Book-lovers know that there’s nothing better than curling up on your bed reading all day long. However, if you are looking to get out of the house for a change of scene, we have rounded up the best places to read in Singapore below, from bookstores, cafes to public places that are totally free.
Just grab your book and join other bookworms at one of these reading spots for a chill word-filled afternoon!
Best places to read in Singapore: bookstores
1. The Moon
The Moon is an independent bookstore and cafe located in Chinatown, and is definitely one of the best places to read in Singapore. Bring your own book or grab one from the bookstore on the ground floor (and pay for it, of course!) before heading upstairs to a cosy, brightly lit room filled with sofas and cushions to read away.
Their vegan-friendly menu includes both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, along with a wide array of pastries and snacks to keep your tummy happy.
Address: 37 Mosque Street, Singapore 059515
Opening hours: 11am – 9pm (Sun to Thu), 11am – midnight (Fri and Sat)
2. Huggs-Epigram Coffee Bookshop
A collaboration between local publisher Epigram and Huggs Coffee, what you get at Huggs-Epigram Coffee Bookshop is great coffee and a well-curated selection of local literature. The store is located on a quiet part of Maxwell Road, with plenty of sunlight streaming in through the floor-to-ceiling glass panels that makes it a perfect place to chill out with your book.
Address: 45 Maxwell Road, #01-01, Singapore 069118
Opening hours: 10am – 7pm (Mon – Fri), 10am – 2pm (Sat), closed on Sun and PHs.
Best places to read in Singapore: cafes
3. The Book Cafe
The Book Cafe is perhaps a must-visit for any bookworm in Singapore, with rows of books lining the walls and many plush sofas for you to curl up on with your favourite book. The extensive menu features not just light bites, but also hearty meal options such as pasta, fried rice or curry for those who spends more than just a couple of hours here.
Patrons are encouraged to keep their voices low, so you can get fully immersed in your book without being rudely interrupted by noisy patrons.
Address: 20 Martin Rd, Seng Kee Building #01-02, Singapore 239070
Opening hours: 8:30pm – 10:30pm daily
4. The Reading Room (closed permanently)
This cosy cafe on Bukit Pasoh Road is the perfect place to kick back and enjoy your book while sipping on nice coffee. The old-school interior, decorated with charming artifacts and tall bookshelves stretching all the way to the ceiling, will make you feel as if you were chilling in an old mansion from a previous century.
Address: 19 Bukit Pasoh Road, Singapore 089833
Opening hours: 11am – 11:30pm (Mon to Thu), 11am – 1:30am (Fri), 9:30am – 1:30am (Sat), 9:30am – 11:30pm (Sun)
5. Cook & Tras Social Library
This all-day dining restaurant and bar with its classic interior decor, wood-paneled walls and plush armchairs is the perfect place to get lost in your book. Already finished it? You can also choose from a wide, well-curated selection of over 3,000 books from the beautiful, elegantly lit shelves lining the walls. You will want to stay here all day!
Address: 2 Cook Street, Singapore 078857
Opening hours: 6:30am – 12am daily
6. Tea Bone Zen Mind
Tea Bone Zen Mindis is truly a haven for both tea lovers and bookworms looking for a quiet place to enjoy a good read while sipping on fine quality tea from China, Japan and England.
Nestled inside an old house in Orchard, this tea parlour has a zen-like atmosphere that are perfect for anyone seeking to escape from the hustle and bustle of the outside world.
Address: No. 18 Jalan Lada Puteh, Singapore 228930
Opening hours: 11am to 7pm (Mon to Sat), closed on Sun annd public holiday
7. Looksee Looksee Tea Salon (temporarily closed)
Another tea salon, but Looksee Looksee carries a completely different vibe than Tea Bone Zen Mind, with Insta-perfect, whimsical interior and millennial pink being the main colour tone. You can browse through the available titles on art, design, F&B, or bring your own book and spend an afternoon with a hot cuppa.
The menu features a well-curated selection of teas by local hand-crafted tea parlour A.muse Projects offering both hot and cold tea beverages to keep you company as you flip through your book.
