Head to these 15 cafes in Tanjong Pagar for brunch and more

With cafes popping up all over Tanjong Pagar, especially in the past five years, the area has become a hotbed for prowling brunchers on the weekends. 

For those new to the area, it can be a bit overwhelming — where and how do you start? 

No two cafes are made the same, though. So if you want to make the most of your time in the hood, we’ve done the legwork for you and gathered a total of 15 cafes in Tanjong Pagar that each bring something different to the table. 

Check these 15 cafes in Tanjong Pagar out and let us know what you think:

1. Baristart Coffee Singapore 

65 Tras Street
Open: Monday to Sunday (9am to 10pm)

Why visit? When I think of Baristart, only two words come to mind — cream puff. This Hokkaido export serves up one of the best cream puffs in the city, with an airy pastry that’s stuffed with a full-bodied cream made from Jersey milk hailing from Biei in Hokkaido. 

Don’t miss Baristart Coffee’s latte, a creamy caffeine beverage for a pep-me-up. The cafe also has an all day extensive food menu that ranges from breakfast, french toast, sandos, mains, and an indulgent wagyu don (S$39.80) made with Hokkaido wagyu A5 Furano sirloin. 

Price range: $$

Crowd favourite: The Hokkaido cream puff (S$7 for one, S$19.50 for three) is a no-brainer. Go early to get your hands on one before they sell out. Its strawberry milkshake (S$8.50) is a new addition that’s both a feast for the eyes and stomach.

2. So Good Bakery

100 Tras Street, 01-10 & 01-14A
Open: Monday to Sunday (8am to 9pm)

Why visit? Tuck into old-school Hong Kong-style baked goods at this casual cafe in Tanjong Pagar, So Good Bakery. Sitting at the bakery with the clang of fresh egg tarts as they are removed from their metal tins is the closest you can get to pretending you’re in Hong Kong — without all that travelling, that is. Expect to find classic HK baked items such as signature egg tarts and char siew bolo buns. 

If you’re hungry for more, head to its full-fledged cha chan teng next door (01-04), which has a comprehensive all-day menu, including classic century egg congee for breakfast and macaroni soup. 

Price range: $

Crowd favourite: The egg tarts (S$1.70), a custard centre with a thin flaky shell, is popular with both the dine-in and takeaway guests, but also try the oozy cheese tarts (S$2.50) for a more savoury treat.

3. Acoustics Coffee Bar

61 Neil Road
Open: Sunday to Thursday (8.30am to 5.30pm), Friday and Saturday (8.30am to 9.30am)

Why visit? Audiophiles, searching for a cafes in Tanjong Pagar to head to? We’ve got you covered with Acoustics Coffee Bar. 

The place, as its name suggests, is built with the auditory experience in mind. Acoustic panels along the cafe’s walls help to minimise echo and give you extra privacy when you’re having a saucy conversation, even when the cafe’s at full house.

Its contemporary Danish-inspired interior — with furnishings made with natural materials, and its hi-fi setup — makes us feel like we’ve just stepped into a really vibey living room. Plus you’ll even get to put on your choice of music — what’s there not to like?

Price range: $$

Crowd favourite: The Acoustics laksa (S$21) might be pricier than the average bowl but the cafe’s spaghetti rendition comes with tiger prawns, squid, egg, narutomaki (Japanese fish cake), and tofu puff all mixed in a piquant laksa cream sauce. Wash all of that down with its well-loved orange mocha (S$7 for hot, S$7.50 for iced) for a refreshing finish.

4. Little Oasis

Grassroots Book Room, 25 Bukit Pasoh Road 
Open: Wednesday to Saturday, Monday (12pm to 6pm), Sunday (12pm to 5.30pm)

Why visit? Fresh from its move from Everton Park prior to this, Little Oasis at Bukit Pasoh wins us over with its earnestness. It has come far from the days when its owners would bake chiffon cakes in their home kitchen for family and friends.

If you’re visiting this Tanjong Pagar cafe, note that it shares a storefront with a Taiwanese bookstore called Grassroots Book Room. Whether you’re there for books or brews, Little Oasis’ laid back, yet warm service is bound to keep you there for hours. 

It houses a good variety of homemade baked goods, hot dishes and coffee from Common Man Coffee Roasters. We especially love the small touches, such as the hand-drawn and written cards that indicate the day’s dishes in both English and Mandarin, which all add to the cafe’s cosy vibes. 

Price range: $$

Crowd favourite: Its moist and citrusy yuzu chiffon cake (S$3 per slice) is typically the fastest to sell out. But fret not — you can place an order for a whole cake on their website Little Wooden Table. If you’re feeling parched, its smoothies (S$6) are robust in flavour and extremely value for money.

