10 new cafes you need to know about in 2014

PUBLISHED September 24th, 2013 01:25 am | UPDATED May 8th, 2018 03:59 pm

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s the unstoppable wave of hipster cafes that are sprouting up faster than Super Man can fly! Our insatiable appetite for cool, character-filled, coffee spots where we can Instagram-up the latte art and cupcakes is unabating. You know what they say – build and they shall follow. And boy are we following!  So without further ado, here is a trail of 10 new cafes for your weekend escapades:

Neighbourhood: Little India/Jalan Besar

1. TEMPORIUM

Part pop-up store, part diner, part gallery all wrapped up into one lovely little bundle under the roof of two conservation shophouses on Dunlop Street – if your idea of bliss is sipping on a cup of artisan coffee while soaking up exhibitions showcasing a selection of designers, craftsmen and artists, before perusing a shop bringing everything together from fashion to books then this one is for you. You can thank none other than several homegrown brands, including Papa Palheta, Wild Rocket and BooksActually for coming together to make this one happen!

TEMPORIUM is at 72 – 74 Dunlop Street, 209400. Open Tuesday to Sunday 9am – 10pm (store 10am – 8pm), closed every Monday. Gallery subject to programme keep an eye on their Facebook page for updates here. You can also check out their website here for more information.

2. Butter Studio

This place is all about home-baked goodness. Think gourmet cupcakes, connoisseur coffee, artisanal pies and much more – oh and they’re all certified Halal. Not content with simply offering up soulful treats, look out for cool projects and events which support local community talents including open mic sessions, craft workshops and the like.

Butter Studio is at 147 Jalan Besar, 208865. Open Sunday-Thursday 12-11pm, Friday & Saturday 12pm-12am, closed Tuesday. For more information see their website here and for event updates see their Facebook page here.

3. The Bravery

An offshoot from the good folk at The Plain in Tanjong Pagar. If you like the coffee and service at The Plain, then you’re bound to love The Bravery. There’s no sign on the door so be brave, go find it and enter!

The Bravery is at 66 Horne Road, Jalan Besar, 209073. Open Wednesday – Monday 8am – 8pm, closed on Tuesday. For more information see their Facebook page here.

Neighbourhood: Arab Quarter

4. CAD Cafe

This cosy, hole-in-the-wall cafe taking up a corner of Haji Lane is all about about coffee, art & design (CAD, geddit?) and so here you’ll find on the walls a small showcase of art by international and local street artists. It’s teeny tiny so pitch up off-peak if you want a spot inside to enjoy a coffee kick accompanied by homestyle fare.

CAD Cafe is at 23 Haji Lane, 189216. Open Monday – Wednesday 8.00am – 8.00pm, Tuesday – Thursday 8am – 12am, Saturday 10am – 12am and Sunday 10am – 8pm. For more information see their website here and Facebook page for updates here.

5. Dong Po Colonial Cafe

If you fancy a trip down memory lane, a morsel of nostalgia perhaps, then Dong Po is here to let you savour the past whilst being surrounded by toys and knick knacks from days gone by. Anyone for a coconut candy washed down with a cup of Milo?

Dong Po Colonial Cafe is at 56 Kandahar Street, 198904. Open Tuesday – Thursday 9.30am – 8.30pm and Friday – Sunday 9.30am – 9.30pm. For more information see their Facebook page here.

6. Working Title

A great place to chill out with good coffee and scrumptious food in the heartbeat of the Arab Quarter. Pull up a piece of mismatched, lovingly in-house restored furniture and chow down on tasty cupcakes, devour ice cream sandwiches (woohoo!), Windowsill Pies and a craft beer at super reasonable prices, if you’re partial.

Working Title is at 48 Arab Street, 199745. Open Monday – Thursday 9am – 10pm, Friday & Saturday 9am – 12am and Sunday 9am – 10pm. For more information see their Facebook page here.

Neighbourhood: Tiong Bahru

7. The Dispensary

Just when you thought Tiong Bahru was full to the brim with cool places – BAM! Along comes The Dispensary. Taking up residence in none other than an old abandoned Chinese Medical Hall, this cafe touts house blend coffee, signature cupcakes and other homemade fare in nostalgic surrounds. Keeping with tradition, the baristas here even measure up coffee beans using a traditional Chinese weighing scale – nice touch.

The Dispensary is at 69 Tiong Bahru Road, 168723. Open Tuesday – Thursday 8am – 8pm, Friday & Saturday 8am – 10pm and Sunday 9am – 7pm. For more information see their Facebook page here.

Neighbourhood: Robertson Quay

8. Common Man Coffee Roasters

A new place by 40 Hands and 5 Senses, this one’s for the true coffee connoisseur.  Common Man experiments with different coffee flavour profiles and is on a mission to open up your palates to other exciting possibilities. With an all-day menu, a specialty coffee bar and a retail space that offers coffee accessories, coffee lovers go forth and conquer!

Common Man Coffee Roasters is at 22 Martin Road #01-00 , 239058. Opening 8am-7pm daily. For more information, check out their Facebook page here.

Neighbourhood: West-side

9. Revolution Coffee

A quaint cafe quite a wee bit off the beaten track at Infinite Studios on Portsdown Road serving handcrafted specialty coffee and casual food. As well as their own custom blend, expect rotating guest blends from local roasters including the likes of Smitten. And for those of you mourning the closure of Wok & Barrel you’ll be pleased to know that its founder Shen Tan is the brains behind the food on offer here.

Revolution Coffee is at Infinite Studios #01-03A, 21 Media Circle 138562. Open Monday -Friday  8am-5pm, Saturday & Sunday 9am – 4pm. For more information see their Facebook page here.

10. Craft Bakery & Cafe

It’s been a while since something exciting popped up in Holland V, and about time too we say. From the people at 3 Inch Sin (you know, those devishly delicious molten lava cakes?) come hand-crafted savoury and sweet goodies to suit every palate plus coffee brewed using Papa Palheta beans. And oh that’s a mighty fine looking Red Velvet we spy there!

Craft Bakery & Cake is at 24 Lorong Mambong, Holland Village, 227183. Open Monday – Thursday 12pm – 11pm, Friday & Saturday 12pm – 12am and Sunday 12pm – 11pm.

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Written by Ms Demeanour.

Photos courtesy of establishments above.