Quick answer: Bugis packs more character per square metre than almost anywhere else, and its cafe scene runs deep. Twenty Grammes owns the late-night waffle fix, Symmetry does brunch that stretches into evening cocktails, Fika brings proper Swedish meatballs to Beach Road, Tolido’s Espresso Nook wakes you up with a serious house blend, Kurasu pours matcha straight out of Kyoto, Mondays keeps the halal brunch crowd happy with canelés, and Meownistry of Meow gives you a laptop and 13 cats for company.
Best Cafes in Bugis
Twenty Grammes
Twenty Grammes sits on North Bridge Road as a full-on dessert shop that keeps the lights on till 1am on weekends, which is honestly rare in this part of town. The whole point is waffles and house-made ice cream done with a bit of extra care. You order the Smores Waffle and they torch the marshmallows right there, so it arrives with that slightly burnt, caramelised edge. The Hojicha Soft Serve has a roasted depth that cuts through the sweetness properly.
This is the spot you hit after dinner when everyone still wants to talk but nobody wants another round of drinks. The space is compact and tends to fill up fast on Friday and Saturday nights, but the later hours mean you are not rushing. Prices sit at mid-range dessert territory, around what you would expect for waffles built with this level of detail.
Address: 753 North Bridge Road, #01-01, Singapore 198721
Hours: Sunday to Thursday 12pm–10pm, Friday to Saturday 12pm–1am
Contact: +65 9447 2020
twentygrammes.com
Who it suits: The friend group that refuses to end the night after a meal nearby. Twenty Grammes gives you that extra hour or two without needing to relocate to a bar.
This list is editorial, not advertising. Run something similar? Tell us what you do and we will take a look.
Symmetry
Symmetry on Jalan Kubor pulls off a trick that few cafes manage: it works just as well for a lazy 9am Saturday brunch as it does for a slow dinner that drifts past 10pm. The menu leans Australian-inspired and all-day, so you can order the Symmetry Big Breakfast at three in the afternoon and nobody blinks. Scrambled eggs, smoked salmon, tater tots – nothing revolutionary, but everything arrives looking like it belongs in a lifestyle spread.
What keeps people coming back is the way the space shifts moods. Mornings feel bright and easy; by evening the lighting softens and the music tightens up. Their waffles come with seasonal fruits and brittles that change depending on what is good that week. It is the kind of place you book for a long-overdue catch-up where you want the option to stay through sunset.
Address: 9 Jalan Kubor, Singapore 199206
Hours: Monday 11am–9pm, Tuesday to Friday 11am–11pm, Saturday 9am–11:30pm, Sunday 9am–7pm
Contact: +65 9711 1965
symmetry.com.sg
Who it suits: Couples and small groups who want a single venue that carries them from brunch right through to evening without ever feeling like they should move on.
Fika Swedish Cafe and Bistro
Fika Swedish Cafe and Bistro brings Scandinavia to Beach Road, and it is halal-certified, so it opens the door for a wider circle of friends to makan together without the usual back-and-forth about where everyone can eat. The Swedish meatballs come with lingonberry jam that adds a tart hit against the cream sauce, and the Fishermans Pasta swims in a lemon butter sauce with decent portions of seafood.
Vegetarian options are built into the menu rather than being an afterthought, which is a quiet relief if you are the one in the group who always has to scan the small print. The dining room leans warm and unpretentious – think blond wood and soft lighting – so it suits everything from a solo fika break to a family lunch. Prices are reasonable for the portion sizes, especially given the Beach Road location.
Address: 257 Beach Road, Singapore 199539
Hours: Sunday to Thursday 11am–9pm, Friday to Saturday 11am–10pm
Contact: +65 6396 9096
fikacafe.com
Who it suits: Groups with mixed dietary needs who still want a proper sit-down meal. Fika solves the halal-and-vegetarian puzzle without anyone feeling like they compromised.
This list is editorial, not advertising. Run something similar? Tell us what you do and we will take a look.
