From The Straits Times    |

Singaporeans love their weekend brunches and are even willing to queue for them. But sometimes, instead of digging into indulgent, carb-heavy and greasy breakfast plates that will send you right back to bed, it pays to start your weekend right with a light and nutritious meal that does not compromise on taste. Here are 11 spots you can have a guilt-free and enjoyable brunch at.

1. Common Man Coffee Roasters

Photo: Common Man Coffee Roasters’ Facebook

Five years in existence and still going strong, the River Valley neighbourhood’s favourite cafe and all-day-brunch spot continues to open to packed houses on the weekends.

Their 7.30 am start is an early riser’s dream come true, and apart from their amazing coffee, their healthy breakfast plates are delicious and wholesome too.

Top picks include the house-made crunchy granola, served with berries and honey Greek yogurt ($14), which is fibre-rich and hearty.

There is also the sautéed kale and egg white scramble, with asparagus, sweet pea, broccoli and parmesan ($18), which is easily one of the best ways to eat kale in the city.

Packed with tons of vegan and gluten-free options, and even fresh juice blends, Common Man Coffee Roasters is a great breakfast spot for a variety of healthful diets.

Common Man Coffee Roasters is at #01-00, 22 Martin Road, Singapore 239058, tel: 6836 4695.

 

2. Little Farms Cafe

Photo: Little Farms Cafe

It’s no surprise that the Little Farms’ cafes serve up healthy meals, as they use the same exceptional produce that is sold in their gourmet grocery stores.

At their Valley Point seated cafe, expect a succinct menu of breakfast plates like the smashed avocado, poached eggs and marinated feta on sourdough ($15).

There is a glass display of freshly-prepared grain salads like the wild rice with chicken ($14) and the quinoa, tomato and bocconcini salad ($12).

There is also a selection of gluten-free baked goods, quiches, pies and frittatas available on rotation, for dine-in or takeaway.

Little Farms Cafe is at #01-20, 491 River Valley Road, tel: 6262 0619 and #01-04/05/06, No. 3 Lorong Liput, tel: 6365 2557.

3. Sarnies

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Breakfast Club? Nah, it’s Brunch Club over here at #sarniescafe

A post shared by Sarnies Singapore (@sarnies.sg) on

A morning meal at Sarnies can range from clean and green, to hearty and power-packed.

The food here caters to a variety of dietary needs, and high protein, low carb, vegetarian options and more are all taken care of.

An #eatclean start to the day is with their acai bowl of fresh mango, strawberries, and banana with coconut chips, nuts, seeds and goji berries ($16.50), or opt to create your own healthy plate with their list of brunch sides like eggs (any style), roasted tomatoes, mixed greens, avocado, smoked salmon and more ($3 to $6.80 per side).

They also do raw and vegan superfood shakes that are filling enough to be a breakfast on-the-go, such as the Bulletproof ($9) which is a blend of cocoa, banana, cashews, flaxseeds, coffee and coconut oil.

Sarnies is at 136 Telok Ayer Street Singapore 068601.

4. Como Cuisine

In lush Dempsey Hill within the COMO Dempsey cluster of restaurants, Como Cuisine’s breakfast plates are as clean and elegant as the bright interiors.

The menu is peppered with dishes from across the COMO group’s wellness resorts and hotels around the world, so expect therapeutic brews like the Body Guard ($7) which is a long black with ginger, manuka honey, and cold-pressed coconut oil and fresh juice blends like the Green & Clean ($12) of apple, fennel, spinach, spirulina, seeds and nuts. Food-wise, nothing is run of the mill here.

A bite of their crisp and airy seven-grain waffle served with smoked trout, crème fraiche, zucchini and herbs ($18) will have you wanting more all weekend.

Como Cuisine is at 18A Dempsey Road, tel: 1800 304 6688.

 

5. The LoKal

Photo: The LoKal’s Facebook

The Duxton neighbourhood brunch favourite does healthy breakfasts really well.

They have a flexible menu, where you can create your own breakfast plate off a list of house-made sides ($2 to $7 each).

Their house-smoked mackerel and homemade ricotta are legendary and excellent with a side of eggs.

For the indecisive, they serve an excellent grain bowl of barley, farro, quinoa, a 64 degree egg, flavour-packed with pickled and raw vegetables and a mirin-soy dressing ($18).

All of the healthy options on their menu can be made gluten-free and in some cases vegan too.

The LoKal is at 136 Neil Road, Singapore 088865, tel: 6423 9918.

 

6. HRVST

Photo: Hrvst’s Facebook

You may not want to head back into the CBD for brunch on the weekend, but we promise you this one is worth it. Hrvst (pronounced ‘harvest’) is a vegan restaurant, and their food will surprise you (in a good way). Their Saturday-only weekend brunch menu is compact, and you can look forward to dishes like the zucchini frittata with twice-cooked spuds, avocado, ketchup and basil ($16), and the rosti with soy sausage and garlic aioli ($14). The dishes boast exceptional flavour and texture, all without the use of any eggs, dairy and meat. Ingredients are mostly all-natural and free of nasties. Tip: Grab a seat on their airmocks in their outdoor terrace garden for those weekend chill vibes.

