A fresh crop of cafés has opened across Singapore this July, spanning heartland bakeries and Korean-inspired hideouts to a Hong Kong pastry import with a French twist. From a sister bakery with dine-in seating in Kovan to a tranquil ceramic gallery-café in Chinatown, here are five spots worth bookmarking for your weekly coffee runs.
Shu Bakery: A Cooler Home for Chu and Co Fans
The team behind popular Serangoon Garden bakery Chu and Co has expanded with Shu Bakery in Kovan’s Space@Kovan mall. Unlike its predecessor’s outdoor-only seating, this air-conditioned sister café offers a full dine-in menu of brunch plates, layer cakes, and coffee. The namesake Chu + Shu toast ($15.50) pairs two open-faced slices: one with kaya butter spread, the other with Brazil nut chocolate praline and banana slices. For savoury cravings, the duck rillette toast ($18.50) layers ricotta, asparagus, and crispy shallots. Don’t leave without grabbing a loaf or pastry from the daily rotating takeaway selection.
Address: 9 Yio Chu Kang Rd, #01-54, Singapore 545523. Wed–Sun, 8:30am–4:30pm.
Mozmoji: Where Coffee Meets Ceramic Art
Hidden along South Bridge Road, Mozmoji has quickly become an Instagram darling. Its two-storey space doubles as a ceramic gallery and shop, featuring handcrafted pieces by Chinese artisans. The menu highlights homemade desserts and specialty lattes—pistachio and black sesame—plus a new pour-over coffee lineup from Shanghainese roastery Big Sur, marking its Singapore debut. The Isuzu matcha fresh strawberry cake ($15.80) balances sweetness with white chocolate instead of sugar. All drinks and desserts are served in your choice of ceramic tableware, and you can browse the gallery or purchase pieces to take home.
Address: 252 South Bridge Rd, #02-01, Singapore 058801. Tue–Sun, 11am–7pm.
Visitors: Seoul-Inspired Hangout in Tanjong Pagar
From the same team behind Noci Bakehouse comes Visitors, a Korean-inspired café at Tanjong Pagar Plaza. Minimalist furnishings—low sofas, wooden tables, large windows—evoke the aesthetic hideouts of Seoul’s trendiest neighbourhoods. The menu offers unexpected twists: truffle egg soldiers ($13) reinterpret a classic British breakfast, while the croissant stuffed with ricotta and honey butter ice cream ($17) and mugwort Basque cheesecake ($11) cater to sweet tooths. Open daily until 10pm, it’s an ideal post-dinner hangout in the CBD.
Address: 7 Tanjong Pagar Plaza, #01-106, Singapore 081007. Daily, 8am–10pm.
Cafe Ondo: Scones and Sunset Drinks in Queenstown
Tucked inside the quiet Alexandra Central mall beside Ikea, Cafe Ondo is a Korean-inspired spot ideal for a lazy tea break. The simple setup—wooden tables, homey decor—belies a standout pastry: stuffed scones ($5 each) that break from tradition. Slice in half and filled with red bean and butter or cream cheese with spring onions, they’re best enjoyed with coffee to appreciate their chunky, crumbly texture. Lemon cakes ($4.20) and butter tteok ($2.50) are also on offer, along with the Jeju Sunset ($6.80), a blend of Osulloc hibiscus tea and yuzu marmalade.
Address: 321 Alexandra Rd, #02-26, Singapore 159971. Daily, 9am–9pm.
Mimmo: Hong Kong Viennoiserie in the CBD
Asia Square Tower 1 now hosts Mimmo, a Hong Kong-born bakery where Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef Domenico Giammarella fuses Italian and French pastry techniques with traditional Hong Kong flavours. The viennoiserie selection includes a pistachio bolo bao ($6) stuffed with pistachio cream and dusted with icing sugar, and glossy egg tarts ($4) with flaky puff pastry and a gooey centre. Seasonal options like the contessa ($5) feature laminated pastry with raspberries and pastry cream. For a savoury break, build your own pasta with choices such as strozzapretti, spaghetti, or tagliatelle.
Address: 8 Marina View, #01-05, Singapore 018960. Mon–Fri, 8am–7pm; Sat–Sun, 9am–6pm.
The Bigger Picture
Singapore’s café scene continues to evolve beyond the typical brunch-and-coffee formula. This month’s arrivals highlight a trend toward specialised concepts—from art galleries to Korean aesthetics and cross-cultural pastry hybrids. Whether you’re seeking a quiet afternoon with pour-overs or a late-night dessert in the city centre, these five spots offer distinct reasons to venture off your usual route.