15 Best Thomson Cafes For Beef Sandos, Matcha Lava Cake And More

27th March 2024

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Thomson cafe guide

As far as I know, cafe-hopping is a joy and hobby for many Singaporeans. Whether you’re visiting for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, or a quick cuppa coffee, there’s just something special about dining at a cafe that makes each experience exciting.

A particular area that frequent cafe-hoppers might be familiar with would be Upper Thomson, as there are plenty of IG-worthy coffee and brunch spots strewn around the area. If you’ve never been there, or you can’t decide on a cafe to visit, this list of best cafes in Thomson will help you get started!

Table of Contents

Thomson cafe guide
Best cafes to visit in Thomson

1. Yahava Koffee Works

Image credit: @mundanexfood

Hailing all the way from Western Australia is Yahava Koffee Works, a cafe in Thomson serving delicious coffee, cakes, sandwiches and more. They are known for using quality coffee beans sourced from all over the world, which are roasted in-house before use.

This cafe is located just behind Sembawang Hills Food Centre, and patrons recommend going for the Ham, Egg, Lettuce, and Tomato Croissant ($12.50) paired with a cup of their Cappuccino (from $5.25). The coffee is said to be robust, aromatic, and full-bodied. Yahava Koffeeworks also sells its coffee beans online and in-store.

Address: 50 Tagore Lane, #B1-02, Singapore 787494
Opening hours: Daily 9am to 6pm
Tel: 6554 7080
Website
Yahava Koffee Works is not a halal-certified eatery.

2. Columbus Coffee Co.

Image credit: @columbuscoffeeco

Columbus Coffee Co at Upper Thomson Road boasts a minimalist, Japanese-inspired interior. Run by the people behind Atlas Coffeehouse, this newly renovated cafe serves a delectable selection of brunch options.

Steak lovers will enjoy the Beef Steak Donburi ($24.20+), which stars juicy steak, teriyaki onions, king oyster mushrooms, crispy enoki mushrooms, sous vide egg, and garlic chips over a bed of Japanese pearl rice. For something sweet, try the Banana Bread & Mascarpone ($12.60+). It features espresso mascarpone generously smothered atop banana bread, topped with rice crisps and a citrus honey drizzle.

Address: 220 Upper Thomson Road, Singapore 574352
Opening hours: Tue-Sat 9am to 10pm, Sun 9am to 7pm
Tel: 6253 6024
Website
Columbus Coffee Co. is not a halal-certified eatery.

3. Thus Coffee

Image credit: @my_matcha_moments

Thus Coffee is another quaint and cosy cafe located in Upper Thomson that’s known for its Berry Matcha Lava Cake ($15++). This dessert is said to have the perfect balance of earthiness and sweetness—a mark of good quality matcha. As for mains, the Hearty Chicken Stew ($17++) is also worth a shot. This creamy stew consists of chicken legs, and chunks of potatoes and carrots, and is served with toasted multigrain bread.

Address: 4 Jalan Kuras, Singapore 577723
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9am to 9pm, Sat-Sun 8am to 9pm
Tel: 9363 6380
Website
Thus Coffee is not a halal-certified eatery.

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4. Knockhouse Cafe’

Image credit: @tummyforlyfe

Next on the list is Knockhouse Cafe’, located on Upper Thomson Road, along the same stretch as other popular cafes such as Oaks Coffee Co. and Columbus Coffee Co.

The Truffle Carbonara ($20+) is what most people come for, as it consists of a generous amount of mushrooms and bacon. It is also said to have a strong truffle aroma. Alternatively, the Duck Confit Rosti ($22+) is another signature item, featuring shredded duck leg confit, potato rosti, hollandaise sauce, and poached eggs. You can also opt for your eggs to be served scrambled, or as a sunny side up.

Address: 185 Upper Thomson Road, Singapore 574333
Opening hours: Mon-Tues, Thurs-Sat 9am to 10pm, Sun 9am to 7pm
Tel: 6397 5554
Website
Knockhouse Cafe’ is not a halal-certified eatery.

5. Patisserie G

Image credit: @meg_in_sg

For some artisanal desserts, check out Patisserie G in Thomson Plaza. This cafe prides itself on using quality ingredients and French pastry techniques to create its dainty pastries and cakes.

Go for the Pear Blossom ($10.50), which features custard mousse, sponge fingers, and pear cubes covered in elderflower jelly. Else, there’s the Warm Apple Crumble ($12) that comes topped with a scoop of gelato!

