8 Best Cafes in Joo Chiat, Singapore for brunch, coffee or lunch

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Chat to any local Singaporean born and raised in the East … They very proudly declare and let you know just how great this part of the island is, claiming it as the best part to live in over anywhere else … If you’re a traveler who thrives on exploring beyond the tourist hubs (that would be me) and gets excited by a city’s local trendier scenes, then Joo Chiat should be one place at the top of your list! 

Famed for its pastel-colored Peranakan shopfronts (the buildings and colors always kind of remind me of Phuket Old Town), it has garnered a reputation among Singaporeans for also being home to hot spots for food, coffee, and culture. 

Luckily for everyone, Singapore’s metro is super reliable, so it’s very easy to get around the city, no matter which area you’re staying in. I would recommend considering this neighborhood as well for a couple of nights. Whether you’re just exploring for the day or have chosen it as your base, here are 8 lovely cafes in Joo Chiat that you shouldn’t miss! 

1. Marlow’s Deli: Italian focaccia with an Asian twist 

I’ve always enjoyed focaccia, but after numerous trips to Italy, my penchant for the Italian bread has grown tenfold. At Marlow’s Deli, it’s all about the oven-baked focaccia with distinct Asian twists! Personally, I think focaccia is having a moment in the cafe/food world!

Take the Lemak (made with coconut lemak chicken, creamy lemak sour cream, cucumbers, and scallions) or Tandoori Chicken options as examples. These are classic Asian flavors from around the continent. Not only limited to just bread, but there are a few other items at this super cool spot, like chicken tenders. 

Apart from the breads, they offer a variety of yummy matcha-flavored drinks (among others), such as strawberry or chocolate foam matcha, or strawberry lemonade. 

This is one of the best cafes in Joo Chiat making waves for all the right reasons (in my opinion). 

2. Prairie by Craftsmen: Time for brunch 

Prairie by Craftsmen is one of the cafes in Joo Chiat that is hard to miss thanks to its bold blue exterior. 

Late-risers, you’ll be stoked to know that this spot serves all-day brunch. If you haven’t made it for this hour, you can still enjoy the brunch vibes even a little later on in the afternoon. I’m talking waffles, classic kaya toast, acai super bowls, oven-baked eggs, salmon rosti, and other divine options blending Western and Asian combos. 

Not only limited to brunch, but the rest of the menu comprises appetizers, rice bowls, burgers, pastas, and mains – think chicken confit or fish and chips – as well as sharing plates and sweet treats. These pair well with a crisp glass of wine. I love that the cafe has a solid drinks menu, because sometimes (especially on holiday), you don’t always feel like coffee or fruit juice, right?

3. Bites & Brews: A really funky one 

Wowee, talk about bright, bold, and creative! Bites and Brews is one of the most epic cafes in Joo Chiat if you’re on the hunt for: 

A) Something SCRUMPTIOUS to eat – I’m talking comfort/hangover mouth-watering food. 

B) A food and drinks menu that screams different! 

C) Plates that burst with color. 

Blending ‘Western comfort food and craft drinks with an Asian twist’ (seems to be the trend in this area), some must-try items include the white rabbit milk tea, which takes me straight back to my childhood; I love these sweeties, and the tom yum salted egg spinach tagliatelle. 

4. 174Bingo: A bakery cafe 

A cafe with the heart and soul of a bakery, 174Bingo plates up seriously delicious food using seasonal ingredients. 

The bakes here range from various breads to doughs to sweet treats, and the flavor profiles are always interesting. For example, between savory and sweet options, test out ingredients and flavors like grape shiso soda, nurungi (burnt Korean rice), a combo of hazelnut and blackberry, jambon beurre, kinako flour, adzuki bean, mochi, and many more to intrigue!

Their cookies are also out of this world, made with the perfect balance of chewiness and are extra-thick. Or, order the portobello mushroom danish with burnt butter bechamel, parsley butter, Parmigiano Reggiano, and lemon zest. 

