My favorite breakfast and brunch places in Singapore (2021)
While we were sitting in Circuit Breaker at the beginning of last year, I couldn’t wait for my favorite breakfast places to open up their doors again. During that time, I wrote a blog post about all the coffee shops that were my favorite.
Now, almost a year later, we are still stuck in Singapore, and I had a LOT OF TIME to explore all those brunch places on my list (and beyond). With the New Year, I thought it was the best time to finally share all my favorites with you, from A to Z. One thing is for sure, there are lots of great places serving international food in Singapore, so it will certainly not get boring here – food-wise anyway.
Atlas Coffeehouse
6 Duke’s Rd, Singapore 268886
Tuesday to Sunday from 8 am to 7 pm, closed on Mondays
In a residential house right in Bukit Timah’s heart and just a stone’s throw away from Singapore Botanic Gardens sits the Atlas Coffeehouse. Designed in a straightforward, industrial kind of style, Atlas Coffeehouse is one of those spaces where you just feel comfortable eating your buttermilk waffles on a Saturday morning. And since the place is run by the team behind Assembly Coffee great coffee variations are granted.
Carrotsticks & Cravings
7 Rodyk St, #01-34, Singapore 238215 | 75E Loewen Rd, Singapore 248845
Monday to Sunday from 7.30 am (Robertson Quay), or 8 am (Dempsey Hill) to 4 pm or 6 pm (weekends)
With two outlets in expat areas (Robertson Quay, Dempsey Hill), Carrotsticks & Cravings is a go-to for many expat families and foreigners. The coffee shop was founded by an Australian food stylist who is also the author of three cookbooks, so you can expect trendy nutritious food and excellent coffee and juices for somewhat higher prices. My personal favorites are their sourdough with almond butter and honey and the celery cleanse juice. Tip: With the app Hungry in Singapore, you receive the second dish complimentarily.
Choice Cuts Goods + Coffee
446 Joo Chiat Rd, Singapore 427659
Tuesday to Sunday from 9 am to 6 pm
The CCG+C started as a vinyl record store but has just moved to the main street in hip Joo Chiat to a larger space to focus on food and coffee. Yet, they retain their rough Brooklyn vibes. Choice Cuts Goods and Coffee’s food menu is fairly limited to bagels and hot dogs which are listed on an overhead board, but there may be a few other special items and cakes available from time to time. The coffee is pretty good, too, and comes with oat or soy milk on request.
Chye Seng Huat Hardware
150 Tyrwhitt Rd, Singapore 207563
Monday to Sunday from 9 am to 9 pm
Have you ever tried Green pancakes? You will find them in Chye Seng Huat Hardware. Do not be misled by the name of this establishment that was inherited by the former occupant of the store. Chye Seng Huat Hardware was founded by one of Singapore’s pioneers of specialty coffee, PPP Coffee, which is why you can expect amazing coffee, first and foremost. Additionally, the “hardware store” coffee shop in the heritage district of Jalan Besar offers a well-curated menu, consisting of only a few dishes for every mealtime, including vegan and vegetarian options. Whether you’re looking for the ultimate brunch spot with your friends or a chill working space during the week, Chye Seng Huat Hardware might be a perfect location.
Clinton Street Baking Co. & Restaurant
31 Purvis St, Singapore 188608
Monday to Thursday from 9 am to 6 pm, Fridays from 9 am to 9 pm, weekends until 9 pm
Hailing from New York, Clinton Street Baking serves breakfast the American way. Think of banana walnut pancakes with warm maple butter or chicken and waffles with honey-Tabasco sauce. Other than the New York outlet, you don’t have to line up for hours to get your hands on the popular food. Still, Clinton Street Baking fills up fast, especially on weekends, so early reservations are recommended.
COMMON MAN COFFEE ROASTERS
22 Martin Rd, #01-00, Singapore 239058
Monday to Sunday, from 7 am to 5 pm, weekends until 6 pm
The baristas at Common Man Coffee Roasters not only brew my favorite coffee in town, but they also serve excellent breakfast. You find international favorites like Pancakes or Granola on their menu, but also special dishes like Sautéed Kale & Egg White Scramble or tender braised ox cheeks with Eggs Benedict. I appreciate the environment and its large outdoor space, which makes it ideal for working from a coffee. Other than that, Common Man Coffee Roasters provides holistic training programs with their Barista Academy, which is at the top of my list for fun activities in Singapore.
Craftsmen Coffee Roasters
6 Eu Tong Sen St, 01-59, Singapore 059817, and other locations.
Monday to Sunday, from 8.30 am to 9 pm (some stores might have different operation hours).
Craftsmen Coffee Roasters are actually known for their excellent coffee, but their breakfast and brunch menu isn’t too bad either. The food is largely Western-influenced with sandwiches, baked goods, and desserts. The ambiance at Craftsmen Specialty Coffee outlets sports a retro industrial look, which reminds me of New York a lot.
