Elephant Grounds is now in Singapore! Find out what this award-winning cafe and all-day dining concept has to offer.
Elephant Grounds’ Singapore debut marks one of the newest cafe openings of 2026! I visited its Wan Chai outlet in Hong Kong and look back on its well-balanced coffee and deliciously warm banana cake with fond memories. So I made a beeline for its Guoco Midtown location the moment I heard it was landing in the city. Does its new Singapore locale match the experience I had in Hong Kong? Read on to find out more, or check out other new cafes in Singapore.
Elephant Grounds Singapore review: Details at a glance
Best for: Midday coffee breaks; casual meetings; a coffee and snack pitstop with the furkids
Must-tries: Banoffee croissant; Bulletproof; Black Tie
Price: Coffee starts from $4.50; viennoiseries start from $3.50; hot dishes start from $20
Opening hours: Daily, 8am to 8pm
Address: Elephant Grounds, #01-04, Guoco Midtown, 124 Beach Road, Singapore 189771
Elephant Grounds Singapore: First impressions
I arrived in the morning when the sunlight was still soft, setting the perfect mood for my first coffee of the day. The cafe’s first Singapore location boasts similar design characteristics to its Hong Kong counterparts. The wooden accents and orange interior are classic to the brand. The only difference I found was that the Singapore location felt more polished compared to the Wanchai outlet’s rustic and homey feel.
Seating is aplenty, with both indoor and outdoor seats available for diners. I found the indoor seating to be a little chilly and opted to sit outside. It was windy throughout my visit, and I found sitting out in natural light did wonders for my mood and experience as a whole.
One of Elephant Grounds’ brand goals is to create third spaces for us to retreat to. Where, between your journey from home to work and back, you take a moment to seek refuge in its comfort, and that rang true for me. I unknowingly spent a few hours at my table penning notes and answering emails, already mentally putting a pin on Elephant Grounds as my go-to work-from-cafe spot.
Lovely coffee break accompaniments
Elephant Grounds coffee selection is extensive, with beans sourced from East Java. All coffees start with a double shot base, and there are non-dairy milk options like oat, soy, and almond, as well as lactose-free milk. It also brings a selection of exclusive coffees to the scene, some reminiscent of Singapore-style kopi.
I got the Black Tie ($8), an iced coffee with condensed milk. Despite the amount of condensed milk, this drink wasn’t overly sweet, although I did find the coffee a little bit flat in flavour.
My companion opted for the Bulletproof ($8.50), a warm, long black mixed with butter and coconut oil. This keto-friendly option gives you a creamy flavour without the use of milk. The espresso is aromatic and slightly acidic, mellowed out by the butter, and has a lingering coconut flavour. Contrary to my initial assumptions, it didn’t leave any oily film or feeling on my tongue. I’d recommend drinking while warm to avoid getting that oily feeling.
I’d consider the pastries a hit or miss. The vanilla and raspberry doughnut ($5) was soft and fluffy with a sweet vanilla cream and tart raspberry jam. No notes other than I wished there was more vanilla filling.
The viennoiseries were a little stale. The bacon and mustard danish ($6) packs a little punch and the salty bacon carries the flavour. It could have been a little warmer when served, but was still a fairly enjoyable bite.
A must-order for me is the banoffee croissant ($6). Even though it suffered from the same dryness, I found the caramelised banana filling to be a huge treat, and would visit Elephant Grounds again just to get it.
Hot plates we’d skip
The highlight of any cafe will be its brunch plates, so I had to give the main dishes a shot. However, I was left underwhelmed.
When you see a carbonara ($22) on the menu, it’s hard to resist ordering it. I was excited when it arrived. The server explained it was made the traditional way – simply with egg and cheese, without any cream. Topped with a glistening onsen egg and covered in powdery parmesan, it seemed like the perfect execution. However, the whole dish fell flat in terms of flavour for me. There was no salty punch, even when eating the bacon. I’d say this is a good option for anyone who’s lactose intolerant and prefers milder flavours.
The fish fillet sando ($22) comes with breaded sole, wasabi mayo, and coleslaw sandwiched between milk bread slices. The fish is fried well without being too oily, and the crisp coleslaw brightens each bite. While the portion seemed huge, the bread takes up most of the space, and I couldn’t taste any punchy wasabi flavour.
My companion and I were also promised an Instagram-worthy tuna poke ($20), but perhaps the server and I had differing opinions on what could be Instagrammable. Flavours were clean and simple, refreshing for a poke bowl. The tuna tasted more like sashimi than marinated poke, which is a great option if anyone prefers something light on the palate.
While none of the hot plates were particularly terrible, I found most of them flat in flavour. That being said, I wouldn’t be opposed to trying other things on the menu after the team stabilises their operations.
The downsides: Wait times and service
As I visited Elephant Grounds Singapore during its pre-opening preview, the team was understandably still trying to find their footing for service. Greetings were a little clunky, and servers seemed to struggle keeping up with the pace of customers.
Coffee and pastries were served to my table in record time, so there’s little to complain about there. However, for the main dishes, my dining companion and I ended up waiting a little under 30 minutes for the food to arrive which dampened the experience.
At the time of writing, other diners have noted much longer waiting times due to the hype.
I’d say Elephant Grounds is worth visiting for your midday coffee break and a sweet treat on slow days. Long queues will be a major factor in your experience, so consider visiting during off-peak hours or waiting for the hype to die down. As the team continues to take in feedback, I’m sure it’ll show us why it’s an award-winning concept in no time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Elephant Grounds?
Elephant Grounds is a cafe concept that started in Hong Kong and grew to open outlets in Manila, Singapore, and Jakarta.
Are there are Singapore-exclusive drinks or menu items?
Drinks are Elephant Grounds exclusive and don't differ much from the Hong Kong menu.
The Singapore menu features a chicken parmesan, which is exclusive to this city.
Should I make a reservation?
So far, we haven't seen any available links for you to make a reservation at Elephant Grounds. If you would like to dine-in to try the hot food items, we recommend visiting early or on off-peak hours.
Should I expect a queue?
Due to its overwhelming popularity, visitors have reported long wait times and queues. You should expect a queue if you're visiting during lunch or the late afternoon.
Will Elephant Grounds be opening more outlets?
We suspect Elephant Grounds may be opening a few more outlets in Singapore. However, it's currently not confirmed.
