If you’ve ever been in town or the CBD during lunch or evenings, you’ll know it’s a true people mountain, people sea situation. The throngs of zombies people might resign you to the fate of noisy chaos as you camp at cafes, trying valiantly to get some work done or hash out the finer points of that business meeting.
Yet, if you know where to look, there are actually pockets of quiet in town or the CBD that are also near to the MRT. So, the next time you have a client meeting, or are looking for a tranquil place to chill out, this list could be your saviour.
The Coffee Academics is tucked in a quiet corner of Scotts Square, and it’s packed with eclectic accents that add a distinct character – like Chinese calligraphy and neon signages that read “You Are Exactly Where You Need To Be” #inspirationalquotes.
But besides the gorgeous environment, we adore the expansive space. It’s a whopping 3000 square feet, so you’d be sure to find a place to camp out as you work on that proposal.
Recline on cushy sofas tucked away in a corner or perch upon a showpiece-worthy ledge area, with coffee paraphernalia dotted all around in golden hues.
Wifi: Yes
Minutes from MRT: 9 min walk to Orchard
The Coffee Academics at Scotts Square
Address: 6 Scotts Rd, #02-01/02, Singapore 228209
Opening Hours: Daily, 9AM-9PM
Telephone: 6538 1940
Website
Tucked away at the end of OUE Downtown Gallery, Lunar Coffee Brewers is just the place to head to if you need absolute tranquillity to work.
This moon-themed cafe with minimalist vibes is an Instagrammer’s dream, with ombre walls, glassy marble tables and strategically placed plants evoking Kinfolk vibes.
We recommend sitting by the window to enjoy the influx of natural light, and ordering a dessert or two to sweeten the experience. Try the earl grey soft serve with feuilletine flakes ($5.90) – the aromatic earl grey shines through and pairs with the crispy flakes for a divine mouthful.
Wifi: Yes
Minutes from MRT: 5 min walk to Tanjong Pagar
Lunar Coffee Brewers
Address: 6A Shenton Way #01-49, Downtown Gallery, Singapore 068815
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri: 8am-8pm | Sat: 9am-3pm
Telephone: 6224 4500
Website
Even if you can’t tell your BTS from your EXO, the Dal.komm Coffee cafe at Orchard Centrepoint is still worth hitting up for your next mugging sesh or work meeting.
The audio-themed cafe from Korea is sprawling, yet still manages to evoke a cosy ambience with its luxe leather seats, rich wooden tables and chic industrial accents.
It’s not all about the aesthetics, too, there’s also a multitude of power plugs all around the cafe.
And here, you won’t order a drink merely for the sake of staying. The menu offers comforting faves like sweet potato latte ($7, best served hot!) and non-caffeinated options like lavender lemonade ($8) for a midday pick me up.
Wifi: Yes, with purchase of drinks
Minutes from MRT: 4 min walk to Somerset
Dal.komm Coffee @ The Centrepoint
Address: The Centrepoint, #01-01/06 and #01-102/103
Opening Hours: Daily, 9AM-10PM
Website
If you’re looking for something more upscale to bring your clients, head over to Japanese cafe Watanabe Coffee, which impresses with its sophisticated warehouse vibe.
Another thing that impresses? The selection of desserts which you can nibble on as you work or conduct meetings. We ordered the Hokkaido Pancake, a sweet red bean confection that’ll make a solid impression with its classy presentation and decent portions. Psst..it’s affordable, too, at just $6.80.
Wifi: Yes
Minutes from MRT: 9 min walk to Orchard
Watanabe Coffee @ Shaw House
Address: 350 Orchard Road Shaw House, #01-00 Isetan Scotts, Singapore 238868
Opening Hours: Sun – Thurs: 8.30AM-10PM | Fri & Sat: 8.30AM-11PM
Telephone: 6235 0608
Website
This cycling-themed cafe is very spacious and airy, with its name emblazoned on the ceiling and a generous amount of wooden tables and sofas that’s suitable for large groups.
We spotted more than a few souls hard at work near the high stools – and the free Wifi is a definite plus. If you’re peckish, you can grab yourself a DIY rice bowl (from $12) where you can choose from a variety of proteins (go for the pulled pork!), carbs, sides and dressing.
Wifi: Yes
Minutes from MRT: 4 min walk to Tanjong Pagar
The Autobus @ Downtown Gallery
Address: 6A Shenton Way, #01-01 Downtown Gallery, Singapore 068815
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri: 8AM-9PM | Sat: 8AM-3PM
Telephone: 6909 3406
Lots of light wood, gold accents and baby’s breath dominate this spacious, airy café along Telok Ayer.
The staff here are welcoming of business meetings – we spotted a whole group in a serious discussion – and free seamless WiFi definitely helps. The jazzy music was a soothing backdrop for high-concentration work, too.
