Novena's cafes sit in a tight cluster around the MRT station: Velocity@Novena Square and Square 2 on the Sinaran Drive side, United Square along Thomson Road, and standalone spots such as Craftsmen near Goldhill. Expect specialty coffee bars and kiosks, a Japanese-inspired brunch cafe outside Oasia Hotel, gelato and Korean bingsu, plus a bakery-cafe for an early breakfast. Brunch mains at Otter & Pebbles start from around $15.90 before service charge and GST, while hoagie sandwiches at Love, Joy & Coffee were around $10.80-$12.50 when last reviewed. Several of these places open by 8am, and the mall kiosks in Square 2 and United Square are the easiest picks for a takeaway cup.
Last verified: October 2026. Hours and prices can change — we re-check our guides regularly, but do confirm before a special trip.
The list
Otter & Pebbles Japanese-inspired brunch cafe · $$
A Japanese-inspired cafe just outside Oasia Hotel Novena, from the team behind The Coffee Code. It serves ochazuke, udon, sandos and souffle pancakes alongside matcha and specialty lattes, with pet-friendly alfresco seating.
- Cuisine: Japanese-inspired brunch cafe
- Price: $$ · Mains from around $15.90++ (Unagi Ochazuke $28.90++); drinks from around $4
- Must-try: Unagi Ochazuke, Souffle pancakes
- Where: 8 Sinaran Drive, #01-05/07, Singapore 307470
- Area: Novena
- Nearest MRT: Novena
- Hours: Daily 11am-9pm
- Halal: No
Craftsmen Specialty Coffee (Novena) Specialty coffee and all-day brunch · $$
The Novena outlet of local specialty coffee brand Craftsmen, a standalone spot on Thomson Road near Goldhill. It serves espresso and filter coffee along with an all-day breakfast and brunch menu, and opens at 7am daily.
- Cuisine: Specialty coffee and all-day brunch
- Price: $$
- Must-try: Espresso drinks, All-day breakfast
- Where: 173 Thomson Road, Singapore 307623
- Area: Novena (Goldhill)
- Nearest MRT: Novena
- Hours: Daily 7am-7:30pm
Love, Joy & Coffee Specialty coffee and brunch · $$
A cafe on level 2 of Velocity@Novena Square and a sister outlet of Grace Espresso in River Valley, known for its hoagie sandwiches and brioche French toast.
- Cuisine: Specialty coffee and brunch
- Price: $$ · Hoagie rolls around $10.80-$12.50; brioche French toast around $14.80-$16.80 (2023 prices)
- Must-try: Dragonball Sub, Beef Rendang Brioche French Toast
- Where: 238 Thomson Road, #02-K9 Velocity@Novena Square, Singapore 307683
- Area: Novena
- Nearest MRT: Novena
- Hours: Daily 8am-6pm
Alchemist (Square 2) Specialty coffee bar · $
A coffee bar from Alchemist, a Singapore roaster that started as a small CBD coffee bar at International Plaza in 2016 and roasts its beans in-house. The Square 2 outlet is on level 1, a short walk from Novena MRT.
- Cuisine: Specialty coffee bar
- Price: $
- Must-try: Espresso drinks, Filter coffee from house-roasted beans
- Where: 10 Sinaran Drive, #01-172 Square 2, Singapore 307506
- Area: Novena
- Nearest MRT: Novena
- Hours: Daily 8am-8pm
Anteroom (United Square) Specialty coffee kiosk · $
A specialty coffee brand focused on precision brewing, serving filter and espresso coffees, teas and daytime bites from a kiosk on level 2 of United Square.
- Cuisine: Specialty coffee kiosk
- Price: $
- Must-try: Filter coffee, Espresso drinks
- Where: 101 Thomson Road, #02-K2 United Square, Singapore 307591
- Area: Novena
- Nearest MRT: Novena
- Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-6pm; Sat-Sun 8:30am-5:30pm
Burnt Cones (United Square) Gelato cafe · $
A gelato cafe founded by two childhood friends who trained at Carpigiani gelato school in Italy; it makes its gelato in-house, serves it with burnt cones and French butter waffles, and roasts its own coffee beans.
