Cosy Book Cafes In Singapore For Your Next Slow Afternoon
From independent bookshops with coffee on the side, to library-inspired dining spots, these book cafes in Singapore make for a slower kind of cafe-hopping.
There’s a particular kind of joy in finding a spot where you can sip your coffee, get stuck into a good book and completely lose track of time. And while some of us are perfectly happy reading at home, a change of scenery never hurts, especially when there’s coffee and something to snack on. These book-filled hangouts in Singapore offer different ways to get your reading fix, whether you’re a dedicated bookworm or just looking for somewhere chill to spend an afternoon.
See also: Indie Bookstores In Singapore To Fuel Your Reading Obsession
Best book cafes in Singapore
1. Book Bar
What to expect: Part independent bookstore, part cafe and part gathering place for Singapore’s literary crowd, Book Bar puts local and Asian stories front and centre, with its carefully curated collection championing Singlit, poetry and regional authors. For sustenance between chapters, their in-house cafe serves up your usual coffee and teas as well as grilled cheese, truffle fries and cinnamon French toast, with the option to add ice cream because life’s too short not to. Beyond browsing the shelves, check its calendar for book launches, author talks and poetry readings, where you can hear writers discuss their work and the stories behind it.
Address: 57 Duxton Road, 089521
Opening hours: Mon to Thu, 9.30am to 7pm; Fri to Sat, 9.30am to10pm; Sun, 9.30am to 6pm
Instagram: @bookbarsg
Website
2. The Book Cafe
What to expect: A Singapore book cafe OG, The Book Cafe first started as part of MPH Bookshop on Stamford Road before opening its own space on Martin Road in 2000. More than two decades later, its living-room-style interiors, leather sofas and shelves of books and magazines still make it an inviting spot to linger. The menu goes beyond your typical cafe staples, with everything from pancakes and eggs Benedict to smash burgers, fish and chips and fusion dishes like seafood laksa spaghetti. So come to read a chapter or two, but don’t be surprised if you end up staying long enough for another meal.
Address: 20 Martin Road, #01-02 Seng Kee Building, 239070
Opening hours: Mon to Tue, 8.30am to 5.30pm; Wed to Sun, 8.30am to 9.30pm
Instagram: @thebookcafesg
Website
3. Grassroots Book Room
What to expect: Book shopping and an ice cream break? Say less. Founded in 1995 by Singaporean writer Ying Pei An, Grassroots Book Room specialises in Chinese-language literature, humanities and publications from Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan and beyond, alongside a curated selection of local English-language titles for non-Chinese readers, too. The bookstore also houses A Nice Day Cafe, a separate in-house cafe concept by Better Scoop Cafe, where you can order inventive matcha and hojicha drinks, mochi waffles and ice cream in flavours like blue pea matcha and Pei Pa Koa. Every scoop also comes with a small cup of tea, because no dessert is truly complete without a pairing.
Address: 25 Bukit Pasoh Road, Singapore 089839
Opening hours: Mon, Wed to Sat, 12pm to 8pm; Sun, 12pm to 6pm. Closed Tue
Instagram: @grassrootsbookroom
Website
4. Cultivate
What to expect: With its towering bookshelves and vintage interiors, Cultivate feels like stepping into a grand old-world library straight out of a period novel. Located inside Maxwell Reserve, a restored 1929 British colonial landmark, the restaurant’s books aren’t just for show: diners can browse the shelves and settle in with a title over their meal. The menu is entirely vegan, plant-based, gluten-free and GMO-free, featuring everything from superfood earth bowls and smoked onion and asparagus risotto to vegan cheese platters and organic cold-pressed juices. A little literary nourishment for the mind, and plant-based goodness for the body.
Address: 2 Cook Street, Maxwell Reserve, Singapore 078857
Opening hours: Daily, 11am to 9pm
Instagram: @cultivatecafesg
Website