Address: 301 Upper Thomson Road, Singapore 574408
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 9:30am to 8pm , Fri-Sun 9:30am to 9:30pm
Tel: 8866 8935
Website
Patisserie G is not a halal-certified eatery.

6. Hello Arigato

If you’re looking for more cafes in Thomson to check out, Hello Arigato serves Japanese-inspired comfort food and more. Sporting homey, Scandinavian-style interiors, this cafe is perfect for those who love IG-worthy aesthetics.

Hello Arigato is known for their sandos, particularly the Gyu Sando ($28++), which features a slab of thick Angus beef sirloin slathered in caramelised sweet onion jam, sandwiched between Japanese milk bread. Alternatively, get the Truffle Portobello Sando ($18++), an item that’s exclusively available at this outlet. This sando features grilled portobello mushroom, house-made truffle mushroom jam, and cheddar cheese sandwiched between a Japanese milk bread.

Address: 227 Upper Thomson Road, Singapore 574359
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 11am to 4pm, 6pm to 9pm
Tel: 8772 3778
Website
Hello Arigato is not a halal-certified eatery.

7. Oaks Coffee Co.

Image credit: @oakscoffeeco

Oaks Coffee Co. is a relatively new specialty coffee bar and restaurant opened by the folks behind The Kins Cafe.

Its menu features a range of unique fusion dishes, namely the Laksa Orzo ($22++) and Mala Hokkaido Pork Dumplings ($16++). The crowd-favourite Laksa Orzo is a pasta dish that stars large tiger prawns, clams, salmon roe, tau pok, laksa leaves, and a scoop of house-made coconut ice cream. This dish is said to have a good balance of rich, spicy, and sweet flavours.

You can also visit Oaks Coffee Co. for their brunch menu. Their Eggs Royale ($22++), featuring sourdough toast, avocado salsa, smoked salmon, poached eggs, and a tangy yuzu hollandaise sauce, comes highly recommended.

Address: 223 Upper Thomson Road, Singapore 574355
Opening hours: Mon-Tue, Thurs-Fri 10am to 10pm, Sat-Sun 8am to 10pm
Tel: 8286 2230
Website
Oaks Coffee Co. is not a halal-certified eatery.

8. COTTAGE by The Straits People Cafe (TSP Coffee)

Image credit: @emeliafooddiary

Nestled between the terrace houses in Jalan Pemimpin is COTTAGE by The Straits People Cafe, known for its affordable brunch food. This cafe is a five-minute drive from Upper Thomson MRT Station.

Most patrons come for burgers such as the Honey Mustard Chicken Burger ($13.90+). The dish is constructed with a juicy grilled chicken patty, honey mustard sauce, tomato and lettuce, and brioche buns. You can also get the Creamy Chicken Pasta ($10.90+)!

Address: 1 Pemimpin Drive, #01-02, Singapore 576151
Opening hours: Mon to Fri 8:30am to 7pm, Sat 8:30am to 3pm
Tel: 8756 6724
Website
COTTAGE by The Straits People Cafe is not a halal-certified eatery.

9. State of Affairs

Image credit: @astateofaffairs

If you’re looking for a Muslim-friendly option, check out State of Affairs, a hole-in-the-wall coffeehouse serving coffee, pasta, and quick bites. This cafe in Thomson was opened by a renowned barista who used to work at the popular Muslim-owned cafe, Penny University.

Operating as early as 6am on weekends, most people come to grab a coffee to-go. If you’d like a quick pick-me-up, their signature Black Honey ($7) is worth a shot. This fizzy, caffeinated drink is said to be aromatic and refreshing. To pair with your drink, we recommend the Philly Cheesesteak ($18) starting sliced steak accompanied by caramelised onions, peppers, and cheese.

Address: 183 Upper Thomson Road, #01-02, Singapore 574332
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8am to 6pm, Sat-Sun 6am to 6pm
Tel: 8874 4657
Website
State of Affairs is a Muslim-owned eatery.

10. Cafe Gui

You can’t really go wrong with minimalist cafes, and Cafe Gui proves just that. This cafe serves up Korean-Japanese dishes at affordable prices, and is a stone’s throw away from Novena MRT Station.

Their Dosirak Rice Bowl ($15.90+) is a crowd favourite as you get to experience the Korean bento culture without having to travel there. The gold-tinted box comprises egg, kimchi, spam, and shredded seaweed atop a bed of short-grain rice. Fans of Japanese fare can opt for the Japanese Ramen ($9.90+) instead; each bowl comes with ramen egg, Japanese fishcake, and arabiki sausage! And of course, pair your meal with the popular Dalgona Honeycomb ($9.90+). This drink is essentially an iced latte topped with crunchy honeycomb toffee.

