The 9 Best Cafes in Tiong Bahru (2026)

Updated November 2026 · 9 picks

The best cafes in Tiong Bahru in 2026 are Tiong Bahru Bakery on Eng Hoon Street for croissants and kouign-amann, Plain Vanilla on Yong Siak Street for cupcakes and coffee, Flock Cafe for a relaxed brunch, and Micro Bakery Kitchen for sourdough. Merci Marcel adds a French all-day menu with wine.

Tiong Bahru's cafes sit in the ground floors of the 1930s Art Deco blocks around Yong Siak Street, Eng Hoon Street, Moh Guan Terrace and Seng Poh Road, all within a ten-minute walk of each other and of Tiong Bahru MRT. Weekend mornings are the busiest time, and several places close by late afternoon or take a day off midweek, so check hours before you go. For a cheap breakfast in the same streets, the hawker centre upstairs at Tiong Bahru Market is the local alternative; see our hawker centres guide, and for cafes across the island see the best cafes in Singapore.

1. Tiong Bahru Bakery — Eng Hoon Street

The bakery that took the neighbourhood's name, still best for croissants and kouign-amann.

$$ Mid-range

Tiong Bahru Bakery opened its first shop in this block on Eng Hoon Street and has since grown into a chain across Singapore, but the original is still the one people make the trip for. The laminated pastries are the draw: plain and almond croissants, kouign-amann and seasonal flavours, with sourdough loaves and sandwiches behind them.

Pair a pastry with a flat white and sit in the corner unit if you can get a seat. It is busy all weekend, but the queue moves fast because most people take away.

Good to know: Buy the kouign-amann early in the day. The caramelised pastries sell out first.

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

Google Maps Website

2. Plain Vanilla — Yong Siak Street

A cupcake bakery in a shophouse with a garden, and the area's most pleasant place to linger.

$$ Mid-range

Plain Vanilla's Tiong Bahru flagship sits in a converted shophouse at the end of Yong Siak Street, with indoor seats and a leafy outdoor area. It is known for cupcakes in flavours such as earl grey lavender, salted caramel and red velvet, alongside cakes, cookies and brunch dishes.

It is the easiest Tiong Bahru cafe to bring a group or children to, and the cupcakes travel well if you want a box to take away.

Good to know: Boxes of cupcakes are the classic gift to bring to a Singapore dinner; order a mixed box.

1D Yong Siak St, Singapore 168641

Google Maps Website

3. Flock Cafe — Moh Guan Terrace

A neighbourhood brunch cafe that has outlasted most of its rivals.

$$ Mid-range

Flock occupies a corner unit in one of the Art Deco blocks on Moh Guan Terrace, with big windows and a few outdoor tables. The menu is classic all-day brunch: eggs several ways, French toast, granola, burgers and pasta, with good coffee.

It is a calm, unfussy choice when the bigger names have queues, and the location in the middle of the estate makes it a good first stop on a walk around the blocks.

Good to know: Sit indoors in the middle of the day; the outdoor tables get the full afternoon heat.

#01-25, 78 Moh Guan Terrace, Singapore 162078

Google Maps Website

4. Micro Bakery Kitchen — Yong Siak Street

Naturally leavened sourdough and a short brunch menu in the old Forty Hands space.

$$ Mid-range

Micro Bakery started in Bukit Timah as a small-batch sourdough bakery, and its Tiong Bahru outlet took over the Yong Siak Street unit once home to Forty Hands. Loaves, pastries and toasties are made around naturally leavened dough, with a short menu of brunch plates.

It suits people who care about bread: order a toastie or the house sourdough with butter, and take a loaf home.

Good to know: It opens Wednesday to Sunday only and closes in the late afternoon.

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

Google Maps Website

5. Merci Marcel — Eng Hoon Street

A French all-day cafe and wine bar that works for brunch and for dinner.

$$$ Upmarket

Merci Marcel's Tiong Bahru outlet sits a few doors from Tiong Bahru Bakery, with a menu that runs from eggs Benedict and croque monsieur in the morning to cheese, charcuterie and French wine at night. It is one of the few places in the estate that stays open into the evening.

Come for a long weekend brunch or an early-evening glass of wine after a walk around the blocks.