Tolido’s Espresso Nook
Tolido’s Espresso Nook on Crawford Lane runs on a house blend that pulls beans from Brazil, Ethiopia and Papua New Guinea, and the baristas actually know what they are doing with it. The coffee is the anchor, but the rosti dishes are the reason people queue. Crisp on the outside, soft inside, and served all day – or at least until closing, which on some days is as early as 3pm, so you need to plan around that.
The space is small and the hours are tight; Thursday is closed, Wednesday and weekends stretch to 5pm, but Monday, Tuesday and Friday shut at 3pm. Check before you go, lah, otherwise you will stand outside and feel sian. When you do get a seat, it feels like a proper neighbourhood hideaway, the kind where the regulars know each other by face. The Elevate Tea Time crowd would appreciate their straightforward, no-frills approach.
Address: 462 Crawford Lane, #01-63, Singapore 190462
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Friday 8am–3pm; Wednesday 8am–5pm; Thursday closed; Saturday, Sunday 8am–5pm
Contact: +65 6648 0178
Order online
Who it suits: The coffee-first person who wants a proper brew and a solid plate of rosti before the workday swallows them. Come early, ideally on a Wednesday or weekend when the closing time is more forgiving.
Kurasu
Kurasu on Waterloo Street is a Japanese specialty coffee and matcha stand that ships its beans directly from Kyoto, and you can taste the difference. The three-bean house blend hits a balance that works black or with milk, and the matcha drinks have that clean, grassy clarity that the mass-market chains never quite nail. Beyond drinks, they sell brewing equipment, so the whole setup is meant for people who want to take the experience home.
The space opens daily at 8:30am and closes at 6:30pm, so it is strictly a daytime affair. There is a quiet, almost meditative feel to the place – nobody is rushing you, the pour-overs take the time they take, and it is easy to lose an hour with a book or a laptop. If you have been chasing the Elevate Sanctuary kind of calm, Kurasu delivers without any fuss.
Address: 261 Waterloo Street, #01-24, Singapore 180261
Hours: Daily 8:30am–6:30pm
Contact: Via website
kurasu.kyoto
Who it suits: The solo visitor who wants to slow down with a pour-over that was worth the wait. Also good for grabbing a bag of beans or a matcha whisk on the way out.
Mondays
Mondays on Jalan Klapa takes the all-day brunch concept and runs it through a halal lens, with an extensive menu that goes well past the usual eggs-and-toast routine. The canelés are the unexpected star – small, caramelised French pastries with a custardy centre that you do not see often in halal cafes here. All-day breakfast platters keep the comfort-food crowd happy, and the zero-alcohol drink list means the beverage programme does not feel like an afterthought.
The space is stylish without being intimidating, and the hours are generous except for Tuesday when they close. Note that Saturday and Sunday hours run 9am to 8pm, while weekdays stretch to 10pm, so weekend brunch is the sweet spot. The place has picked up awards for halal excellence, which tells you the kitchen takes its sourcing and prep seriously.
Address: 8 Jalan Klapa, Singapore 199320
Hours: Monday, Wednesday to Friday 11am–10pm; Tuesday closed; Saturday, Sunday 9am–8pm
Contact: Via Facebook
facebook.com/sg.mondays
Who it suits: Halal-conscious brunch lovers who want more than a sad avocado toast. Come for the platters, stay for the canelés, bring the whole family on a Sunday morning.
Meownistry of Meow
Meownistry of Meow on Jalan Klapa is part cafe, part co-working space, part cat sanctuary – thirteen resident cats roam the lounge while you work, and the hourly passes keep things flexible. You can book a private room if you need quiet focus, or settle into the main lounge where a tabby might claim your keyboard as its own. The vibe is more wellness than novelty; people genuinely come here to de-stress.
Therapeutic pet experiences are built into the model, so the cats are well cared for and the environment stays clean and calm. It opens daily from 11am to 10pm, making it viable for both afternoon work sessions and evening wind-down visits. If the idea of a Elevate Ride to a cafe where a cat purrs beside your laptop sounds like a good Saturday, this is your spot.
Address: 4A Jalan Klapa, Singapore 199316
Hours: Daily 11am–10pm
Contact: +65 8944 0280
meownistryofmeow.com
Who it suits: Remote workers tired of the same four walls, cat lovers who do not have a pet at home, and anyone who believes a purring cat counts as a legitimate wellness activity.
