Best Cafes In Tiong Bahru For A Slow Weekend

Photo Credits: TripAdvisor

Tiong Bahru Bakery, set up by celebrity baker Gontran Cherrier with the Spa Esprit Group, is known for croissants priced between $2.50 and $3.20 and a Kouign Amann pastry from $4. Plain Vanilla Bakery, on Yong Siak Street, is best known for cupcakes at $4.50 each across a dozen flavours. Both sit within a few minutes’ walk of each other in one of Singapore’s oldest residential estates, alongside art deco architecture that makes the whole area worth the slower pace.

This guide covers where to actually go, not just a long list of every cafe in the area.

What Are The Best Cafes In Tiong Bahru For Brunch?

Tiong Bahru Bakery, at 56 Eng Hoon Street, remains the anchor cafe of the neighbourhood, serving French artisanal breads and pastries daily from 7.30am to 8pm. Its croissants, priced from $2.50 to $3.20, are frequently cited as among the best in Singapore, and the Kouign Amann, a buttery, crusty Breton pastry priced at $4, is a close second favourite.

Merci Marcel, at 56 Eng Hoon Street, offers a French all-day dining menu in a tropical-motif space with a garden patio, serving brunch staples such as eggs Benedict at $21 and French toast at $17. It sources its coffee beans from Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee, a historic local roaster, giving the cafe a genuine local tie despite its French menu.

Where Should I Go For Something Sweeter?

Plain Vanilla Bakery, at 1D Yong Siak Street, is Tiong Bahru’s dedicated dessert stop, open daily from 7.30am to 7pm. Its cupcakes, priced at $4.50 each, span a dozen flavours including chocolate hazelnut, red velvet and cookies and cream, and the bakery has also added a small breakfast menu including baked eggs on brioche, served only on weekends in limited portions.

Here is a quick reference for planning a Tiong Bahru cafe stop.

Glass Roasters, tucked into Seng Poh Lane, is worth a mention for coffee purists. It runs shorter weekday hours from 7.30am to 4.30pm but extends into the evening on weekends, making it a solid stop if you are cafe-hopping later in the day rather than first thing in the morning. Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee, further along Stirling Road, rounds out the neighbourhood’s coffee scene with its own roastery on-site, which several other Tiong Bahru cafes, including Merci Marcel, source their beans from directly.

If you enjoy neighbourhood-specific food trails, our guide to Singapore’s retro wet markets covers a very different, more old-school side of Singapore food scene.

Is Tiong Bahru Still Worth It, Or Has It Become Too Touristy?

Here is the honest answer. Tiong Bahru’s cafe scene has grown considerably since its early “hipster enclave” reputation took hold, and weekend crowds at the more Instagram-famous spots, particularly Tiong Bahru Bakery and Plain Vanilla, can mean a genuine wait for a table. That said, the neighbourhood’s art deco shophouses and quieter side streets still offer a slower pace than more commercialised food districts.

One limitation worth naming plainly. Several of the most popular cafes, including Merci Marcel, do not take reservations for casual walk-in brunch seating, so arriving before 10am on a weekend is the more reliable way to avoid a long wait.

For more neighbourhood cafe guides as new spots open, browse our Lifestyle section for ongoing coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Tiong Bahru easily accessible by MRT? Yes. Tiong Bahru MRT station on the East-West Line sits within walking distance of most of the neighbourhood’s main cafe cluster, making it one of the more MRT-convenient food districts in Singapore.

Do I need to book a table at Tiong Bahru Bakery or Plain Vanilla? Neither typically takes reservations for casual seating, so arriving early on weekends, particularly before 10am, is the more reliable way to secure a table without a long wait.

Are there vegan or vegetarian options at these cafes? Merci Marcel offers a vegan maccheroni pasta on its menu, and several other Tiong Bahru cafes have added plant-based options in recent years, though checking the specific menu ahead of a visit is worth doing if dietary needs are a priority.

What’s the best time of day to visit Tiong Bahru for photos? Early morning, around 8am to 9am, offers the best light on the neighbourhood’s art deco architecture and the quietest streets for photography, before the weekend brunch crowd arrives.

Is parking available near the main Tiong Bahru cafe cluster? Street parking and nearby car parks exist but fill up quickly on weekends, so taking the MRT to Tiong Bahru station is generally the more reliable option if you are visiting during peak brunch hours.

Can I combine a Tiong Bahru cafe crawl with the neighbourhood’s wet market? Yes. Tiong Bahru Market, a two-storey wet market and hawker centre, sits within walking distance of the main cafe cluster, so pairing an early morning market visit with a later cafe stop is a common way locals spend a Saturday there.

If there is a Tiong Bahru cafe you think deserves a spot on this list, email us at admin@dei.com.sg.