Address: 267 Beach Road, Singapore 199545
Opening hours: 11am – 5pm (Mon to Fri), closed on Sat and Sun
8. Hvala
Located inside CHIJMES, Hvala is a peaceful oasis for anyone looking to spend some quiet me time with a book while sipping on high quality Japanese tea. The store has a pleasant minimalist Japanese aesthetic with sliding doors and house plants that give the space a zen-like vibe. The tables are quite far apart so you can comfortably enjoy your book without being disrupted by the noise from other tables.
Address: 30 Victoria Street, CHIJMES #01-04/05, Singapore 187996 | 111 Somerset Road, TripleOne Somerset, Singapore 238164
Opening hours: 11am – 9:30pm
9. Merci Marcel
Reading a book while sipping on coffee at a Parisian cafe sound like a dream. But if you’re not willing to pay for the flight tickets to France, you can get the next best thing at Merci Marcel, a French cafe and restaurant in the heart of Tiong Bahru.
The food menu features everything from classic French pastries, to salads and hearty mains, while the drink menu offers an extensive selection of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
Address: 56 Eng Hoon Street, #01-68, Singapore 160056
Opening hours:8am – 11:30pm (Tue to Sun), 8am – 11pm on Mon
10. Gallery & Co. at National Gallery (permanently closed)
Located on the ground level of the National Gallery, Gallery & Co cafe is the best place to rest and catch up on some reading after touring the gallery. The store combies a cafe and a retail space selling books, design collectibles, homeware and other unique merchandise that you should definitely check out.
Address:1 St Andrew’s Rd, National Gallery Singapore #01-05, Singapore 178957
Opening hours:10am – 7pm (Mon to Thu, Sat), 10am – 9pm (Fri) 10am – 6:30pm (Sun)
11. Birds of a Feather
Taking inspiration from Chengdu, Birds of A Feather presents Western cuisine with Sichuan influence. Its interior exudes East-meets-West style and has a laid-back vibe that makes it easy for anyone to relax alone at, over a book.
Address: 115 Amoy St, #01-01, Singapore 069935
Opening hours:
10:45am – 3:00pm, 5:00pm – 11:00pm (Mon to Wed)
10:45am – 3:00pm, 5:00pm – 11:00pm (Thu)
10:30am – 12am (Fri and Sat)
10:30am – 10pm (Sun)
Best places to read: public spaces
12. Botanic Garden
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For those days when you feel like getting away from the city noise, head to Botanic Gardens to soak in the peaceful and tranquil scenery. The many benches and shelters in the garden make for the perfect spots to enjoy your book while surrounded by lush trees and the sound of birds chirping. That sounds just about the best way to spend an afternoon if you ask us!
Address: 1 Cluny Road, Singapore 259569
Opening hours: 5am – 12am daily
13. Library@Orchard
If you are on the hunt for your next read, public libraries are the best places to go to with the huge variety of titles for you to peruse and borrow home.
Located at Orchard Gateway, Library@Orchard is the ideal reading spot for anyone who doesn’t want to venture far from the city centre. The dedicated reading area on level 3 is furnished with comfortable armchairs, with floor-to-ceiling windows that look out to the bustling Orchard area. If you prefer more privacy, head upstairs to the many reading pods nestled in between the bookshelves.
Address: 277 Orchard Road, Orchard Gateway, #03-12 #04-11, 238858
Opening hours: 11am – 9pm daily
14. Library@Esplanade
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If you are interested in the arts, consider spending a day at Library@Esplanade, the first library in Singapore dedicated to performing arts, to explore its huge resources on music, dance, theatre, film and more.
Need a coffee break? Head to It’s Tiffany Cafe located within the library’s premise for a cuppa with a stunning view of the Marina Bay area.
Address: 8 Raffles Ave, #03-01, Singapore 039802
Opening hours: 11am – 9pm daily
15. Library@Harbourfront
The largest shopping mall library in Singapore, Library@Harbourfront has ample seats for you to settle in and enjoy your book while looking out to the tranquil view of the sea. You can also bring your little ones to the children zone where there are books and activities to help them develop literacy skills.
Address: 1 HarbourFront Walk, #03-05 VivoCity, Singapore 098585
Opening hours: 11am – 9pm daily
Featured image: @shuutravels/Instagram, @alvinpang/Instagram
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