Just a heads up: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you book through them (at no extra cost to you). Your support helps me keep Rachel IRL going, so thank you! To read more, please see my affiliate disclosure.
Look, I’m just gonna say it — I’m the kind of person who plans entire days (and sometimes entire trips) around where I’m getting my next coffee.
And Singapore cafes freaking delivered. Between the tiny hole-in-the-wall roasters and the ultra-minimalist cafés where your coffee feels like it came off a tasting menu, Singapore is a dream for anyone even slightly obsessed with a good cup.
I spent our whole trip bouncing around the city, drinking enough espresso to power a small nation, and these are the spots that genuinely stood out — no tourist traps, no basic lattes, just real-deal coffee worth your time (and money).
- 15 of the Best Cafes in Singapore for Coffee Lovers
- 3. Chye Seng Huat Hardware
- 4. Maxi Coffee Bar
- 5. Common Man Coffee Roasters (Martin Road)
- 6. Narrative Coffee Stand
- 7. Double Shot Coffee (Shenton)
- 8. Round Boy Roasters
- 9. Waved
- 10. Zerah Coffee Roasters
- 11. Upside Down Coffee Roaster
- 12. Kurasu Singapore
- 13. Pocket by Flip Coffee Roasters
- 14. Highlander Coffee Espresso Bar
- 15. Guerilla Coffee @ Kallang Riverside
- FAQs about Singapore Cafes & Singapore Coffee
And if you want to make your café-hopping even easier, I’ve done the hard part for you — all the best Singapore cafes from this post are pinned in a custom Google Maps list. No more flipping between tabs, screenshotting blog posts, or getting stuck somewhere mediocre.
Wanna explore Singapore like a local?
Here’s a mini guide to help you plan your perfect visit!
Where to stay:
My favorite neighborhoods:
Can’t miss coffee experience:
Stay connected:
More on Singapore:
Like to map it out?
Find all the spots featured in this post below!
Delve into Singapore
Don’t forget to check out the rest of my Singapore posts and guides if you’re still planning your perfect trip!
15 of the Best Cafes in Singapore for Coffee Lovers
Real Talk:
Singapore – while less affected than some of its Southeast Asian neighbors – is not immune to overtourism, gentrification, and environmental damage. So please: don’t be an asshole when you travel here (or anywhere).
If you’ve made it to my blog, I’d like to think you too care about preserving the integrity of the places you visit – but I’ve seen enough disrespectful behavior from Western tourists to know it’s worth saying out loud:
If you’re going to make locals’ lives harder, just stay home.
Coffee Icons You Can’t Miss
(Legendary spots that shaped Singapore’s specialty coffee scene)
1. Apartment Coffee
If you’re the kind of person who takes coffee Very Seriously (capital V, capital S), Apartment is your happy place. It’s all about clean brews, quiet vibes, and baristas who could probably teach a university course on pour-over technique.
Light roasts are the move here, and every cup feels a little bit like a science experiment gone very right. The space is super minimal — it’s more a “sip and savor” spot than a cozy linger.
📍 Bugis
2. Nylon Coffee Roasters
Tiny, mighty, and worshipped by locals, Nylon has been holding it down long before “third wave” was a thing. Their coffee is bold, beautifully balanced, and roasted right here in Singapore, which makes it feel even better going down.
You’re probably not coming for the decor — you’re coming for the best flat white of your trip. The seating is super limited, so personally I’d be prepared to grab a takeaway.
Planning Cheat Sheet: Every Link You Need in One Place
P.S. When you book using my links, you help support Rachel IRL at no extra cost to you. It’s a win-win!
3. Chye Seng Huat Hardware
What do you get when you turn an old hardware store into a specialty coffee mecca? You get CSHH — a full-on institution where you can sip cold brew on tap and spy on the roasting action through giant windows.
The space is cool without trying too hard, and the coffee lineup hits everything from espresso shots to filter flights. The food menu is solid too, but trust me — the coffee’s the main character here, though I may be biased cause I love
📍 Kallang
4. Maxi Coffee Bar
Maxi is tiny, slightly chaotic in the best way, and always slinging some of the best coffee (and weirdly addictive toasties) around. Yes, the espresso is excellent — but it’s the cereal milk cold brew that will haunt your dreams, I know it haunts mine.
It’s the kind of place where you accidentally end up ordering three drinks just because the vibes are too good to leave.
Heads up: blink and you’ll miss it — look for the sidewalk bench seating.
