The lowdown: The industrial trend continues with new cafes like Dawn, this time with a Japanese twist. Located along South Bridge Road, Dawn features a nondescript, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it entrance − reminiscent of hole-in-the-wall eateries in Tokyo. Inside the small cafe, patrons dine amidst a backdrop of raw textured walls, and eat on tabletops in distressed limestone. On the drinks menu is artisanal speciality coffee, such as espresso-based single-origin coffee from El Salvador. There’s also a small selection of bakes, like the signature pandan coconut loaf cake and apple crumble.

Address: 78 South Bridge Rd

Opening hours: From 8am to 5pm daily

Contact: E-mail hello@dawnkissa.com

The lowdown: Featuring a distinctly Korean aesthetic, Cafe Found is nestled within The Editor’s Market new outlet at Takashimaya S.C. Minimalist design elements include a monochromatic colour scheme, tiled floor and the use of raw materials in fixtures like the coffee counter. Matcha addicts can indulge in the cafe’s range of drinks using Niko Neko matcha, like matcha latte and sparkling matcha. Another speciality is the sesame dirty, a popular Korean drink made with sesame cream and espresso.

Address: #B1-16/#B1 24 Takashimaya S.C.

Opening hours: From 10am to 9:30pm daily

Contact: DM @cafefound on Instagram

The lowdown: Located in Marine Clove, this cafe was designed to reflect the landscape of the surrounding East Coast area. The space itself is bright, spacious and airy, with teal walls, tall indoor trees and commissioned marine-themed artwork by local artist Wu Yanrong. Most of the menu items are also created in-house, with an emphasis on locally-sourced ingredients and collaborations with local producers. We recommend the barramundi and plant-based chicken sourdough sandwiches, as well as the sourdough waffles dessert.

Address: 1000 East Coast Parkway, #01-03

Opening hours: From 9am to 6pm daily

Contact: Tel 8950-4142

The lowdown: Located in an area filled with black-and-white houses, it’s no surprise that Under Der Linden’s decor comes with a colonial influence. The outdoor corridor is lined with greenery, monochromatic tiles and rattan-style chairs. The cafe was set up by the folks behind Le Jardin restaurant and Cafe de Nicole’s Flower, with both venues known for incorporating florals into the interior design. Under Der Linden even has an in-house florist, whom you can approach to purchase blooms. As for food, the cafe employs a communal dining concept, so expect sharing plates like Galician octopus, Iberico pork and ora king salmon.

Address: 5B Portsdown Rd

Opening hours: From 9am to 9pm daily

Contact: Tel 9838-2977

The lowdown: Cafes are a dime a dozen in Tanjong Pagar, but Equate Coffee stands out firstly for its unique, cave-like entrance. As you enter, expect to see a giant grey wall made from unfinished concrete. We also give our seal of approval for the cafe’s branding. For example, the incorporation of their mathematical logo into items like coffee cups. A blend of Brazilians and Sumatra beans is used for espresso-based drinks, and the food menu features canele and ondeh-ondeh cakes as signature items. Also, a rotating selection of other bakes.

Address: #02-25 1 Tanjong Pagar Plaza

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, from 8:30am to 5:30pm and Saturday, from 8am to 3pm. Closed on Sunday

Contact: E-mail equatecoffee@gmail.com

The lowdown: Described as a casual-contemporary Kyoto tea house, Sevens Kissaten combines a modern aesthetic (think large glass panels for plenty of natural light) with traditional elements like wood furniture and Japanese lanterns. Set up by real estate developer the Sevens Group, the cafe’s speciality is small-batch, artisan tea cultivated by Japanese tea farmers, as well as cooked-to-order premium-grade items like wagyu beef. Sevens Kissaten also launches a brand new breakfast menu at the start of each month and recently released a New Year’s matcha afternoon tea set where diners whisk their own ceremonial grade match powder.

Address: 58 Seng Poh Rd, #01-15

Opening hours: From 8:30am to 5:30pm daily

Contact: Tel 8723-7777

The lowdown: Opened just last month, Tigress by 82Soho is a Korean fusion gastrobar launched by the namesake entertainment and lifestyle brand. Its aesthetic appears to be urban jungle chic, with floor-to-ceiling glass windows, plenty of plants and furniture laced with wood and rattan accents Three pocket pool tables and a Korean four-ball pool table are also available for those looking to play in style. On the menu are western offerings like burgers and pizza infused with Korean flavours, as well as a new ‘yuja citron’ gelato flavour in collaboration with Oroma’s artisan tea gelato. Look out for upcoming executive lunch sets too.

Address: #03-18 Orchard Gateway

Opening hours:  From 11:30am to 11pm daily

Contact: Tel 8112-0480

The lowdown: Whilst not a new cafe, Habitat has gotten a facelift after shifting from its Upper Thomson premises. Its current quarters at Jalan Besar are larger with an industrial theme, including cemented floors and long, grey communal tables in the centre. The coffee counter decked in baby blue also contrasts nicely with the muted colour scheme. Habitat has even
amped up its label design for its cold brew bottled coffee and added mocha latte into the mix. Recent collaborations also include a tie-up with Elijah Pies, which opened a baking studio in the vicinity last month.

Address: 803 King George’s Ave, #01-242/244

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, from 9am to 9pm. Closed Monday

Contact: Tel 8750-5258

The lowdown: Guerilla Coffee’s interior includes a series of steps that patrons sit on, along with mini coffee tables designed like concrete slabs. The rest of the cafe is defined by its minimalist look, including muted colours and an all-white facade. Coffee addicts will also appreciate high-tech features like the Slayer Espresso Machine, accompanied by neon lights and a 3D printed framework. The cafe’s signatures are their coffee-inspired desserts, such as marmalade affogato and chestnut coffee jelly.

Address: #01-506/507 Suntec City Tower 2

Opening hours: From 8:30am to 8pm daily

Contact: Tel 6899-3188

The lowdown: Pronounced “cake by Olivia”, this cafe specialises in cheesecakes. Its retro aesthetic was developed by Barcelonan interior design company Cris Cela Studio, with an emphasis on geometric shapes like circles, triangles and squares. The colour palette also represents the brand’s cheesecake, including a touch of navy blue as an ode to blue cheese as an ingredient. Cheesecakes come in a variety of flavours, such as the New York cheesecake and Basque cheesecake with rum and vanilla pastry cream filling.

Address: 41 Kreta Ayer Rd

Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday, from 11am to 7pm. Closed Monday and Tuesday

Contact: Tel 6223-1165

The lowdown: While the cafe underwent a revamp in early 2021, Suzuki Coffee has in fact been in Singapore since the 70’s. The brand is one of Singapore’s oldest coffee roasters, and used to supply to hotels and even Singapore Airlines. Previously designed as a modern cafe, Suzuki Coffee now resembles a Japanese teahouse, with features like lattice doors and a traditional shishi-odoshi bamboo fountain. Fans of Suzuki’s roasted beans can still buy their coffee packets here, but the cafe has also refreshed its menu to include more beverages made with Hokkaido milk, such as Kyoto uji matcha Hokkaido latte.

Address: 8 Chin Bee Ave

Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday, from 10am to 5pm and weekends, from 10am to 4pm. Closed Monday

Contact: Tel 6266-3933