For hidden-gem, under-HDB dessert cafes and coffee spots around the island, look no further. We’ve gathered a list of the best HDB cafes in Singapore, including ice cream and waffle spots, as well as atas bakery cafes!
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Nestled in the sleepy Potong Pasir neighbourhood, under a HDB block, Rise has amassed a steady following thanks to its IG-worthy pink and concrete interiors. They also offer a huge plethora of bakes that taste as stunning as they look. Highlights include a Strawberry Sakura Pudding Roll ($8.20) and Black Sesame Kinako Cake ($8.20): black sesame sponge with soy chantilly cream and black sesame ganache, topped with kinako powder. Don’t sleep on their Plain Brown Butter Waffles ($8.90), too, which pair well with their ice cream lineup!
Read our Rise cafe review.
Address: 148 Potong Pasir Avenue 1, #01-53, Singapore 350148
Opening hours: Wed-Mon 11am to 7pm
Website
Rise is not a halal-certified eatery.
Blink and you might miss it: Rookie’s Coffee Shop is an under-the-radar cafe with chill vibes and great coffee, nestled under an HDB block in the old Bukit Merah estate. Try their Iced Bandung ‘Spro ($7), a pretty latte that’s served with distinct layers: rose syrup, fresh milk, and espresso. If you’re hankering for a sweet treat, the cafe offers a small range of bakes, including Brownie ($4), Chocolate Chip Cookie ($4), and Lemon Bar ($5.50). The indoor space is small and cosy, so you may need to dabao or sit outside when it gets busy and crowded.
Check out our Rookie’s Coffee Shop feature.
Address: 123 Bukit Merah Lane 1, #01-112, Singapore 150123
Opening hours: Tue-Fri 10am to 5pm, Sat 10am to 6pm
Website
Rookie’s Coffee Shop is not a halal-certified eatery.
Abundance is a cosy and casual Taiwanese cafe tucked in the sleepy estate of Lengkok Bahru, Redhill. The under-HDB cafe is known for their Gua Bao ($7.90++): fluffy bao stuffed with thick pork belly, topped with pickles, coriander, and roasted, ground peanuts. They also offer other Taiwanese classics such as Beef Noodles Soup ($16.90++) and Red Hot Chilli Dumplings Noodles ($9.90++). Before you leave, try their famous Peanut Ice Cream Roll ($6.90++), a popular street snack comprising vanilla ice cream, crushed peanuts, and fresh coriander in a popiah-like skin.
Read our Abundance review.
Address: 63A Lengkok Bahru, #01-378, Singapore 151063
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 10pm
Website
Abundance is not a halal-certified eatery.
If you’re big on orh nee, you have to visit Cafe Lilac by Whisking Bakes on Crawford Lane. Located under an old HDB block, this clean and minimalist cafe serves up unique yam-infused treats at wallet-friendly prices. Try their Taro Crepe Cake ($8.50+): 20 layers of crepe layered with handmade taro paste and taro cream. For something unique, get the Taro Pork Floss Sando ($6.50+) instead.
Read our Cafe Lilac by Whisking Bakes review.
Address: 466 Crawford Lane, #01-08, Singapore 190465
Opening hours: Mon 11:30am to 5pm, Tue-Fri 11:30am to 7pm, Sat 10am to 7pm, Sun 10am to 5pm
Website
Whisking Bakes is not a halal-certified eatery.
Daily Mujo is a fairly new addition to the Bedok neighbourhood. This under-HDB cafe offers value-for-money mains that are under $20, including Laksa Hokkien Mee ($11) and Pandan Chicken Chop ($15): tender, pandan-infused chicken thigh paired with pineapple salsa, fries, and coleslaw. You’ll also find local kopi on the menu, in the form of Kopi Latte ($4), where kopi bing is topped with a creamy milk foam. Else, go for their aesthetically pleasing Mango Matcha Latte ($7), which combines sweet mango puree with earthy matcha and milk.
Read our Daily Mujo review.
Address: 84 Bedok North Street 4, # 01-27, Singapore 460084
Opening hours: Daily 8:30am to 9pm
Website
Daily Mujo is not a halal-certified eatery but does not use pork or lard.
If you’ve been to Joji’s Diner and loved their offerings, No Horse Run Cafe is another spot you should check out. Here, there’s also the popular Fried Chicken with Waffle ($15.90), featuring a buttermilk waffle topped with a sunny-side-up and a huge crispy fried chicken. If you’re not a fan of fried stuff, get the Eggs Benedict ($11.90) instead, which gives you two English muffins with poached eggs, ham, and a drizzle of hollandaise. You also get a side of salad and tater tots to substantiate your meal!
Read our No Horse Run Cafe feature.
