If you’ve been to as many cafes in Singapore as I have, they somewhat start to blend together. Personally, whenever I pick up a menu that’s printed in teeny-tiny Arial font with prices listed as whole numbers without any dollar signs, my mind starts running montages of the countless other cafes I’ve eaten at that all looked and felt eerily similar to one another.

Anyway.

To avoid putting you through the same uninspiring experience, I’ve scanned through our country’s vibrant cafe scene and selected only the cream of the crop for your discerning eyes.

Tea Chapter is one of a kind. As one of Singapore’s last few traditional-style teahouses, it’s fully dedicated to the appreciation of East Asian tea. Here, you can sip your brew in Japanese, Korean, and Chinese-themed rooms. Once you’re seated, choose from over 20 types of tea leaves, along with a healthy smattering of snacks to accompany your drinking experience. They include dim sum, lotus leaf rice, and, you guessed it — tea eggs.

To level up your sip game, Tea Chapter hosts Tea Appreciation workshops where you’ll learn the origins of Chinese tea, every tea’s distinctive characteristics, and more.

📍 Address: 9 Neil Road, Singapore 088808
⏰ Opening hours: Sun to Thu, 11am – 9pm | Fri and Sat, 11am – 10:30pm
📞 Contact: 6226 1175
🍴 Halal status: Not halal
🌐 Website: teachapter.com  

Created as a spinoff to local cafe mainstay Craftsmen Coffee, Prairie is a cafe in a greenhouse and your new favourite hangout spot. The show’s stars are obviously the open spaces and beautiful greenhouse interior, complete with an honest-to-goodness sunroof, but the food here is no slouch either. We recommend that you go for the Smoked Salmon & Avo Croast. The hearty plate contains poached eggs, mashed avocado, croissant toast, and other delicious ingredients.

Another highlight is the Confit De Canard (duck confit), which so flavourful it could go toe-to-toe with any salt-baked chicken. Order a nutty, easy-to-drink Macadamia Nut Latte or a grassy yet sweet Dirty Matcha, sit back, and soak up the rays in this little slice of heaven.

📍 Address: 501 Bukit Timah Road, #01-05C Cluny Court, Singapore 259760
⏰ Opening hours: 8am – 9pm daily
📞 Contact: 6972 9142
🍴 Halal status: Not halal
🌐 Website: prairie.sg

It can be hard to find a good brunch place in Singapore. But with an extensive menu of casual, Asian-inspired fusion cuisine, great speciality coffees, and one of the best croissant selections in Singapore, Alice Boulangerie is a great pick for any time of the day.

Drinks like the Virgin Fruity Mojito Cooler give your meal a sweet, playful kick, while smooth ones like the Houjicha Latte are the perfect palate cleanser. Pair your cuppa with Alice Big Breakfast, which will put you in a food coma, or go for the Wagyu Beef Cheek Risotto if you’re heading for dinner. The latter is a bestseller and comes with tender and flavourful meat, creamy butternut mousseline, grilled asparagus, arborio rice, and sundried tomatoes.

📍 Address: 12 Gopeng Street, #01-05/11 Icon Village, Singapore 078877
⏰ Opening hours: Mon to Sat, 8am – 10pm | Thu, 8am – 6pm
📞 Contact: 8874 3300
🍴 Halal status: Not halal
🌐 Website: aliceboulangerie.com.sg 

Wild Honey is a winner of the TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice Award, The Straits Times’ Best Customer Service Award, and the Expat Living Best Breakfast Award, so it’s a pretty safe bet for anyone seeking out a cafe in Singapore that’s not just good, but like, really good.

The crew’s love for travel means you’ll get to sample flavours from all corners of the globe. So whether you’re craving something heavily spiced and earthy like the Tunisian-style Pork or something iconic like the New York Breakfast, you’re guaranteed to leave the cafe with a full tummy.

For a familiar dish spruced up with the Wild Honey touch, order their Canadian Pancakes, which are extra fluffy and come with a generous serving of imported, pristine Canadian maple syrup. Wash down with the creamy chocolate milkshake or the Remedy Kombucha for a refreshing punch.

📍 Address: 200 Middle Road, #01-00, Singapore 188980
⏰ Opening hours: Mon to Thu, 9am – 9:30pm | Fri and Sat, 9am – 10:30pm | Sun, 9am – 7pm
📞 Contact: 6636 1816
🍴 Halal status: Not halal
🌐 Website: wildhoney.com.sg/

Durian fans, rejoice! From Durian Ice Blended beverages to Fried Durian balls and even Durian Macaroons, nothing is safe from getting durian-ified here.The rich Durian Coffee and surprisingly intense, buttery Durian Macaroons have enough Mao Shan Wang to make any durian lover’s day. But if you’re looking for a flavour combo you’ll remember for ages, check out their sweet yet surprisingly complex Creme Brulee With Mao Shang Wang Durian Ice Cream, made with a sizeable portion of pure bittersweet Mao Shan Wang.

