8 Best Cafes in Singapore to Grab Instagram-Worthy Latte Art
These days, a cup of coffee has to do more than just wake you up. In order to reach the heights of the 'gram, it now needs to be a work of art on top. To save you scouring many an underwhelming cafe, we've rounded up the best coffee shops and cafes in Singapore serving up the prettiest cups of joe.
1. Chock Full of Beans
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A cosy spot to warm up (…from the air con, not the 30-degree humidity) with a barista-made cup of caffeine, Chock Full of Beans is a laid-back, welcoming café that lures you inside with the delicious aroma of roasted coffee beans. But it’s not just the drinks that have people clamouring to come here. The foam on top of your hot or iced latte is so artistically crafted that it’s simply begging to be uploaded to the ‘gram. It’s hard not to be impressed by the detail and intricacy that goes into crafting milk into cute three-dimensional characters and colourful two-dimensional reincarnations of your favourite cartoons. Unsurprisingly, some of the most popular designs are Hello Kitty and Disney related, but the baristas change them up each day to keep both their new and regular patrons guessing.
If you’re planning on taking an Instagram-worthy snap, make sure you leave enough time as their latte art comes only upon request and can take up to 30 minutes. Trust us though, it’s well worth the wait. And in case you’re wondering which of their many lattes to order, the Walnut Brownie Latte and White Chocolate Matcha Latte are coffee’s answer to dessert that you never knew you needed.
Address: Block 4, Changi Village Road, #01-2090, Singapore, 500004
Opening hours:
Monday: 11.30am-6pm
Tuesday-Friday: 11.30am-10pm
Saturday-Sunday: 9.30am-10pm
Secure a spot at Chock Full of Beans here today! Head to Changi Village with your camera at the ready and enjoy 10% off with ChopeDeals.
2. The Coffee Academics
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Instagram grid looking a little dull of late? Give it a little dose of latte chic at The Coffee Academics. Originally from Hong Kong, these purveyors and roasters of premium coffee have multiple locations across Singapore including Raffles City and Scott’s Road. Their speciality is frothy milk poured and etched into a teddy’s face; a craft that you can learn during their intimate barista-led workshops. They have also recently re-launched the much-loved Coffee Conette. This chocolate-dipped ice cream cone is filled with creamy Piccolo Latte and topped with carefully-poured steamed milk in the shape of flowers and hearts.
We recommend sticking around at the ‘brew bar’ to watch the baristas create it as their techniques are quite mesmerising. While you’re waiting, feel free to admire the cafes themselves as they’re almost as pretty as the lattes. The black and gold décor is the ideal backdrop to your social media snap.
Address: 252 North Bridge Rd, #B1-12, Raffles City, Singapore, 179103
Opening hours:
Monday-Thursday: 8am-8pm
Friday: 8am-9pm
Saturday: 9am-9pm
Sunday: 9am-8pm
Get 10% off at the Raffles City outpost of The Coffee Academics with ChopeDeals!
3. Oriole
Source: Oriole
The team at Oriole really know their coffee. If you consider yourself a connoisseur, expect to fall in love with their medium-roasted beans that combine the smooth, chocolatey goodness of those hailing from El Salvador, and the almost fruity notes of the Indonesian Starling beans. Their coffee menu is fairly extensive, and includes tasting flights of Japanese-inspired cold brews as well as those infused with nitrogen gas, resulting in a creamy cup akin to stout beer. As for the decoration that will top your steaming sip, Oriole’s is traditional but exquisitely made. One of their baristas is actually the National Latte Art Champion which should give you an idea of the level of skill and creativity required.
If you’re keen to up your own Instagrammable coffee game, look out for their latte art workshops where you’ll learn to master the tricks of steaming and pouring with flair. Come nightfall, this trendy coffee house transforms into a bar, where you can sample coffee cocktails like the Auburn Russian. It’s an indulgent drink made of Cruzan-infused coffee beans, Kahlua and Oriole’s house-made, cold-pressed nut milk combining macadamias, almonds and dates.
Address: Pan Pacific Serviced Suites, #01-01, 96 Somerset Road, Singapore, 238163
Opening hours:
Sunday-Thursday: 8am-11pm
Friday-Saturday: 8am-12am
Book your table for gourmet coffee and brunch at Oriole via Chope!
4. Common Man Coffee Roasters
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When a coffee chain has two academies in Asia dedicated to helping both the eager public and budding baristas to become masters of coffee brewing and latte art, you know it’s going to be good. Common Man Coffee Roasters is one such coffee chain, and one that found fame among the caffeinated crowd for their signature espresso blend. The dedicated bean buyers behind CMCR scour the globe to find the best sustainably-sourced beans from local growers everywhere from East Africa to India to South America. Brewed and roasted in house, the baristas finish each latte with delicately free-poured tulips and rosettas. The animals you’ll see on top of your cup of Joe change regularly but they’ll often come back to their favourite flock of birds: swans, peacocks and phoenixes to name just a few!
If you’ve got time to eat as well as drink, don’t miss the house-baked cornbread from the all-day breakfast menu that’s served with smashed avocado, black bean salsa, poached eggs and streaky bacon. Larger appetites, however, should spring for the Cubanos sandwich filled with succulent slow-cooked pork, honey-roasted ham, gherkins, jalapenos, provolone cheese and a tangy raisin chutney. And don’t forget your coffee on the side.
