Have your specialty coffee, hot brunch and sweet treats at these 5 hot cafés in the bustling suburb of Siglap along Upper East Coast Road in Singapore
Who says Siglap is ‘ulu’ (‘deserted’ in Malay), or God forbid, ‘dead’? This Eastern neighbourhood is hardly a ghost town with its laidback setting that draws foodies from other parts of the island to satisfy their cravings, sans the rowdy crowds. If you’re new to this quaint ‘hood, we’ve got your back; here are the 5 best cafés in Siglap for great coffee and delicious café nosh.
Craftsmen Specialty Coffee
Where to get a potent cuppa Joe in Siglap? We point you in the direction of these quaint coffee connoisseurs, huddled within a charming store filled with whimsical details like Danish pottery and nutcracker dolls. And once you’re finished being googly-eyed at the décor, order anything from hazelnut and butterscotch latte, to espresso and cortado – they have it all. Oh, and did we mention they’ve got white truffle buttermilk waffles? Sold.
Craftsmen Specialty Coffee, #01-01 Siglap V, 2 First Street, Singapore 458278, p. 9658 0769. Open Sun-Thu 8am-9pm, Fri-Sat 8am-10.30pm.
Stamping Ground Coffee
This café has nothing but ‘good vibes only’. Sharing the same venue with flower shop Dawn Q Floral Design, it’s no wonder this café looks like an indoor garden and smells like spring. Plus, there are seats outside, in case your nose starts acting up. From the Singapore Papa Palheta’s Throwback Blend to Melbourne’s Rumble Coffee Roasters, Stamping Ground Coffee serves a variety of coffee blends. Get its signature Cold Brew, brewed and bottled in-house, for your caffeine fix. Expect café nosh such as Smoked Salmon Pate Bagel, Belgian Waffles and Crab Croissant on its all-day menu.
Stamping Ground Coffee, 87 Upper East Coast Road, Singapore 455223, p. 9070 7610. Open Tue-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat & Sun 9am-6pm.
The Royals Café
All-day breakfast places aren’t all in the heart of town; there’s one right here in Siglap! The Royals feeds you like royalty with deluxe French toast sets and big breakfasts (all Halal) ’til 9pm, and also offers Asian options like Nyonya mee siam and beef rendang. We’re also fans of the mini pies (their Shepherd’s pie hits the spot every time) and cakes that line the counter.
The Royals Café, 19 Upper East Coast Road, Crescendo Building, Singapore 455209, p. 8481 0080. Open daily 10am-10pm.
Udders & Kook
When you’ve got a beef with the sun, and you need to cool off, grab a scoop of ice-cream at Udders and Kook. Flavours include the classic Cookies and Cream, the boozy Rum Rum Raisin, and of course, the local Mo Shan Wang Durian. This ice-cream parlor also has a hot menu if you fancy a proper meal. Find burgers like the Marmite and Maple Burger, and the Smoked Salmon Burger, as well as Bangers and Mash, and Salted Egg Yolk Fries.
Udders & Kook, 81 Upper East Coast Road, Singapore 455220, p. 6448 8732. Open Sun-Thu 12pm-11pm, Fri, Sat and Eve of Public Holiday 12pm-1am.
Dutch Colony Coffee Co.
This coffee house serves a mean cuppa with specialty beans and divine brunch selections. Together with a great ambience and interior design (look, glass ceiling roofs!), this is our go to spot for a date with our books.
Dutch Colony Coffee Co., 113 Frankel Ave, Singapore 458230, p. 6448 5852.
For other ace hood cafés, check out our Bukit Timah picks and ones at Kampong Glam and Haji Lane, as well as April’s hottest cafés worth checking out.