When I first moved to Farrer Park in 2017 I never expected to write a blog about cafe hopping in the area. Back then, the only place to get a decent cuppa was Cedele in City Square Mall. Oh how things have changed. New cafes are popping up by the dozen here!
Here is my cafe hopping guide for the best places to drink coffee in Farrer Park and Lavender.
Lean Bar
The Lean Bar is more of a healthy juice bar and organic eating spot than a cafe. However, I frequently visit for a coffee and one of their scrumptious cinnamon rolls.
Lean Bar serves the best-valued coffee in Farrer Park. A long black is only $3.50 whereas a latte is $5.00 and served in a really large glass. That brings me to my second favourable point. They are almost the only cafe in the area that serve a cafe latte correctly – in a glass and not a cup! Thank you. With that said, the coffee is drinkable but by no means excellent. In addition to the good prices and delightful cinnamon rolls, they also bake delicious gluten-free cakes. That is why Lean Bar is firmly at the top of my list of good coffee in Farrer Park and Lavender. Seating is limited!
Coffee: ★★★
Price: ★★★★★
Venue: ★★★
Lean Bar
40 Hamilton Road, Singapore 209210
Ortus by Grind Coffee
Ortus is located inside the Aperia shopping mall, which is a seven-minute walk from Lavender station and well worth it! Their coffee is excellent. I have been a fan of Grind ever since they first set up shop in Raffles Place. They have a distinctive logo of a dragon hugging a coffee bean. Apparently, the vision came to the owner in a dream.
But, back to the coffee. Their house coffee beans produce a more bitter than sour cuppa (which I prefer) and the cup size is generous. All the baristas are trained in coffee art. I normally order flat white. However, they also serve some creative concoctions for those who like to experiment with their caffeine, such as cold drip, Turkish coffee, and syphon. Ortus are situated opposite Cold Storage. There is nothing I enjoy more than a spot of grocery shopping followed by a creamy coffee at Ortus before heading home. I wouldn’t touch the food though…
Coffee: ★★★★★
Price: ★★★★
Venue: ★★★★
Ortus by Grind Coffee
Aperia Shopping Mall, 12 Kallang Avenue, #01-40
Singapore 339511
Lucid
Lucid first opened for coffee in Farrer Park at the start of 2020. It was many months before I ventured inside because I was afraid of their bland decor. The ambience is too futuristic for my liking. They have very uncomfortable metal chairs and plain grey walls.
However, if you can overcome the cool minimalistic environment, then you will discover how good the coffee is. I mean, it’s really damn good! And the prices are good too. The coffee is mild (although erring slightly to the sour end of the coffee spectrum) and super creamy. I mean, you can literally taste the silkiness of that milk crema in the photo below. Even better, you can order your coffee exactly the way you like it. Choose from intense to strong to mellow or milky, or chilled, when you place your order. Prices average $4.70 for a black coffee and $5.00 for a white coffee, which is competitive. Check out their full coffee menu here. Finally, I would be amiss not to mention the delicious home-made bakes they offer. I’ve tried the banana bread as well as maple scone. Scrumptious!
Coffee: ★★★★★
Price: ★★★★★
Venue: ★★
Lucid
38 Hamilton Road, Singapore 209208
Old Hen
Old Hen is a short walk from Farrer Park station and has been around for a couple of years now. They continue to serve quality coffee which includes their impressive range of bottled cold brews. What I like most about Old Hen is the personable customer service. The baristas and serving staff really care about the work they are doing and take the time to recognise regular patrons.
The original Old Hen branch, which operates as a cafe with some pastries and light bites, is located on Rangoon Road. Seating is mostly indoors but there are a couple of outdoor benches, which are great for people watching. Outdoor cafe seating in this area is rare! The house coffee blend is sour, which is most popular amongst Asians. I don’t mind it from time-to-time. However, I do wish Old Hen would sell coffee in a mug as their cup size is way too small. I can finish my drink in just a few mouthfuls.
Coffee: ★★★
Price: ★★★
Venue: ★★★
Old Hen
88 Rangoon Road, #01-03, Singapore 218374
For The People
For The People is one of the newest editions to the neighbourhood. I think we can all agree the name is a massive wank but don’t let that deter you! This cafe wins at having the best venue and ambience. The space is large and roomy, with plenty of natural lighting and comfortable seating. It is one of the very few locations around Farrer Park or Lavendar I would recommend bringing a laptop to for working (or blogging). The venue is also baby-friendly.
The coffee is also excellent. It is mellow and creamy – just the way I like it. I am particularly fond of their iced latte, which is non-sweetened and served in a beautiful large glass. For The People is on the more pricy end but you can become a member and earn points for future discounts. I am looking forward to trying their impressive-looking brunch menu in the future.
Coffee: ★★★★★
Price: ★★★
Venue: ★★★★★
For The People
11 Hamilton Road, Singapore 209182
Daizu
Daizu means soya in Japanese. It is an interesting name for a cafe that has absolutely no tofu on the menu. But it does boast a unique Western-Japanese concept. I would even go so far as to say, they are a near replica of Old Hen Kitchen except their food menu looks better.