Choose from specially sourced fast or slow brew or some chai latte, hot chocolate or yuzu tea here – all from an affordable $6 to perk you up if concentration dips.
Wifi: Yes. Strong connection.
Minutes from MRT: 3 min walk to Telok Ayer
Common Man Stan
Address: 11 Stanley St, Singapore 068730 Stanley St, Singapore 068730
Opening Hours: Sat-Wed: 7.30AM-6PM | Thu – Fri: 7.30AM-10PM
Telephone: 6877 4855
Website
To impress your hip client or get uptight ones in the frame of mind to accept your award-winning pitch, Free The Robot is your go-to.
Quirky on the outside, and cosy on the inside with mood lighting, this eclectic café impresses with an indie playlist, rustic brick walls and of course, murals of robots on burnished walls.
Bonus points for chill staff: I arrived at 5.30pm and they hardly nagged me to order. I was guilty – in part because of a dog mural that said “Freeloader” beside me, which is actually an illustration of cafe “mascot” doggo Baileys who visits periodically.
In the end, I ordered a Robo One Vanilla Latte ($6) and Truffle Fries ($5), both of which are easy items to eat without looking a mess in front of your clients/date/friends.
Note: The place transforms into a bar, Bitters And Love, at 6pm!
Wifi: Yes
Minutes from MRT: 1 min walk to Telok Ayer
Free The Robot
Address: 118 Telok Ayer St, Singapore 068587
Opening Hours: Tue-Sat: 8.30 PM – 4.30PM
Telephone: 6438 1836
Website
H.O.T is smack in the heart of the CBD, making it convenient for even the most time-pressed professional to drop by if they work in the area. And the light bites like panini ($10) and croissants ($6) are your tickets to lounging for ages in this industrial-themed café.
The space might be compact, but nothing beats the full-length glass panel views at the high seats – so you can daydream as you wait for a late client or when you’re bored with your proposal.
Wifi: Yes
Minutes from MRT: 2 min walk to Telok Ayer
H.O.T (The House Of Taste) @ CapitaGreen
Address: 138 #01-04 Market Street, CapitaGreen, Singapore 048946
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri: 7AM-9PM
Telephone: 6384 0866
Website
Dimbulah Coffee is a name familiar to many, with its many branches sprouting all over the island. But make your way to this one outside CapitaGreen. It’s off the main CBD streets and is just quiet enough for you to get a fruitful work discussion going.
Plus, you can’t go wrong with the brew – fine Australian coffee that’s sourced from the brand’s own mountain plantation. But, we recommend ordering a bagel or two to sate any hunger pangs. These come in flavours such as sesame, blueberry and cinnamon for just $3.80.
Wifi: Yes. Strong connection.
Minutes from MRT: 3 min walk to Telok Ayer
Dimbulah 137 Market Street
Address: 137 Market St, Singapore 048943
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri: 7AM-7PM
Contact: admin@dimbulahcoffee.com
Website
When you’re out and about conquering the world, a solid laptop is your trusty sidekick.
And our new buddy was from Dell’s new Inspiron series – the Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1, which was light enough to carry around the entire day, yet weighty enough to feel solid.
Just look at it – it oozes sophistication with a dark hue and polished touch-and-feel. Typing was also an utter joy with the com’s lightning-fast responsiveness and so was catching a break watching videos with its 4K Ultra HD Screen (for Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1, Black edition).
We’re also digging the convertible function – from table to tablet – and you can even use a stylus with it.
And if you prefer conventional clamshell laptops, the Inspiron 13 7000 also comes in sleek pink and silver.
But if you prefer slightly larger screens (14”) and are on a tighter budget, opt for the Inspiron 14 5000. Besides the series’ Cinema Ready quality, Dell’s Dell Mobile Connect software gives you the option to channel notifs from your texts, DMs and other apps straight to your laptop without the trouble that is Whatsapp Web or Telegram.
There’s also the 14 5000 2-in-1, which promises the same ready performance in convertible form.
We all know the horror of finally finishing that proposal, then having the screen freeze and die – probably because some virus overcame the system.
Have no fear, McAfee® LiveSafe™ is here! And don’t dismiss it as a programme that’s just nice to have. It’ll protect your laptop from attacks, enhance performance and even keep sensitive files encrypted – so…sounds pretty necessary.
You’ll also be able to manage all your devices and even passwords from an easy-to-use webpage. +100 points for the tech noobs out there. So, we are pretty gleeful that this is pre-installed with all the above Dell laptops.
Dell’s new Inspiron line is available at Dell Exclusive stores at Plaza Singapura #04-19 or at other authorised resellers.
This post was brought to you by Dell.
Photography by Huy Pham.
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