Save this list: 10 cafes you can use your CDC vouchers at
Cafe-hopping ranks high on the list of national pastimes — and now you’ve got another reason to indulge, with a fresh tranche of Community Development Council vouchers (CDC vouchers) that just arrived in July!
If you’re not sure where to spend it, why not use those vouchers on a good cup of coffee or a satisfying brunch at local cafes that accept them, and to support these local businesses, too?
From cosy neighbourhood hideouts to brunch spots with serious aesthetic appeal, here are 10 spots you can use your CDC vouchers at, without major damage to your wallets.
Editor’s Note: While certain brands mentioned have multiple outlets, we have only listed the locations that accept CDC vouchers as of time of publication, as verified through the official CDC voucher directory.
1. Hello Arigato — Everton Park & Tiong Bahru
Why visit? Hello Arigato proudly calls itself the “house of speciality sandos”, and now has five outlets islandwide — an impressive number considering it only first opened at Upper Thomson in 2021. Even though it’s been on the cafe scene for a bit and has many outlets, each still manages to draw a handsome turnout, especially on weekends.
If you haven’t been, well, now’s a good reason. You can use your CDC vouchers at its Everton Park and Tiong Bahru outlets, and grab yourself some fluffy shokubuns, sandos, and treat yourself to its selection of bakes and cakes.
Crowd favourites: Its tamago sando (S$15) has been a staple since day one and remains a crowd-puller till today. It comes with creamy Japanese egg mayo, tamagoyaki (Japanese rolled omelette), and ajitama egg (marinated, jammy egg) — all sandwiched between fluffy Japanese milk bread.
If you prefer something heartier, the mentaiko pasta (S$22), which is topped with Hokkaido scallop sashimi, a subtly creamy mentaiko sauce, tobiko (flying fish roe), lemon zest, and nori (dried seaweed), is a total umami powerhouse!
2. Gig Cafe
Why visit? Those who want brunch with a side of photos, this one’s for you: You might have seen this vibrant-pink spot and its aesthetics making its rounds on social media. Gig Cafe is a popular choice for those seeking a visually appealing dining experience, particularly for the ‘gram.
Thankfully its two outlets — in Tampines and Toa Payoh — both accept CDC vouchers, so you have your fair share of options no matter where you stay. If you’re looking for delectable brunch plates and a wide variety of pasta and donburi dishes, you know where to go!
Crowd favourites: The shakshouka baked eggs (S$17.90) will fill you up, with its eggs, onion, spinach, beans, and smoked chicken chorizo sausage, simmered in housemade capsicum tomato sauce.
If you’re looking for something more substantial, the Gig breakfast (S$19.90) is a must. Dig into a plate of your choice of eggs (scrambled or sunny side up), chicken
3. Cafe Wabi Sabi — Everton Park
Why visit? Cafe Wabi Sabi is named after a Japanese term that focuses on the beauty in imperfection, and its cafe is similarly outfitted.
While its Everton Park outlet is the only one that accepts payment via CDC vouchers, it’s worth lingering here on a slow weekend — even if it’s just to soak in the calm ambience. Oh, it’s also a work-friendly cafe, complete with seamless wi-fi connection and plenty of wall plugs.
Crowd favourites: The cafe just updated its menu in late May and one of its latest additions is the luxurious Japanese tom yum soba with ebi tempura (S$20.90). Expect a delectable bowl of al dente pasta with shimeiji mushrooms, cucumbers, tomatoes, crispy ebi tempura ladled with flavourful tom yum sauce.
New to its drinks menu as well is the iced strawberry latte (S$8.50). This punchy, bittersweet beverage is a great pick-me-up, especially on days you need a delicious brew to power you through the day!
4. Marie’s Lapis Cafe — Bedok
Why visit? You probably wouldn’t expect to find quality Peranakan fare in a quaint neighbourhood cafe, but Marie’s Lapis Cafe proves you wrong. The concept first rose to popularity for its kueh lapis sold from home, before the family behind the brand decided to open a physical store in late 2020.
Fast forward five years later and it’s not only open at one, but three locations islandwide, one of which is a self-service, express concept at Raffles Xchange. You can only use your CDC vouchers at the main Bedok branch, though we think it’s well worth checking out if you’re in the other two outlets’ vicinity, too, whether or not you can use your voucher.
Crowd favourites: Don’t leave without a taste of its well-loved nasi lemak with beef rendang (S$18), a fan favourite since its opening.
There’s also buah keluak mee tai mak (S$16) a rich, savoury recipe that’ll have you returning for more.
Leave room for one of its notable sweet treats, such as the lapis waffle with two gelato scoops (waffles infused with layered cake spices, S$12) — a delicious way to close the meal.
5. Bag Me Up Bagel House
Why visit? When it comes to breakfast bites on the go, chomping on a bagel is one of the yummiest ways to start your morning. And there’s no better place to spend those CDC dollars on a bagel than at Bag Me Up Bagel House, which serves up sweet and savoury selections for every palate.
While it doesn’t offer different-flavoured bagels as a few other bagelries do, you’d be glad to know that the cafe makes all of its bagels in-house.
Crowd favourites: For a full-on protein powerhouse, the Can Trust Chic (S$16.50) is a great choice, loaded with grilled teriyaki chicken thigh, sauteed mushrooms, truffle schmear, and mozzarella.
If you’re leaning more towards a sweeter start to your day, the cream cheese with crushed Biscoff (S$8) is a straightforward number that’ll satisfy.
