As cool, trendy cafes sprout up in the quaint Chinatown neighbourhood, 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.
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Rise Bakehouse is one of the prettiest cafes on this list; the heritage cafe in Chinatown exudes a quaint and nostalgic vibe. It has everything you would expect from a decent cafe in the CBD—drinks, mains, and desserts.
One of the affordable options for mains is the Crab Scrambled Eggs Tartine ($18.90+): creamy scrambled eggs, crab chunks, and chilli oil atop a sourdough toast. To quench your thirst, pair your main with a cup of Black Sesame Peanut Cream Latte ($9+), said to be creamy and nutty altogether.
Read our Rise Bakehouse feature.
Address: 273 South Bridge Road, Singapore 058822
Opening hours: Sun-Mon & Wed-Thurs 11:30am to 8:30pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am to 10pm
Website
Rise Bakehouse is a Muslim-friendly eatery.
Popular Japanese cafe Baristart Coffee is in Chinatown, offering seven mains all priced under $20. It’s also a comfy spot for quiet conversations over coffee and the cafe’s signature Hokkaido cream puffs.
For mains, there’s the Obihiro Butadon ($19.80++), which comes with a bowl of Japanese rice topped with grilled pork belly, nori, and a drizzle of house-made teriyaki sweet sauce. You also get a warm miso soup on the side! Otherwise, pasta lovers can consider the Wafu Pasta ($19.80++) instead, where spaghetti is tossed in butter, garlic, bacon, prawns, and asparagus.
Read our Baristart Coffee feature.
Address: 65 Tras Street, Singapore 079004
Opening hours: Daily 9am to 10pm
Website
Baristart Coffee is not a halal-certified eatery.
Nett prices and an accessible location are what make the Korean-themed Snap Cafe well-loved by those working in the area. The cafe specialises in coffee and freshly grilled sourdough toasties, all priced under $15.
There are six toast flavours on the menu, and the most popular has got to be the Ham & Cheese ($10). It’s hard to go wrong with the combination of honey-baked chicken ham, mozzarella, red cheddar, and Gouda cheese. For a bit of spice in your toast, consider the Hot Honey Prawn ($12), which stars house-made hot honey sauce. As for drinks, you have the classics, such as Americano ($5) and Flat White ($6), but since you’re already there, we recommend trying Pistachio Espresso Latte ($8.50), a house special here.
Read our Snap Cafe review.
Address: 21 McCallum Street, #01-01/02, The Clift, Singapore 069047
Opening hours: Daily 8am to 4pm
Website
Snap Cafe is not a halal-certified eatery.
Avid cafe hoppers will surely know of September Coffee, a popular 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.
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 ($15.50+), sweet-salty Soy Garlic Winglets ($15+), and lesser-seen Singapore Chilli Crab Fries ($14++). 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.
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.
Maxi Coffee Bar is a great breakfast or lunch spot for those working or living in the area. The cafe is tucked away at the back entrance of the alley, making it a cosy and quiet spot for those who want a break from the hustle and bustle.
If you’re heading in for brekkie, consider the Miso NBJ ($8) and Kaya Butter ($8). 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 ($15) best, packed with melted, stretchy cheddar and tuna. There’s also the Roast Chicken ($15) and H.C.T. ($15), the latter made with smoked and herbed shoulder ham, cheddar, and fresh heirloom tomato.
Read our Maxi Coffee Bar feature.
Address: 64 Club Street, Singapore 069438
Opening hours: Tue-Fri 8am to 4pm, Sat-Sun 9am to 4pm
Website
Maxi Coffee Bar is not a halal-certified eatery.
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 ($17+); this traditional tinned 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 Ikura ($15+) 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 Signature Dalgona Honeycomb Coffee ($9.90+) that’s served with blocks of honeycomb candy.
Read our Cafe Gui feature.
Address: 278 South Bridge Road, #01-01, Singapore 058827
Opening hours: Mon-Wed 9am to 6pm, Thurs-Sat 10:30am to 9:30pm, Sun 10:30am to 5pm
Website
Cafe Gui is not a halal-certified eatery.
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 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 ($7+) and creamy Matcha Pistachio Latte ($8+).
Read our Nakey feature.
Address: 10 Trengganu Street, Singapore 058464
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 8pm
Tel: 9449 7176
Website
Nakey is not a halal-certified eatery.
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.
Start with their Mad Cheese ($12.90), 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. Alternatively, the Ponzu Salmon ($15.90) is an equally delicious choice, starring marinated salmon with a touch of tangy ponzu sauce, accompanied by mascarpone cheese and some veggies. For drinks, get something different with the likes of Orange Tonic Espresso ($8.50) and Smoked Mocha Affogato ($9).
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.
The Food Peeps Coffee and Deli always pops up on the Internet whenever I’m searching for cafes in Chinatown. With a 4.6-star rating and over 700 reviews on Google, this popular cafe has made a name for itself, offering house-made items at wallet-friendly prices.
Pasta lovers can go for the classic T.F.P. Carbonara ($18), comprising linguine tossed with bacon, mushrooms, shallots, arugula, and truffle oil. If you appreciate heavier, more robust flavours, consider the Rendang on Toast ($16), 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 8am to 5pm
Website
The Food Peeps Coffee and Deli is not a halal-certified eatery.
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.
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 (from $2.80) or Good Morning Milk Tea ($3.20), a common breakfast choice among Taiwanese! It’d be remiss of you to leave without trying their Authentic Taiwanese Braised Pork Rice ($9.40); each bowl comes loaded with tender braised pork bits, an egg, and cucumbers.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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, read our Chinatown Complex Food Centre guide.