Embrace slow days at Guerilla Coffee’s new Kallang Riverside flagship cafe

To Keith Loh, 51, coffee is meant to be savoured slowly, so that one can enjoy the nuances and quality of each cup. 

That’s why he founded the Guerilla Coffee brand in 2021 — as a go-to destination for good coffee. The homegrown speciality coffee concept was intended to serve as a pitstop for slow, chill days, where patrons could unwind from their fast-paced lives. 

He adds: “Beyond just coffee, we also aim to create a hub where people can come together, share their passion for coffee and engage with one another.”

Since then, Guerilla Coffee has launched its two outlets at Suntec City and IOI Boulevard, with the latter opening its doors just last year.

Both offer coffee and pastries on the menu, and are largely geared towards those working in the Central Business District. 

Building on the success of the brand thus far, Keith decided it was time to take the coffee experience at Guerilla Coffee to the next level. 

The brand’s newest flagship store at Kallang Riverside opened in September 2024, and marks its first full-fledged, dine-in cafe with an eclectic all-day brunch menu. 

Keith wanted Guerilla Coffee at Kallang Riverside to be a tranquil oasis — away from the bustle of populated spots in the city — that celebrates coffee.

It also dishes up coffee-infused brunch classics for diners to enjoy alongside their coffee.

In contrast to its other outlets, Guerilla Coffee at Kallang Riverside is extra special. 

It boasts an on-site roastery, where customers can take their pick from premium, globally-sourced beans of all sorts, and have them roasted, on the spot, within 15 minutes. 

Coffee connoisseurs can also book an immersive, one-hour auction coffee discovery session (S$148), where the head barista will prepare a range of top-grade coffees for you to sample. 

“We wanted to provide a special coffee experience that caters to diverse tastes, for both coffee enthusiasts and those just beginning their speciality coffee journey,” explains Keith.

Coffee-infused brunch delights

Start the meal with the Guerilla seasonal butter board (from S$18) — a sharing platter laden with crisp, tangy sourdough crostini and house-churned butter. 

The butter is silky and aromatic, and brings out the rich, hearty flavour of the sourdough bread.

It’s also best paired with the house-made coffee salt that’s served on the side. Lightly sprinkle it on the butter for a robust, roasted twang.

Guerilla Coffee at Kallang Riverside has also spun an interesting twist on the familiar buttermilk-waffles-and-fried-chicken combination. 

The buttermilk chicken waffles and espresso maple (S$20), is a creature comfort comprising fluffy buttermilk waffles and crispy, cereal-battered chicken.

Atop the protein is a slab of butter, which eventually melts to a creamy, fragrant goodness. 

Instead of the usual maple syrup that the dish is typically paired with, Guerilla Coffee’s own espresso-infused version is served on the side as a dip.

Crafted with the brand’s homemade coffee blend, the dip is velvety and smooth, with subtle caffeine notes at the end.

For dessert, Keith urged us to try the signature Guerilla G2 tiramisu deck (S$16). It’s dished out to you tableside, as good tiramisu spots usually do. 

You get a whopping slice of tiramisu — the portion is huge. Enough that we recommend sharing it with a companion. 

Just one bite, and you’re hit with all its coffee-rich glory. The tiramisu is thoroughly soaked in the cafe’s Guerilla No 2 espresso — a full-bodied, chocolatey blend — and rich housemade coffee liqueur.

Grab a seat near the window and watch the world slowly roll by, all with a cuppa in hand. 

There are filter coffees, artisanal teas and smoothies (for those who can’t take caffeine), but our eyes were immediately drawn to the Singapore latte (S$6.70) and Straits latte (S$7.20). Both are odes to our local flavours.

The Singapore latte is a modern spin on traditional Nanyang coffee, comprising condensed milk, salt and pepper. The Straits latte, on the other hand, is a refreshing beverage spiced with gula melaka and desiccated coconut.

This was an invited tasting.

For the latest eats, read about new day-time cafe concept Corner Corner and chia seed pudding speciality brand Chia Puddies. Alternatively, check out the newest openings in Singapore here. 

Enjoy up to 50% off when you dine with GrabFood Dine Out.

You can also book a ride to Guerilla Coffee Kallang Riverside for brunch.