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Well Collective Interior
Photograph: Well Collective

The best quiet cafés with free Wi-Fi to do work or study

Singapore's best study and work-friendly cafés with free Wi-Fi, charging ports and a good cuppa to get your productivity game on

Written by
Time Out Singapore editors
,
Cheryl Sekkappan
&
Dawson Tan
Contributor
Xiao Qing Wan
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Looking for a quiet place to do work but not a fan of the stuffy office or library environment? We don't blame you, being cooped up in a cubicle all day drives even the calmest among us crazy. We also understand that not everyone has an ideal work-from-home set-up. Venture beyond your friendly, neighbourhood Starbucks and settle down with free Wi-Fi, power points and a good cuppa to get your productivity game on at these cafés instead.

RECOMMENDED: Your ultimate guide to the best cafés in Singapore and the best cafés in the CBD

Find focus at these work-friendly spots

  • Restaurants
  • Cafés
  • Punggol

Well Collective is the perfect place to get some work done, as its space was meticulously designed with gatherings and productivity in mind. Complete with power sockets and complimentary Wi–Fi, Well Collective also has a large communal table for you to concentrate on your work with others who are also studying. If you’re feeling hungry, try the Shibuya toast ($18), a new dessert that consists of a thick, fluffy toast and three different flavours – chocolate hazelnut, earl grey orange, and crème brûlée – for you to choose from. Well Collective is also pet-friendly, so you can bring your furry pal along if you don’t want to leave them alone at home.

  • Restaurants
  • Cafés
  • Kallang

Sometimes, the key to a productive study session is a nicely decorated interior, and Syip’s minimalist white interior fits the bill. The café has a sleek and modern interior, and is equipped with power sockets, complimentary Wi-Fi, and brightly lit areas to ensure you stay focused for as long as possible. Be sure to head down on weekdays to enjoy its weekday lunch promotion consisting of a  drink and a main starting from $22. You can also  get a cup of coffee starting from just $4 to kickstart your productive session.

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  • Restaurants
  • Cafés
  • Rochor

Cafés are always nice to work at, but when it gets a bit crowded, the noise makes it difficult to get any work done. That’s why Acoustics Coffee Bar’s interior design incorporates acoustic panels in order to minimise echo and absorb noise. Its latest outlet at Owen Road consists of two storeys, with the first floor designated as a work-friendly space equipped with power sockets and Wi-Fi. The menu also features recipes by Masterchef finalist Mandy Kee, such as a pandan tiramisu and kerabu salad. As for coffees, try the signature cloud coffees (from $8), which is milk topped with a hand beaten caffeine mixture such as matcha or houjicha.

  • Restaurants
  • Cafés
  • City Hall

This prominent coffee chain from Taiwan has made its way to Singapore, and is now one of the best spots to get some work done if you ever find yourself in the CBD area. Louisa Coffee offers power sockets and free Wi-Fi, and you can grab a cup of delicious coffee starting from $4. We recommend the orange peel latte ($6.30) for a zesty flavour alongside a rich coffee, and the coffee mojito ($6.90), a coffee mixed with citrus, lime, and mint for a refreshing caffeine drink. If you’re craving a snack, do try its Taro Boston cream pie ($6.50) – a sweet and fluffy sponge cake with a light taro cream.

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  • Music and entertainment
  • Marine Parade

Those who enjoy a good playlist to accompany them as they get along with their work, head over to Choice Cuts. This laidback café sells New York style pizza and bagels on the first floor, which you can bring up to the record shop and co-working space ($5 per hour) on the second floor. Try the smashed avocado bagel ($15) or a slice of their pepperoni pizza and a soda for $10 for a hearty meal to pair with your productive session.

  • Restaurants
  • Cafés
  • Tanglin

This hidden café can be found along Stevens Road and Bukit Timah, and is located within a condominium complex. Don’t worry, you don’t need to be a resident to enter the café, but its location is what makes The Ritual the perfect quiet spot for studying. The Ritual has counter seats for those who prefer working alone, as well as plenty of tables with plush seats for a comfortable working session. As for coffee, you can get an espresso drink starting from $5 or opt for one of their cold brews (from $7) with milk, oat milk, or even rose and honey. If you’re not a fan of coffee, The Ritual also offers cold pressed juices and kombucha ($9) on its menu.

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  • Restaurants
  • Cafés
  • Outram

Snack on mochi waffles ($9) and warabi mochi ($8) as you get your work done at Onné Café. This quaint little café has counter seats with power sockets which are perfect for solo workers coming in to have a productive session. Bigger tables are also available for group discussions, and if your work or study session ends in the evening, finish your productive day with Onné’s current pasta promotion, where you can get 50% off your second pasta order from 5.30pm onwards.

