SINGAPORE, June 13 — Let’s be clear on one thing: Good coffee is the first and most important criterion for choosing a cafe to hang out in.

But since several establishments these days tick that box, how else can a caffeinated hangout space recommend itself to discerning cafe hoppers? With the coffee scene heating up and a coffee festival happening this week, it takes more than just cool coffee beans to lure people in.

There’s the vibe, obviously, which gives a place that certain je ne sais quoi. Then there’s food, because sometimes, that coffee just tastes better with perfectly cooked eggs on toast.

On top of that, you might want something more to look at and contemplate while you sip your brew, so some cafes double up as arty events spaces. And then, of course, there are cute little twists that make a place unique, like coffee served in chocolate-covered cones — hey, we know that “gimmick” isn’t always a bad word.

The courtyard at Punch. — Picture courtesy of Punch

Nice shots

We’ll brave poor ventilation and dank decor for a good grab-and-go, but when it comes to quality chats with friends while nursing a latte — or three — a pretty and comfortable space never hurts.

Punch (32 North Canal Road), the latest cafe from the people behind Ronin and The Plain, is a prime example of a place that makes us want to spend all day there. Located in a shophouse on North Canal Road, it boasts a tranquil and elegant courtyard that had been restored by the landlord, said co-owner Laura Phay, who is responsible for the cafe’s interiors.

“When we designed the space, we were visualising a place of escape, where busy CBD workers could seek refuge among the greens — where they could pretend, even for a moment, that they were at a coffee house in a tropical beach resort, and reclaim some ‘me time’ to feel present,” she explained.

“We like to keep things minimal, with a sense of home.”

Phay knows that ambience isn’t just a bonus; it’s part of the experience. “Sensorial engagement happens when you consume something that delights — and the ambience automatically gets embedded in this memory,” she said. “We have definitely seen a wave of curiosity seekers who first discovered us on social media feeds they follow; some of them have evolved to become regulars, and for this we are immensely grateful.”

Other great spaces include Curious Palette (64 Prinsep Street), a gorgeous shophouse cafe which has more of a cottage vibe than Punch’s sleek interiors. It is an airy, sunlit white space that feels like a cosy conservatory and has large tables for a big group.

We’re also fond of Necessary Provisions (21 Eng Kong Terrace), situated in an old-school Bukit Timah residential neighbourhood. It’s a laid-back living-room space with outdoor seating, where you can chill with your pets on a lazy afternoon. The pace of life is different when you’re not in the city, after all.

Common Man Coffee Roasters’ Full Breakfast. — Picture courtesy of Common Man Coffee Roasters

Man does not live by coffee alone

No soggy quesadillas, garden-variety waffles or microwaved pies, please. Since we’re discerning about our coffee, we’re discerning about our food, too, of course. There are many coffee places that put out a half-hearted food menu, but there are others that have put thought and care into their kitchen offerings.

Common Man Coffee Roasters (22 Martin Road) is one of them. It has its popular all-day breakfasts and a varied menu that also features vegetarian and gluten-free options.

“We wanted to differentiate ourselves from most of the artisan coffee bars — to offer our customers food that is just as good as our amazing coffee, and not just boring sandwiches or limp quiches,” said co-owner Harry Grover.

Common Man Coffee Roasters’ Turkish Breakfast. — Picture courtesy of Common Man Coffee Roasters

“Food is not just an accompaniment or afterthought; it is just as important as our coffee.”

Because Common Man’s menu was conceptualised “to elevate cafe food”, Grover continued, there are variations on the brunchy dishes you’d typically enjoy with your coffee.

“For example, our Eggs Benedict sits on a bed of slow-braised beef cheeks, while the Turkish Breakfast plates up a tasty phyllo-wrapped soft boiled egg, hummus, cucumber and pita bread, drizzled with honey,” he elaborated.

Another cafe worth spending your calorie count at is Pacamara Boutique Coffee Roasters (185 Upper Thomson Road), where you’ll find intriguing dishes such as the sticky date pancake served with bananas, cookie dough and salted caramel ice cream; Crab Benedict, which fancies up your poached egg and hollandaise sauce with marinated crab rump and avocado on toasted brioche; and Ocean Mac & Cheese, made with prawns, crab meat and smoked salmon. That’s on top of the mean cups of coffee they churn out, needless to say.

