Farrer Park living and where to get Brunch and Coffee

Living in Farrer Park has its perks but good brunch and coffee is not one of them. To the untrained eye Farrer Park seems like a foodies delight as there is a high concentration of restaurants, from the Michelin starred Putien to Singapore’s beloved dumpling house, Swee Choon. You are surrounded by the curry houses of Little India, the family restaurants of City Square Mall and the Chinese hawkers of Lavender. However getting a decent espresso coffee and organic eggs over easy is hard to find. Read on for my full guide on where to go for brekkie and find good coffee in Farrer Park.

Old Hen Coffee Bar & Kitchen

Old Hen is the undisputed best brunch and coffee in Farrer Park. I hate frequenting the same venues too often, but after a year of searching for caffeine and eggs I keep coming back here. There are two venues in the area, Old Hen Coffee is located on Rangoon Road and serves drinks, cakes and snacks whereas Old Hen Kitchen is on Owen Street and has a full food menu.

Flossie’s rating: ★★★★★

You must try

The white coffee is like drinking liquid silk. It is smooth, milky and mild, which is just how I like my caffeine (amongst other things). They also bottle their own cold brew, which comes in black, white, matcha latte and chocolate blends.

For breakfast, the avocado on toasted sourdough with pumpkin seeds, dukkah and egg is a winner. However if you feel like something more simple they also make delicious fried eggs on toast with herb butter.

Room for improvement

This place is near perfect for the simple reason the staff take pride in their work. The only improvement I could suggest would be to swap out some of the pasta dishes on their menu for better fusion brunch fare.

CSHH Coffee Bar

Chye Seng Huat Hardware (CSHH) is the most exciting thing to happen to Farrer Park since The Druggist started serving wine by the glass. This little gem is hidden at the end of Tyrwhitt Road and has a 360 degree coffee bar and outdoor seating.

Flossie’s rating: ★★★★

You must try

This is my go to place when I just want a straight up cafe latte and to chill with a good book. However they also do black cold brew infused with nitrogen. When I’m being healthy, I order the vegan muesli which has oats, honey, flax seed, almond milk, fresh fruit and nuts. The caramel apple French toast is naughty but nice!

Room for improvement

The chocolate lava cake is dry (probably because it’s gluten free) and doesn’t come with enough ice cream. CSHH could be the ideal spot for a nightcap and they serve craft beers in the courtyard yet sadly, no wine!!

Antoinette

Antoinette is a little further afield, closer to Lavender, but still a reasonable walk from Farrer Park. It offers a decent breakfast alternative boasting one of the most creative fusion brunch menus in Singapore. The theme is French aristocracy and the interior decoration is posh and fanciful. The cake display is just stunning.

Flossie Rating: ★★★

You must try

Antoinette is all about French fare colliding with local hawker food, and the chef has done an incredible job of creating a menu that is unique and inspiring. I always leave here with the intent to return and try yet another dish. The Singapore chilli crab arancini with sea asparagus salad is one of my favourites as is the Hakka gnocchi.

Room for improvement

The coffee here is crappy, despite being served in dainty cups. Fix the coffee and this could become a prime breakfast and afternoon tea joint.

Bravery Cafe

The cheap and cheerful Bravery Cafe is a hidden gem. The service is efficient and fast and the prices are reasonable. But what I love most is its unpretentiousness. Set well back off the main pedestrian way, it looks like a makeshift studio with its graffiti art, metallic furniture and run down appearance. The Bravery Cafe is a great place to sit outside and contemplate life, or otherwise plug in your laptop to do some work over brunch and coffee.

Flossie Rating: ★★★★

You must try

They do great omelettes for only $8 each, served with roasted tomato and salad although I normally substitute the salad for toast. The omelettes are prepared with fresh, quality ingredients and fried in butter. They taste amazing. You also need to try their signature drink, lavender cafe latte.

Room for improvement

The place is rustic and the cheap plates and cutlery can be off-putting. They should consider investing in some better quality wares.

Two Bakers

Just off Tyrwhitt street opposite the hawker centre is Two Bakers, another typical brunch place. It only has indoor seating and the tables are big and solid, which is a plus although towards the back of the restaurant it is poorly lit. They specialise in coffee and dessert and their cakes are above average. They also have all the typical breakfast-type foods such as eggs, bacon, pancakes, etc. With such a name, there is a surprising lack of fresh baked goods.

Flossie Rating: ★★★

You must try

The gula melaka cake is light and fluffy, topped with a thick layer of seriously delicious palm sugar icing. Their pandan blueberry hotcakes with gula melaka syrup for breakfast is their specialty.

Room for improvement

The coffee and the overall menu is average. It is an okay place to go if there is nowhere else open, but it doesn’t stack up against Old Hen and CSHH coffee bars.

Brunches

I cannot bear dining at Brunches. The place has a really weird smell and it is always full of noisy families with kids. The menu looks suspiciously American and it has too many food options. In other words, they prepare lots of average dishes but specialise in nothing.

Flossie Rating: ★

You must try

They make a good hot chocolate. When the weather is mild enough, it can be pleasant to sit on the wooden bench outside along Rangoon road and sip on a hot chocolate. That is the extent to which I can try anything served at Brunches.

Room for improvement

They seriously need to sort out that weird stench. Not sure what it is, and in fairness maybe it’s not coming from the kitchen but it is just the odour from all the children that make a racket here.

Six by Sera

I am convinced this place is a cover for a money laundering operation. Six by Sera have the weirdest operating hours, officially opened between 12:00 and 21:00 although closed nearly every time I have walked by. On the one occasion I finally managed to try this place out I was informed the kitchen was closed (it was 14:00 on a Saturday).

Flossie Rating: ★

You must try

The Singapore chilli crab croissant on the menu sounds good. However after 6 months of attempting to order this only to learn the chef is apparently never on site, I have given up.

Room for improvement

This place has a prime location but the lack of opening hours makes it a waste of space. It is doubtful whether they even serve brunch and coffee.

Do you live in Farrer Park and know of any other additions to the list? Please share your recommendations for brunch and coffee in Farrer Park.