Five Oars Coffee Roasters has been around for a little bit, but we just stumbled across it recently on Tanjong Pagar Road and decided to pop in and check out the scene. Located just a few doors down from Kilo, this chic Melbourne-inspired cafe has a big patio in front with lots of greenery and clean white lines and inside it’s got a cool industrial vibe going on. Expect to see peeps working on their laptops or in meetings, as well as your usual cafe crowd sipping on lattes, iced capps and other caffeine creations.
Our experience:
We’re total java junkies, so the quality of coffee is always first on our checklist when we frequent a new cafe. Five Oars made the cut, as the coffee was excellent and they even had oat milk on offer, which added a rich, creamy touch to the strong, aromatic espresso. The brunch dishes sounded too good to pass up, so we went for the Halloumi Portobello ($19) with an earthy portobello mushroom, halloumi cheese, free range eggs, gruyere cheese and avocado. The portion was big and the flavours were spot on, so we were also impressed on the food front.
Unfortunately we didn’t get to try a lot of the food this time around, but we already have our eye on some dishes for our next visit. The Baked Eggs ($19.50) sound amazing with Iberico chorizo, ham, bacon, feta, baby spinach, almonds, tomato sauce, free range eggs and toast. If you have more of a sweet tooth, the Creme Brulee French Toast ($19.50) and Valrhona Chocolate Pancake ($20) would probably hit the spot.
About:
Just like the name suggest, this ultra-Instagrammable cafe roasts their own beans on site, so you know you’re getting ultra-fresh brews. Plus, the beans come from primo coffee-growing regions like Brazil and Ethiopia. Brunch is the main focus here and there are tons of great savoury and sweet dishes to choose from. They’re also open for dinner every day of the week with light bites like the Buffalo Mid Wings ($9) and more substantial dishes like the Mentaiko Mac n’ Cheese ($21.50) and Wagyu Foie Gras Rice Bowl ($27).
Would we come back?
Yes, for sure. We can picture ourselves having a few breakfast meetings here or swinging by for a weekend brunch with friends. The portions are big, so we were pleased with the value for money compared to other cafes in the area. Even if you don’t come here for food, definitely add Five Oars to your coffee list, as it’s a great spot to chill with a cuppa and a book.
Five Oars Coffee Roasters, 39 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088462. Open daily 8am – 10pm