20 Best Cafes 2017

Located on Arab Street, this unpretentious cafe is unlike others on the list. It's dimly lit, they don't serve flowy eggs Benedict and they don't sugar coat or prettify their mains for the 'gram. But, it's also where you'll find downright satisfying mains, excellent coffee and a whole lot of fun going on (with a dope playlist in the background). Seating is limited, so come with two friends at most. Their menu has since been revamped to include items like the Halloumi & Cauliflower Rice Salad ($16), a vegetarian dish so tasty you might just forget that there isn't any meat. Shaved cauliflower bits are pan-fried, combined with grilled zucchini, capers and a mustard dressing, and then stacked generously on a bed of mixed greens. The heaping pile of veggies is then blanketed with halloumi cheese, sliced eggplants, thyme-roasted tomatoes and a delicious housemade hummus. The owners are from Melbourne and they use Melbourne-sourced beans, so you know your coffee is in good hands.
Avg Price: $20 per person
Photo by Burppler Veronica Phua

Located across Pinnacle @ Duxton (nearest MRT is Outram MRT Station), this gorgeous cafe decked out in hexagonal marbled tiles, rose gold finishings and modern wood panels serves tasty brunch items that we would definitely return for. Seats fill up pretty quickly on weekends, so swing by early with your friends. You must order the crowd favourite Populus Scramble ($17.50) that sees creamy scrambled eggs and feta chunks stuffed into a buttery croissant, spiced with sliced red chillies. Don't be fooled by the compact portion size, which belies how filling the combination is. For something healthier, go for the Pulled Pork Grain Bowl ($18), one of three grain bowls available. It's our favourite of the lot, considering how tender and well-seasoned the meat is. Served with a trio of quinoa, bulgur wheat and pearl barley, the well-balanced and nutritious bowl also comes loaded with lots of vegetables like mushrooms, tomatoes and pumpkin. End your meal with one of their excellent coffees made with a house blend of beans from El Savaldore, Guatemala and Brazil. If you like your coffee milky but strong, go for their Magic ($5.50). If not, ask the friendly baristas for recommendation on their Filter Coffee (from $6)!
Avg Price: $25 per person
Photo by Burppler Hilary See

Homey ambience aside (great for weekday tête-à-têtes with friends), this west side cafe once again makes our list for its delicious, totally Instagrammable plates and creative cooking. Just check out their much talked about Berry Muffcakes ($20). An upgraded version of their once famous berry ricotta hotcakes, the gorgeous plate sees slightly dense muffcakes (a cross between muffins and hotcakes) topped with vanilla bean ice cream cubes, fresh berries, and chocolate crumbs. It's tasty but also rich and sweet, so don't hesitate to share with a friend or two. Balance off the sugar with Paddy Hills' stellar mains like the 黑 Rice ($22), a wok hei infused dish of squid ink rice drizzled with mentaiko mayo and served with flavourful fried chicken and egg, or the Green Papa ($26), which sees handmade herbed pappardelle slicked in a robust tomato sauce and topped with foie gras stuffed meatballs. On hot days, eschew coffee for the refreshing Autumn Iced Tea ($8), which surprises with umeshu jelly. Pro tip: Tucked in a quiet residential estate, this cafe is quite a trek from the nearest Haw Par Villa MRT station. Spare yourself the sweat and take a cab.
Avg Price: $40 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Rachel Xie

A gem of a cafe in the east, this rustic cafe in the Bedok North neighbourhood tops our list for a quiet afternoon with a friend, or for some alone time with a good book. True to its name, Percolate does its coffee really well (they use beans from Nylon roasters); the bonus is that their light bites are pretty tasty too! If you're up for something new, go for their Espresso Tonic ($5.50), which combines double shots of espresso with tonic water and lime for a fizzy, refreshing drink. Otherwise, play it safe with the well-balanced Iced White ($5.50). While you linger, order the moist Banana Date Loaf ($8.50) to nibble on — the velvety layers of almond butter and mascarpone are what elevate the cake to something truly extraordinary. The Burpple community also loves the Curry Egg Mayo Croissant ($8.50), which is a comforting marriage of buttery croissant with rich, curried egg mayo.
Avg Price: $15 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Zul Latiff

