More than dumplings and mala hotpot, who knew Chinatown had so many nice cafes for coffee and brunch?
Delve into the vibrant heart of Chinatown. It’s one of Singapore’s most iconic tourist attraction, where traditional culture meets modernity in a unique blend of flavours and experiences. From Instagram-worthy interiors to exceptional coffee and mouthwatering croissants, we’ve curated a list of must-visit cafes in Chinatown to explore.
Grab your friends and get ready to embark on a foodie adventure through the 11 best cafes in Chinatown, Singapore.
Where are the best cafes at Chinatown?
Chinatown cafes
1. Paaru — fluffy shokupan
2. Audi x Burnt Ends Bakery — German-inspired bakes and coffee
3. Maxi Coffee Bar — the best oat cold brew and fun sandiwches
4. Spring Coffee — matcha cafe
5. Acoustics Coffee Bar — pet-friendly cafe that roasts their own coffee
6. Kohaku Sabo — jiggly cat pudding
7. Nakey — bombolone donuts and bagels
8. Leung Sang Hong Kong Pastries — traditional Hong Kong egg tarts
9. Bearded Bella — Melbourne brunch cafe
10. Nanyang Old Coffee — traditional coffee with Asian fusion mains
11. Dearborn — granola speciality cafe
12. Muro Coffee — coffee and focaccia
13. The Shelter — affordable $3 mains
14. Rituals of Kora — calming matcha studio
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Here are the best cafes near Chinatown.
Best cafes in Chinatown
1. Paaru
Nestled in the Pearl’s Hill Terrace neighbourhood, a 5-minutes walk from Chinatown MRT station Exit C, Paaru is the perfect cafe for an afternoon tea when you’re in Chinatown.
This bakery is popular for its signature house-baked shokupans, cakes, tarts, and diverse coffee selections, making it the perfect cafe to drop by. We recommend the French Toast Shokupan ($12), which is a tempting, caramelised version of their signature bread.
While you’re there, treat yourself to a cup of their coffee, complemented with a Rare Cheese Tart ($10).
So is this one of the best cafes in Chinatown? Try it for yourself.
Location: 195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace, #01-61, Singapore 168976
Opening hours:
Monday: 12-5pm
Tuesday: 12-4pm
Wed-Thu: Closed
Fri-Sat: 12-5pm, 6-10pm
Sunday: 12-5pm
2. Audi x Burnt Ends Bakery
Burnt Ends Bakery has just gotten a lot more accessible, as they open their newest outlet at Audi House of Progress in Chinatown.
Exclusive to this outlet, look forward to their German-inspired bakes and coffee, such as the German Pretzel ($6), Blackforest Doughnut ($6) and Tiramisu Coffee ($10).
Located opposite the cafe is Audi’s driving simulator.
Location: 18 Cross St, Singapore 048423
Opening hours: 8am-4pm
3. Maxi Coffee Bar
Possibly the vibiest cafe in Chinatown, Maxi Coffee Bar is a culmination of everything that the founders, Joy and Denise, love.
Preppy aesthetics, interesting decors… even their cold brew bottle was designed by them. But what about the food?
Aside from their signature Iced Cereal Milk Latte ($7.5), we recommend trying their light bites such as Miso PB&J ($5.5) or Kaya Butter ($4.5).
Meanwhile, for heartier mains, opt for their savoury toasts like the Beef Pastrami ($15) and Mortadella Cheese ($15).
Location: 6 Ann Siang Hill, Singapore 069787
Opening hours:
Monday: Closed
Tue-Fri: 8am-4:30pm
Sat-Sun: 9am-4:30pm
4. Spring Coffee
This might be one of the most underrated cafes in Chinatown, tucked away in Hong Lim Complex. They are famous for matcha drinks, but if you really want to take them up a notch, get the Strawberry Matcha Latte ($8.5). Personally, I love how this cafe uses a house-made strawberry puree for a more natural flavour. It’s also slightly sweeter and milker.
If you’re wondering if you should come here, their other menu items comprise Scone ($5.5), Banana Loaf ($6), Long Black ($4.5), and Signature Spring Matcha ($7.5).