How to choose
Bugis cafes fall into a few loose camps, and picking the right one comes down to what you actually want out of the visit.
Time of day matters. Tolido’s and Kurasu are morning-to-afternoon operations; both close by early evening at the latest. Symmetry and Twenty Grammes run late, with Twenty Grammes keeping the waffle irons hot till 1am on weekends. If you are planning an evening hangout, check closing times before you rally the group.
Dietary needs. Fika and Mondays are both halal-certified, and Fika also has solid vegetarian options built into the menu. The other cafes are not halal-certified, so if that is a requirement, your shortlist shrinks quickly.
Activity versus atmosphere. Meownistry of Meow is the only one on the list that doubles as a workspace with an activity built in – you pay for time rather than just food and drink. Kurasu is the quietest spot for focused solo time. Symmetry works best for a long, social meal where the setting shifts as the hours pass.
Price range. Expect to spend roughly $15–$25 per person for a drink and a dish at most of these cafes. Twenty Grammes is slightly cheaper if you are just doing dessert. Kurasu can run higher if you add a bag of beans or equipment to your tab. Meownistry of Meow adds an hourly pass fee on top of any food and drink, so budget accordingly.
| Cafe | Best For | Halal | Price Signal | Peak Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twenty Grammes | Late-night waffles & ice cream | No | $$ | Fri–Sat after 9pm |
| Symmetry | All-day brunch into evening | No | $$$ | Weekend brunch |
| Fika Swedish Cafe and Bistro | Halal Swedish comfort food | Yes | $$ | Weekend lunch |
| Tolido’s Espresso Nook | Specialty coffee & rosti | No | $$ | Weekend mornings |
| Kurasu | Japanese pour-over & matcha | No | $$ | Late morning |
| Mondays | Halal brunch & canelés | Yes | $$ | Weekend 9am–12pm |
| Meownistry of Meow | Co-working with cats | Check with the business | $$$ | Afternoons |
Summary
Bugis gives you seven very different reasons to sit down and stay a while. Grab a Smores Waffle past midnight at Twenty Grammes, book a long brunch-to-sunset session at Symmetry, or let a cat supervise your spreadsheet at Meownistry of Meow. The right pick depends on who is coming along, what time you are meeting, and whether halal certification matters. Whatever you choose, confirm the hours before heading down – some of these spots keep unpredictable schedules, and turning up to a closed door is nobody’s idea of a good time.
Disclaimer: Details can change. Hours, menus and prices shift without notice. Always confirm directly with the cafe before making plans.
Frequently asked questions
Which Bugis cafe is open latest?
Twenty Grammes stays open until 1am on Friday and Saturday nights. Symmetry runs until 11pm Tuesday to Friday and 11:30pm on Saturday. Most other cafes on this list close by 9pm or earlier.
Are there halal cafes in Bugis?
Yes, Fika Swedish Cafe and Bistro and Mondays are both halal-certified. Fika also offers vegetarian options, and Mondays has an all-day brunch menu with zero-alcohol beverages.
Which Bugis cafe is best for working with a laptop?
Meownistry of Meow is built for co-working, with hourly passes, private rooms, and a lounge space. Kurasu also works well for focused solo time, though it is a smaller space and closes at 6:30pm.
Do any Bugis cafes serve proper specialty coffee?
Kurasu sources beans directly from Kyoto and does precise pour-overs. Tolido’s Espresso Nook has a house blend of beans from Brazil, Ethiopia and Papua New Guinea and a strong reputation among coffee regulars.
Where should I go for dessert in Bugis?
Twenty Grammes specialises in waffles and house-made ice cream, with the Smores Waffle and Hojicha Soft Serve as standouts. Mondays also does canelés worth trying if you want something less sweet.
Which cafe is good for a big group with different diets?
Fika Swedish Cafe and Bistro handles mixed groups well – halal-certified, vegetarian-friendly, and the menu is broad enough that nobody has to settle. Symmetry is also a strong pick if halal is not a requirement, with an all-day menu that covers breakfast through dinner.