7 Cafes to Visit in Tiong Bahru

An avid reader will surely come to know about Tiong Bahru, an estate that promises nostalgia interwoven with contemporary present day hipster cafes.

This district comes with many bookstores such as Woods in the Books and Books Actually which specialise in local literature. There is also an extensive blend of cafes that features charming memories of the past and fancy new hunts popping up every now and then. Singaporeans and tourists from all over the world come to Tiong Bahru in search of insta-worthy photos. It is now one of the few streets in Singapore with shop houses preserved and uniquely designed with boxy, rectangular exteriors.

The choices to chill, discover, explore and satisfy the growling stomach are bountiful. If you are lost in this vast array of selection, fret not, for the guide to discover the Top 7 Best Cafes of Tiong Bahru is here.

  1. 40 Hands

78 Yong Siak Street, #01-12, Singapore 163078

Operating Hours: 7.30am – 5.30pm, open 7 days

Tel: +65 6225 8545

Website: www.fortyhandscoffee.com

Price: $

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A major ambassador for coffee focusing on producing specialty caffeine brews, 40 Hands mission is to elevate the status of coffee appreciation, promote sustainability by opting for direct trade and only serving with super fresh beans. Apart from coffee, they also have a range of pastries, sandwiches, all day brunch selections and mains such as pork katsu and pesto chicken panini.

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Be aware however that during the weekends, the place is jam packed with customers. It will definitely be worth the visit, as you will be embraced by the polished and cozy ambience, greeted by the team of patient and pleasant staff.

  1. Open Door Policy

19 Yong Siak Street, Singapore 168650

Operating Hours: 11am – 3.30pm (Brunch & Lunch), 6pm – 11pm (Dinner), Bar open till 12am on Friday & Saturday

Tel: +65 6221 9307

Website: www.odpsingapore.com

Price: $$

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Great food & drinks. Delicious East meets West cuisine. Manhatten with a tranche of NYC vibe. These are the elements of ODP that serves food of a higher notch than a typical café. Braised beef cheek, gindara black cod, charred lamp rump and carnaroli risotto are some of the mains in a menu meticulously crafted by Tippling Club’s chef, Ryan Clift.

odp2Do not be anxious of the steeper prices as the fresh ingredients and quality food served very easily justify the damage done to the wallet.

  1. The Dispensary

69 Tiong Bahru Road, Singapore 168723

Operating Hours: 10am – 9pm (Sunday to Thursday)

Tel: +65 6536 0225

Website: www.thedispensary.com.sg

Price: $

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A walk along Tiong Bahru and you will stumble upon an old, historical Chinese Medical Hall. Chinese medicine cabinets are displayed behind the main counter but they are no longer filled with antidotes or herbs. If you are one who embraces the vintage and the contemporary, The Dispensary’s interior design is going to intrigue your visuals.

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Experience the time travel as the baristas measure up coffee beans using the da-ching, an ancient weighing apparatus used in a Chinese Medical Hall. This café that serves pastries such as red velvet, New York cheese cake and carrot cake, they also incorporated the traditional Peranankan Kueh Lapis in the menu.

  1. Tiong Bahru Bakery

56 Eng Hoon Street, #01-70, Singapore 160056

Operating Hours: 8am – 8pm (Sunday to Thursday), 8am – 10pm (Friday to Saturday)

Tel: +65 6220 3430

Website: www.tiongbahrubakery.com

Price: $

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Tiong Bahru Bakery took Singapore by storm when it entered into the market with their croissants, Kouign Amann or Round Lemon tart of top-notch quality. TBB believes that a café does not simply dispense coffee but are staples to the history of the area it dwells in, much like what Tiong Bahru is all about. Always crowded and bustling with customers, a trip to Tiong Bahru can never be completed without a taste of the artisan breads and tarts. Assuredly, it is worth the calories.

  1. The Orange Thimble

56 Eng Hoon Street, #01-68, Singapore 160058

Operating Hours: 9am – 11pm

Tel: +65 6223 8068

Website:

Price: $

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Just as wine goes well with cheese, The Orange Thimble is the annexe between art and coffee. Customers will be engulfed by the overflowing creativity as the walls are hung with exhibits of young and emerging artists, all while sipping on the cuppa espresso you have in your hands. A serene place most of the time, Orange Thimble is a great place to hang out with friends, take insta-worthy photos, discuss about the art pieces surrounding you and dabble your taste buds on the cakes, sandwiches and hot latte.

  1. Drips Bakery Café

82 Tiong Poh Road, #01-05, Singapore 160082

Operating Hours: 11am – 9.30pm (Sunday to Thursday), 11am – 11pm (Friday & Saturday)

Tel: +65 6222 0400

Website: http://www.drips.com.sg/dripsbakery/

Price: $

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It does not matter if you have a sweet tooth or a need for piquant flavours. Drips Bakery Café serves a wide array of food and desserts from cakes, tarts to savoury bites such as quiches, sandwiches and even Louisiana Pork Ribs, together with fragrant coffees and teas. The interior is spacious but the main highlight of this café is their take on the attack of sugar by the media. As quoted by Drips Bakery Café, “desserts can be much more than soul food … provide some surprising health benefits and even form part of a sound weight loss diet”.

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If you are interested to find out more about how you can have a healthy diet without having to sacrifice your favourite soul food, be sure to head over and dine in.

 

  1. PoTeaTo

78 Yong Siak Street, #01-18, Singapore 163078

Operating Hours: 12pm – 10.30pm (Tuesday to Friday), 10am – 10.30pm (Saturday), 10am – 9pm (Sunday), Closed on Monday

Tel: +65 6221 2488

Website: poteato.sg

Price: $

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Word puns are a play of words and they are very widely seen these days in our daily lives. Needless to say PoTeaTo lives up to its name by knitting together the unlikely combination of potatoes and tea in their menu. This quaint bistro café serves up dishes such as the classic Fish and Chips and cleanses your palate with a pot of Oolong Rose tea. The simple and cozy space is very apt for meetings, workshops and privacy. Prices are reasonable, and since it is not crowded all the time, what is there not to like about potatoes and tea?

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