11 best cafés on Orchard Road

Equate Coffee presents a continuation of its highly conceptual coffee shop in Orchard Central featuring uprooted trees in contrast to its highly popular cave-inspired outlet in Tanjong Pagar. The Solid Gold house blend makes a permanent appearance on the menu showcasing the unique blend of beans sourced from Brazil and Sumatra, produced in a roastery in Malaysia. Other options on the drinks menu include two types of single-origin filter coffee, iced chocolate and tea. Pastry lovers rejoice – the in-house bakes aren't just limited to the mount ondeh and signatures caneles. The new outlet promises a ramp-up in artisanal bakes and flaky croissants made from French butter and a multitude of flavours to treat.

This Melbourne-based artisan coffeehouse brews up well-made, sustainably-produced cups of Joe. The cosy space in Basement 1 of ION Orchard comfortably seats 20. There you'll sip on well-loved signatures of the Instagram-friendly Biscoff Latte ($6.50) and Black Sesame Latte ($6). But for something that you can't get even in Melbourne, go for the Singapore-exclusive Sweet Potato Latte ($6.50). For staunch Puzzle Coffee regulars, the Magic ($6) is the secret favourite pick. For a top-up of $3, you can do your part for the environment and have a tasty snack at the same time with edible cups – biodegradable cups made from oats and grains.

Far from the glitz and glamour of Orchard Road's main shopping belt, The Community Coffee is quietly and steadily serving up great cuppas of drip coffees and espresso-based brews – a perfect break from the shopping crowds. Beans are sourced from small, sustainable farms in Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia and Peru, and expertly roasted by a team of experts and coffee enthusiasts. If you want to bring a taste of the coffee home, they also have an online shop where you can get specialty coffee beans and grounds.

Hailing from Hong Kong, this minimalist coffee joint has been quietly brewing cups in the midst of a bustling Takashimaya. With only a couple of seats available (less than 15), your best bet is to take your cuppas away and not stick around for long during peak hours. Here, espresso-based drinks spotlight the house blend of Ethiopian and Colombian beans while single-origin options (from Ethiopia, Kenya, Peru and Rwanda) remain available.

Let's be real, besides the well-loved Community Coffee, Far East Plaza isn't the first place that comes to mind when you're seeking a proper cup of joe. But newcomer Piccolo by Hei Kim might give those a run for their money. The concrete-clad coffee joint delivers a rather fuss-free experience with a space fitted with vintage kopitiam furnishings contrasted with a neon-lit signboard. While there are usual suspects of black and white (from $3.50) espresso-based drinks, the joint offers unique concoctions such as decadent ice black sesame latte ($7) and photogenic iced strawberry latte ($7) for variety. Bakes are homemade and proudly displayed on the long bar counter. Expect to satiate your sweet tooth cravings with a rotating assortment: think honeyed layer cake, black sesame matcha cake and burnt cheesecake.

Enter on the first floor and be greeted by black and white calligraphic elements that immediately whisk you away to Jiangnan Watertown. Head to the café for some quiet reading time with a hot cuppa – they have a variety of coffee blends, Chinese Chu tea and Taiwan tea on the menu. Besides the usual espresso-based cuppas, try the unique blends of matcha espresso ($7.50), purple sweet potato latte ($7.50) and vanilla latte ($6.50). There are also cakes to sort out any sweet cravings while you get lost in literary.

This chic little cafe is tucked away inside popular homegrown fashion brand The Editor’s Market's new flagship store at Takashimaya Shopping Centre. Caffeine lovers are treated to espresso-based drinks (Black $4.50, White $5.50), or if you wish to order a fancy beverage, opt for the Coconut Blue Pea Dirty ($7). The stylish joint also serves up pastries, desserts and an assortment of loaves, such as the black truffle pie ($9.50), spam & potato sourdough ($6) or black garlic sourdough ($5.50). For sweets, try the matcha layered cake ($8), coconut loaf ($5.50) or earl grey lavender loaf ($5.50).

Complete with all-white furnishings and floor-to-ceiling windows that allow plenty of natural light to come through, Glyph is decked out in a minimalist palette. If you’re a fan of this aesthetic, come by this cafe-roastery for coffee and light bites, then proceed to take heaps of ‘grammable pictures of yourself or your food within its clean and sleek space. Offering a small menu of beverages, coffees are priced at $4.50 for black, $5.50 for white and $6 for a cold brew while teas start from $6. Coffee with rotating filters brought in from different countries is available too, and bakes, on the other hand, are supplied daily from Carpenter & Cook to ensure freshness.

Sipping on your brews here just hits different – a sense of place transports you to the majestic Dar el Bacha palace. The grand coffee house takes notes from the palatial grounds' vibrant warm hues, black and white chequered tile floors and intricate zellige mosaics that ooze understated elegance. Take your pick from four categories of coffee: single origin, fine blended, fine flavoured and carbon dioxide decaffeinated coffee from Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Asia and beyond. Once you managed a seat, sit back and enjoy a pot of coffee (from $9) with a serving of whipped Chantilly cream, steamed milk (or soy milk), raw sugar and cracked vanilla beans with a couple of croissants ($8 for two). And if you like what you had, consider purchasing the loose beans to brew at home.

This fairly new joint is perfect for refuelling between sets of frivolous shopping splurges. The MSG-free menu is made up of fresh, full-flavoured dishes with a touch of trademark Mala heat, but in small doses. The King’s Chicken Benedict Hash turns the usual boring eggs benny on its head with the inclusion of kung bao chicken and the crunch of peppercorns and cashews, while the Cured Sausage Shakshuka adds a spicy mala pork sausage to the mix, making this Mediterranean favourite a more well-rounded order. Coffee options here are fancy but there's nothing like a midday quencher like the citrus coffee cube latte bursting with refreshing notes of passionfruit and oranges.

One of the OG brunch spots in Orchard is still steady serving up signature dishes that are inspired by European, English, and Tunisian flavours. Unwind in the Brooklyn industrial loft-style space and plush sofas or sit along the communal dinner table made from reclaimed oak. There are also homemade tarts, jams and yoghurts for lighter bites to pair with crafted beverages made with fresh juices, cordials and, of course, wild honey. The cafe is also ever-evolving by offering alternative options (vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free) such as the Californian made with eggplant bacon, a vegetarian Reuben sandwich and a spicy grain gluten-free Korean salad.