Family-friendly cafes are nice, but sometimes you just want to treat yourself to a specialty coffee and snap some nice pics at an aesthetic cafe
Coffee. It’s a simple, yet necessary ritual. We’re putting it right up there with meditation and the best facials in Singapore, and it definitely makes for a daily mum-time moment. While family-friendly cafes are nice to take the kids to, sometimes mum and dad want to go for some specialty coffee! So if you’re looking for the next spot for a mummy get-together or just a hole in the wall to pop in while waiting for the kids’ tuition class to end, we’ve put a list together of what we deem the best specialty coffee in Singapore.
The best specialty coffee shops in Singapore
1. Vernacular Coffee
A well-known name with specialty coffee enthusiasts, Vernacular Coffee has opened a new outlet at Selegie that has a modern, dark, and cosy vibe to it. Just how I like my coffee! They have a ton of options to choose from, with beans from locations like Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and more. And what’s a coffee mum date without a sweet treat – their Purple Sweet Potato cake and Ivory Raspberry Dome look almost too good to eat.
Where: Vernacular Coffee, 189 Selegie Road, Singapore 188332 and 100 Guillemard Road, #01-02, Singapore 399718
2. Blue Bottle Coffee
If you’re into bright, minimalist spaces, Blue Bottle Coffee makes for a stylish coffee stop in the heart of the city. The Japanese-founded specialty coffee brand first made its way to Singapore with a pop-up in 2024, before returning to Raffles City with a permanent retail location. It’s a sleek spot to browse Blue Bottle’s coffees, brewing equipment and merchandise, and, of course, pick up something for your next coffee ritual at home.
Where: Blue Bottle Coffee, 252 North Bridge Road, #01-01, Raffles City, Singapore 179103
3. % Arabica
Coffee aficionados in Singapore were pretty excited when this popular Japanese coffee chain arrived on our shores, and it’s easy to see why. % Arabica is all about carefully sourced beans, expertly made coffee and that unmistakable minimalist aesthetic. Whether you’re after a punchy espresso, a smooth latte or its popular Spanish Latte, there’s plenty to choose from. And with its bright, pared-back interiors, it’s also a lovely spot to grab a coffee and snap a few photos while you’re at it
Where: % Arabica, various locations in Singapore
4. Baker & Cook
Like a favourite pair of comfy jeans, coffee at Baker & Cook is familiar, easy-going and reliably satisfying. The New Zealand-inspired bakery and café serves Allpress coffee alongside its freshly baked breads, pastries and other treats, making it an easy choice when you want to pair your caffeine fix with something delicious. With locations dotted around Singapore, it’s also a handy option for a casual coffee date or a quick mum-time break.
Where: Baker & Cook, multiple locations across Singapore
5. Atlas Coffeehouse
These guys take coffee very seriously, and you can taste it. Atlas Coffeehouse is a big believer in specialty, specialty coffee and is constantly honing its craft. Visit Atlas Coffeehouse on a weekend, and you’ll usually find a queue of eager coffee drinkers snaking out the door. Mid-week though, the vibe is relaxed and tables are more easily scored. Must-tries from the brunch menu include pancakes and mushrooms on toast.
Where: Atlas Coffeehouse, 6 Duke’s Road, Singapore 268886
6. Nylon Coffee Roasters
If you like your coffee serious but your surroundings relaxed, Nylon Coffee Roasters is one to add to the list. Tucked away in Everton Park, this small coffee bar sits alongside its roastery and focuses on traceable, thoughtfully sourced coffees. The team roasts in small batches with an emphasis on sweetness, balance and clarity, so this is a great place to slow down and properly appreciate your cup. The leafy, neighbourhood setting also makes it feel worlds away from the bustle of the CBD.
Where: Nylon Coffee Roasters, 4 Everton Park, #01-40, Singapore 080004
7. Plain Vanilla
Ain’t nothing plain about this place. Primarily known for its much-loved bakes and cupcakes, Plain Vanilla is also a lovely spot for coffee and a little me-time. Its cafés serve Allpress coffee alongside cakes, pastries and, at its larger locations, brunch and deli-style dishes. With neighbourhood locations around Singapore, there’s usually a Plain Vanilla nearby when you’re craving a good coffee and something sweet.
Where: Plain Vanilla, multiple locations across Singapore. Current locations include Tiong Bahru, Telok Ayer, Neil Road, East Coast, Cluny Court, TANGS at Tang Plaza, Serangoon Gardens and Upper Thomson. Its Holland Village location is currently closed and is scheduled to reopen in June 2027.
8. Tiong Bahru Bakery
A visit to Tiong Bahru Bakery is like a little slice of happiness. Add in a cup of coffee and one of its famously flaky pastries and you’ve got a pretty lovely way to start the day. The bakery has grown well beyond its original Tiong Bahru home, with outlets around Singapore serving its range of pastries, breads and coffee. If you’re a fan of the classic French-style bakes, the Kouign Amann is a great one to try.
Where: Tiong Bahru Bakery, multiple locations across Singapore, including its original outlet at 56 Eng Hoon Street.
9. Little Farms Bistro
Sweet, smooth, and creamy is how we’d describe a coffee at the Little Farms Bistro. This cute series of neighbourhood stores has a focus on fresh, quality ingredients, and its coffee is no exception – it uses Allpress beans and also offers dairy-free milk options
Where: Little Farms Bistro, Katong Point, 451 Joo Chiat Road #01-04, Singapore 427664
10. Free the Robot
Free the Robot has long been a favourite in Telok Ayer, and it’s a fun spot if you like your coffee with plenty of character. The café has shifted to a weekend-only brunch format, serving coffee alongside its brunch menu on Saturdays and Sundays. And yes, Bailey the dog is still part of the Free the Robot experience. If you’re looking for a relaxed weekend coffee stop with a little more atmosphere than your average café, this quirky Telok Ayer spot is worth a visit.