  • Restaurants
  • Cafés
  • Rochor

Tucked away along the quaint stretch of Wilkie Road, this work-friendly cafe boasts a bright and airy space with plenty of natural light. And it's pretty spacious as it houses a good mix of large tables for group projects and small ones for the solo digital nomads. Park yourself at the right spot and you'll find the power plugs for juice. At the coffee bar, affordably-priced coffees start from just $4.90 for a shot of espresso. Other beverage options include fresh juices, cold-brewed tea, smoothies and milkshakes.

To refuel, the work-friendly cafe serves up a hearty brunch menu that headlines Western classics and Asian rice bowls. Choose from the egg benny ($19) to kimchi beef rice bowl ($16) and even a sakura ebi angel hair pasta ($18). But if it is snacks you're after, there are finger food such as fries and churros (from $8).

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  • Restaurants
  • Cafés
  • Kallang

The ever-so-quaint Kampong Bugis makes an idyllic spot to escape the city and this well-loved Arab Street burger joint knows. The second outpost is a bigger, well-lit, and equally work-friendly space. Coffee starts from just $4 alongside fresh bakes that switch up each day, and with power sockets and free Wi-Fi, it hits the sweet spot for anyone looking to find their focus – or finish that book you've been procrastinating. The all-day dining concept also features an extensive menu ranging from the good ole eggs benny to Aussie-style barbecue. Got the pesky mental block? Head outside for a quick stroll along the peaceful Kallang river.

  • Sport and fitness
  • Climbing
  • City Hall

Bouldering Gym Project Send may be a playground for climbing enthusiasts but that doesn't mean you won't find a slice of quiet at Beta Café. During the day, the space welcomes members of the public to work from a 'second' home that is equipped with power points at most seats. Thinking of fueling the mind? Freshen up with cold-pressed juices and artisanal coffee served by an in-house barista. And if you're feeling a tad peckish, tuck into locally-sourced dishes, ranging from savoury grilled cheese sandwiches and salmon bagels to sinfully sweet kouign-amann and sticky cinnamon buns. For those feeling a little stuck, perhaps consider a trial session and who knows, bouldering might just be your new fitness muse. 

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  • Restaurants
  • Cafés
  • Rochor

This well-kept secret is a day spot tailored for budding entrepreneurs, digital nomads, hot deskers, students or even folks who just want a quick healthy pick-me-up. Anchoring itself to the bright modern interiors is a long communal table that is perfect for groups that are brainstorming for your next winning idea. Those looking to put in a session of deep focus work can seek respite in the cosy side alcove tucked away in privacy. Peckish? Enjoy cleaner options of healthy cold-pressed juices and hearty salads jam-packed with superfood ingredients.

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  • Restaurants
  • Tanjong Pagar

If you’re a fan of laid-back, Aussie-style café nosh, check out Sarnies. This sandwich shop lives up to its name with rustic ’wiches like roast chicken with house-cured bacon ($16) and tuna melt with broccoli, pickled cucumber and aioli ($22). It's not uncommon to see early morning hustlers multitasking: typing away while munching on a sandwich. Of course, they've got an exhaustive list of brews including flat whites, macchiatos and mochas. Here's a flex – their cuppas made it to Lonely Planet’s list of best coffees.

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  • Restaurants
  • Hougang

Perhaps best known for possibly popularising jaffles – an Aussie dish – in Singapore, this quaint cafe has undergone a much-needed facelift. Transforming the dusty salmon pink walls to zen-inducing textured walls, this heartland nook is now channelling major bonseki – Japanese sand gardens – vibes, if you would. But when it comes to coffee, they don't play. Cuppas (start from a $2.50 espresso) are brewed from single-origin beans and filter coffee selections that rotate on a regular basis (start from $7). One thing that remains is the work-friendly space with free wifi.

  • Restaurants
  • French
  • Rochor

Early morning hustlers, start your mornings right with the inimitable scent of freshly baked pastries. It's no secret that this three-in-one French bistro has got the wines and gourmet down to a tee – it tends to pack up during lunch and dinner. But come early and you'll witness a working combination of Duo Galleria residents and those who've found the spot with their laptops. Pick a corner table and you'll most likely be left alone until the lunch rush hour hits. By then you'd have deserved a hearty lunch where regional French specialties such as garlic butter snails ($124), duck confit ($42) and a delicious beef steak ($42) await you.

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  • Restaurants
  • Cafés
  • Chinatown

From the creator of Strangers' Reunion and Curious Palette, this open concept cafe has got all the natural light you'll need, thanks to its large window panes. With 60 seats, the modern cafe is spacious and draws in curious onlookers who are looking to slam out some work and sort out a quick meal. Their must-try item will be the buttermilk waffles with your own choice of ice cream. From $12, it is a midday treat that taste like heaven on your tastebud with it being crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside.

Or check out these co-working spaces

For all you café-hoppers

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  • Restaurants

Grab a cuppa on your way to work or swap your regular cafeteria lunch meals with atas ones at these joints that not only serve a great change of environment from your bleak office walls, but also menus that'll satisfy any empty bellies. RECOMMENDED: The best cafés in Singapore

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