The best pancakes in Singapore you can have at any time of day

Many frequent this CBD café for their grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup, but they also do a highly coveted serve of earl grey pancakes ($21). This tea-infused triple stack comes with poached pear and white chocolate macadamia crumble. Some even claim that these pancakes bear a resemblance to earl grey milk tea, with its strong tea fragrance and subtly sweet flavours.

Yes, this is another chain from Japan, but unlike its counterparts, Belle-Ville's speciality does not lie in soufflé pancakes. Rather, it's known for its "mille feuille pancakes" – layers of light meringue pancakes made from scratch with Japanese wheat flour, milk and Hokkaido cream. Diners can opt for the original (four for $7.90, eight for $11.90), or go for the more colourful and Insta-worthy options like the strawberry and mixed berries (two for $11.90, four for $14.40) and the grilled apple with homemade caramel (four for $12.20, eight for $16.20). As the saying goes, the more the merrier – and in this case, it definitely applies to pancakes.

Typically, sweet pancakes are the star of the show with ingredients like a compote, chocolate chips, or fresh fruits. At Pancake & Waffle Place along Kandahar Street though, they take equal pride in their savoury renditions. Try the Salmon Royale ($22.90) that comes with smoked salmon, guac, and poached eggs, or the Lemak Duck ($18.90) that’s topped with a coconut milk-laden chilli padi sauce. This Muslim-owned pancake joint does a series of sweets too though, from classics like the blueberry cream cheese pancakes ($20.90) to a cempedak (jackfruit) creme brulee stack ($17.90). 

Famous Japanese soufflé pancake specialist, Flipper’s, opens its first outlet in Singapore. It’s best known for its kiseki, or miracle pancake – stacks so fluffy and pillow-soft that it’s almost unbelievable. On the menu is a tight selection of six variants, each prepped fresh in the open kitchen upon order. Equally popular is the pancake stacks that come paired with bittersweet matcha ($19.80). 

This 40-seat space, decked out in millennial pink tabletops, serves up wobbly pancakes with honey butter, maple syrup, and chantilly cream for just $8.80. Bubble tea lovers can also try the oolong boba soufflé pancake ($9.80) with gula Melaka boba and oolong crème anglaise, while other 'grammable versions include the strawberry cheese ($12.80), hazelnut chocolate ($13.80), and mango passion fruit ($14.80).

Direct from Osaka is Gram Café & Pancakes, which has attracted snaking queues in Japan from those eager to get a taste of its soufflé pancakes. Its signature item, the premium pancakes ($17.90), is a towering stack that is three layers thick. Gram Café also prides itself on making its butter, sauces and whipped cream in-house, and if you miss their premium pancakes, don’t be disheartened. 

Tiong Bahru Bakery has more than just flaky croissants. Its latest all-day dining concept, Tiong Bahru Bakery Diner, serves up familiar brunch classics too. Its Fluffy Brown Butter Pancake ($21) come topped with Thai mangoes, lemongrass chantilly, caramelised almonds, and a drizzle of salted butter caramel sauce. But if you prefer something savoury get the pancakes with grilled bacon, a sunny side up, goji berries, ricotta cheese, and maple syrup ($23).

This Baker & Cook outlet off Loewen Road in the lush Dempsey precinct is located in a bright glasshouse with garden views. Beyond highlights like the Peter Gordon's Turkish Eggs ($20) and other brunch favourites, you'll want to save some space for the Dutch baby pancake ($22), which is topped with earl grey poached pear, berries, maple yoghurt and lemon curd. 

For a unique twist to the popular Japanese souffle pancakes, Granny’s Pancakes is a serious throwback – bringing us back to affordable min jiang kueh, a local spongy pancake that’s typically filled with local ingredients. It’s commonly filled with toasted peanuts, coconut flesh, and red bean paste. They've got several outlets, with their more frequented stalls in Hong Lim Market & Food Centre and Ghim Moh Road Market. 

Earlybird stands out – not just for being one of the few savoury options on the list, but for how good its chicken and pancakes ($19) taste. The buttermilk pancakes are satisfyingly crisp around the edges with a soft, well-done centre, while the generous helping of fried chicken is crunchy and flavourful. Its housemade chilli maple is unique as well, providing a subtle sweetness with an edge.

While Kafe Utu is the first African-themed café in Singapore, its brunch offerings favour Western influences. Of note is the ricotta hotcakes ($24), made with Hokkaido milk and topped with ricotta cheese, cardamom maple syrup, mixed berries and a generous scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. The carefully plated dish is as Instagrammable as Kafe Utu's interior, with its rustic furnishings and cosy second-floor lounge.