Curious Palette
6 Eu Tong Sen St, 01-59, Singapore 059817
Open daily from 9 am to 10 pm
Another of the hot cafés in Singapore that seems to attract a strong following is Curious Palette, a sister of the popular Stranger’s Reunion (and Wakey Wakey, which you will learn about a little later). Apart from one of the best breakfast dishes I ever had in Singapore (Berry Ricotta Hotcake!!!), Curious Palette also provides a great environment to work: There are plenty of communal tables (to go from breakfast straight to WFH) in the naturally lighted space plus an event space in the second story of the shop house that (in non-pandemic times) seems to be an ideal venue for corporate events and private parties.
EarlyBird
17 Jln Pinang, Singapore 199149
Monday to Thursday from 10 am to 9 pm, Fridays from 10 am to 10.30 pm, Saturdays from 09 am to 10.30 pm, and Sundays from 9 am to 9 pm.
Four words: cornflake-crusted french toast (with thick-cut bacon), make it hard to resist visiting Earlybird once in a while on a weekend morning. The place serves not only mouth-watering food but also instagrammable designs and drinks. And the small-little inclusion of bird decorations, wall painting, and greenery add to the feel of the space, too, inside as outside.
FIVE OARS COFFEE ROASTERS
39 Tg Pagar Rd, Singapore 088462
Open daily from 8 am to 8 pm
Five Oars Coffee Roasters offers to relax in its minimalist coffeehouse in Tanjong Pagar and is said to be Melbourne-café inspired. Their day menu offers over 20 dishes that go beyond the usual eggs and toast and come in the most beautiful arrangements that indeed remind me of places I’ve visited in Melbourne. Their coffee is served “Black” or “White” and is rather on the fruity side, which is also very much Melbournian-style. Overall, this place is one of my favorites in Singapore, and I will make sure to go there for Sunday brunch with friends regularly.
FORTY HANDS
56 Eng Hoon St, #01-68, Singapore 160056 | 226 E Coast Rd, Singapore 428923
Monday to Friday, from 7 am to 5.30 pm, weekends from 7.30 am to 6.30 pm
Forty Hands was the first café place of the Common Man Coffee Roasters family, starting a Singaporean coffee revolution in the once-sleepy neighborhood of Tiong Bahru. With the famous CMCR specialty coffee, tasty Australian style brunch, and lovely decor, it’s always worth a visit, at least for a quick box stop in between strolling through the quaint quarter of Tiong Bahru with its many boutiques and shops. Since May 2018, there is a second Forty Hands outlet in the bustling hood of Joo Chiat.
Gather
328 North Bridge Road, Raffles Hotel, Arcade, Unit 01-12, 188719
Monday to Friday from 8 am to 6 pm, weekends until 8 pm
Founded by the couple behind the famous Ronin Café, the Gather is a coming together of a creperie and an edit of covetable in a superb location (the Raffles Arcades). Besides the next-level-crêpes and the famous Ronin French Toasts (well-loved by former Ronin customers), there is also a small retail space that sells a small selection of clothing, home scents, candles, and body care, from well-curated labels, such as my favorite hand soap from Frama Copenhagen.
Group Therapy
181 South Bridge Road #01-05, K1-04, Singapore 058743 | 30 East Coast Road #01-11 Katong V, 428751
Sunday to Tuesday, from 8 am to 5 pm, Wednesdays & Thursdays, from 8 am to 9 pm, Fridays & Saturdays from 8 am to 10 pm (Cross Street Exchange), open daily from 8 am to 6 pm (Katong)
Despite the name, you won’t find actual therapy in the popular brunch place, though their food can be seen as somewhat therapeutic since their pancakes are among the best in Singapore. The team behind Group Therapy also bakes their own bread and cakes and serves fantastic and refreshing juices and smoothies. On top of that, you will also find wines and bubbles on their menu for the occasional evening hang.
Halcyon and Crane
290 Orchard Rd, #03-09 The Paragon, Singapore 238859
Open daily from 11 am to 7.30 pm
Halcyon and Crane offer all-day brunch cafe-style dining right in the heart of Singapore’s shopping lovers, in Paragon Mall. As the name suggests (A “halcyon” is a bird in Greek mythology that represents serenity and bliss, whereas a “crane” is an Asian mystical bird that denotes good fortune), you will find European dishes with Asian style techniques and Sichuan flavor influences on the menu, and get to enjoy an overall calm, peaceful and tranquil dining experience. Tip: With the app Hungry in Singapore, you receive the second dish complimentary.
HABITAT COFFEE
223 Upper Thomson Rd, Singapore 574355
Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 10 pm, closed on Mondays
In Habitat Coffee, you will find a good variety of breakfast dishes (baked hotcakes, pulled pork benedict), but also Japanese fusion rice bowls, and Asian influenced pasta and desserts. The popular coffee shop is situated in one of the many shophouses along Upper Thomson Road, just a five-minute walk away from the MacRitchie Reservoir Park. This makes Habitat Coffee a perfect brunch hang to kick off your weekend hike or to refresh with coffee and bowls after a long walk.