Address: Block 202 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, #01-1682, Singapore 560202
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 10pm
Website
No Horse Run Cafe is not a halal-certified eatery.
For award-winning gelato, head to Denzy Gelato in Hougang. The gelato here isn’t only top-notch in terms of quality, but there are also interesting flavours that are hard to come by elsewhere. when we tried the award-winning gelato comprising Pear, Ginger, and Ginger Flower flavours, we were in awe of how zesty, fruity, and refreshing it was. FYI, a single scoop costs $4.20, while a double scoop costs $7.50. There are plenty of flavours here, with the likes of Lychee Sorbet, Caramelized Banana & Chocolate Chips, and Yoghurt Speculoos.
Read our Denzy Gelato feature.
Address: 684 Hougang Avenue 8, #01-953, Singapore 530684
Opening hours: Sun-Thurs 12:30pm to 10:30pm, Fri-Sat 12:30pm to 11:30pm
Website
Denzy Gelato is not a halal-certified eatery.
Cafe Fufu specialises in artisanal Italian sourdough pizzas that are fired up on-site. Order their signature Pizza Fufu ($18+/$28+), which stars coriander pesto, fresh tiger prawn chunks, semi-dried tomatoes, and chilli flakes for added heat. Alternatively, the popular Pizza Salami ($16+/$24+) is worth trying. This tomato-based pie is finished with oregano-infused olive oil and salami, and then baked till crispy in the wood-fired oven.
Read our Cafe Fufu review.
Address: 63 Lengkok Bahru, #01-362, Singapore 152063
Opening hours: Tue-Thurs 11am to 9pm, Fri 11am to 10pm, Sat 9am to 10pm, Sun 9am to 4pm
Website
Cafe Fufu is not a halal-certified eatery.
If you live in the East, check out Hundred Acre Creamery, a hidden under-HDB cafe serving ice cream and waffles. Go for their freshly baked waffles, available in flavours such as Original Belgian ($6) and Coconut Pandan Mochi ($7). The latter features coconut and pandan-infused waffles that come with a soft and chewy mochi middle, great for pairing with your choice of ice cream. There’s the Chrysanthemum Honey ($5.50), which nods to Pooh’s honey obsession, and the vegan-friendly Ispahan Sorbet ($4.50) for those who can’t take dairy. They also have another outlet in Clementi, great for Westies.
Read our Hundred Acre Creamery review.
Address: Block 824 Tampines Street 81, #01-24, Singapore 520824
Opening hours: Daily 12pm to 11pm
Website
Hundred Acre Creamery is not a halal-certified eatery.
Desert Dessert is a Korean-themed cafe tucked away in the Redhill neighbourhood. They have an extensive range of coffee, cakes, and croffles for you to indulge in all the way to 11pm every day. The Matcha Latte is priced from $5.50 here, best paired with their Classic Croffle (from $5.50). For special occasions, consider getting a whole cake with rotational flavours, including Blueberry Yoghurt Mousse, Strawberry Oreo Berries, Fruity Basque Burnt Cheesecake and more. Prices depend on the flavours available for the day!
Read our Desert Dessert feature.
Address: 63B Lengkok Bahru, #01-350, Singapore 152063
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 11pm
Website
Desert Dessert is not a halal-certified eatery.
Eleven Strands has taken over the spot of the now-defunct Kombi Rocks. Boasting a chic, gorgeous minimalist interior, their speciality is fresh, handmade pasta. Try their Spicy Garlic Prawn ($25+) pasta, featuring fresh prawns with lots of minced garlic, onions, and cherry tomatoes. They also have a brunch menu from 11am to 5pm. Highlights include their Creme Brulee French Toast ($15+) topped with berries, jam, and almond crumble, and Mushroom & Burrata Toast ($17+) covered in pesto sauce!
Address: 66 Yio Chu Kang Road, Singapore 545568
Opening hours: Tue-Fri 11am to 9:30pm, Sat 10:30am to 10pm, Sun 10:30am to 9pm
Website
Eleven Strands is not a halal-certified eatery.
Lickers is a popular spot frequented by students for a midday cool down. The vibe here is hip and chill, with cheeky neon lights that jazz up the interior. You can get a plate of warm, fluffy waffles topped with two scoops of ice cream at $11. The cafe serves unique, but not over-the-top, flavours such as Yakult Oreo and Oolong with Lavender, which is refreshing and delectable.
Address: 124 Hougang Avenue 1, #01-1446, Singapore 530124
Opening hours: Tue-Thurs 1pm to 2am, Fri-Sun 12pm to 2am
Website
Lickers is not a halal-certified eatery.
