Best Cafes in Singapore: Where I Enjoyed Coffee and Sweets

Okay, I agree that when you think of Singapore, cafes are not the first thing that comes to mind. But will you have wasted your plane ticket if you skip the cafes completely? Yes. Very much so.

The cafe culture here has existed for over a century, and the cafes here each have their own way of integrating those longstanding traditions into their designs and menus.

I popped into way too many cafes “just to check it out” during my half month there, and was always blown away to some degree.

Some cafes serve the local kaya toasts with modern spins on traditional kopi. Others sell chocolate moon cakes to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, and my favorite spot makes Pulut Hitam cakes!

If you’re a traveler and a foodie who believes that a huge chunk of culture lies in a country’s food and drinks, get ready to save the cafes on this list to your phone!

At A Glance: My List of the Best Cafes in Singapore

You’ll find a mix of modern coffee shops and kopitiams (traditional coffee shops) that I went to and enjoyed for a variety of reasons. Below is a quick breakdown of what stood out to me at each cafe.

Keep scrolling for yummy photos and my full opinions.

Cafe Name	Area	Best For
Olsen Bakehouse	Katong-Joo Chiat	Unique local bakes
Tiong Bahru Bakery	Multiple locations	Signature coffee + desserts
Kings Cart Coffee	Katong-Joo Chiat	Specialty drinks
Ya Kun Kaya Toast	Multiple locations	Kopi + Kaya Toasts
Kopifellas	Multiple locations	Modern, reapplied kopi
Nanyang Old Coffee	Chinatown	Traditional kopi
Awfully Chocolate Cafe	Katong-Joo Chiat	Fancy desserts + Chocolate
Tarik	Kampong Glam Arab Street	All kinds of cozy tea
Monochrome	Chinatown	Atmosphere + Aesthetic

1. Olsen Bakehouse

• Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM daily
• Location: 301 Joo Chiat Rd, Singapore 427552
• Must-try: Pulut Hitam Cake, Latte
• Wi-Fi: Yes ✅

I only got a latte (which was delicious), but never mind the coffee. The dessert selection here is literally insane! It’s not huge, but it’s full of cakes and other pastries in local flavors, deliciously made.

They have a Kopi Kaya Peanut Butter cake, Pulut Hitam cake, Lemon Coconut kueh, and more. You get the idea.

I got the Pulut Hitam cakes, and oh my god. The combination of chewy black sticky rice, coconut milk, and the pandan cake was perfect.

There’s also a small shelf of books (many of which I love) called the “Little Library” that invites the customers to slow down and read while enjoying the cafe vibe. This cafe is my place.

2. Tiong Bahru Bakery

• Opening Hours: Open 7:30 AM, with different closing times
• Location: Multiple locations
• Must-try: Salted Egg Cruffin, Turmeric Latte
• Wi-Fi: Yes ✅

French pastries are this cafe’s strong suits. Drooling as you stand in front of the showcase, you’ll see a variety of croissants, even ones made into quick-meal sandwiches, and beautiful mousses and tarts.

I tried the Salted Egg Cruffin (muffin-shaped croissant) and fell in love. I wasn’t even hungry, but I had to refuel myself after a busy morning, so I picked the thing I was most skeptical about (hate salted egg, usually), and I was pleasantly surprised.

For coffee, I tried their Turmeric Latte, hoping for the turmeric to heal me from exhaustion (😂), and it did! I think it was delicious, but I’d say tread carefully if you’re not used to its strong aroma.

There are multiple branches of Tiong Bahru Bakery. I went to the one inside Fort Canning Park. Loved the vibe.

3. Kings Cart Coffee Factory

• Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM daily
• Location: 328 Joo Chiat Rd, #01-05, Singapore 427585
• Must-try: Coconut Latte
• Wi-Fi: Yes ✅

Chiang Mai-level specialty drinks do exist in Singapore, for the coffee nerds who prefer specialized brews and hyper-creative menu creation.

At Kings Cart Coffee Factory on Joo Chiat, get ready to flip through the menu a couple of times before you can make a decision.

I ended up trying their Coconut Latte, one of their signature drinks, and it lived up to the hype. Super creamy, aromatic, not too sweet, and the toasted coconut flakes added beautifully to the texture.

This was one of the darker cafes I visited, completely industrial. If you prefer a brighter space for your coffee break, there are seats outside as well.

4. Ya Kun Kaya Toast

• Opening Hours: 7:30 AM – 8:30 PM (Some branches open later or close earlier)
• Location: Multiple locations
• Must-try: Traditional kopi, Kaya toasts with butter
• Wi-Fi: Yes ✅

Singapore’s OG breakfast spot may not be the right cafe for you to linger, since the long line that builds up can guilt you like nothing else, but I freakin love the kopi and kaya toasts.

If you need a good Singaporean-style energy refill without the need to sit for too long, hit up one of the Ya Kun branches and order a Kaya Toast set. Don’t forget to stir in pepper and dark sauce into your poached egg.

Have I mentioned? The French Toasts are delicious, too!

5. Kopifellas

• Opening Hours: Opens 7:30 AM, with different closing times
• Location: Multiple locations
• Must-try: Iced kopi, SG Kopilicious
• Wi-Fi: Yes ✅

Kopifellas is a Singaporean brand that modernizes the kopi culture. Forget flat whites and Americanos, it’s Kopi C and Yuan Yang on the menu for you. But is that all they have? Oh, no.

Look for their special menus. That’s where you’ll find the most delicious, unique spins on Singaporean traditional coffee. I tried a coffee-jelly variation called Kopilicious, and it was delicious (🤣).