Most healthy grain bowls are only available during lunch and are situated within the CBD, but this snazzy, hip space conveniently located in town serves its protein-rich grain bowls all day long — great for meeting up with that #eatclean friend of yours. Like its sister outlet Ninja Bowl in Duxton, you can choose to have soba, greens or Ninja Rice as your base ($2 each) — we recommend the latter that mixes brown and Japanese rice for a heartier meal. Every ingredient in their grain bowls, regardless of protein, is well-executed — the honey glazed carrots are soft and sweet, the moreish miso cucumbers add a nice crunch and the onsen eggs are wobbly, every single time. Go for the crowd favourite Squid Fix ($18) and What's Your Beef? ($18). The former features an entire Japanese squid, perfectly grilled on both sides and tender to the bite, while the latter comes with 150g of Australian rib-eye, roasted with a pink ring in the centre. Only 30 portions of the beef are available daily, so head down early! Wash it all down with a cup of Coffee (from $4.50) — they use a house blend of Colombian, Guatemalan and Ethiopian beans.
Avg Price: $25 per person
Photo by Burppler Mag Chow

On weekends, this child-friendly cafe along Guillemard Road is always bustling with activity. They don't take reservations, so come early with a group of friends to snag a seat at one of the two coveted communal tables. Otherwise, be prepared to sit at the counter seats by the window. The menu is written on the chalkboard left of the cashier and while the number of offerings are limited, you can be assured everything is satisfying. Of the five mains, get the egg-cellent Oven Baked Molten Eggs on Tortilla and Melted Cheese ($16.80) that comes with thinly sliced avocado, cherry tomatoes and smoked salmon. The two ready-to-burst molten eggs promise a river of liquid gold, so have your cameras ready to catch all the runny action. If you're dropping by at non-meal times, opt for their tasty Curried Chicken Wrap ($11.90) or their Earl Grey Croissant ($4.20). Pair these bites with a Flat White ($5) or their Cold Brew ($7.80), and just while away your afternoon with a good read.
Avg Price: $25 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Jason Wong

Nestled in a quiet Geylang neighbourhood and about a 10-minute walk from Aljunied MRT station, this cafe by former Tiong Bahru Bakery head chef Joey Lim ticks two major boxes in our list — good food and fair prices, with most mains under $15. Start with the Golden Wings ($7.90), which Burppler Muriel A describes to have cripsy skin, juicy insides and spot-on seasoning. Appetites whet, move on to the wholly underrated Ratatouille Pasta ($10.90), a vegetarian dish that combines Japanese butter and seaweed for an ultimate umami bomb, complete with al dente tagliatelle and lots of fresh veggies. For something meatier, go with the comforting (and simply named) Beef ($14.90), which sees sous vide beef cheek chunks served atop a bed of potato mash, or the foolproof Wagyu Beef Burger ($16.90). The cooking here is generally simple, but herein lies its charm. While you're here, check out the trendy Coffee Cone Latte ($7) which combines dessert and a caffeine fix.
Avg Price: $20 per person
Photo by Burppler Muriel A

The never-ending stream of customers on weekends is a testament to how popular Common Man Common Roasters is. Situtated on Martin Road, the cafe is fairly inaccessible from any MRT station, so it's best to have your friends convene at Dhoby Ghaut to share a cab here (it costs around $4.50). Our recommendations centre on their timeless classics. Go for the Turkish Common Man Breakfast ($25) — phyllo-wrapped soft boiled eggs that reveal golden molten centres, served on a bed of velvety hummus. Olives and beautifully breaded and fried feta add a good salty punch, while cucumbers and tomatoes keep it fresh. Get your hands dirty and grab the pita to mop up the glorious mess! Otherwise, you won't go wrong with the Organic Eggs Benedict ($24, opt for sourdough) that comes with two poached eggs stacked atop unbelievably tender braised ox cheeks and drizzled with chive hollandaise. End your meal with the Fluffy Brioche French Toast ($18) — two slices of super eggy brioche served with Kapiti ice cream and berries compote — so simple yet so worth its steep price. We prefer filter over espresso-based coffee here (from $4.50) — just ask the friendly baristas for recommendations!
Avg Price: $30 per person
Photo by Burppler May L