Guide to affordable cafes in Chinatown
As cool, trendy cafes sprout up in the quaint neighbourhood of Chinatown, this area is no longer just frequented for authentic Chinese food. If you, like me, enjoy exploring new places with good food and coffee at reasonable prices, this guide to the best affordable cafes in Chinatown is curated specially for you.
1. September Coffee
Avid cafe hoppers will surely know of September Coffee, a trendy cafe that’s been around since 2022, offering an interesting lineup of drinks. Two years after their successful launch, they opened another popular cafe named June Coffee in the East.
For hearty lunch options, we recommend the crowd-favourite Carbonara Udon ($19++) or Fried Chicken French Toast ($19++). The former is made extra creamy as it comes topped with a sous-vide egg, while the latter features a deep-fried chicken chunk with spicy maple syrup and some pickled shallots atop a block of brioche French toast. Don’t forget to order their nutty and bittersweet Iced Black Sesame Latte ($8++) or the refreshing Sakura Lychee Spritz ($7++) to pair with your meal.
Read our September Coffee feature.
Address: 258 South Bridge Road, #01-01, Singapore 058807
Opening hours: Tue-Thurs 11:30am to 8:30pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am to 9pm, Sun 11:30am to 5pm
Website
September Coffee is not a halal-certified eatery.
2. Cafe Monochrome
Dubbed Singapore’s first 2D cafe, Cafe Monochrome is a one-of-a-kind eatery with all-day breakfast, pasta and more. Unlike their Bugis branch, the Chinatown outlet boasts an oriental-inspired interior with gorgeous hand-drawn illustrations of Chinese architecture.
You can’t go wrong with the classic pasta and fries pairing; get a plate of their Aglio e Olio ($18+) comprising three types of mushrooms: shimeiji, Swiss brown, and white button. There are nine different sides to complement your pasta, including the flavour-packed Beef Ragout Fries ($15+), sweet-salty Soy Garlic Winglets ($15+), and lesser-seen Singapore Chilli Crab Fries ($13++). As for drinks, the menu is relatively extensive with more than 15 choices. If you can’t decide, try the Strawberry Matcha Latte ($8.50+) or Yuzu Osmanthus (from $6+) tea.Â
Read our Cafe Monochrome feature.
Address: 25 Trengganu Street, #01-12, Singapore 058476
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 8:30pm
Website
Cafe Monochrome is not a halal-certified eatery.
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3. Maxi Coffee Bar
Maxi Coffee Bar is a great breakfast or lunch spot for those working or living in the area. The cafe is adorned with a vibrant blue aesthetic and offers both indoor and outdoor seats, depending on your preference.
If you’re heading in for brekkie, consider the Miso PBJ ($5.50) and Kaya Butter ($4.80). Both feature soft, airy milk buns with house-made spreads; the former stars a sweet-salty combination of miso peanut butter and jam, while the latter uses kaya and French butter. Come noon, there are four sandwiches to fill yourself up with. We liked the Tuna Melt ($14) best, packed with melted, stretchy cheddar and tuna. There’s also the Mortadella Cheese ($15) or Beef Pastrami ($15.50) for those who prefer meat to seafood.
Read our Maxi Coffee Bar feature.
Address: 6 Ann Siang Hill, Singapore 069787
Opening hours: Tue-Fri 8am to 4:30pm, Sat-Sun 9am to 4:30pm
Website
Maxi Coffee Bar is not a halal-certified eatery.
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4. Cafe Gui
Cafe Gui is a Japanese-Korean cafe decked out in Hanok-inspired decor reminiscent of a traditional Korean house. Here, you’ll find everything from rice and noodles to sides and drinks. While it’s located in Chinatown along South Bridge Road, it’s a two-minute walk from Maxwell MRT Station.
Try their signature Dosirak Rice Box ($15.90+) while you’re here; this traditional tined lunch box comes neatly packed with a bed of rice topped with a sunny-side-up, shredded seaweed, luncheon meat, and stir-fried kimchi with pork. For a Japanese touch, the Cold Japanese Somen with Ikura ($15.90+) is a great choice, especially in Singapore’s sultry weather. This refreshing meal comes with cold somen topped with ikura, nori, soba sauce, and sea cabbage. Pair your rice or noodles with the popular Honeycomb Milk ($9.90+) that’s served with blocks of honeycomb candy.Â
Read our Cafe Gui feature.
Address: 278 South Bridge Road, #01-01, Singapore 058827
Opening hours: Mon-Tue 10:30am to 6:30pm, Thurs-Sat 10:30am to 9:30pm, Sun 10:30am to 5pm
Website
Cafe Gui is not a halal-certified eatery.
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5. Nakey
Known for their sleek mid-century modern look, Nakey is another cafe that gained traction on social media platforms when they first opened in May 2023. You can expect a lineup of bagel sandwiches, grain bowls, pasta dishes and more here, with something for everyone no matter what time of day you’re visiting.
Their grain bowls and pasta dishes are all priced under $20, with the most expensive item being the Mentaiko Salmon ($18+). This grain bowl stars aburi salmon topped with lots of mentaiko mayo atop a bed of short-grain rice and finished with a poached egg, alongside pickles and edamame. If you prefer to have something on the go, the Bagel Breakfast Sandwich ($16+) is worth a try; a plain bagel comes loaded with hash, scrambled eggs, smoked cheddar, caramelised onion, bacon, and green curry mayo. For drinks, choose between the gorgeous Butterfly Pea Soda ($6+) and creamy Matcha Pistachio Latte ($7+).
Read our Nakey feature.Â
Address: 10 Trengganu Street, Singapore 058464
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 8pm
Tel: 9449 7176
Website
Nakey is not a halal-certified eatery.
