Where to eat bacon and eggs, toast, pancakes, waffles, big breakfasts and other lovely brunch treats on the cheap
Brunch in Singapore doesn’t always have to be a luxury — just look at what we’ve gathered in the foodie guide below! Add this handy list of wonderful cafes and restaurants to your ever-growing collection of cheap eats and drinks in the city, and before you know it, you’ll be happily eating and drinking in style, even on a budget.
Bread Yard
Once SUTD’s most popular cafe, Bread Yard has since moved out to more public premises but still retains its laid-back vibe and affordable brunch prices. For just $15, you can nab a Big Boy Breakfast with bacon, mushroom, sausage, two eggs, fresh greens and their signature Hokkaido bread. True to its name, the café/bakery bakes their bread in-house, so pick a brunch option that includes bread, even if it’s just scrambled eggs on toast ($5.50). After all, the highlight here is the bread.
Bread Yard, #01-23/24 Galaxis , 1 Fusionopolis Place, Singapore 138632. Open weekdays 8am-7.30pm, Sat 9am-2.30pm. Closed on Sun.
Drury Lane
Hipster spot Drury Lane is a perennial favourite amongst brunch-goers. We love the fact that items like the big breakfast (a.k.a. ‘The Big 94’, $15), the eggs Benedict ($12), and the Marmite Cheese Soldiers with soft boiled eggs ($8) are so affordable!
Drury Lane, 94 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088515. p. 6222 6698.
Lola’s Cafe
Crowds constantly flock to this suburban spot for the honey paprika crispy wings (they’re really, really popular), but we love their brunch creations just as much. Try the basil pesto mushroom toast ($14) – a warm butter brioche with sauteed swiss mushrooms, poached eggs, and fresh pesto spread – or the ultimate croissant with honey mayo, scrambled eggs, ham, and streaky bacon ($14).
Lola’s Cafe, 5 Simon Road, Singapore 545893. p. 6284 0349.
Sunday Market
Try something a little more adventurous with these affordable brunch offerings at Sunday Market. Its weekend brunch menu features unconventional, localised takes on brunch classics like the French toast BBQ char siew chicken ($14). Diners with a sweet tooth have other specials to choose from, like The CCP ($12) – pancakes with choc chips, berries, caramelized bananas, chocolate syrup, and golden vanilla ice-cream.
Sunday Market, 22 Lim Tua Tow Road, Singapore 547772. p. 6287 8880. Open weekdays 11am-11pm, weekends 9am-9pm.
The Provision Shop
Instead of dried goods and biscuits at most provision shops, here, you’ll find an affordable brunch haven with retro kitsch like faux marble-topped tables and wooden stools. On the menu are brunch classics like eggs Benedict on ciabatta/tomato ($15) with topping choices like bacon, parma ham, luncheon meat or corned beef. Or get a dose of nostalgia instead with Singapore’s Classic ($8), homemade kaya, black coffee, soft-boiled egg and, instead of regular toast, ciabatta slices.
The Provision Shop, #01-79 Bukit Merah 3 Everton Park, Singapore 080003/ p. 6225 9931. Open Wed-Sun 9am-6pm. Closed Mon-Tue.
Selfish Gene Cafe
Plenty of (pocket-friendly) stellar choices are on offer at Selfish Gene Cafe; order the Breakfast Plate ($15) for your “big breakfast fix”, or the smoked salmon and eggs. ($15). We also find sweet options like Gene’s toast with strawberries and balsamic caramel and bacon onion crumble to be extremely irresistible.
Selfish Gene Cafe, 40 Craig Road, Singapore 089678. p. 6423 1324.
Prive Café
Fancy brunch with a view? Head to Prive Bakery Café located on a tiny island near VivoCity. With a swanky vibe yet a simple menu, this is a great place for city slickers to get a change of scenery. Sweet options include the French toast ($12) with homemade brioche, caramelised banana, and icing sugar as well as the the coconut waffles ($14) served with mango, blueberry, vanilla bean ice cream and maple syrup.. Keeping things trim? Opt for the Omelette Your Way ($15, healthy egg white option available) stuffed with your choice of filling.
Prive Café, 2 Keppel Bay Vista, Singapore 098382, p. 6776 0777. Open daily 9am-12am.
Food for Thought
For some, the ideal brunch is a sweet affair, and the folks at Food For Thought have lots to offer the budget brunch goer. Sink your forks into its apple, bacon and caramel French toast ($9), dark chocolate berry pancake ($14) or the banana walnut pancake with gula Melaka ($14). If your tastes sway towards the savoury, opt for tomato poached eggs ($13) or the Gammon ham melt ($12)
Food For Thought, #B1-00, 1 Cluny Road, Tanglin Gate, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Singapore 259569. p. 6338 4848. Open daily 8am-9pm.
Ronin
Ronin’s discreet shopfront has no signage whatsoever, so if you aren’t actively looking for the café, chances are, you’ll walk right past the space on Hong Kong Street. Try the super fluffy brioche French toast with braised apples and bacon ($14.50), or go back to (seriously good) basics like the scrambled eggs on toast ($9). The coffee here isn’t to be missed either; try the signature The Wicked ($5.50, mocha with mint) or the Matchatone ($5.50 green tea latte).
Ronin, 17 Hong Kong Street, Singapore 059660. Open weekdays 8am-6pm, weekends 8am-7.30pm.
Merchants
The next time you need to stock up on wines, head to Merchants on the weekends to have a solid brunch while you’re at it. Here you’ll find brunch treats like the Aussie BLAT ($8.50) and bacon-and-egg rolls ($12) — along with an impressive range of exclusively boutique, award-winning wines direct from small, independent winemakers. There’s great coffee to be had by Dutch Colony Coffee, too. With two bistros in Singapore, cafe-hoppers don’t have to look hard to find a perfect spot to while the afternoon away.
Merchants Wine Cellar, 52 Duxton Road, Singapore 089516, p. 6222 1162; 443 Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427656. p. 6440 0892.
SPRMRKT
Virtually everything’s made from scratch here at SPRMRKT (short for supermarket). The weekend brunch menu consists of offerings like the yoghurt berries trifle ($10), the avocado & relish toast ($12), and egg omelette with various fillings ($12).
SPRMRKT, 2 McCallum Street, Singapore 069043. p. 6221 2105.
Real Food
Vegetarian-friendly hangout Real Food has some great all-day breakfast bites that won’t make you feel the least bit guilty. Try items like the sweet pumpkin sourdough pancakes ($13.70), or opt for the Rise-n-Shine Breakfast (eggs, mashed potatoes, mushrooms, toast, grilled tomatoes, $15.83) if you need a bigger meal.
Real Food, various locations.
Oriole
Adding to the smorgasbord of brunch options in the city is Oriole Coffee + Bar’s all-new weekend brunch. Spearheaded by head chef Randy Torres, the brunch features hearty and comforting breakfast-y treats like espresso hotcakes ($12) (for a caffeine kick) and the delightfully simple avocado & toast served with smoked tomatoes ($14). Their stellar coffee is just the cherry on top of this brunchy CBD gem.
Oriole Coffee + Bar, #01-01 Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Orchard, 6 Somerset Road, Singapore 238163. p. 6238 8348. Open weekdays 8am-11pm, weekends 8am-12pm.
Old Hen Coffee Bar
Specialty coffee shop Old Hen takes their java offerings very seriously (one must-try is their signature cold matcha milk), but their brunch treats – like the croque monsieur ($8.50) and the homemade waffles ($12) – are just as noteworthy.
Old Hen Coffee Bar, #01-03, 88 Rangoon Road, Singapore 218374. p. 6341 5458.
