The best cafés in the CBD for a quick caffeine fix

Tampering their first grind in June, Snap Cafe is the latest addition to the list of CBD cafes. Adjacent to Amoy Street Food Centre, the minimalist coffee spot serves up Korean-inspired bakes to pair with their cuppas. The in-house roasted blend (from $4.50) is made up by combining full-bodied Brazillian beans and a light roast from Rwanda – resulting in a medium-bodied pour that drinks fruiter. Other specials include the refreshing iced orange espresso and creamy pistachio espresso latte that is redolent with delightful flavours of the happy nut. All bakes on display are homemade and feature a creative range of flavours – think hotteok sticky roll, black sesame cheesecake crumble, matcha injeolmi canele and yuzu roll. Hearty sourdough toasties are also available for the time-pressed to refuel.

Ceres Haus finds a nest on a second-floor shophouse on Circular Road. This hidden haven runs an all-day program: cafe by day; wine bar by night. Simply look out for an empty wine bottle hanging by the unassuming entrance and make your way up to a plywood door. What is an absolute contrast from the energetic Circular Road transports you to a calm and safe space. During the day, the coffee menu is pretty minimalist with espresso-based drinks going from $4 and fresh bakes priced from $5. The madeleines ($6) are baked upon order, a conscious decision made by owners Sarah and Aloysius to channel their efforts into the finer details in simplicity. Once nightfall, the lights are dimmed and the vibe turns amorous with natural wines available by the glass (from $16).

Deadfall, known as the first-level grub hub of Barbary Coast, is now serving up a different kind of shot at 9 in the morning. Dubbed the Deadfall Coffee Bar, this not-so-secret joint sees bossman Callahan swap jiggers for tampers where they sling out espresso-based drinks. Nothing like a hearty breakfast grub to kickstart your day – eggs (from $16), stacked sandwiches (from $15), and salads (from $22). As usual, all sorts of people, pirates and pooches are welcomed here – and if you’re lucky, you might even spot Callahan’s puppy frolicking by the bar. Her name is Nugget and she's reason enough to visit.

This 15-seater hole-in-a-wall sits like an unassuming crevasse in Far East Square. But instead of stumbling into an ice-cold glacier, you’re much more likely to be greeted by the warmth from congenial baristas and the comforting aromas of coffee beans. Those looking for a simple caffeine fix can settle with the house coffee beans (from $4.20) which are a blend of darker roast beans from Brazil and India. Yearning for a friendlier pour for the camera? Go with the signature creamu (from $6.90) – a whimsical riff on the trendy Einspanner coffee. There are also quirky alternatives of wine-inspired tea blends (from $6) while freshly baked croffles ($5) will suffice as light bites to keep you going for the rest of the day.

New on the hill, Cloud Coffee is a dreamy coffee spot by the folks behind Equate Coffee. Albeit tailored for urban dwellers, Cloud Coffee doesn't just look pretty for pictures. For coffee, prices begin from $3 for a shot of house espresso using beans from Minas, Brazil – widely known to be pleasantly balanced with notes of cherry. There are also filter coffees that will be rotated on a monthly basis. But don’t leave without trying the fresh bakes made in-house that change on a monthly basis. We enjoyed the fingerlings of moist lychee financier ($3) and a slab of surprisingly fluffy fudge-drizzled chocolate brownie ($6). Other treats on display include banana bread, cakes and cookies.

This Melbourne-inspired sandwich shop debuts right in the heart of Raffles Place. Designed to offer a quick respite for busy hustlers, eight fully-loaded sandwiches (from $18) are featured in the lineup. In need of coffee? Pair your sarnies with aromatic brews using exclusive beans from ONA coffee, a popular Australian-specialty coffee roaster. At the mini grocer section, you can also find a variety of nutritious salad bowls – from a hearty grilled chicken pesto potato salad ($16) to a refreshing light avo and fruit salad ($15) – perfect for those who are time-pressed and still crave a tasty nutritiously balanced meal. 

Café in the front, cocktail bar at the back. Stay Gold Flamingo is a dual-concept space that serves up a different experience depending on where you choose to be seated. Step into the sun-drenched Flamingo, and look forward to a cheery spread of citron tart ($8), pistachio macaroon ($8), and shiso chicken sandwich ($12). The bean juice sees a lighter roast with fruitier profiles and starts from just $4 for a pop of double espresso. Otherwise, try creative coffee-based concoctions such as the bubbly Coffee & Sparkling Coconut ($8). But if you’re not opposed to a little day drinking, sip on a dainty-looking espresso martini ($19) while also sorting out your caffeine fix.

Don't be fooled by first appearances, Maxi Coffee Bar is small – and for a reason. The popular coffee joint has always kept it cosy to encourage a sense of community among the customers. Nestled at the intersection of Club Street and Ann Siang Hill, the spot is a favourite for those in the area looking for their caffeine fix, and its selection does not disappoint. Besides the regular mainstays (from $4), Maxi Coffee Bar is also known for its Cereal Milk Latte ($7.50). Menu-wise, look out for the toast bar where grilled cheese sammies are a hit with its customers.

Carrotsticks and Cravings is your calming tropical escape among the sprawling towers and office buildings in the busy city. Apart from the usual cuppa, the bar counter also blends up a range of nourishing smoothies and juices. Protein Wake Up Call ($12) will kickstart the day with its energising blend of vegan protein powder and espresso, reach out for the immunity-boosting green juice ($12.50), a vibrant elixir made with fresh spirulina, celery, green apple, and lemon. For the hungry, expect to fuel up with brunch staples such as the signature smashed avo ($18), shakshouka ($18), or even the hearty dukkah salmon ($28) grain bowl.