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6. Muro Coffee
Image credit: Muro Coffee Chinatown
Muro Coffee has two outlets at the time of writing, one in Chinatown and the other in Esplanade. They are best known for their coffee and focaccia; you can enjoy the latter in five variations ranging from $11.90 to $14.90!
Image credit: Joy NgÂ
Start with their Mad Cheese ($11.90), a sweet-cheesy Italian bread made using three types of cheese: gorgonzola, cheddar, and mozzarella. It’s also drizzled with maple syrup and finished with some peppery arugula. Else, The Full Foc ($14.90) will surely fill you up with its hearty portions of crispy beef jerky, savoury chicken chipolata, sliced tomatoes, sauteed mushrooms, and a sunny-side-up, finished with melted cheddar cheese and mixed herbs for an aromatic touch. We recommend getting something different for their drinks, with the likes of Orange Tonic Espresso ($8) and Smoked Mocha Affogato ($9).Â
Address: 214a South Bridge Road, Singapore 058763
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8am to 6pm, Sat-Sun 10am to 6pm
Website
Muro Coffee is not a halal-certified eatery.
7. The Shelter
Image credit: The Shelter
For a cool space in Chinatown that opens till late, head to The Shelter, where you have plenty of choices spanning Western bites to hawker favourites. Everything is priced affordably too, with nothing beyond $18.
Image credit: The Shelter
Those always on the go can get the Ham and Cheese Sandwich ($8), best paired with a cup of their Cold Brew ($7) or Einspanner ($8). For the uninitiated, the latter is essentially a latte topped with velvety smooth sweetened cream! If you want something more substantial to keep you filled throughout the day, go straight for the Curry Chicken with Rice ($7) or Mee Rebus ($6) alongside a cup of their signature Shelter White ($5.50), made using palm sugar for a touch of sweetness.
Address: 150 South Bridge Road, #01-11 Fook Hai Building, Singapore 058727
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 8am to 10pm, Fri-Sat 8am to 11pm
Website
The Shelter is not a halal-certified eatery.
8. The Food Peeps Coffee and Deli
Image credit: The Food Peeps Coffee and DeliÂ
The Food Peeps Coffee and Deli always pops up on the Internet whenever I’m searching for cafes in Chinatown. With a 4.5-star rating and over 600 reviews on Google, this popular cafe has made a name for themselves, offering house-made items at wallet-friendly prices.
Image credit: The Food Peeps Coffee and DeliÂ
Pasta lovers can go for the classic T.F.P. Carbonara ($18), comprising linguine tossed with bacon, mushroom, shallot, arugula, and truffle oil. If you appreciate heavier, more robust flavours, consider the Rendang ($18), made with beef rendang, crispy shallots, and cilantro. Besides pasta dishes, you can indulge in the tangy-creamy Prawn and Avo on Toast ($17): garlic prawns, smashed avo, sundried tomatoes, and mango salsa on a slice of sourdough.
Address: 34 Sago Street, #01-01, Singapore 059026
Opening hours: Thurs-Tue 9am to 5pm
Website
The Food Peeps Coffee and Deli is not a halal-certified eatery.
9. Breakfast Hola
Image credit: Eve Chan
This cafe is for fans of Taiwanese fare. Open from 7:30am every day, Breakfast Hola offers an extensive menu ranging from egg crepe roll and noodles to finger food and club sandwiches. The interior sports a warm, homely atmosphere, especially great for solo diners to enjoy a meal out at their own pace.Â
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Image credit: T L
We recommend the Double Cheese ($7.50) egg crepe roll for a delicious breakfast or a midday pick-me-up snack. There are over 10 different fillings to choose from, with popular options including Spicy Cai Poh ($7), Pork Floss ($7.60), and Grilled Pork Meat ($8.10). Pair your crepe roll with their Fresh Soy Milk ($2.80) or Good Morning Milk Tea (from $3.20), a common breakfast choice among Taiwanese! It’d be remiss of you to leave without trying their Taiwanese Braised Pork Rice ($9.40); each bowl comes loaded with tender braised pork bits, an egg, and cucumbers. Else, the Taiwanese Cold Noodles ($7) is an equally delicious option to have on a hot afternoon.Â
Address: 280 South Bridge Road, Singapore 058829
Opening hours: Daily 7:30am to 7pm
Tel: 8482 8938
Website
Breakfast Hola is not a halal-certified eatery.
10. Nanyang Old Coffee
Image credit: @hungrydinoeats
I’m a huge fan of old-school breakfast spots, so I have to include Nanyang Old Coffee on this list. This traditional cafe opens at 7am every day, so you can start the day on the best note with typical Singaporean breakfast items.
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Image credit: @hungrydinoeats
There are value-for-money set meals here such as the Hot Coffee, Toast & Egg Set Meal ($5.80). FYI, you can pay an additional $1 to swap the hot coffee for iced! A la carte items are also available, with the Kaya Butter Toast priced at $2.60, while a cup of Hot Kopi costs $2.20. During my visit, I saw a few diners indulging in a plate of Nasi Lemak here, which to my surprise, is only priced at $3!
Address: 268 South Bridge Road, Singapore 0588
Opening hours: Daily 7am to 6:30pm
Tel: 6221 6973
Website
Nanyang Old Coffee is not a halal-certified eatery.
Affordable cafes in Chinatown for those on a budget
Cafe experiences don’t always have to be pricey in Singapore; if you look closely enough, you’ll realise that there are plenty of affordable options that won’t burn a hole in your pocket!
For more good eats in the area, read our Chinatown food guide, where we tried cheap hotpot buffet, Michelin-approved curry mee and more. Alternatively, check out Pretty Good Muffins for tasty muffins from $1.40 and legit matcha latte.
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