Teahouses in Singapore that will bring out your inner tranquili-tea

Tired of coffee? Maybe it’s time for you to check out some teahouses.

From traditional Chinese brews to authentic Japanese matcha drinks, here are four places where you can get your alternative caffeine fix. For all you know, you might just be convinced to convert your morning coffee habit to tea.

Tucked away in a row of unassuming shophouses along Sago Street is SILK Tea Bar, a new contemporary tea bar that opened late last year.

In contrast to most cafes with lively atmospheres, SILK Tea Bar is like a library. People speak in hushed tones and there’s hardly any disruptive noise. This is a good place for those looking to enjoy some time alone, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. 

Over at SILK Tea Bar, you can enjoy your tea in two different ways: Session Brew and Single Brew. 

For Session Brew, there’s a wide selection of progressive brews available, from Silk Signatures to House Standards. Prices for these range from $8 to $25. 

However, if you’re looking to just drink one glass of tea, you can opt for Single Brew which comes in both hot and iced. Prices start at $5.50 per glass.

The only downside is that they don’t sell food, apart from a limited selection of kueh and salted/sugared peanuts, so make sure you have a good meal before dropping by!

In order to elevate your tea drinking experience, it is recommended that you visit alone or with a friend, so as to soak up the ambience — perfect considering the current COVID-19 safe distancing measures.

The friendly team over at SILK Tea Bar also advises customers to take their time to appreciate their tea.

“We encourage guests to be unhurried and enjoy their time here. We recommend moving on to your next tea beyond 60 min per session brew.”

For the ultimate vibes, I’d personally recommend that you go either at night or when it’s raining. Savour a warm glass of tea as you admire the captivating view from the second storey. You can even keep yourself amused by people-watching.

While SILK Tea Bar has standard opening hours, they are often subject to changes. As such, it’s best that you check their Instagram before making a visit.

Address: 26A Sago St, Singapore 059021

Opening hours: 11am-7pm (Wed, Thu, Sun), 11am-10pm (Fri and Sat), Closed on Tues

Unlike what its name might suggest, Antea Social is the perfect spot for you to enjoy a warm mug of tea while catching up with friends.

Just a stone’s throw away from Farrer Park Station, this teahouse adopts a bright and homely interior with its high ceiling, big glass windows and peach coloured walls. As the place itself is spacious, there’s plenty of seating available.

Antea Social offers a unique assortment of teas ranging from the standard oolong tea to more unique flavours such as The Mini Nonya (a house blend of butterfly pea flowers, lemon verbena, lemongrass, chamomile and orange peel) and Autumn (a handcrafted creation that features iced Rooibos, housemade lemonade, lemon verbena-lavender infused syrup and fresh mint). 

Autumn is actually part of their travel series, inspired by their family trip to Seoul during autumn, where they played with autumn foliage at Gyeongbokgung.

The highlight of this tea experience is getting to choose what teacup you want to use. At the counter, they have a tray full of teacups of varying textures and sizes. Upon making your order, the staff will prompt you to select one that fits your cup of tea. Customers who order home brews are limited to one refill, free-of-charge.

Apart from aromatic tea, they also serve cakes — really yummy cakes.

For those who prefer something light, you can go for the Yuzu cake, which has a fluffy botanical-like cream paired with a zing of citrus.

If you fancy denser cakes with a bit more texture, the Honey Earl Grey is a good choice with its nutty and deep flavour. 

Due to its accessible location, it tends to get quite crowded so do be prepared to queue. For more information, you can check out their Instagram.

Address: 9 Tyrwhitt Rd, Singapore 207528

Opening hours: 11.30am-7pm (Tues-Thurs, Sun), 11.30am-10pm (Fri and Sat), Closed on Mon

Matcha fanatics should be familiar with Hvala. The Japanese-style cafe is ideal for those who are looking for a bit more variety in the menu.

Unlike the previous teahouses, Hvala serves all kinds of Japanese desserts and beverages. Apart from tea, they have cakes, warabi mochi, waffles, pastries, gelato and coffee, with their speciality being of course, matcha.

They currently have four outlets — CHIJMES, 111 Somerset, Muse Initiative at Keong Saik and the newly opened Craig Road where the menu is fully vegan.

Although all stores share a similar zen vibe with their minimalist interior and wooden decor, there are some nuances. 

The outlets at CHIJMES and 111 Somerset are more cosy with a narrow layout and sparse furnishing. As for the outlet at Keong Saik, as it’s a three storey shophouse, there’s plenty of room and the third level even has a Japanese tatami-concept whereby customers have to take off their footwear before entering. The latest outlet at Tanjong Pagar has a special feature — a large sunroof, allowing lots of natural sunlight to shine through and light up the cafe. 

While they do sell tea by the glass, Hvala also offers customers a chance to appreciate tea through their very own Tea Experience. At $68 per person, attendees will find out how various aspects of tea cultivation and processing influence the flavour profile of each brew.

If not, you can also choose from Hvala’s House Selection which includes both Hot Brews and Cold Brews. Hot Brews cost a standard $4.80 while the prices for Cold Brews range from $4.80 to $14.80, depending on your selection.

For more information, you can visit their website.

CHIJMES

Address: 30 Victoria Street, #01-04 to #01-05, Singapore 187996

Opening hours: 12pm-9.30pm daily

111 Somerset

Address: 111 Somerset Road, #01-10, Singapore 238164

Opening hours: 12pm-9.30pm daily

Hvala Craig

Address: 40 Craig Road, Singapore 089678

Opening hours: 12pm-9.30pm daily

Muse Initiative (Keong Saik)

Address: 34 Keong Saik Road, Singapore 089141

Opening hours: 1-10pm (Tues-Sat), Closed on Sun and Mon

For those who aren’t as enthusiastic about tea but still want to experience the zen energy these teahouses exude, here’s one place you can consider. 

While it looks like a teahouse, it doesn’t actually serve tea. As its name suggests, Suzuki Gourmet Coffee sells only coffee and matcha drinks. Customers can even choose between Hokkaido Milk or Japanese Soy Milk, both of which do not have any extra charges – great news for those who are lactose-intolerant!

Suzuki Gourmet Coffee mostly specialises in black coffee, with a wide range of roasts available. While this sounds like heaven to avid black coffee drinkers, others might not enjoy the bitterness. Hence, every drink comes with a complimentary Lotus biscuit which you can munch on in between sips.

Prices for the espresso-based drinks range from $6 to $10 while the black coffees range from $7.50 to $17.50.

Similar to SILK Tea Bar, Suzuki Gourmet Coffee also does not sell food. They only have Japanese Sweets, which seem rarely available.

While it’s located in a rather ulu industrial area, the cafe is actually pretty accessible by public transport, with a bus stop right outside the cafe. However, drivers should note that there are no parking lots available so taking the car might not be the best decision.

Another crucial point is that those who aren’t fully vaccinated are strictly prohibited from entering. Even if you’d simply like to take away your drinks, you have to flash your digital vaccination certificate in order to enter the compounds.

For more information, you can visit their Instagram. 

Address: 8 Chin Bee Ave, Singapore 619932

Opening hours: 10am-5pm (Tues-Fri), 10am-4pm (Sat and Sun), Closed on Mon