If you’re a fan of laid-back, Aussie-style café nosh, check out Sarnies. First things first, the Sarnies’ cuppas have made it to Lonely Planet’s list of best coffees. Drink from an exhaustive list of brews including flat whites, macchiatos and mochas. Top it off with rustic ’wiches like roast chicken with house-cured bacon ($15) and tuna mayo with bell pepper, onions and coriander ($14.50). For heartier fare, check out its evening and weekend brunch menus, brimming with sinful options like truffle mash in bacon ($13) and churros with salted caramel sauce ($10).

Café by day and cocktail bar by night, this outfit serves up brunch-style meals for the working crowd. Get some of the most affordable truffle fries around for only $5 a basket, and pair your meals with a cuppa or a glass of cold-pressed juice. We enjoyed the Free The Robot signature ($6.50) where organic coconut oil is added to an aromatic cup of white. Said to harness healthy antioxidants that help take off the edge from the corporate rat race, we think the addition of coconut oil lends more of a smoothness to each sip than anything else. It is a great place to recharge especially if you had a tough start to the morning.

Finding wholesome food in the CBD isn’t difficult at all, but Grain Traders is holding on to a winning ticket built on tasty veggies, premium meats and a wealth of grain options. Complimenting the grains is a coffee stand, set up in partnership with Papa Palheta, that delivers caffeine in espresso drinks ($4-$5.50), cold brews ($7-$7.50) and hand-poured doses ($6). The high-ceilinged space bears the good looks of a sun-kissed Aussie café and Mexico-style washed pastels, cleverly worked into a chilled-out respite.

It's hard to miss this glasshouse of a cafe on the Raffles Place lawn. The wafting scent of freshly roasted beans is bound to awaken the senses as the popular joint is frequented by busy professionals for coffee chats. Looking to fuel up? Aside from standard-issue brunch items, choose from a menu of contemporary plates such as their Ricotta pancakes ($18.50) and Spanish baked eggs ($18.50) to hearty meat-stacked sandwiches (from $17.50).

There's local roasting outfit 2Degrees North Coffee Co, known for training its barista team well enough to offer suggestions on the ideal milk-to-espresso ratio for the three signature blends of coffee ($4.50-$5.50) and single-origins ($6-$6.50). Fuel comes in the form of rice and grain bowls ($18.50-$24) – come topped with all manner of vegetables and meats like pulled pork, teriyaki salmon and truffle-scented seared wagyu – that are Instagram favourites that taste as hearty as they photograph.

Near-unbeatable coffee and an all-day breakfast menu unlike any other elevate this 1920s Art Deco-inspired Five Senses/40 Hands/Spa Esprit Group mash-up to greatness. The frenetic eight-metre-long bar crawls with all creeds of coffee devotees rhapsodising about the rotating range of single-origin brews, but it’s the uncommonly good brunch classics done with a twist that we can’t get enough of – the Common Man Full Breakfast ($27) sees back bacon, tomatoes, sausages, rosti and scrambled eggs on toast topped with housemade chorizo baked beans, portobello mushrooms and sour cream laced with mint

This tiny coffee outpost sits around the fringes of the CBD and single-handedly turned Everton Park into a hip neighbourhood. At this baristas' hangout, coffees are simple black or white affairs, in 3-, 5- and 7-ounce measures. And its staple Four Chairs Seasonal Blend is a common sight across cafés around town. Nylon's roasts also made it on The New Black's curation of top-notch coffees from around the world, and the pair takes yearly trips to bean-growing regions like El Salvador, Nicaragua, Colombia and Costa Rica to get up close with the product – that's dedication right there.

Before the night time shenanigans of The Spiffy Dapper kicks in, 73 Amoy Street is a cosy, romantically lit coffee spot. The experimental drinks here are the result of creative thought by Dapper co-owner Abhishek Cherian George and head chef Christine Seah, but if it's a straight espresso you're hankering after, their functional espresso-based drinks are brewed with their punchy house blend. 

Snug like a living room, Book Café's long been the local go-to for a quiet catch-up on a book you've been wanting to complete, or a comfy spot to bang out a quick bit of work. The free wifi and printer accessible to customers certainly help. And if you're not looking to go far for sustenance, look to their extensive menu, with all-day breakfast options like bacon-stacked pancakes ($12.95) and eggs Benedicts ($16.95) to pick from. And for those beauty-conscious patrons, choose a pot of good-for-your-skin tea, which includes flavours like orchid vanilla, white ginger pear and the antioxidant-packed African solstice ($8.50/pot).

Located on the ground floor of what used to be the Telok Ayer Chung Hwa Free Clinic, My Awesome Café takes the retrospective-looking trend aesthetic and knocks it out of the ballpark with equal parts knack for sourcing and creative ingenuity. On the munch front, expect baked bread and treats ($3-$8) in the morning, an array of sandwiches ($14-$20) and salads ($15-$21) at lunch. Aside from barista-pulled coffee ($4-$6), the bar also stocks cane sugar, Mexico-made coca cola ($5), and freshly squeezed orange juice ($6) for those looking to beat the heat.

Like its sister cafés Ronin and The Plain, PUNCH appeals to your senses even before the food arrives. Its interiors of mostly white furniture with dashes of marble and wood are built for Instagram, while the open courtyard at the back of house offers a boost of Vitamin D, wooden benches, greenery and a glimpse into the kitchen. That is, if you can even find the opaque glass door of this signboard-less café. Skip the café-standard breakfast offerings of poached eggs with avocado ($17) and pick from the lunch menu, which boasts a – dare we say it – punchier line-up. And a bowl of antioxidant fruit salad ($15), brings the vegans into the yard, too.