Good to know: Book for weekend brunch; walk-ins are easier on weekday evenings.

#01-68, 56 Eng Hoon St, Singapore 160056

Google Maps Website

6. Caffe Pralet — Eng Hoon Street

Square sourdough doughnuts and generous sandwiches from a baking-school team.

$ Budget

Caffe Pralet is run by Creative Culinaire, and its counter is built around square doughnuts made with a long-kept sourdough starter, sourdough sandwiches and coconut-based smoothies.

It is a good stop for something sweet between bigger meals, and the sandwiches are filling enough for lunch.

Good to know: Closed on Mondays; it opens 9am to 6pm the rest of the week.

#01-04, 17 Eng Hoon St, Singapore 169767

Google Maps Website

7. Hello Arigato — Seng Poh Road

Japanese-style sandos and coffee from a small local chain.

$ Budget

Hello Arigato serves Japanese-inspired comfort food and specialty coffee, with egg sandos, Basque cheesecake and matcha drinks among its best-known orders. Its Tiong Bahru outlet is on Seng Poh Road, near the market.

It is a quick, casual alternative to the European-style bakeries, and the sandos make an easy lunch.

Good to know: Pair a tamago sando with a strawberry matcha latte, two of the cafe's signatures.

#01-15, 58 Seng Poh Rd, Singapore 160058

Google Maps Website

8. Drips Bakery Cafe — Tiong Poh Road

A long-running tart and cake cafe with space to sit.

$$ Mid-range

Drips has been part of the Tiong Bahru cafe scene for well over a decade, in a large corner unit on Tiong Poh Road. Its counter is lined with fruit tarts, lemon meringue and cakes, with all-day savoury plates and pizza for a fuller meal.

It is roomier than most of its neighbours, so it is a useful fallback when the Yong Siak Street cafes are full.

Good to know: Come for the tarts rather than the coffee, and share a few slices.

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

Google Maps Website

9. Creamier — Yong Siak Street

Hand-churned ice cream and coffee for the afternoon heat.

$ Budget

Creamier is a local ice cream maker with a scoop shop on Yong Siak Street, making small-batch flavours from classics like chocolate and cookies and cream to local ones such as Thai milk tea. Waffles and coffee round out the menu.

It is the place to end a Tiong Bahru walk on a hot afternoon, and it is open later than the bakeries.

Good to know: Ask to taste before you choose; the flavour list changes.

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

Google Maps Website

Frequently asked questions

What is Tiong Bahru famous for?

Its Art Deco public housing from the 1930s, Tiong Bahru Market and hawker centre, and a cluster of cafes, bakeries and independent shops around Yong Siak Street and Eng Hoon Street. Tiong Bahru Bakery opened its first shop here and is the neighbourhood's best-known cafe.

How do I get to Tiong Bahru's cafes?

Take the East-West Line to Tiong Bahru MRT. Yong Siak Street and Eng Hoon Street are about a ten-minute walk east, past Tiong Bahru Plaza and along Tiong Bahru Road.

When is the best time to visit Tiong Bahru cafes?

Weekday mornings are the calmest. On Saturdays and Sundays the popular cafes fill by mid-morning, and some, such as Micro Bakery Kitchen and Caffe Pralet, close by late afternoon and take one or two days off, so check before you go.

Which Tiong Bahru cafe is best for brunch?

Flock Cafe on Moh Guan Terrace and Merci Marcel on Eng Hoon Street are the two most popular for a sit-down brunch. Micro Bakery Kitchen does a shorter menu around its sourdough.

Are Tiong Bahru cafes good for working on a laptop?

Some tolerate it on weekdays, but most are small and busy at weekends, and seats turn over quickly. Go early on a weekday, buy as you stay, and expect to give up the table at lunch.

1. Tiong Bahru Bakery — Eng Hoon Street

2. Plain Vanilla — Yong Siak Street

3. Flock Cafe — Moh Guan Terrace

4. Micro Bakery Kitchen — Yong Siak Street

5. Merci Marcel — Eng Hoon Street

6. Caffe Pralet — Eng Hoon Street

7. Hello Arigato — Seng Poh Road

8. Drips Bakery Cafe — Tiong Poh Road

9. Creamier — Yong Siak Street

Frequently asked questions

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