We should all be familiar with the drill by now, no one gets to eat until the perfect photo is taken. And by the time we tuck in, almost 15 minutes has past. With the sheer amount of effort that goes into each Instagram picture – the photo filters, camera angles and even captions, it’s no wonder that our food turns cold even before we start eating. And sometimes the food isn’t photogenic to begin with.
To help save your time (and your friends’ patience), we’ve compiled a list of the 20 most photogenic cafes you can find in Singapore. Be it for the food, coffee or ambience, every place mentioned here will look amazing on your Instagram feed.
Rainbow cakes are aplenty in Singapore’s saturated cafe scene, but I can quickly recognise the ones from NOM by their wooden serving pans. NOM (short for No Other Meaning) also differentiates their rainbow cakes with three unique flavours – oreo, chocolate and salted caramel.
The rainbow cakes are a good colour complement to NOM’s main colours of white and lime green. What’s noteworthy too is its rendition of the iconic Toa Payoh Dragon Playground. It’s much easier to fit this into your phone screen than the real one.
Address: 400 Paya Lebar Way, Singapore 379131
Facebook: facebook.com/noothermeaning
From the same people behind Creamier at Lorong 1 Toa Payoh, Sunday Folks delivers a slightly different dessert concept by serving up only 6 kinds of soft-serve ice-cream. What it retains though, is its gorgeous whirls of golden maple syrup and hazelnut chocolate sauce on its plate and the signature fluffy waffles.
You’ll probably already seen these photogenic ice-cream swirls on your Instagram, so why not head down and create your own!
Address: 44 Jalan Merah Saga #01-52 Chip Bee Gardens Singapore 278116
Facebook: facebook.com/sundayfolks.singapore
I’ve always been in awe of Instagram feeds that are clean, neat and slightly minimalistic. If you’re like me, this place will appeal to you. A stone’s throw away from hipster enclave Tiong Bahru stands The Tastemaker Store. Being neat, clean and clutter-free is its greatest draw.
The Tastemaker Store keeps things simple with white and earth as its primary colours. The food is also placed in matte silverware, adding a simplistic touch to its overall feel.
Address: Block 22 Havelock Road #01-705
Website: thetastemakerstore.com
W39 Bistro and Bakery is a new and much needed addition to the cafe scene in the west. Decked in a refreshing mix of blue and yellow, W39 Bistro and Bakery exudes vibes of casual cheery and chic. Despite that, it features a part of Singapore’s heritage with a stash of old school knick knacks like country erasers, pushpop sweets and gold chocolate coins nestled in a corner.
Their wide selection of cakes are bound to add colour to your Instagram feed. W39 Bistro and Bakery is also a pet-friendly so you can have your favourite canine or feline star in your Instagram feed.
Address: 39 Jalan Mas Puteh, Singapore 128637
Website:w39bistro.com
Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of town, Hoopla Coffee & Kitchen is Infinite Studio’s newest kid on the block. Its spacious interior, lovely typography and tastefully married vintage architecture makes this place a feast for the eyes.
The laid-back vibe here makes Hoopla Coffee and Kitchen a good place to relax, while you add variety to your instagram feed.
Address: 21 Media Circle #01-05 Infinite Studios, Singapore 138562
Facebook:facebook.com/hooplasg
Though you can satisfy your cravings for Windowsill Pies at its pop-up stores, nothing beats having the real deal at its flagship store, Windowsill in the Woods. Few cafes go the extra mile to decorate their store exteriors and in my opinion, Windowsill in the Woods did an interesting take with its whimsical, fairytale-like storefront.
Its interior is largely decked in earthy wood pieces, but it’s the yellow retro refrigerator and Windowsill’s resident stuffed bear Mr Picklechips that completes the fairytale atmosphere at Windowsill. It’s almost like the scene in Goldilocks and the Three Bears. The stars here are its pies, of course, which are commendable both in tastes and in presentation.