- Cuisine: Gelato cafe
- Price: $
- Must-try: House-made gelato, Burnt cones with French butter waffles
- Where: 101 Thomson Road, #01-K9 United Square, Singapore 307591
- Area: Novena
- Nearest MRT: Novena
- Hours: Mon-Fri 11am-10pm; Sat-Sun 10am-10pm
Nunsaram Korean Dessert Cafe (Velocity) Korean dessert cafe (bingsu) · $$
A Korean dessert cafe whose name means 'snow man', serving bingsu shaved-ice desserts alongside Korean food and snacks. The Novena outlet is on level 1 of Velocity@Novena Square.
- Cuisine: Korean dessert cafe (bingsu)
- Price: $$
- Must-try: Bingsu
- Where: 238 Thomson Road, #01-54/55 Velocity@Novena Square, Singapore 307683
- Area: Novena
- Nearest MRT: Novena
- Hours: Daily 10:30am-10pm
Cedele (Velocity) Bakery-cafe chain · $$
The Novena outlet of Cedele, a local bakery-cafe chain operating since 1997, serving sandwiches, soups, cakes and bakes. It is open from 7:30am to 10pm, which suits both breakfast and post-work meals.
- Cuisine: Bakery-cafe chain
- Price: $$
- Must-try: Sandwiches, Soups, Cakes
- Where: 238 Thomson Road, #01-22 Velocity@Novena Square, Singapore 307683
- Area: Novena
- Nearest MRT: Novena
- Hours: Daily 7:30am-10pm
At a glance: compare every spot
| Spot | Cuisine | Price | Area | Halal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Otter & Pebbles | Japanese-inspired brunch cafe | $$ | Novena | No |
| Craftsmen Specialty Coffee (Novena) | Specialty coffee and all-day brunch | $$ | Novena (Goldhill) | — |
| Love, Joy & Coffee | Specialty coffee and brunch | $$ | Novena | — |
| Alchemist (Square 2) | Specialty coffee bar | $ | Novena | — |
| Anteroom (United Square) | Specialty coffee kiosk | $ | Novena | — |
| Burnt Cones (United Square) | Gelato cafe | $ | Novena | — |
| Nunsaram Korean Dessert Cafe (Velocity) | Korean dessert cafe (bingsu) | $$ | Novena | — |
| Cedele (Velocity) | Bakery-cafe chain | $$ | Novena | — |
Your questions answered
Where are most cafes in Novena?
They cluster around Novena MRT: Velocity@Novena Square and Square 2 on the Sinaran Drive side, United Square along Thomson Road, and Craftsmen Specialty Coffee at 173 Thomson Road. Otter & Pebbles is just outside Oasia Hotel Novena at 8 Sinaran Drive, all within a few minutes' walk of the station.
How much does a cafe meal in Novena cost?
Brunch mains at Otter & Pebbles start from around $15.90 before service charge and GST, with signatures such as the Unagi Ochazuke at $28.90++. Hoagie sandwiches at Love, Joy & Coffee were around $10.80-$12.50 and brioche French toast around $14.80-$16.80 when last reviewed in 2023.
Which Novena cafes are good for breakfast?
Craftsmen Specialty Coffee opens at 7am daily and Cedele at Velocity at 7:30am. Love, Joy & Coffee and Alchemist at Square 2 open at 8am, as does Anteroom at United Square on weekdays. Otter & Pebbles opens at 11am, so it suits brunch better.
Which Novena cafes are open late?
Cedele and Nunsaram at Velocity@Novena Square and Burnt Cones at United Square stay open until 10pm. Most of the specialty coffee spots close between 5:30pm and 8pm.
Are there halal cafes in Novena?
None of the cafes in this guide appears in the MUIS halal directory, and Otter & Pebbles serves dishes containing pork and lard. Check the MUIS halal directory for a specific outlet before you go.
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