Read our Cafe Gui review.

Address: 103 Irrawaddy Road, #02-10, Royal Square at Novena, Singapore 329566
Opening hours: Tue-Sat 9am to 6pm
Website
Cafe Gui is not a halal-certified eatery.

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11. Kamome Bakery

Kamome Bakery is a popular Japanese bakery in Singapore offering a variety of baked goods. Recently, they announced the closing of the Joo Chiat outlet, and while we’re sad to bid farewell, we’re thankful that their Thomson outlet is still around. They’ve also opened a Bukit Timah cafe, which is great news for Westies!

For starters, get their bestselling Red Bean Butter ($3.40). You get a slab of butter and mildly sweet red bean paste sandwiched between a bun! There’s also the less-known Fig Camembert ($4), which features a thin baguette with camembert cheese and fresh figs.

Read our Kamome Bakery review.

Address: 169 Thomson Road, Goldhill Shopping Centre, Singapore 307621
Opening hours: Thurs-Tue 8am to 5pm
Website
Kamome Bakery is not a halal-certified eatery.

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12. Marymount Bakehouse

Image credit: @marymount_bakehousesg

Popular home-based bakery Marymount Bakehouse now has a physical store in Upper Thomson with dine-in seats.

The Forest Mushroom Levain Pie ($19.90) is one of the newest items on their menu. You get all kinds of mushrooms in this one: button, maitake, chanterelle, and oyster mushrooms. Plus, it comes topped with other fancy ingredients, including foie gras and smoked duck. You also get a spread of honey mustard beneath these generous ingredients! For something more familiar, there’s the Shakshouka Flatbread ($14.90) comprising house-made spiced tomato stew, baked eggs, roasted peppers puree and more.

13. CAVA

Image credit: @cava.sg

Here’s one for the pawrents: CAVA is a pet-friendly cafe in Upper Thomson serving up brunch items and specialty coffee.

Some brunch non-negotiables include the English BF ($20+) and Seafood Aglio Olio ($19+). But they also have interesting items on the menu, with the likes of Otah Bruschetta ($18+) and Sakura Cream Tagliatelle ($20+). The former consists of a sliced baguette topped with a huge piece of otah, while the latter stars al dente tagliatelle tossed in mentaiko cream sauce. The cafe is also known for their pretty bakes such as the Warm Apple Crumble Slice ($8+) and Lemon Meringue Tart ($9+).

14. La Ristrettos Coffee Roastery

Image credit: @charmaaaaiine

Situated amidst the lush greenery is La Ristrettos Coffee Roastery, a garden-themed cafe within spitting distance of Novena MRT Station.

Their pastas are a great choice for a midday pick-me-up, with the Scallop Aglio Olio ($16++) being the most popular number. For a local twist, we recommend the Spicy Mala Chicken ($14.50++), starring tender chicken breast meat cooked in mala chilli oil. Pair your pasta with their fries, which come in three different flavours: Truffle ($10.50++), Spam ($10.50++), and Loaded Beef ($12++).

Read more about La Ristrettos Coffee Roastery.

Address: 10 Sinaran Drive, #08-37, Novena Medical Centre, Singapore 307506
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8am to 4pm, Sat 8am to 2pm
Website
La Ristrettos Coffee Roastery is not a halal-certified eatery.

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15. SOD Cafe

Image credit: @sodcafesg

SOD Cafe has two branches across the country: the first outlet is located in Hougang, and the second in Thomson. They are known for their wallet-friendly offerings, including student meals from $7.90+.

Start your day with their Fish N Chips ($14.90+), which comes plated with a bed of thin-cut fries topped with two pieces of battered, deep-fried fish. If you prefer meat to seafood, consider giving the Special Wagyu Beef Burger ($16.90+) a try. Consisting of a thick Wagyu patty stacked between fresh lettuce, a fried egg, and melty cheese, you can expect a bang for your buck.

Address: 183 Upper Thomson Road, #01-05, Longhaus, 574429
Opening hours: Mon, Wed-Fri 10:30am to 9:30pm, Sat-Sun 10am to 9pm
Website
SOD Cafe is not a halal-certified eatery.

Best cafes to visit in Thomson

Now that we’ve introduced you to some of the best Thomson cafes, be sure to check them out if you’re ever in the area and craving hearty brunch and coffee!

For more cafes to check out, read our guide to the best cafes in Singapore. For those living between Punggol and Serangoon, read our guide to some of the best North-East cafes.