Address: 78 Horne Road, Singapore 209078
Website:windowsillpies.sg
The renowned Indonesian brand Potato Head Folk has finally made its way to our shores. Occupying the iconic pre-war shophouse at Keong Saik Street, each floor of the four storey building is uniquely themed – Three Buns residing on both the first and second floor while the third and fourth floors house Studio 1939 and The Rooftop Bar respectively.
What’s also instagram-worthy here is the grub. Hot favourites like the Naughty Fries, Chicken Wings and Hot Dogs, which have already made their way into our instagram page.
Address: 36 Keong Saik Road, Singapore 089143
Website:pttheadfolk.com
Salivating, salivating – I need some help right here. Looking at this plate of decadence at 11am on a Monday morning isn’t doing much to save my growling stomach. While chocolate cakes aren’t the most photogenic kinds of dessert, Rider’s Cafe’s Death By Chocolate Cake looks too good to be missed – both by my tummy and my Instagram page.
On lucky days (mostly weekends, I hear), you can catch a glimpse of the horses from nearby Bukit Timah Saddle Club.
Address: 51 Fairways Drive, Singapore 286965
Website:riderscafe.sg
Beach Road just got a little cooler with the addition of Mean Bean and Wicked Grind, a vintage-themed cafe. Opened by 23-year-old owner Kimberley Yeo, MBWG was inspired by Kimberley’s two-month long holiday in Europe. Specialising mainly in desserts, MBWG keeps things fresh with a rotating menu that Kimberley decides at the start of each week.
Bonus instagram points goes to its gorgeous crockery, all of which are handpicked by Kimberley herself. If you take a liking to any of them, the good news is that all of them are for sale as long as you have a good price for them.
Address: 7500 Beach Road, The Plaza, Singapore 199591
Facebook:facebook.com/meanbeanwickedgrind
There was a time when my Instagram feed was flooded with images of a gigantic blue door. After a couple of weeks, I was getting bored of seeing my friends pose in front of the entrance to hipster cafe Wheeler’s Yard, and wondered if there was anything else that was worthy of a spot on their Instagram feed.
Well, it turns out that every inch of the establishment is photogenic. The industrial warehouse-turned-cafe-plus-bicycle-atelier has many of those stylish two-wheelers lurking around – beside and above you and even on your dining table. Despite that, the cafe is rather spacious, so don’t be afraid to roam around the place to get the perfect picture.
Here’s what we got up to the last time we were there.
Address: 28 Lorong Ampas, Singapore 328781
Facebook: facebook.com/wheelersyard
“What? This place is in Singapore?” was my first reaction when my friend told me about Kombi Rocks. On a closer look, I recognised the road sign and came to my senses. Located at Yio Chu Kang Road, Kombi Rocks provides both food and vintage car rental services.
Its exterior is often adorned with two Kombis, while its interior is a collector’s haven replete with vintage posters, classic old school ornaments, barber chairs and retro tiles. While it’ll seem pretty cool to ride to town in one of these fancy vehicles, its prices are too steep for me, so I guess posing beside the orange Kombi would do for now.
Address: 66 Yio Chu Kang Road, Singapore 545568
Website:kombirocks.com
Despite the surfeit of cafes in sunny Singapore, FIX keeps things different with their signature naanwiches, which are essentially wraps made with naan. Opened by the masterminds behind Cookyn Inc and GRUB, FIX offers a similar laid-back vibe to the latter, but in an alfresco-setting by the pool at HomeTeam NS-Jom@Balestier.
There’s something about FIX that makes it one of the most photogenic cafes in Singapore. I’m guessing it’s the vibrant colours of the food or the colourful crockery used. With the help of the natural lighting at FIX, it’s almost too easy to get a good picture here.
Address: 31 Ah Hood Road, Singapore 329979
Website:fix-cafe.com.sg
Necessary Provisions exudes a sense of nostalgia, perhaps due to its ulu location at Eng Kong Terrace. Get past the dark blinds and you’ll notice a small vintage toy car. Head on in and be greeted by a larger retro bicycle. Play around with the old school toys at the entrance then seat yourself somewhere close to its shelves, and snap away.