Hrvst is at #05-01, OUE Downtown Gallery, 6A Shenton Way, Singapore 068815, tel: 6920 7500.

 

7. Halcyon & Crane

Halcyon & Crane

Photo: Halcyon & Crane

Finally a cafe that serves healthy (and delicious) meals on the Orchard Road shopping belt.

Halcyon & Crane at Paragon is a sight for sore eyes, with its elegant interiors and menu of beautifully-presented, healthful dishes.

On their all-day-breakfast menu is the Healthy Mixed Grains and Pumpkin Salad ($18), where a bountiful mix of white beans, pearl barley, kamut, quinoa, buckwheat and more, are tossed with honey roasted pumpkin, beetroot, avocado and kernels of corn in a honey citrus dressing.

The Living CafeThere is also the fruity Pistachio and Apple Birches Muesli ($17), which is an overnight oats bowl topped with fresh and dried fruit, pistachio and quinoa. A great way to kickstart a day of retail-therapy.

Halcyon & Crane is at #03-09, The Paragon, 290 Orchard Road, Singapore 238859, tel: 9727 5121.

 

8. The Living Cafe

The Living Cafe

Photo: The Living Cafe’s Facebook

It wouldn’t be a list of healthy cafes without mentioning this Bukit Timah stalwart that has been serving mostly raw-but-delicious meals to healthy noshers since 2011.

The entire menu is free of preservatives, additives, dairy and red meat.

Brunch on weekends begin at 9am (perfect for a post-morning run) and the menu features everything from a chia pudding with seasonal fruits (raw, vegan and gluten-free, $10) to a breakfast burrito of scrambled eggs, mushroom ragout, spinach, a raw cashew mayo, and eggplant treated to mimic bacon ($16.50).

Soy-laced coffees, fresh-pressed juices, superfood smoothies and kombucha, are all available here.

The Living Cafe is at 779 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 269758, tel: 6468 4482.

 

9. SPRMRKT

The menus differ slightly at their two locations, but healthy breakfast options are available at both Cluny Court and STPI.

Located a stone’s throw away from the Botanic Gardens, SPRMRKT at Cluny Court is a great spot for brunch after a morning exercise session in the park.

The acai, pili nuts and overnight oats bowl with bananas and yogurt ($15) is a protein- and fibre-rich start to the day.

At their Robertson Quay outlet, the menu boasts a whole section dedicated to superfood grain bowls, and hearty brunch plates like The Veggie Breakfast ($19) of eggs (scrambled, fried or sous-vide) served with roasted vine-ripened tomatoes, avocado, mesclun salad and brioche.

Fresh-pressed juice blends like the Fat Blaster (grapefruit, orange, lemon, ginger, $10) will make healthy pairings with your brunch plates.

SPRMRKT at Cluny Court is at #02-13, Cluny Court, 501 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 259760, tel: 9736 4170 and STPI, 41 Robertson Quay, Singapore 238236, tel: 9736 4032.

 

10. Bearded Bella

Bearded Bella

Photo: Bearded Bella’s Facebook

Not only do we love their ‘neighbourhood cafe’ vibe, this Craig Road cosy spot opens at 7.30 am every day, allowing early risers to begin their day with their Aussie-style brekkie plates and excellent coffee.

You cannot go wrong with the Smashed Avocado ($17) — it is topped with nuts and seeds, served with sweet potato crisps, quinoa, feta cheese and pomegranate on grain toast.

Their version of scrambled eggs is flavour-packed with turmeric, mushroom and truffle oil, and fibre-rich with the addition of kale ($18). Plus, the light-filled shophouse space is an Instagrammer’s dream.

Bearded Bella is at 8 Craig Road, Singapore 089668, tel: 9880 0775.

 

11. The Butcher’s Wife

The Butcher’s Wife

Photo: The Butcher’s Wife

This Tiong Bahru spot is Singapore’s only 100 per cent gluten-free restaurant, and whether you are intolerant or not, it is a great spot for a low-carb brunch that does not compromise on flavours.

They open at 11am, so breakfast here is late, leisurely and more like a brunch.

Brunch dishes are not typical here — there is the House-made Granola served in a blueberry and Roselle jam smoothie bowl with chia seeds, fresh fruit and almond butter ($21) and light mains include the Organic Poached Eggs and Salmon (that has been cured in-house) served with sweet potato rosti, feta, tomato sambal and avocado ($25).

To drink, there are fresh juice blends like the Coco Loco ($12) of coconut, agave, almond milk and pineapple.

The Butcher’s Wife is at 19 Yong Siak Street, Singapore 168650, tel: 6221 9307.