the wall, Singapore has a tonne of memorable cafés for when you’ve a spare pocket of time.
LessDaizu Cafe stands out immediately thanks to its expansive space: a loft-style, two-storey interior that lets in plenty of morning sunlight. That’s not to say that the menu hasn’t been given much thought. While some might come for the picture-worthy space, its novel brunch plates that fuse Japanese flavours with western cooking techniques are equally intriguing.
Atlas Coffeehouse is now one of Singapore’s mainstay cafés, with owners Daphne Goh and Lionel Ang having opened up a tonne of others – including Lunar Coffee Brewers, Columbus Coffee, and Neptune. But Atlas is their very first. Tasty brunch fare aside, it's their coffee that impresses most, with baristas specially trained when it comes to different types of blends.
This two-storey coffee complex hides a coffee school and retail space on the second floor, while a full inventory of coffee gear dominates its ground floor café. Wait in line by the vinyl player piping indie beats into the perpetually crowded space, then order an espresso made with its Nuts and Bolts or Terra Firma blends.
Bearded Bella is a comfortable space flooded in natural light which serves brunch staples like smashed avocado toast sprinkled with quinoa, feta and pomegranate ($24) as well as spiced scramble ($18), silky scrambled eggs topped with mushrooms and crispy kale. If it’s caffeine you’re looking for, you’re at the right place. Co-owner Regina Tay is a National Barista Championship Winner and roasts the beans in-house in small batches.
Amber Ember, a café located smack in the middle of Serangoon and Kovan MRT stations, may be the first to bring the idea of jaffles to our sunny shores. Splashed in shades of dusty pink and warm neutrals, this Instagrammable café offers six jaffle options with its signature purple sweet potato mash.
As one of Singapore’s earliest boutique roasters in Singapore, Nylon Coffee Roasters remains a leading name when it comes to quality coffee. The space might be small, but there’s a loyal following of coffee drinkers out there who’ll be sure to vouch that the coffee here is the best in town.
From its high ceilings and concrete floors to its wooden-topped chairs and tables, Five Oars Coffee Roasters takes industrial-chic to a whole new level. Its food isn't shabby either: Sriracha chicken benedict ($18), crab scramble ($23) and wagyu cheeseburger ($25) are just some of the delectable dishes it has on the menu.
Just a stone's throw from Old Hen Coffee Bar lies Old Hen Kitchen, serving up a brunch menu alongside its usual coffee and cake options. The open kitchen concept alongside the wooden furniture and little pockets of greenery creates a cosy, familiar environment that's perfect for a satisfying lunch or for a chill afternoon with a book in one hand and coffee in the other.
Symmetry is a definitive example of a hipster café. Pop art posters, pre-loved trinkets, an indie music soundtrack, metal fixtures, and lots and lots of wood fill the space, bordered on one end by a built-as-vintage brick wall. While its brunch is popular, Symmetry’s lunch and dinner menus – which deviate from the standard café fare – are its real triumphs.