Front of House

Cafe Monochrome: 2D Cafe In Chinatown With All-Day Breakfast

The last time we visited Cafe Monochrome, they only had one outlet located in Jalan Besar. Back then, they were said to be Singapore’s first 2D concept cafe.

Two years later, they’ve opened a new outlet just a five-minute walk from Maxwell MRT Station. Cafe Monochrome Chinatown sets itself apart from its sister outlet with a modern, oriental-inspired design, complete with paper lanterns and hand-drawn depictions of Chinese architecture—possibly inspired by the neighbourhood the cafe is located in.

The cafe is also equipped with numerous charging ports so you can charge your phone after a long day of sightseeing. Similar to their first outlet, Cafe Monochrome offers a range of Western delights including pasta, sandwiches, and pastries, though it also features a range of new items. One must-try is the outlet-exclusive Crayfish Pasta, priced at $23+.

This gets you a generous plate of spaghetti doused in a mildly spicy house-made chilli sauce, mixed with egg, and topped with a meaty crayfish, shell and all. If you prefer something non-spicy, we recommend the Truffle Cream Pasta ($21+) and Ragu Pasta ($22+) instead.

The former is a super creamy dish infused with truffle oil, while the latter stars succulent, slow-cooked beef ragu. The cafe also serves all-day breakfast, including their signature brekkie dish: Monochrome Brunch ($19+). This hearty ensemble comprises sausage, bacon, a sunny-side up, waffles with maple syrup, and a side of salad.

On our visit, we were recommended the Tonkatsu Sando ($20+). This dish impressed with a substantial tonkatsu cutlet sandwiched between fluffy slices of Hokkaido milk toast, complemented by a tangy tamago mayo sauce.

For a lighter option, you can go for the Creamy Chicken Toast ($20+). It sees the same tonkatsu cutlet sitting atop a sourdough toast, accompanied by scrambled eggs.

The mushroom cream sauce was super savoury and addictive, boasting a flavour similar to mushroom soup. If you’re still feeling peckish, go for their Asian-inspired sides such as Soy Garlic Winglets ($14+), Mentaiko Fries ($11+), or the popular Chilli Crab Fries ($11+).

Then, wash everything down with coffee or tea, or treat yourself to some ice cream desserts. Biscoff lovers, you’ll enjoy the Biscoff Frappe ($8.50+), a creamy iced beverage sweetened with whipped cream. It’s not too sweet and features a hint of cinnamon.

For more good food in Chinatown, read our Chinatown food places guide. If you’re a fan of Japanese fusion food, check out our Kohaku Sabo review for mentaiko cream sauce udon, ikura salmon cutlet rice and more!

Address: 25 Trengganu Street, #01-12, Singapore 058476 Opening hours: Tue-Thurs, Sun 10am to 9pm, Fri-Sat 10am to 10pm