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

Get into the work zone at City Sprouts, Singapore's first plot-share urban farm built on the former Henderson Primary School Campus. At the heart of the multi-concept space is a large repurposed canteen where you can settle down for the afternoon within easy access of five food establishments. As Pyroast, you can choose from more than 15 types of single origins and three home blends at affordable prices – traditional kopi and teh start at only $1.50. For a filling meal, grab a hearty Japanese rice bowl from O-Kome (from $10), a juicy cheeseburger meal from Dirty Buns (from $11), or tuck into Meat & Greet’s hearty Pulled Lamb Kebab ($17). When you’re bored, simply step outside to explore the abundant greenhouses, which are the result of the love and labour of aspiring urban farmers and farming enthusiasts.

(Open for dine in. Reservations available here.)

This spacious café has all the perks of a co-working space but without the steep membership fees. It welcomes freelancers, students or anyone who needs some stable internet, power outlets, and a comfortable place to work for hours on end. Commandeer one of its long, low tables to work on a group project, or park yourself in a cosy side alcove for more privacy if you’re flying solo. The menu focuses on healthy fare with ample vegetarian, gluten-, dairy- and nut-free options. A huge perk? 20 percent off all food and drink orders if you sign up for their free membership.

(Open for dine in)

Without the office lunch crowd, Millenia Walk manages to be one of central Singapore's quieter malls. It’s even more secluded on the second floor where Commune Café sits, making it a particularly conducive spot for work or study. An offshoot of furniture store Commune, the café has a sophisticated yet relaxed ambience, with alfresco-style seating on the link bridge so you can people watch when you need a break from the computer screen. For coffee, Commune uses beans from Common Man Coffee Roasters, producing aromatic brews (from $3.50) that you can jazz up with caramel, gingerbread or Irish cream. The food options are decent too, with desserts like chocolate banana waffles with ice cream ($8.50) and chocolate tarts ($4) for a late afternoon pick-me-up.

(Open for dine-in)

Modelled with a warm industrial look and calming Korean drama OSTs playing in the background, this spot is easily one of the best places in town to get some work done in peace. Its abundance of seating areas and power plugs, coupled with its extensive menu of premium drinks and food ensure maximum concentration as you enjoy uninterrupted work sessions while keeping the hunger pangs at bay. 

(Open for dine-in)

The 95-seater has different areas to match your differing working style. Kick back and lounge on the swing seat, or settle down on the tables with warm wooden fixings. Have an award-winning barista pull you a satisfying cup of coffee that will surely give you the boost you need. When you're feeling peckish, the café also serves up treats like the maple sea salt cheesecake ($9) and fluffy skillet pancakes ($12). 

(Open for dine-in. Reservations available here.)

For those of you that like to bang out a report with a bottle of beer by your side, Little Creatures is for you. The industrial-chic space is home to the brand's full line-up of craft beers including its flagship pale ale (from $9) alongside a selection of other brews exclusive to Singapore. But if it's caffeine you're craving, Little Creatures has teamed up with Schibello Coffee Roastery deliver your daily fix from 8am. Settle into a quiet corner where you can enjoy free Wi-Fi alongside some of Schibello's more unique pours that are meant to be sipped an savoured, such as the raspberry and pomegranate cold brew.

(Open for dine-in)

Tiong Bahru is in no shortage of work-friendly cafes but Plain Vanilla takes it one step higher with a secret extension beyond its main space. There, you'll find students and working professionals alike typing away on their laptops while sipping on PV's affordably priced coffees as well as those hard-to-resist cupcakes. Choose from a dozen flavours ($3.90 each): chocolate hazelnut’s a bold, Nutella-fuelled prize crowned with more nuts; red velvet’s made with Valrhona chocolate and capped with a thick cream cheese frosting; and cookies and cream’s a chocolatey affair with smashed Oreos weaved into its frosting. You’ll want to collect ’em all, we promise.