Fret not if you can’t stand the sight or smell of durians. The cafe also offers an all-day menu that contains zero durian. Some top picks include Herb Butter Salmon made with Norwegian sashimi-grade salmon, Orange Butter Chicken, whose star ingredient is a tender and succulent chicken thigh marinated overnight with various spices, and Dry Laksa With Tiger Prawn. The latter is a creative spin on our comfort food, but drier and richer.

📍 Address: 11 Kelantan Road, Jalan Besar, Singapore 208604
⏰ Opening hours: Sun to Mon, Wed to Thu, 9am – 10pm | Fri and Sat, 9am – 11pm
📞 Contact: 6962 0057
🍴 Halal status: Not halal
🌐 Website: msdurian.com 

If you’ve ever wanted the Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory experience (minus the part where you explode into a purple balloon), this one’s for you. Mr Bucket’s Chocolates are all handmade daily from regionally sourced cacao, and the cafe’s open kitchen concept allows you to peek at your favourite treats in the making.

For those in a hurry, pick up the Single Estate Chocolate Bars. They melt in your mouth faster and more thoroughly than store-bought chocolates. 🤤

However, if you’re in no hurry, get some Tahitian Vanilla ice cream, which is hard to come by in Singapore and has a natural sweetness and aroma far more potent than its less-exotic counterparts. The Signature Chocolate is another must-try, with 72% Calinan mousse so smooth you can see your face.

📍 Address: 13 Dempsey Road, #01-03/04, Singapore 249674
⏰ Opening hours: Sun to Thu, 11am – 7pm | Fri and Sat, 11am – 10pm
🍴 Halal status: Not halal
🌐 Website:  mrbucket.com.sg

It’s not every day that you can spot an African cafe in Singapore. Kafe Utu’s bursting flavours and bustling ambience are a good break from the lo-fi aesthetic that dominates most of our local cafe scene. Just try to find another place here with 3 storeys of tribal leather furniture and hand-carved coffee tables. 🤩

When in Africa, do as the Africans do by ordering the Doro Wat. It’s a creamy chicken curry with a lively touch, courtesy of Kafe Utu’s Ethiopian berbere spice mix. But if that heat level sounds daunting, we recommend the Kondre — a stew made from hearty Cameroonian plantains and homemade jasmine white rice that will instantly increase your overall happiness index.

Other highlights include the Buttermilk Fried Chicken and the spicy Goat Curry.

📍 Address: 12 Jiak Chuan Road, Singapore 089265
⏰ Opening hours: Tue to Sun, 10am – 4:30pm, 6 – 11pm
📞 Contact: 6996 3937
🍴 Halal status: Not halal
🌐 Website: kafeutu.com  

There are many pet cafes in Singapore, but most only cater to cat lovers. If you prefer woofs over meows, World of Paws is where you can fix your longing for a good, warm doggo snuggle.

Touted as a premier dog cafe in Singapore, World of Paws is home to a wide range of breeds equally eager to be petted by the next hooman that establishes eye contact with them.

Entry includes free costume rental for your favourite furries and a complimentary scoop of ice cream to sweeten your visit further.

📍 Address: 200 Pandan Gardens, #01-07, Singapore 609336
⏰ Opening hours: Sat, 12pm – 6pm | Sun, 10am – 6pm
📞 Contact: 9365 7967
🍴 Halal status: Not halal
🌐 Website: worldofpaws.com.sg

Hidden in a nook covered by plants and shrubbery, it’s easy to miss the Coffee Tea Library. But those who stop to smell the roses will be rewarded with a wholesome contemporary teahouse experience.

This cute and cosy cafe has swings for chairs and is stocked with teas from Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, and China. Every teabag here is curated by a staff member who is happy to explain its intricacies and brewing process. My top favourite is the citrusy Blueberry Blossom Tea, with its delicate flavours and contrasting bubblegummy undertones.

📍 Address: 356 Tanglin Road, Singapore 247674
⏰ Opening hours: Fri, 2pm – 7pm | Sat and Sun, 1pm – 7pm
🍴 Halal status: Not halal
🌐 Website: instagram.com/coffeetealibrary.sg

Geometry Gelato is the perfect place for those looking for a sweet treat that’s just a little fancier than most. There’s a plethora of flavours on offer here, and all of them deliver refined, refreshing bites that you’d be hard-pressed to find anywhere else.