6. Burnt Cones — Clementi
Why visit? Let’s admit it: Most of us could do with an ice cream scoop (or two!) to deal with this unrelenting heat right now, and while we’re at it, why not support a local brand? If you’re in on it, you’ll want to make a beeline for Burnt Cones’s Clementi outlet (the only one that accepts CDC vouchers, for now). We heard it’s open till midnight, too!
Opened in 2020 with a name borne out of a kitchen mishap involving burned gelato cones, the brand now has six outlets in Singapore. If you’re new to the brand, or haven’t visited in a while, you’d be glad to know it has a monthly exclusive flavour, and about 12 flavours in-store to tickle your fancy, so there’ll definitely be something for everyone.
Crowd favourites: Its pistachio (from S$6 for a signature single scoop) is a classic and a flavour that keeps the crowd returning. To make it a complete treat, you can add on a cone (choose from light, medium, or dark, S$2) or a waffle (S$8).
The Clementi outlet also serves savoury dishes, if you’re swinging by for brunch. The Lot (S$16) will certainly fill you up — it’s a hearty plate of chicken sausages, turkey bacon, soft scrambled eggs, and a side salad.
7. 6 Letter Brunch — Frankel Avenue & Crawford Centre
Why visit? Sometimes, choosing where to settle in for brunch can be tricky with the many options that our city has. But if you’re looking for a reliable brunch spot to spend those CDC vouchers and tuck into homely plates, then 6 Letter Brunch might just be your answer. Its variety of brunch staples will perk up any weekend plans with friends.
Unlike some of the brands we’ve shared earlier, it has two outlets (one in the east, and the other near Bugis) eligible for payment with CDC vouchers, giving you more locations to choose from.
Crowd favourites: Fans of rosti will rejoice in its various options, such as the grilled chicken rosti (S$21), served with grilled chicken thigh meat marinated in herbs and spices, mashed avocado, and a mixed salad.
It also puts a spin on a Mexican favourite with its brunch tacos (S$17) that come topped with scrambled eggs, bacon, salsa, mixed cheese, sweet potatoes, and chipotle honey aioli, served with a mixed salad.
8. Narrative Coffee Stand
Why visit? While Narrative Coffee Stand may not be a full-fledged cafe (if you’re gunning for a hearty brunch), it has become a popular hangout for caffeine fiends since it opened in 2019. This cosy nook serves a curated selection of coffee, made from its own house-roasted single-origin beans.
Take your pick of espresso or filter coffees at this spot, which frequently sees neighbouring office workers and students drop in for a mid-day pick-me-up. If you prefer to brew your own cup of coffee at home, it also sells espresso beans and filter coffee for your convenience.
Crowd favourites: Fuel your day with an iced latte (S$7) or get straight to the point with a no-frills espresso (S$4).
If you are more inclined to chilled beverages, its bottled brews might be right up your alley — choose from chilled oat white (S$7.50), chilled matcha (S$7.50), or a classic cold brew black (S$6.50), among others.
9. Anna’s Sourdough
Why visit? Anna’s Sourdough in Punggol has made a name for itself as a sourdough speciality cafe, selling fresh doughy bites in the ‘hood. Beyond simple loaves, this halal-certified cafe also whips up savoury and sweet bakes, pasta, and pizza for the hungry crowd.
Just when you think that’s already a lot of options, it has started offering a high tea set (S$38 for two diners) — available daily from 2pm to 5pm. The set includes an assortment of sourdough treats, accompanied by two drinks of your choice. It also features sourdough scones served with cultured butter and berry compote, as well as savoury treats such as miniature quiches, toasties, and turnovers. It sounds like just the item to spend those generous CDC vouchers on, if you ask us!
Crowd favourites: Aside from its value-for-money high tea set, try its OG eggs benedict (from S$22 for the option with sauteed mushrooms) with poached eggs and arugula on Okara-na sourdough (a vegetarian loaf with a soybean pulp and spelt base blend), topped with mustard hollandaise sauce.
Its housemade sourdough pasta selection is a must-try as well, with Anna’s beef ragu (S$28) a hit among regulars. This dish features 100% sourdough wholegrain pasta made with spelt and semolina, tossed in a luscious beef ragu made with New Zealand grass-fed brisket.
10. Cafe Fufu
Why visit? Lengkok Baru may be a more mature estate, but don’t sleep on it — it has one of the best spots in Singapore for sourdough pizzas. Cafe Fufu is a year-old wood-fired pizza cafe that uses a full-sized woodfire oven (flown in from Italy, no less) and is fuelled by Australian firewood.
Its menu includes a variety of pizzas (10-inch and 12-inch sizes), pasta, and sharing starters — more than enough to fill you and your friends’ bellies over a casual catch-up. With such affordable prices, starting at S$14 for a 10-inch margherita pizza, we can’t think of a better spot to fuel up on pasta and pizza (with our CDC vouchers, too), than at Cafe Fufu.
Crowd favourites: Of course, you have to try its titular pizza Fufu (from S$20 for a 10-inch pizza), given it’s the house signature. It comes with tiger prawns, coriander pesto, chilli, pine nuts, and semi-dried tomatoes.
For pasta, the crabmeat pasta (S$20) also comes highly recommended. It’s a spicy aglio olio-style pasta, peppered with crab meat, pine nuts, and crispy garlic.
For more ideas on what to eat, read the latest stories on Rumel, a budget pizza spot at Bugis+ with Neapolitan pizzas from S$5, or this viral coffee stand in Bedok with brews below S$7.
Wani is a cat lady who loves a good sweat session in the gym, and is still tracking the lead to the elusive cure for wanderlust.
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