Location: 531 Upper Cross St, #02-60 Hong Lim Complex, Singapore 050531
Opening hours:
Mon-Fri: 9am-5pm
Saturday: 10am-6pm
Sunday: Closed
5. Acoustics Coffee Bar
Situated along Neil Road, Acoustics Coffee Bar is a popular spot for brunch at Chinatown.
Maybe it’s the wide selection of Asian-inspired brunch or the fact that it’s one of the few pet-friendly cafes in Singapore, but this place is always packed. Even on the weekdays, as diners would take advantage of their affordable lunch sets starting from $12. You can choose between the Breaded Pollock Fish and Laksa Roasted Chicken Rice Bowl; each set comes with a drink.
Acoustics Coffee Bar is also one of the few cafes that excels in both food and drinks. They roast their own coffee, offering a rotation of single origin from various parts of brazil. To fully appreciate this variety, try it as an iced Long Black ($5) and savour the contrasting flavors of vibrant citrus and smooth, chocolaty undertones.
Despite its crowd, you can be rest assured that you’ll still be able to catch up with your friends at this cafe in Chinatown.
Location: 61 Neil Rd, Singapore 088895
Opening hours: 8:30am-5:30pm
6. Kohaku Sabo
If you’ve seen viral videos of jiggly cat pudding, you’ll be delighted to hear that it’s finally available in Singapore.
Kohaku Sabo is a Japanese cafe located in Chinatown Point.
The Bouncing Kitty Milk Pudding ($8.8) are available in taro and coconut flavours. Each set comes with an edible brush to decorate your pudding before eating. You can make it look happy, angry and even derpy.
Location: 133 New Bridge Rd, L2 Chinatown Point, #02-34, Singapore 059413
Opening hours: 11:30am-3pm, 5-10pm
7. Nakey
Popular for its Bombolone-style doughnuts and bagels, Nakey is a new cafe in Chinatown with a minimalistic, cosy, and modern setting.
The Italian-inspired doughnuts, including enticing flavours like Nutty Praline Donuts ($6) and Thai Ice Tea Donuts ($6), take center stage in this aesthetically pleasing setting. Beyond the sweets options, Nakey extends its appeal with hearty food options such as the Mentaiko Salmon ($16).
Keep in mind, they do not take reservations, and weekends tend to be a busy time for them.
Location: 10 Trengganu St, Singapore 058464
Opening hours: 10am-8pm
8. Leung Sang Hong Kong Pastries
While Tong Heng Confectionary might be the more popular bakery in Chinatown, we recommend Leung Sang Hong Kong Pastries if you’re going for authentic Hong Kong flavours.
Leung Sang Hong Kong Pastries a delightful bakery that brings authentic Cantonese treats to Singapore.
Savour their popular Egg Tarts ($2.2), featuring a flaky, buttery crust filled with silky-smooth custard. For a savoury option, try their flavourful Char Siu Bao ($2.2), a fluffy steamed bun filled with juicy barbecued pork. Don’t forget to sample their other pastry offerings, such as the Pineapple Bun ($2.2) and the Wife Cake ($2.2).
Location: 48 Smith St, Singapore 058957
Opening hours: 8am-7:30pm
9. Bearded Bella
Bearded Bella combines Melbourne-inspired vibes with a touch of whimsy in its charming, light-filled space.
Indulge in their delicious brunch offerings, such as the Grilled Cheese and Prosciutto Sandwich ($24) and Green Harissa Duck Burger ($29).
Don’t forget to try their speciality coffee, carefully sourced around the world, and rousted in-house (yes, get ready to smell like freshly roasted coffee after a visit to this cafe).
Bearded Bella is also one of the few pet-friendly cafes in Chinatown. In addition to providing a space to dine with your pups, they also serve dog treats by The Barkery Singapore from $10.2 per portion.
Location: 8 Craig Rd, Singapore 089668
Opening hours:
Mon-Wed: 7:30am-5pm
Thu-Sat: 7:30am-9pm
Sunday: 7:30am-6pm
10. Nanyang Old Coffee
Kick off your cafe-hopping journey at Nanyang Old Coffee. Its location in Chinatown is perfect as this coffeeshop pays homage to Singapore’s traditional coffee culture.