5. Cafe Wabi Sabi: Japanese vibes  

I love Japanese, and at Cafe Wabi Sabi, they cook up all the things I love about the cuisine, making this spot one of my favorite cafes in Joo Chiat. 

Travel Insighter Tip: Love Japan? Check out our Ultimate 2 Week Japan Itinerary: Best Places to Visit For First-Timers

Straight off the bat, some must-order dishes include the trio of temaki – more commonly known as a handroll – (I’m here for the soft shell crab one), tamagoyaki chizu sando, ramen, and don bowls.   

Another thing that I appreciate about Japanese food culture is that the drinks are sometimes more like a dessert. 

I’ve always noticed and thought that desserts in Asia are different from Western culture, where the focus isn’t so much on these crazy rich renditions like cakes, mousse, and that sort of thing. Instead, it’s more subtle and fruit-y type of vibes. When I lived in Vietnam, dessert was always just sliced fruit platters. 

One yummy drink here that sounds like a dessert but won’t leave you feeling as heavy is the Wabi oolong tea cheese brûlée!

6. June Coffee: Super cool drinks

Coffee, brunch and matcha. If this sounds like your cup of tea, then June Coffee is right up your cafe-hopping alley! 

If you’re at all familiar with Singapore’s trending architectural spaces, this spot is also a dream for it, with its Scandi-like interiors and classic glass block features. 

The drinks menu is elite, offering such yummy lattes, like iced pistachio, iced black sesame, and iced kinako matcha. Or go for something different, such as an iced honey grapefruit americano served in a tall glass! 

Brunch is all-day – go for the beef tenderloin croffle (a cross between a croissant and a waffle). There are also a few French toasts to choose from. Apart from the breakfast-time items, mains comprise dishes like country-style salmon. Then there are salads, a whole bunch of pastas, and sides.   

7. Common Man: One for the coffee snobs 

It would feel totally wrong or incomplete to create a list of the top cafes in Joo Chiat and leave off Common Man – an iconic cafe and coffee house in Singapore. They’ve long held a name for themselves thanks to their specialty coffee. So much so, they even run their own barista academy. Yup, they mean serious business! 

For anyone who takes their caffeinated drinks seriously, you’ll appreciate it here. But the food matches, too. 

Don’t you hate visiting a cafe and either the coffee or food isn’t on par with the other?! 

Plus, there are various menus to choose from, depending on what time of day you get here. These include the day and night menus. The evening one also has a selection of beers, cocktails, and wine. Ever tried a matcha beer? Now’s your chance! 

8. Bee Hoe Coffee: A hidden alley gem 

If you’ve recently traveled to Vietnam and are missing a taste of the land, there’s no better spot among the cafes in Joo Chiat for pukka traditional Vietnamese coffee than Bee Hoe Coffee. They even do the famous Hanoi egg coffee! Yup, how cool! 

Travel Insighter Tip: Coffeeholics: Check These 10 Best Coffee Shops in Hanoi

While this hidden gem/hole-in-the-wall started as just a Vietnamese coffee operation, the drinks and snacks menu has extended to both categories from around Southeast Asia. They hone in on traditional small bites and drinks, like a shrimp shallot roti inspired by a dish from Myanmar and gong zai bing, which they took inspo from at Tho Yuen teahouse in Penang. 

Most of their coffees are brewed using Vietnamese beans, although they also use Arabica in some of their coffee drinks. A popular one is the peanut butter iced latte. 

As you can see, the cafes in Joo Chiat very much match its trendy status, ranging from great coffee spots to places for a full-on sit-down meal. 

Found yourself exploring Tiong Bahru? Here are 7 of my favorite cafe spots in Singapore’s hidden gem. In the Clarke Quay area, dine at these best restaurants! Or, for a mix of the city’s neighbourhoods, here are my 10 best cafes in Singapore. For the coffee fiends, these specialty coffee shops in Singapore will surely impress even the most particular coffee snobs.

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