5. Common Man Coffee Roasters (Martin Road)
If you’re the type who wants both an immaculate flat white and a brioche French toast that could ruin your life (in the best way), Common Man’s flagship is your spot. It’s popular, it’s busy, but it’s totally worth it. The coffee program is as serious as the brunch crowd is hungry.
Expect a wait on weekends — or be strategic and show up early.
Go Behind the Scenes of Singapore’s Kopi & Loti Culture
Skip the tourist traps and step into a real working bakery where Singapore’s classic breakfasts come to life. This small-group tour takes you deep into the local kopi (coffee) and loti (bread) scene — from watching dough get hand-kneaded to sipping kopi pulled the traditional way. If you’re the kind of traveler who loves a good under-the-radar gem, this is absolutely one to bookmark.
Specialty Gems for Coffee Snobs
(Small-batch roasters, tiny counters, and pure coffee craftsmanship)
6. Narrative Coffee Stand
Narrative is basically the definition of “small but mighty.” It’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it coffee stand tucked into a nondescript corner — but once you taste what they’re pouring, you’ll wonder why you ever trusted bigger shops.
Expect beautifully brewed filter coffees and baristas who can talk tasting notes better than most sommeliers.
7. Double Shot Coffee (Shenton)
In a sea of grab-and-go CBD coffee shops, Double Shot is where the real ones go. The espresso is punchy, the filter brews are thoughtful, and the service is surprisingly warm for the downtown hustle.
If you’re stuck in the financial district and desperate for good coffee that doesn’t taste like printer ink, this is your lifeline. PS – it’s mostly standing room — great for a fast pick-me-up while you’re in the center.
📍 CBD
8. Round Boy Roasters
Round Boy is what happens when a bunch of people who love coffee way too much decide to open a shop — and I mean that in the best way. It’s friendly, relaxed, and totally unpretentious, even though the coffee is genuinely excellent.
Great spot to pick up a bag of beans and get a killer espresso while you’re at it. It’s a pretty casual setting, so don’t come expecting polished café vibes — it’s all about the coffee here.
9. Waved
If you like being slightly ahead of the curve, you need to know about Waved. They’ve quietly racked up a perfect 5-star rating, and their coffee is clean, flavorful, and just the right amount of experimental.
The shop has a sunny, relaxed vibe that feels like a breath of fresh air. It seems like it’s still a bit under the radar — which means you can actually find a seat (for now).
📍 Katong
10. Zerah Coffee Roasters
Zerah is one of those places where the beans are so good, it feels almost rude not to buy a bag to take home. Their roastery-café setup means everything you’re sipping is freshly roasted, thoughtfully brewed, and served by people who genuinely love their craft.
Expect clean, bright flavors and serious pour-over options.
📍 Kampong Glam
11. Upside Down Coffee Roaster
This place looks like a blink-and-miss hole in the wall, but what they’re doing with coffee is anything but basic. Upside Down focuses on thoughtful brews with none of the snobbery — just good coffee, good vibes, and solid playlists.
If you need a quick but very good caffeine fix around Tanjong Pagar, this is it. Setting is basically nonexistent, so be prepared to take it to go.
12. Kurasu Singapore
Originally from Kyoto, Kurasu brings serious Japanese minimalism to the Singapore coffee scene. Their specialty is clean, sweet pour-overs that somehow feel both gentle and mind-blowing at the same time.
Plus, if you’re a sucker for sleek branding and beautiful gear, their shop will make you want to buy things you absolutely don’t need.
📍 Bugis
Sip Singapore’s Past: Stories Behind Every Cup of Kopi & Cha
This isn’t just about tea and coffee — it’s about the lives, legacies, and local legends brewed into every glass. On this intimate walking tour, you’ll meet long-time vendors, explore a century-old tea shop, and uncover the layered history behind Singapore’s most beloved drinks. Includes lunch at a Michelin-rec’d spot.
Chill Cafes Where Coffee Still Shines
(Beautiful places to linger, where the coffee remains first-class)
13. Pocket by Flip Coffee Roasters
Tiny but mighty, Pocket feels like a little secret spot you almost don’t want to tell people about. Their beans come from Flip Coffee Roasters, so you know you’re getting a top-notch brew whether you’re grabbing a quick flat white or settling in with a slow filter. The vibe is laid-back but the coffee is dead serious.
It’s pretty out of the way, but a good spot to try if you’re exploring the Botanic Gardens.