5. Plain Vanilla

167 Neil Road, 01-01
Open: Monday to Sunday (7.30am to 7pm)

Why visit? Home grown business, Plain Vanilla, is one of the OGs in the bakery scene, with more than a decade under its belt. The Neil Road outlet is its fifth in Singapore and is located in a conserved heritage Peranakan shop house, complete with a little front yard that’s great for people watching. 

Here, communal dining is encouraged in a nod towards the Peranakan spirit of “tok panjang”, where food is shared family-style with a generous side of conversation. The caffeine served here is Brown Mills Organic coffee from Allpress Espresso. 

Price range: $$

Crowd favourite: Plain Vanilla still does its famed cupcakes well after all these years. Check out the glass counter display for their daily flavours, such as the classic vanilla bean or strawberry white chocolate (from S$4.20 each, S$26 for a box of six).

6. Equate Coffee

1 Tanjong Pagar Plaza, 02-25
Open: Monday to Friday (8.30am to 5.30pm), Saturday (8.30am to 3pm)

Why visit? Equate Coffee was opened by two friends, Jacob Ngoh and Ryan Pang, in March 2021. This Tanjong Pagar cafe stands out with its industrialist, statement-making arch entrance made with raw cement, especially against the backdrop of the old-school Tanjong Pagar Plaza it is housed in.

This outlet offers a more concise menu compared to its sister store at Orchard Central. But similar to its other outlets, Equate Coffee in this locale still serves their Solid Gold House blend comprising beans from Brazil and Sumatra roasted in Malaysia, as well as caneles from Sugar Thieves. 

Price range: $$

Crowd favourite: The rum-infused canele (S$4) is a mainstay on the menu and rightly so — it boasts a caramelised outer crust and a slightly chewy, dense custard interior.

7. Five Oars Coffee Roasters Heritage

43 Tanjong Pagar Road, 01-01
Open: Monday to Sunday (8am to 10pm)

Why visit? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Five Oars Coffee Roasters is one of the cafes in Singapore that stays true to the Melbourne-style of coffee shop — the style that first launched third-wave coffee culture in Singapore. 

The newly-refurbished Five Oars cafe in Tanjong Pagar is modelled after its sister outlet in Siglap, which also has a similar, industrial-leaning interior. Its exposed red brick walls, wood accents and terrazzo tables add to the cosy factor, making it the perfect spot for long conversations or when you want to hunker down on some work. 

Price range: $$

Crowd favourite: A classic Melbourne cafe brunch isn’t complete without Eggs Your Way (S$12), where you can choose from a selection of sourdough or brioche and eggs cooked poached, scrambled, sunny-side up, or over-easy.

8. Fifty Five Coffee Bar

55A Neil Road
Open: Tuesday to Sunday (9.55am to 5.55pm)

Why visit? Slinging cups of caffeine by day and serving up cocktails by night, Fifty Five Coffee Bar is more than your average cafe in Tanjong Pagar. 

Taking up two floors in a heritage shop house, the cafe is owned by Nick Liu, whose grandfather Liu Kang was a pioneer of the Nanyang style art movement in the late 1940s to 60s. It would explain why you’ll find the occasional art installation as the venue plays host to a rotating roster of artist friends. 

Price range: $$

Crowd favourite: A uniquely sweet and savoury concoction, its manuka honey miso latte (S$7.50), offers a different way to get your dose of caffeine for the day.

9. Nylon Coffee

4 Everton Park, 01-04
Open: Wednesday to Friday (8.30am to 4.30pm), Saturday & Sunday (9am to 4.30pm)

Why visit? One of the first few local roasters to pop up, Nylon Coffee has established itself as an institution among coffee connoisseurs here, since its inception in 2012. The owners personally visit each single-origin coffee bean producer before adding them to the cafe’s repertoire. 

While lacking food options, it’ll be remiss to not pay this coffee shop a visit if you’re serious about your cup o’ joe. The small coffee bar also has an impressive selection of coffee-making accessories and beans from Ethiopia, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Uganda.

Price range: $$

Crowd favourite: Get the most flavour out of their hand-picked, ethically-produced beans with a filter brew (S$5.50 to S$7) from any of their seasonal selection.

10. The Better Half

1 Everton Park, 01-43
Open: Tuesday to Sunday (10am to 4pm)

Why visit? From a home-based business to a brick-and-mortar store in 2019, The Better Half is a labour of love for couple Jonathan and Hwee Ying. He’s responsible for the baked goods, while she’s the resident barista and creative director of the cafe. 

The hole-in-the-wall cafe maxes out on cosy vibes, with a pastry counter filled with unique flavour combinations (S$6 to S$9.50), which are rotated daily. Best sellers include its carrot walnut and its vanilla salted caramel cakes (S$6.50 each). 

