Unique kopi and toast breakfasts in Singapore
Image credit: @cknomnom
While the usual brunch of eggs benedict and pancakes is a great way to start the morning with, there are times we just strip it back old-school, and get some good ol’ traditional breakfast fare into our systems – that is, our classic kopi and toast with soft-boiled eggs combo.
Adding touches of creativity to classic dishes is something many eateries are doing nowadays, and it’s always interesting to see how we’ll be surprised. Lately, a few cafes have been churning out their own versions of our traditional kopitiam breakfast, so if you’ve been cracking your head over brunch choices, here are 10 places to pep up your week with local brekkie switch-ups!
1. Tachihara Coffee
Tachihara Coffee veers away from the usual local breakfast style – by putting a unique Japanese twist on it.
Image credit: @suann84
Their toast set consists of a cup of coffee, hard boiled egg sprinkled with bonito flakes, and toast – this costs $8 onwards, depending on the toast spread. Pick between honey and matcha spreads, and choose from plain bread, wholemeal bread, or a bun. If you just need a caffeine boost, individual cups of coffee are from $4.
Image credit: @hiro0281
Toast aside, they’ve also got pre-packed cakes in flavours like coffee and earl grey at $2.60 each – great for grabbing on-the-go.
Address: #01-6, Millenia Walk, 9 Raffles Boulevard, Singapore 039596
Opening Hours: 7.30AM-9.30PM, Daily
Telephone: 6265 4108
Website
2. Chiak
Veering away from kaya but still keeping their focus fairly local, the Chiak Toast Set ($5.50) offers new spread flavours like coffee butter with vanilla custard, black sesame with vanilla custard, and pandan kaya with butter or peanut butter. Each set comes with kopi/teh.
Black sesame & vanilla custard toast. Image credit: @chiaksg
All toasts are made with oatbran bread, so, health nuts – this will probably speak to you. Chiak is under Cedele, which is well-known for using healthier ingredients in their food, so you know you’re in good hands.
Image credit: @petitejer
Swiss rolls. Image credit: @chiaksg
Their sweet treats bear similar spreads too. Their swiss rolls are oozing with gula melaka custard, coffee butter, and black sesame cream – perfect for a midday snack! If you happen to be working in or around Mapletree Business City, here’s a super convenient location for you to grab a bite.
Note: the toast set is available only before 11.30am.
Grab their pastries and tidbits on the go! Image credit: @chiaksg
Address: #02-37, Mapletree Business City, 40 Pasir Panjang Road, Singapore 117383
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 8AM-8PM
Telephone: 6358 2313
Website
3. Keong Saik Bakery
One of the new eateries that have popped up along Keong Saik is Keong Saik Bakery. If you find yourself wanting a light breakfast or tea break, this place has a cute take on the traditional brekkie.
Image credit: @twistedl_o_g_i_c
Their All-Day Breakfast Set ($5) features a basket of 1 or 2 pastries, plus 2 soft-boiled eggs and a cup of coffee. Rather than having slices of white bread, you get to select your own choice of pastries from their row of displayed goodies for the day – look forward to items like Sardine Cheese or Oyster Mushroom buns. You’ll be missing toast no more once the aroma of their baked goodies hits your nose.
Image credit: @mysweetlittletooth
If you still have room in your tummy, go for their cakes! Made with local flavours in mind, the Pandan Cheesecake ($6.50) and Chendol Delight ($6.50) are among the favourites.
Address: 41 Keong Saik Road, Singapore 089146
Opening Hours: Tue – Sun: 8AM-8PM
Website
4. Kopi Alley
Kopi Alley is another coffeeshop taking a crack at shaking up the traditional toast we all know and love. They sell their toasts made 4 ways, so you might find yourself hard-pressed to choose between thick toast ($1.60), crackers ($1.40), or soft bun ($1.60), aside from the traditional kaya ($1.60).
Sweet potato toast. Image credit: @tiara_star
When you think you’re done once you’ve finally settled on the bread, there’s another mini dilemma – which spread? Funky choices available include sweet potato, yam, and cream cheese.
Chicken floss toast with gula melaka-laced kopi. Image credit: @food_foodie
Many customers also order their Chicken Floss with Special Mayo/Condensed Milk toast ($2.20), as well as heavier meals like Mee Siam ($3.50).
Address: #01-31, Mount Alvernia Hospital Block B, 820 Thomson Road, Singapore 574623
Opening Hours: Mon – Sat: 8AM-8PM, Sun: 8AM-5PM
Website
5. Chin Mee Chin Confectionery
Chin Mee Chin Confectionery will give you a dose of nostalgia for the old coffeeshops that used to dot the streets of Singapore – its decor is certainly redolent of those old-school tuckshops, with its patterned green floor tiles and marble-topped tables.
They serve their Traditional Breakfast set ($4) with buns instead of toast, with the soft rolls sliced into half, buttered, and spread with kaya.
Image credit: @msfoodslut
Image credit: @jieun_han
For more flavours that will cart you right back to the 1970s, have a go at their cream puffs and egg tarts – a house favourite.