You’ve just been exposed to the more instagram-worthy spots of Necessary Provisions. Feel free though, to get creative with other angles at this neighbourhood spot.
Address: 21 Eng Kong Terrace, Singapore 598993
Website:necessaryprovisions.com
Once upon a time, Carpenter and Cook was the staple of my instagram feed. There was simply no escaping from their signature lemon meringue and vintage cups. If you fancy some freshly baked desserts amidst troves of vintage furniture – both of which are terribly photogenic, Carpenter and Cook is the cafe for you.
Apart from their cakes, they stock an impressive collection of vintage treasures, which is bound to let the collector in you go wild. Don’t forget to snap a picture of your shoes with their pretty tiles.
Address: 19 Lorong Kilat #01-06, Singapore 598120
Website:carpenterandcook.com
Home to some of the most gorgeous-looking bakes in town is Maple & Market. Just check out the creamy layers of cream sandwiched between stacks of cake – simply too much yum in a picture.
Long, wide tables make up majority of the space in the shop. If you’re looking for patterns, Maple & Market has a shelf of quirky party ware that’s photogenic as well.
Address: 34 Cassia Crescent #01-82, Singapore 390034
Website:mapleandmarket.com
Best known for their buttermilk waffles, Stranger’s Reunion is no stranger to beelines forming outside its entrance. Inside, the quaint cafe is slightly rustic with a subtle oriental charm thanks to its wooden furniture and giant woven rugs.
Apart from its photogenic waffles and cakes, the latte art here, done by co-founder and Asean Barista Champion of 2013, Ryan Tan, is nothing short of amazing too.
Address: 35 Kampong Bahru Rd, Singapore 169356
Facebook:facebook.com/StrangersReunion
Located at hipster enclave Haji Lane is rustic, indie cafe, Working Title. Unknown to many, Working Title also runs a traveller’s lodge in their shophouse. Most of their eclectic mix of furniture come from preloved stones while some of them are handmade from wooden planks, adding to its rustic charm.
What’s best here though is its rooftop. Head up there to catch the magnificent view of Kampong Glam in its full glory.
Address: 48 Arab St, Singapore 199745
Facebook:facebook.com/workingtitlesg
When I first saw Sin Lee Foods on my instagram feed, I brushed it off thinking it was a tze char stall. Lightly tapping the image revealed its tag, which enlightened me that it was another cafe playing the nostalgia card.
Previously occupied by a coffeeshop selling lor mee and prawn noodles, the owners of Sin Lee Foods chose to retain its name and signboard. Its decor was nothing short of old school too – gold calligraphed characters on a black dusty board. While you can snap a picture of its old school exterior, you can also be artistic and play around with your food presentation.
Address: 4 Jalan Bukit Ho Swee #01-164, Singapore 162004
Inspired by indie cafes in Japan, L’etoile Cafe is both a lifestyle store and a cafe housed in a two-storey shophouse at Owen Road. While the ground floor of the cafe looked pretty much like any other cafe, it’s the second storey that makes L’etoile Cafe different.
The eclectic mix of old and new furniture provided a laid-back vibe while the wall paintings and stickers added a touch of enchantment and whimsical to the cafe. L’etoile Cafe has also starred in many Channel 8 television programmes for its picturesque interiors.
Address: 160 Owen Rd, 218953
Website:letoile.com.sg
I’ve saved the absolute best for last and in my opinion, Chock Full of Beans wins this honour, hands down. I couldn’t get past Chock Full of Beans’ instagram page without going “aww” or “so cute”. The talented baristas have poured up dozens of 3D latte art including dragons for Chinese New Year and more recently, Halloween-related coffee art.
Can I get Pikachu in my latte, please?
Address: 4 Changi Village Rd, Singapore 500004
Facebook:facebook.com/cfob.changi
We hope you enjoyed reading this list as much as we did compiling them. If these photos got you raring to go on a cafe-hopping trip, don’t forget your phone and get ready to snap away.
Have we missed out any cafes that you think should be included in the list? Let us know in the comments below!
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