📍 Botanic Gardens
14. Highlander Coffee Espresso Bar
Highlander is old-school in the best way — they’ve been roasting coffee in Singapore since before it was cool. The vibe is no-nonsense and a little industrial, but the coffee is consistently excellent and served without a hint of attitude.
It’s the kind of place you can trust to deliver a perfect espresso every single time.
📍 Outram
15. Guerilla Coffee @ Kallang Riverside
Guerilla Coffee feels like a hidden retreat from the chaos of the city. Tucked into the Kallang Riverside area, it’s bright, breezy, and serves up a rock-solid range of espresso drinks and filters. It’s not trying to be trendy — it’s just trying to give you a good cup in a peaceful spot, and honestly, it nails it.
📍 Kallang
FAQs about Singapore Cafes & Singapore Coffee
What is a Singapore coffee?
If you’re hearing the phrase “Singapore coffee” and picturing a flat white or a fancy pour-over, hold up — it actually refers to something pretty different.
Traditional Singapore coffee, also called kopi, is a super-strong brew made with robusta beans that have been roasted with sugar and margarine, giving them a deep, smoky, almost caramelized flavor. It’s usually served at old-school kopitiams (coffee shops), not the modern Singapore cafes you see all over Instagram.
Depending on how you order it, kopi can come black, with condensed milk, with evaporated milk, or even iced — and it’s a full-on local experience if you want to drink coffee the Singaporean way.
Is Singapore coffee strong?
Oh yeah — Singapore coffee (aka kopi) isn’t messing around.
It’s typically made from robusta beans, which naturally have more caffeine and a stronger, earthier flavor than the arabica beans you’ll usually find at modern Singapore cafes.
Plus, the brewing method pulls a super-concentrated, bold cup that’ll absolutely wake you up — especially if you order it the classic way, with condensed milk to balance the intensity.
If you’re used to light, delicate specialty coffee, just know: kopi hits different (and it hits hard).
What is Singaporean coffee called?
Singaporean coffee is most commonly called kopi — it’s the traditional style of coffee you’ll find at old-school kopitiams (local coffee shops) all over Singapore.
Kopi is brewed using a sock-like cloth filter and robusta beans that have been roasted with sugar and margarine, giving it a rich, punchy, slightly smoky flavor.
It’s a totally different experience from what you’ll get at modern Singapore cafes, but it’s just as much a part of the city’s coffee culture.
Is Singapore coffee Robusta or Arabica?
Singapore coffee — meaning traditional kopi — is almost always made with robusta beans.
Robusta has a stronger, earthier, and sometimes slightly bitter flavor compared to the smoother, fruitier taste you get from arabica beans (the ones most Singapore cafes use for their specialty brews).
It also packs way more caffeine, which is part of why a cup of kopi hits like a truck — in the best way.
If you’re ordering traditional kopi at a kopitiam, just assume it’s robusta unless they specifically say otherwise.
How to order Singapore coffee?
Ordering Singapore coffee (aka kopi) is basically learning a whole secret menu — but once you get it, it’s weirdly fun.
At a kopitiam, just say:
– “kopi” for coffee with condensed milk
– “kopi o” if you want it black with sugar
– “kopi o kosong” if you want it black with no sugar at all.
There’s a full dictionary of terms if you really want to get fancy (like “kopi si” for evaporated milk), but honestly, those basics will cover you.
Heads up: if you’re at modern Singapore cafes, just order normally — kopi slang only applies at the old-school shops.
Planning Cheat Sheet: Every Link You Need in One Place
P.S. When you book using my links, you help support Rachel IRL at no extra cost to you. It’s a win-win!
Are you ready to drink your weight in Singapore coffee?
I hope this guide to the best Singapore cafes has helped you map out your perfect coffee-fueled adventure through the city! Like I said earlier, Singapore is packed with incredible coffee — from sleek specialty cafés to under-the-radar neighborhood gems — and honestly, it deserves way more love from casual visitors (especially if you’re the type who plans trips around where to eat and drink).
And if you’ve been around here for a while, you already know my ideal day in any city includes a little wandering, a little (window) shopping, and one excellent coffee break. Every single spot on this list delivers on that final, essential part of the formula.
Tried one of these cafés — or have a favorite I missed? Drop me a comment, I’d love to hear about your own Singapore coffee finds!
As always you can always find me on Instagram (tag me in your travel content!), Youtube, or Pinterest.
Happy traveling!
Downloadable
Google Maps
Save time and explore like a local with my curated Google Maps. Get all my best recommendations, hidden gems, and tips in one easy-to-use guide—no note-taking required!
Liked this post? Pin it for later!
