PUBLISHED August 26th, 2015 08:20 am | UPDATED June 6th, 2016 12:34 pm
A great cup of coffee has always been, and will always be, more than just a great cup of coffee. Besides being a weekday morning staple or a late night beverage, sipping coffee is also a popular weekend sport. Cafés have been a notable social space for longer than we can remember; and these days, interesting concept cafes around the island that propose entirely different ideas of vending artisanal coffee become places of discovery and exploration in Singapore.
We’ve scoured the island in search of these unique concept cafes and found 13 of them – happy exploring!
Cups N Canvas
Cups N Canvas marries art and coffee in their vibrant yet homely cafe-studio setting. Inspired by an artist’s personal experience, where cups of coffee and painting often go hand-in-hand, Cups N Canvas offers a warm, soothing cuppa and art materials. On weekends, there’s even an experienced tutor around, for those who really want to channel their inner Picasso.
Cups N Canvas is located at 139 Selegie Road, Singapore 188309. To book your Art Jamming sessions in advance, please call +65 6884 6855, or email info@cupsncanvas.com.
Boufe Boutique Café
Ladies, take note! An amalgamation of ‘Boutique’ and ‘Cafe’, Boufe fills your tummy with brunch and dinner, while filling your closet with pretty apparels from local online retailer, OHVOLA at the same time. Located on the fringe of town and surrounded by greenery, Boufe Boutique Cafe is perfect for a coffee break from the hustling and bustling – and the shopping spree might just resume in the café.
Boufe Boutique Café is located at 308 Tanglin Road, Phoenix Park, #01-01, Singapore 247974. Tel: +65 6734 7656
Le Halo
A treasure trove of vintage finds and all-day breakfast with a local twist, Le Halo is an ode to the good old times. Expect novel items like Otah On Toast, which features a sunny side-up atop a layer of the famed Muar Otah, and catching on the rainbow dessert trend, the Rainbow Kueh Lapis. They’ve also collaborated with Chair-ish The Moments, so you’ll find vintage rugs, chairs, and cushions at Le Halo on sale.
Le Halo is located at Blk 4 Jalan Bukit Ho Swee, #01-162, Singapore 162004. Tel: +65 9736 8087
Old Habits Café
The second vintage store-cafe in our list, Old Habits Cafe features vintage gadgets and consoles like SEGA consoles from your childhood, vintage typewriters, and walls adorned with vintage enamel signs! Most vintage collectibles are up for sale, allowing you to take a piece of this bygone era home. Old Habits Cafe’s menu is Western-inspired, with a range of mains, finger food and desserts to choose from.
Old Habits Café is located at 38 Telok Blangah Rise, #01-315, Singapore 090038. Tel: +65 9127 7147
The Property Café
The first of its kind, The Property Cafe combines coffee with all the information you need to plan your dream home. The owner’s love for real estate is evident, with property listings displayed all around the cafe, and a well-stocked rack of property magazines. You can even get a consultation on buying, selling or renting in Singapore! Food-wise, they serve up wallet-friendly items such as Curry Chicken with Tomato Rice and small bites like Kaya Butter Toast.
The Property Café is located at 89 Rangoon Road Urban Lofts, #01-02, Singapore 218375. Tel: +65 9632 2112
Geek Café
A graphic designer’s dream come true, Geek Cafe is full of beautiful typography and sleek modern prints. But that’s not their main selling point. Here at Geek Cafe, you can buy electronic devices, or get your device repaired, while sipping on their artisanal brew and chowing down on their sweet treats. Talk about multi-tasking! Besides bringing you tech gadgets and amazing coffee, Geek Cafe conducts various workshops from LeatherCraft Basic Workshops to Photoshop/Illustrator Basic Workshops. Calling themselves Technical-Baristas, they pride themselves on serving up excellent coffee, and sharing their knowledge from design to tech repairs, to being a barista and more!
Geek Café is located at 7F Crane Road, Singapore 429356. Tel: +65 6348 1315
The Plant Story
When you’re on the lookout for hangout spots, HortPark is unlikely at the top of the list, if at all. But if we learn anything about hidden gems, it’s that you can’t judge a place simply from its location. Take a peek into The Plant Story at HortPark, and you get a sense that this is the kind of spot where gardening hobbyists frequent it rather than some random customers who wander in by chance. Fauna in a variety of shapes and sizes welcome you as you enter, but walk past this incredible bounty from Mother Nature, and you’ll discover tables and chairs, which suggest this is also a place to dine in.