Price range: $

Crowd favourite: Jonathan’s cakes sell like hotcakes — it’s not a surprise given that they taste as good as they look. He changes up the flavours periodically and offers a randomised box of four cakes (S$39) or whole cakes that you can order from its website.

11. Elijah Pies 

7 Tanjong Pagar Plaza, 01-102
Open: Monday to Wednesday (10am to 6pm), Thursday to Sunday (10am to 10pm)

Why visit? Known for its delicate-looking artisanal pies, Elijah Pies recently opened its first dine-in cafe in Tanjong Pagar to much fanfare. The simply decorated cafe also functions as a workshop venue, where the cafe holds pie-making classes for small groups. 

In addition to its bestsellers, it has thrown in a few savoury pie options such as a mac ‘n cheese pie (S$12.90) and a seaweed chicken pot pie (S$13.90). Full pie portions are available for order online for collection at the shop. 

Price range: $$

Crowd favourite: The nutella pie, including other flavours along the likes of speculoos hojicha and wild berry lavender pie, is sold by the slice here (S$7.50 to S$7.90).

12. Cloud

1A Duxton Hill, 01-01
Open: Tuesday to Sunday (10am to 6pm)

Why visit? Cloud is a relatively new entrant to the Duxton Hill area, opening in January last year. It is a minute, industrial-themed spot with a paper mache ceiling feature that ties in with its cumulus moniker. 

Minimally designed to optimise the small space, this Tanjong Pagar cafe also keeps a small selection of baked goods displayed on metal plates by the front counter. But on occasion, it does offer a more extensive menu with savoury options in collaboration with other F&B outlets.

Price range: $

Crowd favourite: Using single-origin Brazilian beans from Double Up Coffee, its espresso (S$3) pairs well with its aromatic housemade banana cake (S$5).

13. Sugar and Tease Patisserie Cafe

11 Keng See Street, 01-04
Open: Monday to Thursday (10am to 5pm)

Why visit? You’ll want to whip out your phone for these beautifully decorated cakes and pastries at Sugar and Tease Patisserie Cafe. 

Formerly at Serangoon, it has since moved to Tanjong Pagar, along with its smattering of quirky flavoured creations, such as the social media-famous watermelon cake made with rose-scented chantilly, dacquoise, watermelon and strawberries. Whole cakes can be ordered on their website.

Price range: $$

Crowd favourite: Its watermelon cake, named One in a Melon (S$7.50 for a slice, S$58 and above for a whole cake), still continues to be a hit with guests.

14. Cotta

104A Tanjong Pagar Road
Open: Monday and Friday (1.30pm to 10.30pm), Wednesday and Thursday (6.30pm to 10.30pm), Saturday & Sunday (12.30am to 11pm)

Why visit? Gelato specialists, Cotta, have set up shop on the second floor of a shophouse right in the middle of the city’s K-town. Its entrance is identifiable by a large illuminated balloon with “Cotta” printed on it. 

This cafe in Tanjong Pagar makes its own unique gelato flavours — such as roasted corn and gorgonzola and zesty pink guava — which change periodically, as well as desserts such as its matcha goma cookie sandwich (S$7) made with matcha from Uji, Japan. 

Price range: $$

Crowd favourite: Many come for the quirky-flavoured gelato unique to Cotta, where you can get either a single scoop (S$5, adding S$1 for premium flavours), double scoop (S$9, adding S$1 for premium flavour), or with freshly pressed waffles (top-up of S$7).

15. Cafe Kreams

Maxwell Chambers, 01-07, 32 Maxwell Road 
Open: Monday to Saturday (9am to 11pm), Sunday (12pm to 10pm)

Why visit? While it has a reputation for being a ‘gram-friendly spot with its autumn leaves-covered ceiling, Cafe Kreams is more than just a pretty face. 

The folks here also offer specialty coffee from beans roasted in-house, with four different blends that range from Luscious City with more chocolatey notes, to Gentle Twilight, a nutty decaf (prices start at S$5.50 for a double espresso). 

Price range: $$

Crowd favourite: Three years after the viral dalgona latte trend, the demand for it has abated but Cafe Kreams remains one of the OG places that continues to serve up a decent iteration at S$9. Its Kream beer (from S$12), with a robust creamy foam top, is also a crowd favourite.

For more cafe guides, check out our guide to the JB cafes you should spend your time at, and cafes in Holland Village to head to. 

Baristart, So Good, Acoustics, Plain Vanilla, Equate Coffee, Elijah Pies, Cloud, and Cafe Kreams are on the GrabFood delivery service and offer free delivery (up to S$3 off) with GrabUnlimited.

Do explore the new GrabFood Dine-in service for awesome deals. 


You can also book a ride to these cafes in Tanjong Pagar.