The ultimate guide to Thomson

Perhaps more famous for its Plaster Blaster ($5.50), an eggs Benedict-inspired prata topped with ham, a poached egg and hollandaise sauce, Springleaf still does the classic roti prata ($1.20) right. Everything’s still cooked to order, ensuring that you’re always served piping hot prata that’s crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. If the original is too plain for you, Springleaf is also known for its variety, coming up with all kinds of wacky creations like the Prata Goreng, its take on mee goreng that swaps noodles for strips of prata, as well as the Umami 50, an egg prata with luncheon meat, cheese, chicken floss and mayo.  

Bak chor mee (minced meat noodles) are a staple in many Singaporean's diet, and Meng's Kitchen (now known as Ming Fa), is a stalwart on Upper Thomson Road. This place famously has one of the best bak chor mee in town, serving up generous $5 bowls of springy noodles, minced meat, meatballs, liver slices and mushrooms. Just enough heft after a day of hiking in the surrounding nature parks. 

Although many flock here for a quick prata and the tarik fix, the menu also includes family favourites like fish head curry, biryani, thosai and murtabak. Popular with the weekend crowds or the weary hikers from the parks, this place gets crowded pretty quickly.

With the Upper Thomson area experiencing a café rush, One Man Coffee comes along to add some serious cred to the java scene brewing there. Mostly fronted by spunky Sarah Jane Lin (formerly in the kitchen of Peranakan gastrobar Immigrants) and Melbourne- based barista Soh E-gene, the cosy nook shares the same shophouse space with gourmet pizza bar Crust, so you’ll have the option for a full meal paired with coffee ($3-$5.50) from famed Melbourne outfit Axil Coffee Roasters. Lin fronts her personalised corner counter in the day, teaming a variety of pastries (sourced from artisanal bakery B.A.O) with light brunch bites like the chilled soba ($10), featuring charred corn, sakura ebi and spicy sesame dressing, and its nutty brioche French toast ($10) served with homemade berry compote and fresh cream. For an additonal $3, you'd get to add a scoop of ice cream atop your toast.

Bread and brownies. That's what these popular bakers are known for. Woodlands Sourdough garnered a loyal following when they first set up shop and now at its most recent physical store, the popularity has not waivered. Brownies come in different variations – check what's in store for the day via Instagram and sourdough loaves here are denser and slightly stickier than what you might be accustomed to. On top of the staples, you can come by to pick up a selection of stuffed doughnuts, tartines and other bakes. 

Vegans get a tough break: no dairy equals no ice-cream, or rather no conventional ice-cream. However the “ice cream ninjas” at Brownice have a magic formula of brown rice milk, cane juice and natural flavours which is more than worthy substitute. With 16 flavours (from gula melaka, Nutella, mint chocolate and PB’and Choc at $3.50 per scoop) and at just 80-140 calories per scoop, it’s hard not to give this creamy, yet less calorie-dense option a try. Bonus: They’re really generous with their scoops and they're launching new items like the Signature Smoochthie Jars and Ice Cream Sandwich.

This charming, quaint yet cosy café has been making waves ever since its debut on the local scene back in 2017. Modern interiors flooded by natural light make this a pretty lovely spot for weekend brunches with a couple of bosom buddies or just a quiet mid-afternoon coffee with a book. Coffee aromas fill the air as soon as you enter as speciality coffee is roasted in-house to produce quality coffee blends to offer black ($3.50), white ($4.50) and cold brews ($7). To appease non-coffee drinkers, they also have honourable offerings such as the chai latte ($6.50), matcha latte ($6), a range of Kombuchas ($8) and local craft beers ($12). While you're there, also try popular brunch items like the smoked pulled pork and scrambed croissant, garlic carbonana, and – our favourite – the hearty chicken stew. 

Tucked away in an industrial estate in Thomson, this hidden gem of a café serves up a seriously good cup of coffee made from arabica beans that are roasted in-house. The space is low-key and cosy, great for a quiet afternoon spent reading or working. You can try out their waffles and sandwiches once you start feeling peckish too. 

 Who says you can't hike and drink? A refreshing bottle of beer might even be what you need to beat the heat. Head straight for Shawn's Beernest to crack one open – it has up to nine taps and 70 beers in the fridge to choose from. A true gem for craft beer lovers living or passing through Upper Thomson, if you ask us. 

The five-foot-ways still exist, as do the street hawkers (but now alongside chic bars and restaurants) and there’s always more than a few ways to people watch

A hub of activity, this neighbourhood hits all the right notes with its balance of trendy and local offerings

Yes, the best Indian food will be found here, but also other goodies like soya bean tarts, Indian-style barbecue meats and the unofficial museum of local music