Address: 204 East Coast Road, Singapore 428903
Opening Hours: Tues – Sun: 8.30AM-3.30PM
Telephone: 6345 0419
Website
6. The LoKal
Deconstructed food presentations are all the rage now, and it seems The LoKal is following suit. In their modern take of ah mah’s breakfast, their Kaya Toast Set ($4.95) features 4 soft, bite-sized bread triangles accompanied by pots of chilled kaya and butter – all laid atop a wooden paddle.
Image credit: @thian_wah
Completing the set is a sous-vide egg – an egg slow-cooked in a water bath – cooked at exactly 64 degrees celsius.
Toasted banana bread. Image credit: @jazreeltan
Part of their brunch menu, this is only served until 3.30pm, so make sure to grab a table early. The LoKal is also known for their general brunch fare like their Toasted Banana Bread ($16) and the DIY Pimp Your Breakfast, where you can put together your ideal brekkie – so don’t stinge when you’re here!
Address: 136 Neil Road, Singapore 088865
Opening Hours: Mon: 8AM-5PM, Tue – Fri: 8AM-10PM, Sat: 9AM-10PM, Sun: 9AM-4PM
Telephone: 6423 9918
Website
7. Good Morning Nanyang Cafe
Orange ciabatta toast. Image credit: @somsasiyada
Good Morning Nanyang Cafe’s most-loved breakfast order is their Orange Ciabatta Toast Set ($5.50). Rather than the usual thin slices of toast, you get thick, soft pieces of ciabatta bread and – get this – they’re baked with orange peel.
Image credit: @charleneazxy
That’s not to say that convention is totally thrown out of the window here. Kaya is still spread in between the toast layers, and served with soft-boiled eggs and kopi. For a more English touch, spice up your meal with an order of their English Scones – plain ($1.80) or raisin ($2.50). You can even get a plain ciabatta bread set for $5.10 too.
Image credit: @kc_koo
If you’re a traditionalist through and through, rest assured that they do have the usual Traditional Toast Set ($4.40). And if you’d like a more full-bodied breakfast, there are also dishes like Laksa ($5.50) and Nasi Lemak ($5.40) – all served with kopi.
Address: #02-23, Far East Plaza, 14 Scotts Road, Singapore 228213
Opening Hours: 8.30AM-8.30PM, Daily
Telephone: 9650 3256
Website
8. Ah Seng (Hai Nam) Coffee
If you’re one to judge a book by its cover, then you’ve probably been missing out on the mean local breakfast at Ah Seng (Hai Nam) Coffee, at Maxwell’s famed Amoy Street Food Centre.
Amoy Street Food Centre is always brimming with regular breakfast and lunch patrons, including the working crowd making a pitstop for some good kopi and toast – made French-style.
Traditional toast. Image credit: @j.rzzz
Basted in egg wash and toasted over a charcoal grill, Ah Seng’s toast is touted to have a delectable eggy texture with just the right amount of chewiness. Washed down with their flavourful kopi, this mash of flavours makes for a surprisingly winning combination.
Address: #02-95, Amoy Street Food Centre, 7 Maxwell Road, Singapore 069111
Opening Hours: 5.30AM-4PM, Daily
Telephone: 9710 2907
9. Tong Ah Eating House
Tong Ah Eating House very much retains its old-school coffeeshop aesthetic, while adopting a slight twist to their local breakfast with their French Toast with Kaya set ($6.20).
French Toast with kaya & butter, half-boiled eggs, & butter kopi. Image credit: @sg_wanderlust
Lightly toasted with a layer of egg, the bread served with a huge dollop of kaya on the side. There’s also an option for steamed bread, if you prefer something softer and fluffier.
French toast, traditional toast, and crispy thin toast. Image credit: @whywendywrites
You can still get your usual thin or crispy thin bread if you’d like, at $4.90. All sets come with the same old drink suspects – kopi, teh, milo, yuan yang – whatever’s your cup of tea.
Address: 35 Keong Saik Rd, Singapore 089142
Opening Hours: Mon – Tue, Thu – Sun: 7AM-10PM, Daily
Telephone: 6223 5083
Website
10. Coffee Break
Toast with black sesame spread. Image credit: @letsnomnom
We’ve seen tons of variations of toast spreads, but Coffee Break at Amoy Street Food Centre probably outweighs them by far – they have flavours like key lime, rum & raisin, earl grey, and matcha coconut! Priced at $3, each slice of toast comes with a slab of butter in between the layers.
Matcha coconut toast. Image credit: @coffeebreakamoy
Don’t leave without trying their kopi! A crowd favourite is the Sea Salt Caramel Latte ($3.80), with other flavours of caffeinated goodness being Almond, Taro Milk, Black Sesame, and Melon Milk.
Sea salt caramel kopi with earl grey toast. Image credit: @mikealbos
Address: #02-78, Amoy Street Food Centre, 7 Maxwell Road, Singapore 069111
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 7.30AM-2.30PM (Closed Saturdays & Sundays)
Telephone: 8100 6218
Website
Classic Singaporean breakfasts, with a twist
We Singaporeans have the art of reinventing and meshing flavours together down pat, and these yummy brekkies are the awesome result. So when your pals are at their wits end on which brunch place to hit next, suggest going local with these spots and amaze them with all these places you have up your sleeve!