Address: 22 Martin Rd, Singapore, 239058
Opening hours:
Monday-Friday: 7.30am - 5pm
Saturday-Sunday, 7.30am - 6pm
Grab four friends and make a weekday reservation at this Martin Road coffee shop.
5. Park at Holland Village
Source: Park at Holland Village
Ticking the boxes for Instagrammable latte art and eco-friendly vibes, Park in Holland Village is a minimalist little gem that serves up coffee by day and boozy libations by night. Focusing on the former, their 22 Martin coffee blend combines beans from Guatemala and Brazil resulting in a full-bodied flavour with notes of hazelnut, toffee and chocolate. The freshly-brewed coffee menu is small but perfectly formed. If it’s a photogenic choice that you’re after, go for the milky options like the latte or cappuccino that will arrive at your table with a foamy bear or lion waving up at you. If you’re more about the matcha, load up your Instagram stories ready to capture the charming little cat that smiling out at you from your green-hued Japanese latte. Also worth a photo is the deconstructed shipping container that houses the café itself. It’s crafted from steel and glass with an eye-catching yellow awning that brightens up this quiet little corner of Holland Village.
Address: 281 Holland Avenue, #01-01, Singapore, 278996
Opening hours:
Tuesday-Thursday: 11am-12am
Friday: 11am-2am
Saturday: 9am-2am
Sunday: 9am-12am
Book your table in advance to while away your weekend at Park at Holland Village.
6. Chocolate Origin
Image source: Chocolate Origin
For a little morning indulgence, it doesn’t get better than Chocolate Origin. With not one but nine locations across the city, these quaint cafés are a dessert and caffeine-lover’s paradise. The gelato and Cuppa Lava Cakes will keep those sugar cravings at bay, but for the perfect pick-me-up it’s all about their freshly-brewed artisan lattes. The coffee is crafted from Arabica beans from Latin America, resulting in silky smooth, buttery textures and subtle notes of cherry and cocoa that complement the sweetness of the cakes like a dream.
As for how they jazz up the top of their drinks, the baristas here craft the foam into such cute 3D characters that they’re sure to make you smile even before you’ve taken a sip. They mix it up with what type of creatures are reimagined atop your coffee, with some of the most popular being the cute creations of Pokemon and Pixar. Latte art hashtags at the ready.
Address: 313 Orchard Rd, #B3-10A, Singapore, 238895
Opening hours:
Monday-Sunday: 10.30am-10pm
7. Tolido’s Espresso Nook
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Tolido’s Espresso Nook has been going for 24 years and its popularity shows no sign of slowing. Why? Because this place deviates from the overpriced brunching norm, and focuses instead on serving up comforting, great-tasting food that won’t cost you a week’s salary. Sophisticated this café isn’t, but behind the black and white awning is a homely spot with a relaxed, inviting vibe.
Owner and head barista Douglas Tan is the creative brain behind the milky artwork that sits atop photo-worthy lattes and cappuccinos guaranteed to attract likes to your Instagram feed. As a former latte art champion, he takes pride in teaching his staff how to pour and craft his delicate foam creations. Come a special occasion, the baristas swap out their tulips and swans for latte art in festive shapes, animals and even flags. Oh and because we’re kind, here’s a little PSA: their imaginatively-topped cups taste even better when devoured alongside a stack of fluffy pandan pancakes.
Address: 462 Crawford Lane, #01-63, Singapore, 190462
Opening hours:
Monday-Friday: 8am-4.30pm
Saturday-Sunday: 9am-6.30pm
8. D’Good Café
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In need of a pick-me-up during a Takashimaya shopping spree? D’Good Café has just the thing. It’s the second of this café’s three locations in Singapore (the others can be found in the Jewel and in a two-storey shophouse in Holland Village) and is decorated in a nod to the British capital with a London underground mural and English garden. The varied food menu makes this an ideal spot to refuel amidst your retail therapy, including Western delights like fish and chips and buttermilk-fried chicken wings.
Most importantly though is the coffee selection, which is seriously d’good (we couldn’t resist) and equally as extensive. Cold-drip, siphoned and pour-over coffee are all available here, but it’s the lattes that are particular must-tries, if not just for the artistic milk that tops them. The animals they create in foam are whatever takes the barista’s fancy that day, but if you can convince them to bring back the Merlion that they added for National Day, it’s definitely one for the Instagram feed. As well as latte art, the other thing setting D’Good apart from their many coffee competitors is their custom blends that customers can create and brew to suit their personal preferences.
Address: 391 Orchard Road, #B1-56, Takashimaya S.C., Ngee Ann City, Singapore, 238872
Opening hours:
Monday-Sunday: 10am-10pm
Fancy paying a visit to D’Good Cafe? Find all the details you need here.
Ready to up your Instagram feed game?
Cast your nets wide and far, check out our comprehensive list of cafes serving up mouthwatering and hearty food! If you happen to be near Haji Lane, here are our 8 top cafes in the area offering Instagram-worthy selections that might catch your fancy. Planning on a large scale cafe-hopping session? Don’t miss out these 20 most Instagrammable cafes that you definitely have to add to your list!