The menu offers simple options like soup, beef lasagne, cheesecakes, as well as coffee and tea. But if you’re looking for a jolt from the usual cafehopping activity, here’s a good place to put your phone aside and partake in an alternative hobby like terrarium-making which is just a workshop sign-up away. There is also a retail space where you can pick up readymade terrariums and everything else you’ll ever need to become your own urban gardener.
The Plant Story is located at 33 Hyderabad Road, Singapore 119578. Tel: +65 9722 0438
Wheelers’ Yard
Wheeler’s Yard’s is pure evidence how a cafe doesn’t need food to be popular (though we have to point out that this iconic establishment wasn’t meant to be a cafe to begin with). With cycling becoming a trendy lifestyle choice, and the Balestier thoroughfare making way for parks and park connectors, opening a bicycle workshop seemed to be a savvy business decision. So, invest in a handsome fixie, explore the Balestier Trail, and head to this bicycle garage and café for a respite.
Wheeler’s Yard is located at 28 Lor Ampas, Singapore 328781. To find out more about their bike rental services, reach them at +65 9726 1183.
The White Ombré
At The White Ombré, you can have your cake (and make it) and eat it! For a fee, you can learn how to make almost everything on their menu, from their amazing rainbow cakes to their macarons. The White Ombré also conducts classes for those wanting to pick up more advanced techniques, such as 3D Cake Sculpting. They also have customisable cakes of various sizes, for that perfect cake for special occasions!
The White Ombré is located at Blk 206 Toa Payoh North, #01-1209, Singapore 310206. Tel: +65 6254 6434.
Ukulele Movement
Donuts and muffins are arguably made for coffee, but Ukulele Movement believes that the inedible ukulele can be a melodic match made in sensory heaven. The café has all the essentials – repurposed furniture, a shiny LaMarzocco, and ukuleles adorning the turf wall backdrop. The ukuleles are available for purchase, and if you so desire, you may charm your date with a rendition of ‘Forgetful Lucy’. And if you need to expand your repertoire, there are workshops to help a brother out.
Ukulele Movement is located at 178 Race Course Road, Singapore 218608. Tel: +65 6299 0580
Cat Café Neko No Niwa
The café that launched the cat cafe trend in Singapore, Cat Café Neko No Niwa boasts a cafe experience unlike your usual. Overlooking the Singapore River along Boat Quay, Cat Café Neko No Niwa is perfect for a chill-out afternoon, complete with some cat-therapy from their 13 resident cats. Strong advocates of cat welface, Cat Café Neko No Niwa also runs Cat Care Workshops on caring for these loveable felines.
Cat Café Neko No Niwa is located at 54A Boat Quay (Level 2), Singapore 049843. Tel: +65 6536 5319.
Ippin Café Bar
Transport yourself to the land of the rising sun at Ippin Café Bar. Dedicated to the motto, ‘Better than mom’s home cooked food’, Singapore’s first home-concept Japanese café bar serves up food with homely vibes that ooze with authentic Japanese flavour. With a wide selection of Japanese craft beers and sake, light drinkers and heavy weights alike can find something that suits them.
Ippin Café Bar is located at 18 Mohamed Sultan Road, Singapore 238967. Tel: +65 6733 4794
SPR MRKT
SPR MRKT aims to reshape your local supermarket experience by bringing together the enjoyment of food, retail, and art in a single space. Here, you can enjoy a hearty meal while shopping for home and office necessities sourced from producers all over the world. With a firm belief that food should be made fresh, SPR MRKT offers two small menus – All-Day Breakfast and the daily changing A La Carte menu – that upholds quality and consistency, as well as minimising wastage of food simultaneously.
SPR MRKT is located at 2 McCallum Street, Singapore 069043. To find out more about how you can showcase your works at SPR MRKT, talk to them at contactus@sprmrkt.com.sg.
Top image: Boufe Boutique Café
This post was contributed by Sugar. Download the app from the App Store or Google Play.