Delato is another East-side secret that offers freshly baked waffles with gelato. The cafe, which only opened in August 2023, serves Sicilian-style gelato, which swaps out egg yolks for cornstarch for a smooth and thick mouthfeel. Flavours rotate from time to time, with up to 12 available daily. Must-tries include Maple Walnut Pie, Cereal Milk Chocolate Swirls, Mango Basil, and Biscoff Speculoos. Each scoop is priced from $4.20. If you love mochi waffles, try the cafe’s Matcha Mochi Waffle ($7).
Read our Delato feature.
Address: 477 Tampines Street 43, #01-154, Singapore 520477
Opening hours: Tue-Thurs 2pm to 11pm, Fri 1pm to 1am, Sat 12pm to 1am, Sun 12pm to 11pm
Website
Delato is not a halal-certified eatery.
Percolate Coffee serves cuppas made from freshly roasted beans. Going beyond the usual flat white, the cafe offers drinks such as Thai Coco Black ($7.50), Espresso Milkshake ($7.50), and Hot Sesame Cocoa ($6), a drink made from hot chocolate and black sesame. In terms of food, their Banana Loaf ($10) tastes as good as it looks, packed with fruits and nuts including strawberries, blueberries, and green grapes. Drizzled with honey, this dish is both hearty and pleasing to the eye.
Address: 136 Bedok North Avenue 3, #01-152, Singapore 460136
Opening hours: Daily 9am to 7pm
Website
Percolate Coffee is not a halal-certified eatery.
Geometry stays comfortably nestled amongst mamak shops at Jalan Bukit Merah. Perfect as a post-lunch treat is their ice cream, which comes in unique flavours such as Earl Grey Tie Guan Yin and Paddle Pop. Ice cream here is priced at $3.40 for a single scoop and $6.40 for a double scoop, with premium flavours available at a top-up of $0.80 per scoop. Unlike other cafes that serve ice cream with just waffles, Geometry gives you the option to have your ice cream with a Brownie ($6).
Address: 2 Jalan Bukit Merah, Singapore 150002
Opening hours: Daily 12pm to 11pm
Website
Geometry is not a halal-certified eatery.
Hey Sugar is known for its saccharine pastel pink walls, warm lighting and homely interior. This cosy cafe serves a decent selection of ice cream, usually in classic flavours such as Earl Grey, Gula Melaka, and Pistachio Crunch, which you can pair with a Waffle ($3.90). A single scoop of ice cream costs $4.30, while a double scoop is priced at $7.80. Premium flavours require a top-up of $0.80 per scoop. Try their desserts with any of the iced brew shaken teas for a refreshing kick. Their Strawberry Elderflower Iced Brewed Shaken Tea ($4.90) comes with a great balance of lightness from the elderflower tea and slight tartness from the strawberries. There’s also the All Day Set ($9.90) that gets you a single scoop of ice cream on a waffle, paired with a cup of iced tea.
Address: 818 Choa Chu Kang Ave 1, #01-06, Singapore 680818
Opening hours: Daily 1pm to 10:30pm
Website
Hey Sugar is not a halal-certified eatery.
Tampines residents are lucky, with the addition of New Deli Bakery to their hood. This Tampines bakery recently moved from MacPherson, offering freshly baked croissants and pastries from just $4.20, alongside a small drinks menu. It’s also run by a baker who used to work at Tiong Bahru Bakery! You won’t go wrong with their signature French Butter Croissant ($4.20), said to be flaky and buttery. Else, their Vanilla Kouign-amann ($4.80) is equally delicious. FYI, this bake stars premium French butter and vanilla bean pods from Papua New Guinea.
Read our New Deli Bakery feature.
Address: 462 Tampines Street 44, #01-66, Singapore 520462
Opening hours: Wed-Fri 9:30am to 6:30pm, Sat 9am to 6:30pm, Sun 9am to 6pm
Website
New Deli Bakery is not a halal-certified eatery.
Another East side gem is One18 Bakery, an under-HDB bakery that sells legit croissants in an assortment of sweet and savoury flavours. Besides sweet treats such as the popular Cinnamon Roll ($4.50), you’ll also find croissants filled with the Supreme Beef Rendang ($6) and Supreme Tuna ($5.50). They also have the viral Crookie ($6), which combines cookie dough with flaky laminated pastry, in three flavours.
Read our One18 Bakery feature.
Address: 826 Tampines Street 81, #01-118, Singapore 520826
Opening hours: Daily 7am to 8pm
Website
One18 Bakery is a Muslim-owned eatery.
If you love cafe hopping but are too lazy to travel far, KIV this list of neighbourhood cafes for good food in your hood. For more cafes around town, check out this list of beautiful cafes in Singapore or our list of best coffee cafes.
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