I noticed they also have kaya toasts on the menu too, but I didn’t try any.

6. Nanyang Coffee

• Opening Hours: 7:00 AM – 6:30 PM daily
• Location: 268 South Bridge Rd, Singapore 058817
• Must-try: Hot kopi, traditional snacks set
• Wi-Fi: Yes ✅

This was another spot that made amazing traditional kopi, with traditional Singaporean snacks to top it off. I got to try this place for the first time, thanks to the 5-hour tour I did across three neighborhoods.

Could I have always gone to Ya Kun for breakfast every morning, with that insane addiction I had? Absolutely. But I also loved sitting outside Nanyang and watching people walk into Chinatown from the South Bridge Road.

Or sit on the second floor if you want to be surrounded by retro coffee memorabilia. There’s a coffee museum up there!

7. Awfully Chocolate Cafe

• Opening Hours: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM daily
• Location: 131 E Coast Rd, Singapore 428816
• Must-try: White Chocolate Crème Brûlée, Latte, Matcha Moon Cake (seasonal)
• Wi-Fi: Yes ✅

I’m listing Awfully Chocolate mainly for its chocolate. Shocking, isn’t it?

The Crème Brûlée really was something else, though. Absolutely delicious and not too sweet.

I also don’t know if they do this every year, but they had these chocolate moon cakes in dozens of flavors. I got Matcha, and it was amazing.

Unlike most other cafes, you can sit down first, and someone will come and take your order. They also have a savory brunch menu if you go extra hungry.=

8. Tarik

• Opening Hours: 8:00 AM – 12:30 AM daily
• Location: 92 Arab St, #01-02, Singapore 199788
• Must-try: Teh Zaffran, Teh Tarik
• Wi-Fi: Yes ✅

A teashop that stays open at 11 PM? I would’ve loved that if I were a few years younger. Why were they so hard to come by before? 😂

It’s an abomination to visit Kampong Glam and skip a cup of tea from Tarik on Arab Street. The only downside to this cafe is how small it is.

There are no seats, except for a few benches outside, which are usually occupied by the family and friends of those waiting in line.

Both Teh Zaffran (tea with saffron) and Teh Tarik are worth the wait, though. They also have coffee, with milk, ginger, and saffron. All the spices!

9. Monochrome

• Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 8:37 PM (That is insanely specific, isn’t it… 🤔)
• Location: Along Smith Street Side, 25 Trengganu St, #01-12, Singapore 058476
• Must-try: Earl Grey Lavender, Hokkaido Earl Grey Cheesecake
• Wi-Fi: Yes ✅

I’m sure you’ve heard of it before, maybe even seen it on social media.

A cafe in grayscale, with black lines on the walls and along furniture edges, making the entire place look like it belongs in a coloring book.

I think the concept is overhyped, now that there are more popping up in other places (Ahem… Seoul and São Paulo), but I’m including it on this list because I love their Hokkaido Earl Grey Cheesecake and Earl Grey Lavender.

You can tell I like my Earl Grey.

How to Order Coffee in Singapore: Kopi Lingo Explained

Kopi C, Kopi O, Kopi… WHAT? 😭

Yeah… Singapore (and Malaysia, as I’ve heard) has its own lingo for ordering coffee that has nothing to do with Latte or Cappuccino.

It’s okay. Just take a deep breath. Worst comes to worst, you can still order in basic English. But just in case you wanna sound like part of the tribe…

Coffee Types

The rule of thumb for “Kopi” or traditional coffee is that it’s sweet. There’s either sweetened condensed milk in it… or there’s sugar in it.

• Kopi = Coffee + Sweetened condensed milk
• Kopi O = Black Coffee + Sugar (See, kopi is sweet no matter what!)
• Kopi C = Coffee + Evaporated Milk + Sugar
• Yuan Yang = Coffee + Tea + Sweetened condensed milk

Sweetness Level

• Kosong = No sweet
• Siew Dai = Less sweet
• Ga Dai = Extra sweet
• Normal sweet = Normal sweet! 😂

And there you have it! If you want a non-sweet kopi, say kosong. Kopi C Kosong for one with milk, and Kopi O Kosong for pure black coffee.

Want to order some tea? Use the same lingo and swap “Kopi” for “Teh.”

Final Thoughts

The cafe culture in Singapore may not be full of pastel-colored coffee shops like in Korea, but to me, it feels much more rooted in local tradition.

Which tradition? Check out these top Singaporean hawker dishes that are worth the hype, and you’ll see more clearly how these cafes reapply them!

Looking for somewhere to eat full meals? Here are my absolute favorite foodie spots in town!

Check out my Singapore Cultural Travel page for more ideas you can use!

Resources For Your Trip to Singapore

Below are some of the resources to help you get ready for your time in Singapore.

Don’t forget to check your visa requirements, and fill out the Digital Arrival Card no more than 3 days before you land.

Read up on the local laws and my top travel tips before you get there, and a bit about how to get around as well.

• Get your trip covered with Safety Wing Insurance
• Stay connected in Singapore with this eSIM
• Must-have Apps: Grab, City Mapper

Find a Place to Stay in Singapore

Still looking for somewhere to stay? Read my guide on the most convenient neighborhoods to stay in and use the map below to find the best hotel for you!

Grab My Singapore E-Checklist

To make sure you don’t leave anything important out of your preparations, I’ve made a digital checklist to help you get ready. I leave 2 pages blank for you to customize your own checklist, too!

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