But this is a blog about coffee, not food! Daizu serves all the usual Italian espresso favourites at standard prices. They charge $5 for a long black and $6 for a hot cafe latte. Coffees are served in nice big cups. However, there is a chemical-like aftertaste. I suspect it is from over-cleaning the coffee machine. Either that or the coffee machine is still too new and hasn’t been broken in. Seating is ample and they have two floors of indoor seating as well as a small and shaded balcony. Come here for the food and the relaxed environment, not the coffee.
Coffee: ★★★
Price: ★★★
Venue: ★★★★★
Daizu
129 Rangoon Road, Singapore 218407
Black Fairy Coffee
Black Fairy will always have a special place in my heart. During the Singapore circuit breaker they sold take away coffee at a 20% discount in good-sized paper cups. Not at all stingy and expensive like CSHH across the road!
Black Fairy has the best venue out of all the cafes around Lavender thanks to its prime location along Tyrwhitt Road. In case you do not know it, Tyrwhitt Road is a quiet backstreet with significant shade and some cool breezes. Black Fairy takes advantage of this by boasting several outdoor tables. There is nothing I enjoy more than sitting outside with a hot cuppa. The coffee is not the best-tasting. It is too strong for my liking and I usually request an additional jug of milk on the side. They also don’t know the difference between a latte and a flat white. A cafe latte at Black Fairy is served in a small cup, whereas the flat white is served in a large cup. Go figure! Despite this, I will always be a loyal patron of Black Fairy. I recommend their hot chocolate pudding with ice cream as a perfect accompaniment to any hot drink.
Coffee: ★★★
Price: ★★★★
Venue: ★★★★★
Black Fairy Coffee
131 Tyrwhitt Road, Singapore 207553
Two Bakers
Two Bakers is never my first choice for coffee in Farrer Park and Lavender area. If I am completely honest, it is not my second or third choice either. I don’t like the seating. The venue is too narrow and the condensation on the cake fridge is unappetising. The craziest thing is, they don’t sell bread here! I popped in a couple of times and asked for a loaf of fresh bread when I ran out at home, but on both occasions, I was told they don’t have any. That is rather strange given the name, Two Bakers, don’t you think?
However, if you enjoy a family-friendly environment, then you will probably like this place. Their brunch menu is reasonably priced. They also sell many unique cakes and desserts. The coffee is drinkable and affordable, costing only $4.50 for a small, hot coffee. I recommend their black sesame latte.
Coffee: ★★★
Price: ★★★★
Venue: ★★
Two Bakers
88 Horne Road, Singapore 209083
Apartment Coffee
Apartment Coffee on Lavender Road is the hippest cafe in the neighbourhood although I can’t see what all the fuss is about. I queued for 20 minutes to get a table on a Sunday afternoon. My expectations were understandably high.
The coffee at Apartment was not bad. But it wasn’t great either. If you drink your coffee “white” i.e. a latte or flat white there is just the one option for coffee beans which apparently changes on a weekly basis (although judging by the faded menu, I’m not so sure). A cup costs $4.50. When I visited I had a white coffee with Indonesia Sumatra Kerinci beans. The coffee had strong dried fruit notes with a hint of milk chocolate. Overall, it was very sour tasting. That’s fine, but the cup was absolutely tiny! I’d rather pay more money and have a larger cup. On that note – the cup was hot to touch and had no handle or teaspoon. My god, what an affront to proper coffee etiquette!! It’s worth visiting here once for the hand-drip coffee but this place has nothing on Ortus.
Coffee: ★★
Price: ★★★
Venue: ★★
Apartment Coffee
161 Lavender Street, #01-12, Singapore 338750
Chye Seng Huat Hardware
When I first discovered Chye Seng Huat Hardware (CSHH) for coffee in Farrer Park I was excited! They have a 360-degree coffee bar and lots of yummy-looking pastries on display. However, my enthusiasm for this place has long since frittered away.
CSHH does serve good coffee but it is incredibly expensive. A milk-based coffee averages around $7++ and they do not offer any further discount for takeaway. Even worse, their coffee servings are tiny! During the Singapore circuit breaker, when I was desperate for a caffeine fix, I needed to order two lattes to-go from here to fulfil my craving. Can you imagine how much that hurt my back pocket? Fortunately, I then discovered Black Fairy coffee and never looked back. CSHH is popular with older not-so-rich expats. On a positive note, they have a nice courtyard with abundant outdoor seating.
Coffee: ★★★
Price: ★
Venue: ★★★
Chye Seng Huat Hardware
150 Tyrwhitt Road, Singapore 207563
Do you know of any other places that sell good coffee in Farrer Park and Lavender? If so, please share your recommendations in the comments box below. You may also want to check out my guide to delicious brunch in Farrer Park.