The best cafés in Lavender and Jalan Besar

Sometimes, it's better to keep things simple. Lucid's interiors of grey and white – with its milky countertops, concrete floor and metallic accents – make for an Instagrammable spot. Pull up and settle down in an industrial-looking, matte-grey chair. Espresso-based drinks starts from $4, and there are choices of tea (from $5.80) – genmaicha, hojicha, and others – from local teahouse Hvala as well. Grab a cuppa for your caffeine fix, and dig into toasts topped with prosciutto ($16), avocado ($14), and more. 

Co-founded by ex-Bakery Brera and Keong Saik Bakery pastry chef Wythe Ng, La Levain is a cafe and bakery that is just a short five-minute walk from Bendemeer MRT station. Expect rows of freshly baked viennoiseries and a whimsical plethora of sweets, among other options like brunch fare and specially curated coffee. Bakes here are prepared fresh daily, using quality ingredients such as French butter and flour, and Japanese chocolates.

Definitely go for the chef’s signature Kouign Amann sprinkled with Himalayan sea salt, classic pain au chocolat and Burnt Cheese Croissant. There are also trendy cruffins made available in five different flavours including pistachio salted caramel, refreshing citrus and fan-favourite matcha.

It's yet another Scandi-inspired café, but newly-opened Kaeden in Aperia Mall does it with bicycle-themed decor. In terms of the menu, they dole out regular eggs Benny (from $20) and smashed avo toast ($15), but they do also step it up with more unique dishes. Give the mochi waffles ($17) a try, for its chewy but perfectly crisp texture – it comes with banana foster and a scoop of pandan ice cream. 

From the minimal interiors to the straightforward menu, Brawn & Brains’ unpretentiousness oozes an infectious quality. There’s no fancy latte art or overthought, intricate brunch menu to be had – just good, lovingly-brewed coffee using house-roasted beans (an espresso is $4) and classic, hearty brunch staples such as oven-baked molten eggs with smoked salmon, avocado, and melted cheese ($16.90), and a beef pastrami sandwich ($16.90).

At Oberstrasse, the main fanfare gathers around coffee and rosti – rightfully so because who doesn't like potatoes? Here, the carb stacks arrive with a nice charred crust and soft fluffy insides. The accompaniments are also highly customisable: keep it classic with sour cream and a fried egg; go hearty with bratwurst and scrambled eggs; or even luxuriate over the decadence of eggs benny. Other brunch-inspired dishes include the comforting shakshouka, pasta and burgers. House coffee runs a standard dark roast while the barista ensures that one seasonal alternative is always featured on the line-up at any single time.

If there’s one thing that Singaporeans love besides a solid dessert café, it’s late-night joints that open till 2am. At halal joint Lola Faye, you can satiate your midnight sweet tooth cravings with their range of waffles. Choose from the likes of a buttermilk Belgian waffle ($6) or charcoal black waffles ($7) – both pair perfectly with a scoop of gelato. They also have an interesting gelato croissant ($9.80). 

Buah keluak is a common ingredient found in Nonya recipes. But over at Asylum Coffeehouse, the flavours of the poisonous nut comes reimagined used to brew up cups of joe instead. The café takes cues from its location, on the first floor of a Peranakan shophouse at Jalan Besar. Enter the white-clad space, and sip on espresso-based drinks made using the house-special four-bean Keluak blend. Its full-bodied notes of nuttiness and chocolate are best brought out in a mocha ($6) to yield a rich, bold cuppa. 

As Japanese concept Haus217 is simultaneously a pop-up café and event venue, they only open on days that aren't booked for events – do check in directly with them before heading down. It’s worth the venture in any case, just to try the bakes and specialty coffee. Certain flavours are seasonal, but they’ve had cakes like matcha rolls, earl grey pound cake, and lychee cream cake in the past.

While Antea Social's range is simple – they mostly offer flavoured Oolongs – the process behind the making of each batch is careful and arduous. Their tea leaves are sourced directly from the producer whenever possible, and baked with essential oils on a separate tray for 12 hours. Currently, the Oolong range includes flavours like rose, vanilla, mint, peach and more ($10 each).

Retreat into the cottage-like Jalan Besar flagship for sweet treats and Pinterest-worthy tiered cakes. Butter Studio’s also a whiz at matching trendy ingredients. Milo and Speculoos? Check. Salted caramel and red velvet? Yes please. A slice goes for $7.90, with the option to add ice cream at $4 a scoop, and cupcakes start at $3.50 a pop. And if you must pad your stomach with savouries before the sweet, pick from the menu of standards like eggs Benny ($15), turkey bacon melt French toast ($13), and sausage lover’s platter ($16), available at lunch and late into dinnertime.

With a name like The Tiramisu Hero, it's fairly obvious that the headlining dish here is... the tiramisu. This rum-soaked dessert comes in small mason jars, starting from $7.50. The original tiramisu is traditionally Italian, but they do also offer other flavours like kaya and hojicha. Besides tiramisu, this joint also does a range of savoury brunch items, from salted egg mac and cheese ($19.90) to squid ink pasta in lobster bisque ($23.80).

Once located along Upper Thomson Road, Habitat Coffee has since shifted to King George's Avenue. The café serves all-day breakfast options including a slow-cooked pulled pork Benedict ($18) and a stuffed berries hotcake ($17). End your meal with a cup of roasted gourmet coffee, or get a bottled cold brew.

Follow the hipster past the huge covered metal gates and you’ll find Chye Seng Huat’s semi-secret (well, not so much anymore) compound in the Jalan Besar industrial zone. Headquarters of Third Wave coffee pioneers Papa Palheta, the two-storey coffee complex hides a coffee school and retail space on the second floor, while a full inventory of coffee gear dominates its ground floor café.

What started out as a small stall in NTU is now a humble bakery that creates picture-worthy pies. While you can pick up a whole pie starting from $47, it's the mini pies that you'll be craving for a mid-day snack. Try the earl grey rose or yuzu meringue – whichever it is, the main draw is the buttery, crumbly base, reminscent of a shortbread cookie.