Where: Free the Robot, 118 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068587. Open Saturday and Sunday, 11am – 4pm.
11. Jewel Coffee
Make no bones about these beans! Jewel Coffee is a homegrown specialty coffee brand that has been roasting in Singapore since 2011. Its coffees are made with beans sourced from around the world and roasted locally, with a range of blends and single-origin coffees available to enjoy at home or in its café outlets. If you like discovering different coffees or want to take a bag of beans home after your caffeine fix, Jewel Coffee is a name worth knowing.
Where: Jewel Coffee, various locations and retail channels across Singapore
12. Jimmy Monkey
The delightful Jimmy Monkey was borne out of a desire to re-create the feel of a Melbourne cafe right here in Singapore. Job done! Jimmy Monkey serves up some of the best specialty coffee in Singapore and that’s in part thanks to Singapore’s first Slayer Espresso machine (not sure what that is, but we’re impressed nonetheless). After you’ve downed one or two flat whites, we highly recommend the soft-boiled eggs with Vegemite and cheese soldiers or The Hulk (it’s up there as the best avocado on toast in Singapore).
Where: Jimmy Monkey, One-North Residences, 9 One-North Gateway #01-51, Singapore 138643 and Park Place Residences at PLQ, 2 Paya Lebar Road #01-10, Singapore 409053
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13. Common Man Coffee Roasters
This coffee store has been the top supplier of coffee beans to other cafes, so it only makes sense to feature it in this list! Its philosophy of bringing delicious, quality roasted coffee to caffeine addicts is a humble statement – its coffee is just out of this world. Aromatic, light, strong yet bright… if you’re a coffee connoisseur, you would know what we’re talking about. Its outlet in Stanley Street sells doughnuts too, if you’re looking for something sweet to pair with your coffee. Joe and dough, such a perfect combo.
Where: Common Man Coffee Roasters, multiple locations across Singapore
14. Chye Seng Huat Hardware
How good is it when you can have a delicious coffee in a beautiful setting? Double win! Chye Seng Huat Hardware serves up delicious specialty coffee, which it rotates seasonally based on what’s available in growing regions along the coffee belt. The shop is situated inside several old metal and hardware companies, giving it an industrial yet welcoming vibe. To top it off, the menu is delish, with lots of innovative dishes. Our current fave is the charred cauliflower salad. Healthy food heaven in a bowl.
Where: Chye Seng Huat Hardware, 150 Tyrwhitt Road, Singapore 207563
15. Bacha Coffee
If you have an afternoon off from work and the kids – rare, we know – gather up your friends and head down to this coffee boutique in ION Orchard. It boasts more than 200 single-origin coffees, flavoured coffees, fine blended coffees, and even naturally decaffeinated coffees… It’s the caffeine equivalent of TWG Tea, we reckon. Spend some time soaking in the opulence of the cafe and enjoying a good, strong brew. You can also grab a few bags of coffee beans to take home or gift them to your friends.
Where: Bacha Coffee, ION Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn #01-15/16, Singapore 238801
16. Apartment Coffee
For coffee lovers who really want to geek out over their brew, Apartment Coffee is well worth a visit. This specialty coffee roaster in Selegie has built a following around carefully selected coffees and a more intimate, coffee-focused experience. It’s the sort of place where you can linger over a beautifully prepared cup rather than simply grabbing a takeaway on the way to school pick-up. The pared-back setting also makes it a good one for the camera roll.
Where: Apartment Coffee, 139 Selegie Road, #01-01, Singapore 188309
17. Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee
Tiong Hoe is one of those Singapore coffee names that has been around long enough to have earned serious coffee credentials, while still feeling welcoming to everyday drinkers. The family-run business roasts its own specialty coffee and has grown from its original coffeehouse into a network of coffee bars around Singapore. For the full Tiong Hoe experience, head to its Stirling Road coffeehouse, where you can settle in with a freshly brewed cup and browse its selection of beans to take home.
Where: Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee, 170 Stirling Road, #01-1133, Singapore 140170
18. Kurasu Singapore
If minimalist Japanese design and seriously good coffee are your idea of a perfect café outing, put Kurasu on the list. Originally from Kyoto, Kurasu brings Japanese specialty coffee and brewing culture to Singapore, with a carefully curated selection of coffees and brewing equipment. Its Waterloo Street space is bright, pared-back and peaceful – exactly the kind of place where you can enjoy a slow coffee and take a few aesthetically pleasing snaps while you’re there.
Where: Kurasu Singapore, 261 Waterloo Street, #01-24, Singapore 180261
19. Brawn & Brains Coffee
Brawn & Brains is a homegrown coffee roaster that takes both the craft and the community side of coffee seriously. Its cafés are designed around good coffee, good food and a welcoming atmosphere, making it an easy choice whether you’re after a proper caffeine fix or somewhere to catch up with a friend. With several locations around Singapore, including its Hamilton Road café in Jalan Besar, there are plenty of opportunities to try its locally roasted beans.
Where: Brawn & Brains Coffee, multiple locations across Singapore. Hamilton Road café is at 16 Hamilton Road, #01-06, Singapore 209186.
20. Kith Cafe [PERMANENTLY CLOSED]
A group of people living in the same area and forming a culture with a common language, customs, economy, etc… This is how the dictionary defines Kith. We’ll add to some of the best coffee in Singapore. While it’s sad to see some of their locations closing up, their Marina Square outlet is perfect if you ever want to drop the kids off at the indoor play area Kiztopia!
Where: Kith Cafe, 6 Raffles Blvd, #01 – 10, Singapore 039594
Hello, hey Joe, enjoy your cuppa coffee, yo!