I’m especially fond of the Earl Grey Tie Guan Yin, which has a mild, flowery taste with a slight touch of grassiness. But if you’re looking for something kiddy (no judgements), the Paddlepop flavour is a milky, nostalgic rainbow of colours based on the iconic ice cream we were obsessed with in childhood. Adventurous folks should try the Kupi Guyou for an extra-thick, extra-smooth hit of coffee in your ice cream.

📍 Address: 2 Jalan Bukit Merah, #01-5142, Singapore 150002
⏰ Opening hours: 12pm – 11pm daily
📞 Contact: 6255 6366
🍴 Halal status: Halal
🌐 Website: geometry.sg 

It’s no understatement to say that Bugis is a food haven, and The Brulee lives up to this reputation.

The cafe’s bread and butter is the Crepe Brulee, which combines a soft crepe shell with a crispy layer of caramelised sugar characteristic of creme brulee. The resulting pastry comes in 5 flavours, all offering a fun flavour journey from the top of the crispy caramel coat to the tip of the crunchy crepe cone.

To go alongside your Crepe Brulee, the cafe offers several original cold brews and concoctions, the standout being the MatchaMarsh. If you’ve ever wanted to drink some matcha latte piped through huge roasted marshmallows, this is your chance.

 📍 Address: 77 Aliwal Street, Singapore 199948
⏰ Opening hours: 12 – 10pm daily
🍴 Halal status: Halal
🌐 Website: instagram.com/thebrulee.sg

Since opening in 2016, Alchemist has swept the country by storm with its commitment to making seriously good coffee. Every one of its 11 branches roasts beans in-house, many of which are chosen from small, speciality farms worldwide to ensure top-notch quality. Even their basic espressos have the right balance of fruity and acidic notes. Those hankering for something rare should try a cup of Dark Matter for a strong, velvety flavour.

No matter your coffee preference, Alchemist also offers a rotating selection of pastries to go alongside your brew. My favourite was the Yuzu Lemon Danish, which overflowed with a sweet filling.

📍 Address: 260 Orchard Road, #01-02 ORA The Heeren, Singapore 238855
⏰ Opening hours: 9am – 9pm daily
🍴 Halal status: Not halal
🌐 Website: alchemist.global

While the matcha madness from last year seems to have settled, plenty of diehard matcha aficionados (like yours truly) are always on the lookout for their next cup of the yummy green stuff. Here’s an idea for your next matcha sesh: come down to Hvala’s zen garden-styled flagship outlet and take a sip of their smooth, premium-grade matcha.

In addition, Hvala’s food menu would be right at home at any Tokyo restaurant. From sukiyaki-infused Wagyu Oyster Blade Soba to Tasmanian Salmon Ochazuke, there’s a wide range of options to pick from. 

However, the real deal is the Matcha Kaya Toast, which isn’t just unique, but also has comforting umami undertones that make the perfect accompaniment to a relaxing cafe trip.

📍 Address: 333 North Bridge Road, #01-11 Odeon Towers, Singapore 188721. See other outlets.
⏰ Opening hours: 12pm – 9:30pm daily
🍴 Halal status: Not halal
🌐 Website: hvala.com.sg

If music is the language of the soul, then coffee must surely be its medicine. The geniuses behind Swee Lee have combined two of life’s finer things in one inviting space where every cuppa comes with an opportunity to listen to tunes from over 500 vinyl records.

Of course, we all know that bopping to good tunes takes energy. That’s why Swee Lee’s experience includes a selection of waffles, premium coffee roasts, and finger food. My personal chart-topper is the White Coffee, birthed from beans by Flip Coffee Roasters, which is a local roastery run by bean artisans by day and musicians by night.

With food that’s as good as its music selection, it’s easy to become a Swee Lee fanatic. Who knew Lana Del Rey could go so well with chunky homemade Berry Compote and the osmanthus-infused Hibiscus Coffee?

📍 Address: Blk 3B River Valley Road, #01-06 Clarke Quay, Singapore 179021
⏰ Opening hours: 11am – 9pm daily
📞 Contact: 3163 5618
🍴 Halal status: Not halal
🌐 Website: experience.sweelee.com/venues/singapore/swee-lee-clarke-quay

(Featured photo adapted from: Hvala, Live2makan, Hungrygowhere, Seth Lui)