HOMEGROUND COFFEE ROASTERS
475 Joo Chiat Rd, Singapore 427682
Open daily from 9 am to 6 pm
Homeground Coffee Roasters is a coffee roastery, art gallery, and retail space in the bustling hood of Joo Chiat in East Singapore. Tall ceilings with industrial-like design, the corridor near the entrance are shaped in an elongated manner with art paintings hanging on the walls. The menu is short and concise with black and white coffee but a few interesting food items, such as the Hokkaido milk toast with kaya with sous vide egg.
MERCI MARCEL
56 Eng Hoon St, #01-68, Singapore 160056, and other outlets
Open daily from 8 am to 10.30 pm
Merci Marcel is a little different from other breakfast places in Singapore. They serve typical French dishes such as Tarte Flambée, Seared Foie Gras, and Ravioles de Royans, and international breakfast options with a French twist (Croque Marcel, Tarte flambée, French toasts). I particularly adore their Pain au chocolat and sometimes only go to Merci Marcel to get my hands on their fresh baked goods.
PLAIN VANILLA BAKERY
1D Yong Siak St, Singapore 168641, and other outlets.
Open daily from 8 am to 7 pm (Tiong Bahru, Cluny Court), other outlets may have different opening hours.
Housed in an old shop house repurposed to suit the needs of a bakery, the Plain Vanilla Bakery flagship store in the hip neighborhood of Tiong Bahru is always worth a visit. As the name suggests, Plain Vanilla bakes daily and sells their old-fashioned bakes, cute cupcakes, and wholesome deli over the counter, or to dine in. All Plain Vanilla Bakery stores have been designed with an open plan kitchen and spaces that let light in, so you will always feel like you are walking into someone’s kitchen. The food is overall rather simple but very hearty and just ideal for some of these days when you miss a decent European bakery. Think of Soft Boiled Eggs, PBJ Toast, or Granola bowls accompanied by good coffee.
PUNCH
32 N Canal Rd, Singapore 059288
Open daily from 8 am to 6 pm
Founded by the same couple that also ran well-loved Ronin and currently makes perfect crêpes in Gather, the Punch has everything it needs to be one of those places to find a unique hospitality experience and café culture in Singapore. The menu is concise but contains all the great things you look forward to for a nice brunch, including the famous Ronin’s recipe scrambled eggs on toast. The dining time is limited to one hour only, making enough time for a quick breakfast or lunch after working it out in one of the many gyms and yoga studios nearby, but not so much for an extensive weekend brunch. Ask for outdoor seating, which is located in the lush and all-over-planted backyard of the cafe.
STARTER LAB
721 Havelock Rd, Singapore 169645
Open daily from 8.30 am to 5 pm
The small bakery Starter Lab has been very popular in Bali for a time now and has recently arrived on Singapore’s shores. On the menu of the sleek bakery, you will find a mouth-watering list of dishes with baking goods as the star of each of them (obviously), such as “international toast variations” (PB & J, Salmon Smørrebrød, Avocado Bawang), and sandwiches. Unfortunately, the dishes are on the pricier side, but the glimpse into the baking room, the warm lighting communal table setting, and the many books around make up for that, promised.
THE GLASSHOUSE
30 Victoria St, #01-03 CHIJMES, Singapore 187996
Open daily from 8 am to 9 pm
In a gorgeous little space with plenty of light and the smell of many plants, The Glasshouse sells breakfast favorites (avo & eggs) and great coffee. They have just had a facelift last November, now promoting even more natural wooden furniture, lush greenery, and an even greater experience to wind down.
TIONG BAHRU BAKERY
#B1-11 Raffles City Shopping Centre, 252 North Bridge Road
Open daily from 7.30 am to 10 pm
To be fair, I never had breakfast in Tiong Bahru Bakery yet, just coffee and some pastries and bread on the side. But Tiong Bahru Bakery cannot be missed in any breakfast guide, especially since they have an outlet dedicated for my favorite meal of the day only in Raffles City. When looking on the menu, you will find some pancakes called “Breakfast Burger” that look bomb dot com. From their outlet in Tiong Bahru, I know that the coffee is excellent, too, as they use CMCR beans, so I can’t wait to give the Tiong Bahru Bakery a try for a proper brunch.
WAKEY WAKEY
302 Beach Rd, 05 The Concourse, #01-04, 199600
Weekdays from 8 am to 5 pm, weekends from 9 am to 6 pm
Wakey Wakey is serving an extensive offer of brunch dishes all day, such as Pulled Pork Burger, Eggs on Toast, and last but not least delicious buttermilk waffles. And since Wakey Wakey belongs to the Stranger’s reunion family, you will obviously also find the well-known bottled blends, such as Oatgasm and Brew Black. They have a large outdoor area, which is still my preference and can be pretty enjoyable on a not-so-hot day.
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