Savour the rich, aromatic flavours of their signature Nanyang Kopi ($2), and pair it with a delicious Kaya Toast ($2.2) for an authentic local experience. This cafe in Chinatown also offers an array of local dishes, including the fragrant Traditional Curry Chicken Thigh with Rice ($7.8) and Black Herbal Bak Kut Teh with Rice ($5).
For something a little more modern and quirky, try out their KopiCat Durian ($6.8) — Nanyang kopi mixed with Mao Shan Wang durian puree.
Nanyang Old Coffee has two outlets in Chinatown, one along South Bridge Road and the other along Eu Tong Seng Street.
Location: 268 South Bridge Rd, Singapore 058817
Opening hours: 7am-6:30pm
11. Dearborn
The first granola speciality cafe in Chinatown, Dearborn offers a unique cafe-hopping experience.
Before you roll your eyes, these aren’t just your regular baked oats. Dearborn granola was created by Chef Christopher Kong, who had trained at Michelin Star restaurants and even helmed his own private dining establishment before his venture in to the cafe scene. You’ll be surprised by how different his granola tastes.
If you’re just here for plain old yogurt and granola, you can visit on any day. But if want something more exquisite, visit on the weekends. Strawberries & Cream ($14) elevates Dearborn’s basic granola with macerated strawberries, crème fresh ice cream, cranberry granita and lemon oil.
Location: 1 Everton Park, #01-29, Singapore 081001
Opening hours:
Mon-Fri: 9am-5pm
Sat-Sun: 9am-3pm
12. Muro Coffee
Discover this new shophouse cafe in Chinatown, featuring a sleek, monochromatic design. They specialise in artisanal coffee and freshly baked focaccia.
Their signature drink, the Smoked Mocha Affogato, features a bold combination of cocoa, smoked vanilla ice cream, and espresso. Meanwhile, the
For food, the Full FOC ($18.9) is stacked with a meaty combination of beef jerky and chicken chipolata.
Location: 214a South Bridge Rd, Singapore 058763
Opening hours:
Mon-Fri: 8am-6pm
Sat-Sun: 10am-6pm
13. The Shelter
What’s this new cafe a shelter? Probably expensive cafe food in Singapore, considering you can get mains here from as low as $3, with no GST or service charge.
You get a mix of Asian comfort food and your typical cafe brunch dishes here. For instance, the Pork and Century Egg Porridge ($3) and Turkey Bacon and Cheese Ciabatta ($18).
Location: 150 South Bridge Rd, #01-11 Fook Hai Building, Singapore 058727
Opening hours:
Mon-Thu: 8am-10pm
Fri-Sat: 8am-11pm
Sunday: Closed
14. Rituals of Kora
Located at Everton Park, a short walk from the Chinatown cafe cluster, Rituals of Kora’s matcha menu truly doesn’t disappoint.
Beyond their regular matcha latte and usucha, we recommend their curated matcha menu, comprising: Taro Matcha ($11.9), Maple Earl Grey Matcha ($11.9), and more.
On weekends, the cafe also serves bakes including Basque Burnt Cheesecake ($8), Banana Loaf ($6), Cookies and more.
Location: 5 Everton Prk, #01-36, Singapore 080005
Opening hours:
Mon-Tue: Closed
Wed-Fri: 11am-4pm
Sat-Sun: 11am-6pm
Best cafes near Chinatown
If you can’t find any suitable cafes in this area, hop over to the nearby neighbourhoods. We have compiled various guides of the best cafes near Chinatown
- Neil Road cafes (right beside)
- Everton Park cafes (right beside)
- Telok Ayer cafes (1 MRT stop away)
- Tanjong Pagar cafes (2 MRT stops away)
- Jalan Besar cafes (3 MRT stops away)
- Bugis cafes (5 MRT stops away)
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Insatiable cravings? Here are more sweet treats to indulge in the best cafes in Singapore:
