Remote work is quickly becoming the norm rather than a temporary solution in this post-pandemic world. But while working from home has its benefits, cabin fever can still set in.
The great news is that now, we don’t necessarily have to literally work from home. Remote work gives us the flexibility to choose where we work. The best alternative to a literal work-from-home setup? A work-friendly cafe.
When it comes to options, there’s no shortage of work-friendly cafes in Singapore. It has everything, from big chain cafes in the business districts to small niche cafes hidden in off-the-beaten backstreets.
With so many great choices, it can be quite hard to narrow down to the best option. In this article, we’ll give you the lowdown on the 10 best work-friendly cafes in Singapore to help you decide. Let’s coffee shop-hop for the best cafes in Singapore for digital nomads, remote workers, and students in this guide.
Best Coffee Shops in Singapore for Digital Nomads
- Grids Coffee Bar
- Genius Central Singapore
- Craftsmen Specialty Coffee
- The Book Cafe
- The Coffee Academics
- Komyuniti
- Dal.Komm Coffee
- Toby’s Estate
- Twenty Eight Cafe
- Wakey Wakey
Table of Contents
The Coffee Shop Effect
If you’ve worked at a cafe, you’re probably wondering why you manage to get so much work done even with all the distractions. This is what’s known as the “coffee shop effect.” As summarized in this Trello blog post, switching from your quiet home office to a cafe can heighten your brain’s productivity mode in various ways.
The change of scenery can boost your brain’s productivity
Humans, as a species, thrive on novelty. While the coffee shop is not exactly an intensely exciting novelty, it is still novel in that it’s a break from the usual. This ‘break’ stimulates your brain like a light bulb, helping you see your tasks in a different light.
Moving away from your routine can help you break away from bad habits
If you find yourself feeling stuck in a rut, it’s because of the work environment you’ve developed. The best way to get yourself unstuck in that situation is not to necessarily change that environment but to leave it once in a while. Working at a different place, say a cafe in Singapore for digital nomads, can help inspire new productive habits.
Going somewhere with the intention to work is a motivation boost
In the book The Intention Experiment, author Lynn McTaggart looks at various research from all over the world to know if positive thought processes or setting intentions can improve our lives. Her conclusion: the setting intention is a big motivator. So when you go to a cafe, set on your intention to work, you’ve done half the job, so to speak.
Background noise is a great productivity stimulus
Aside from the motivational boosts that working at a cafe provides, a cafe’s background noise can have a stimulating effect on the brain. Neuropsychology researcher Onno van der Groen has been studying how stochastic resonance or background noise can “alter brain dynamics” and “enhance perception.” Both have a stunning effect on one’s productivity, allowing one to pull out of a mental rut.
Top 10 Work-Friendly Cafes in Singapore
The formula for choosing from the best cafes to work or study in Singapore? It has to meet your desired location: either one that is centrally located near your home or workplace, or one that’s off-the-beaten-path to avoid crowds. Accessible power sockets and fast Wi-Fi are a must, too. Consider comfortable seats as you will be sitting in your spot for a while. And finally, excellent coffee and food for that much-needed fuel. Taking all these into account, here are our top 10 work-friendly cafes in Singapore for your consideration:
1. Grids Coffee Bar
Grids Coffee Bar is a 2-minute walk from the Sri Mariamman Temple. It’s a spacious 3-story Japanese-style cafe that serves coffee bistro fare during the day and turns into a bar at night. It’s one of the best cafes to work in Singapore because of its Work@Grids Program, which allows you to spend the entire day working at the cafe for SGD 30 per person.
Address: 200 South Bridge Rd.
Nearest MRT Station: Chinatown
Budget: USD 21 (Work@Grids Program)
2. Genius Central Singapore
Genius Central Singapore is one of the most popular cafes in Singapore for digital nomads and social entrepreneurs, offering gluten-free and vegan meal options. Choose from their 4-hour or 8-hour day pass and get access to fast Wi-Fi, convenient plug points, and a designated workstation along with F&B credits you can consume during your work day.
Address: 7-13 Amoy Street, Far East Square
Nearest MRT Station: Downtown
Budget: USD 13++ (4-hour Day Pass)
3. Craftsmen Specialty Coffee
This cafe has several branches, but the best cafe for work for Singapore remote workers is the Clarke Quay branch. It has floor-to-ceiling glass windows and natural light, making it a bright spot to work. It prides itself on its single-origin coffee and its all-day breakfast options.
Address: Clarke Quay Central, 6 Eu Tong Sen Street
Nearest MRT Station: Clarke Quay
Budget: USD 3 – 7
4. The Book Cafe
If you want a cozy home library atmosphere, the Book Cafe is the best work-friendly cafe in Singapore for you. It has sockets, free Wi-Fi, and even a photocopier. It offers a delectable all-day breakfast menu and a nice range of hot and cold beverages to fuel up your day.
Address: 20 Martin Road, Seng Kee Building
Nearest MRT Station: Fort Canning
Budget: USD 4 – 6
5. The Coffee Academics
This brand has multiple locations, but the one on Scotts Square has more seating and is notably more peaceful compared to others, making it one of the best cafes to study in Singapore. Along with an all-day breakfast menu, it offers acai bowls for the health-conscious. Its signature coffee, the Manuka, is a must-try.
Address: 6 Scotts Rd (Scotts Square Branch)
Nearest MRT Station: Orchard
Budget: USD 4 – 9
6. Komyuniti
A little different from the usual work cafes in Singapore with Wi-Fi, this one is on the 10th floor of YOTEL. It serves more of the usual hotel restaurant fare, but it does have speedy Wi-Fi and plenty of sockets. Plus its interiors offer a nice change of scenery.
Address: 366 Orchard Road, YOTEL
Nearest MRT Station: Orchard
Budget: USD 4
7. Dal.Komm Coffee
If you want to feel like a K-Drama character while working, then the Dal.Komm Coffee branches are the best cafes to study in Singapore for you. The brand has been featured in popular dramas like Goblin and Descendants of the Sun. Apart from this treat, Dal.Komm cafes have ample seating and fast Wi-Fi. A highlight of this cafe brand? Its Korean-fusion fare and WFH bundles. There are several branches across Singapore, but The Centrepoint branch is particularly favored by remote workers and students.
Address: 176 Orchard Road, The Centrepoint
Nearest MRT Station: Orchard
Budget: USD 3 – 11
8. Toby’s Estate
Toby’s Estate is already an institution. While massively popular, it has retained its peaceful vibe. Thanks to its relaxing riverside location, it remains one of the most work-friendly cafes in Singapore. It’s known for its coffee but if you’re too hyped up on caffeine, try one of their freshly squeezed juice instead.
Address: 8 Rodyk Street
Nearest MRT Station: Fort Canning
Budget: USD 4
9. Twenty Eight Cafe
The bright and airy atmosphere of Twenty Eight Cafe makes it the best cafe to study or work in Singapore for people who could use a dose of Vitamin D. It’s in an off-the-beaten destination, so it provides a nice escape from the city crowd.
Address: 28 Wilkie Rd.
Nearest MRT Station: Rochor
Budget: USD 5
10. Wakey Wakey
This cafe is accessible even though it’s tucked away in a quiet neighborhood on Beach Road. Aside from being one of the best cafes in Singapore with Wi-Fi, it offers a light and breezy vibe that remote workers love. For sustenance, the cafe offers excellent options from the great signature coffee, brunch classics, and vegan options.
Address: The Concourse, 302 Beach Rd
Nearest MRT Station: Nicoll Highway
Budget: USD 3 – 6
Working in a coffee shop is a quick and easy way to break out of your routine and boost your productivity. If you find yourself feeling restless or demotivated, you know what to do: take a break from your usual routine and find the best cafe for work in Singapore.
Looking for a job that gives you the flexibility to work wherever you want? Download the Joblu app and we’ll match you with the right prospects no matter where you are in the world with just a flick of a finger.
Frequently Asked Questions About Work-Friendly Cafes in Singapore
Q: Where can I work outside of my house in Singapore?
A: Choose from the best work-friendly cafes in Singapore for a nice change of pace from your work office. Other options include dedicated co-working spaces and even your neighborhood library.
- Grids Coffee Bar
- Genius Central Singapore
- Craftsmen Specialty Coffee
- The Book Cafe
- The Coffee Academics
- Komyuniti
- Dal.Komm Coffee
- Toby’s Estate
- Twenty Eight Cafe
- Wakey Wakey
Q: Where is the best place to work?
A: The best place to work is anywhere that boosts your productivity, so it can change, depending on your mood for the day, your work style, or your temperament. Extroverts might enjoy the social atmosphere of a co-working space, while introverts might work best at home or in a quiet cafe or library.
Q: Where can I work in Paya Lebar?
A: Komma is the best cafe to work in Singapore’s Paya Lebar Square. It’s popular among students as well.
Q: Why do people go to coffee shops to work?
A: People go to coffee shops to work because of the Coffee Shop Effect, which posits that the mere act of working at a coffee shop stimulates the brain’s productivity.
Q: How long is it okay to sit in a coffee shop?
A: If you’re working at dedicated cafes in Singapore for digital nomads, there’s a chance they might offer work and dine packages that let you stay for longer than four hours. Generally speaking, four hours is the maximum, but if the cafe is busy, you might want to curtail your stay to make way for others.