(Open for dine-in)

What the heck is a jaffle? Well, ask the Australians – after all, it was conceived from Down Under. A jaffle, named after the jaffle iron invented in 1949, is basically a toasted sandwich. And Amber Ember, a café located right smack in the middle of Serangoon and Kovan MRT stations, may be the first to bring this slice of Australian gastronomy to our sunny shores. Splashed out in shades of dusty pink and warm neutrals, the Instagrammable café offers six jaffle options with its signature purple sweet potato mash. From the lot, we spy with our little eye Chessus Take The Wheel ($14), featuring a pulled pork-mac and cheese stuffing. There are also other food items such as bacon cheese fries ($12) for sharing and a range of pastas. Amber Ember also takes the coffee culture seriously, where cuppas (from $2.50 for an espresso to $6 for a mocha) are brewed from single-origin Guatemala. And yes, the café is extremely work-friendly with power points and free wifi; what’s more, its relatively ulu location means lesser crowds, so you’ll get a spot there for sure.

(Open for dine-in. Call 6221 9279 for reservations.)

This might be a wine bar by night but during the day, Wine and Chef welcomes freelancers and hot deskers with free Wi-Fi and $3 coffees. If you prefer to write drunk and edit sober, it has an exclusive range of over 250 wines, while house pour wines start from just $9 per glass.

(Open for dine-in. Call 6222 2007 for reservations.)

Located on the ground floor of what used to be the Telok Ayer Chung Hwa Free Clinic, My Awesome Cafe takes the old-school aesthetic and knocks it out of the ballpark with equal parts knack for sourcing and creative ingenuity. You can’t help but be motivated in this space full of quirks and history that buzzes with energy. Although the lunch crowd is a busy one, get there early to find yourself an upcycled vintage school desk to work on. Coffees range from $4 to $6, and you’ll be distracted from your work with the breadth of food and beverage choices on offer. Try the açai menu for some superfood brain power ($6.50-$18.50), or, for a more substantial dish, the protein-packed My Awesome Salad ($16).

(Open for dine-in)

This intimate café provides a space where diners can set up ‘therapy’ sessions, so grab your colleagues for some ice cream, and supplement it with waffles that come with maple syrup or salted caramel sauce (from $12). Its location in the CBD makes it a perfect weekend hideout as well.

(Open for dine-in. Reservations available here.) 

Eclectic decor and mismatched furniture dominate this casual chill-out spot along Arab Street. It does a mean beef burger that’s topped with cheese and veg ($13.90). Have it with a side of truffle tater tots ($8.90), seasoned with truffle oil and grated Parmesan. 

(Open for dine-in)

Snug like a living room, Book Cafe has long been the go-to for a quiet catch up with a book or a comfy spot to bang out a bit of work. There's also a printer that's free to use. For sustenance, look to its extensive menu, with all-day breakfast options like pancakes ($5.95-$9.95) and eggs Benedict ($15.95), as well as a slice of its signature apple pie ($5.95). Premium teas are from Tea Forte ($8/pot), which is worth swapping your usual coffee for.

(Open for dine-in)

You know what to expect: high ceilings, exposed beams and bulbs, wood-topped tables, and an open coffee bar. Use this as quiet place to buckle down and get some work done – and pick from the impressive array of coffee choices while you're at it. The Slayer Espresso that drips from beans roasted on-site will have caffeine-heads wired. Apart from single-origin espresso, pour-over, French press and siphon coffees, there's also a full menu of bread-heavy items and a more substantial night menu. 

(Open for dine-in)

Nothing like pizza to calm a growling stomach. One Man Coffee is a cosy nook that shares a shophouse space with gourmet pizza bar Crust. Which means that on weekdays, you'll have the option for a full pie paired with coffee ($3-$6). Light brunch options are available ($11-$19), such as nutty brioche French toast served with caramelised banana, strawberries, and candied walnut ($15).

Working from home not cutting it for you? Try one of these co-working spaces instead

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

You can't walk two steps without passing by a café or coffeeshop in Tiong Bahru – but which ones are worth dropping in on for a cuppa or two? Here are our top picks.