Mention best coffee in Singapore, and chances are Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee will pop up. The homegrown brand’s roots date back to 1963, when founder Mr Tan Tiong Hoe started his own coffee venture, focusing on traditional roasted coffee with no additives.
Tiong Hoe first operated as a coffee bean and equipment wholesaler for decades before expanding into a full-fledged specialty coffee cafe in Queenstown in 2014. Today, the brand has 11 outlets across the island.
We recently visited their OG store along Stirling Road to see how their coffee holds up more than 60 years on.
Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee focuses on small-batch in-house roasting, and you can purchase their beans at any of their stores.
On our visit, there were two espresso blends available: Roman Ruby and Black Pearl.
My usual order at Tiong Hoe is the Intense White ($5), which is similar to a cortado. Here, two espresso shots are combined with silky, foamed milk, resulting in a drink that’s stronger than your usual latte.
We opted for the Black Pearl blend, featuring notes of toffee, walnuts, and chocolate. I’m happy to report that the brew was as good as I remembered it, with smooth, silky milk complementing the nutty and robust espresso.
The Iced Black ($5.80) was also delicious. We went with the Roman Ruby blend here, a refreshingly juicy brew with notes of grapes and a medium body.
On our visit, the cafe had four types of hand brews to choose from. We opted for the Borbon Passiflora ($11) from Colombia, made with semi-washed beans featuring passionfruit and key lime notes.
This was one of the lighter filters I’ve tried, with its tangy passionfruit notes becoming more prominent as it cooled down.
It had a tea-like finish that matched the geranium tasting note, with a pleasant acidity that was easy on the palate.
If you want something extra refreshing, consider the Yuzu Soda Coffee ($6.80), which was our favourite drink of the lot. Featuring real yuzu, soda water, and a strong double ristretto espresso, this beverage struck the perfect balance between sweet and sour, with all the components complementing one another.
Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee’s flagship cafe sits in the quiet and charming Queenstown estate. The cosy cafe is tucked under an HDB block, with a no-frills, stripped-down layout and limited seating for around 15 to 20 people at a time.
Tiong Hoe Stirling Road is an 11-minute walk from Queenstown MRT Station.
Tiong Hoe will always have a soft spot in my heart. It was one of the first places where I discovered specialty coffee in Singapore. Their consistent brews and multiple locations across the island have made them a mainstay in the local coffee scene. If you want to support a homegrown coffee brand, this is a good place to start.
If you’re looking for more cafes to try, check out our full guide to the best cafes in Singapore for brunch, desserts and more! Otherwise, we have a guide to the best new restaurants and cafes in Singapore for August 2026, if you’re in the mood for something new.
Address: 170 Stirling Road, #01-1133, Singapore 140170
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8am to 4:45pm, Sat-Sun 8:30am to 4:15pm
Tel: 8958 1133
Website
Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee is not halal-certified.
Photos taken by Marcus Neo.
This was an independent visit by Eatbook.sg.
Summary
Pros
– Consistent quality
– Cosy cafe space
– Coffee is well-priced
Cons
– Can be very crowded during peak hours
Recommended dishes: Intense White ($5), Yuzu Soda Coffee ($6.80)
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8am to 4:45pm, Sat-Sun 8:30am to 4:15pm
Address:170 Stirling Road, #01-1133, Singapore 140170
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