Then, of course, there is always the popular favourite, 40 Hands (78 Yong Siak Street). We still love their Eggs Cocotte and its spinach, mushrooms and truffle oil, the selection of grilled sandwiches, and the charmingly random tau sar buns, which somehow taste inexplicably better because they look like someone accidentally sat on them.

Mavrx Coffee Apocathery serves up coffee in cones. — TODAY pic

A cute angle 

Nothing can topple the reign of a solid brew’s taste, but sometimes, presentation can enhance, or at least add variety to, your coffee experience.

MavRx Coffee Apothecary (1A Duxton Hill) serves up its cold brews in plastic syringes, so you have the pleasure of squirting your coffee into your glass before drinking it — the next best thing to putting yourself on an intravenous caffeine drip, we suppose.

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any cuter, they also offer piccolo lattes in mini wafer cones lined with dark, white or milk chocolate. The chocolate melts into your coffee as you sip it, and then you eat the cone as you go along.

Purists might snap at this, but Instagrammers are the ones who do the most snapping here at this cafe. The cones aren’t available all the time, though, so follow Mavrx on social media to find out when they are in stock.

Over at A.R.C. (Academy, Roastery, Cafe) Coffee (29 Sultan Gate), the cold brew will light up your life — it’s served in glass light bulbs. Unscrew the bulbs and decant the electrifying liquid down your throat. These are also perfect for takeaways and gifts.

A.R.C Cafe’s Andrea Tan. — TODAY pic

And those aren’t the only cute things at A.R.C. Coffee: There’s their cute barista, Andrea Tan, who, by the way, isn’t just a pretty face — she’s also the winner of the Singapore National Brewers Cup 2015.

A.R.C Cafe serves its cold brews in cute light bulb containers. — TODAY pic

While we’re on the topic of cute baristas (hey, it doesn’t hurt if your coffee comes from a good-looking person’s hands, right?) we should also mention Daphne Goh, who is now making Magics (an espresso drink) over at Atlas Coffeehouse (6 Duke’s Road).

Atlas opened early this year and offers a unique Deconstructed Coffee. Basically, it’s espresso, milk and water served in separate cups. Yes, it’s the same drink that recently prompted the Internet outcry about hipsterism heralding the end of the world when it was served to a disgruntled woman in Melbourne.

Hey, at least it’s different — and that’s cute, right?

Space for more

In Europe, cafes were traditionally places where thinking minds could meet to discuss ideas. There’s no reason why a coffee house shouldn’t be an intellectually and aesthetically stimulating space today — on top of offering great brews, of course.

Artistry Cafe is both an arts space and a cafe. — Picture courtesy of Artistry Cafe

Take Artistry Cafe (17 Jalan Pinang), which is both an art gallery and a cafe. It offers itself as a space for both local and international emerging artists to hold debut exhibitions, performances and talks.

“Currently, we are hosting the first solo exhibition of emerging artist Jau Goh, who paints on timber,” said Artistry’s Prashant Somosundram.

“We also host monthly events such as the popular Speakeasy, a spoken word event curated by poet Pooja Nansi, and Stagefright, our platform for emerging singer-songwriters. The band, The Blue Monks, also hosts a monthly jazz jam every last Tuesday of the month, where musicians from all over come and jam in our relaxed environment.”

In fact, Artistry was first developed as an arts space, said Prashant. It has since made a name for itself among coffee hunters, too.

“The food and beverage offerings were intended to complement the art appreciation,” he explained. “We take pride in both aspects and we see our art, food and drinks as an integral part of the Artistry experience.”

A Singapore Design Week exhibition held at The Bravery Cafe. — TODAY pic

The Bravery Cafe (66 Horne Road) is another space that is open to arty collaborations. In March, it played host to one of Singapore Design Week’s events, providing an exhibition space for the Planet Luna Viam Light Installation.

According to the barista behind the counter, the cafe hopes to be a part of more such collaborations in the future. For now, the pretty installation featuring strings of tiny lights is still up, so you can still enjoy it while you sip one of The Bravery’s unique coffee offerings: The fragrant and mellow Lavender Latte.

At the end of it all, it’s all about giving the coffee experience added punch.

As Punch’s Phay said: “People are realising that ‘life is too short’ not just for bad coffees, but for cookie-cutter spaces. The ambience also strengthens the identity of each place and filters the clientele who return as fans.”

We couldn’t agree more. — TODAY