Toby's Estate (Robertson Quay)

Toby's Estate at Robertson Quay is the Singapore flagship café and roastery of the Sydney coffee company of the same name. It sits at 8 Rodyk Street, overlooking the Singapore River. It serves specialty coffee with an all-day menu of Australian café food.

Toby Smith, a lawyer with a love of coffee, started the business in Sydney in 1997. He began by roasting beans in his mother's garage. The Singapore café opened in October 2011 as the brand's first in Asia. Its building was once a warehouse for spices and coffee.

The setting

In 2024 the café had a full makeover by the Australian design studio Atelier and Alpha. The look mixes warehouse features with warmer finishes. Think high ceilings, clay brick walls and polished concrete floors, set off by brass and timber. There are about 55 seats inside and 32 more outside on the riverside terrace. Separate espresso and filter bars let you watch the baristas at work and ask about the beans.

What to order

Coffee comes first here. Toby's Estate says it releases more than 80 different coffees a year, so the single origins on offer change often. You can choose an espresso blend such as Woolloomooloo, or try a single origin as espresso or filter. The coffee programme also takes in the company's Freezus range, and limited-edition coffees from its Flavour Savour series appear from time to time.

The food menu covers Aussie café favourites, served through the day:

• Breakfast tacos with scrambled eggs, baked beans, bacon, cheese and chilli jam
• Eggs benedict with smoked salmon or beef brisket
• The Brekkie of Champions, a full plate with eggs, bacon, sausage, mushrooms and beans
• Grain bowls with grilled chicken or beef brisket on quinoa or brown rice
• Burgers on charcoal brioche buns, including an Aussie beef burger

Lighter choices include croissants, granola, bircher muesli and French toast with bacon and sliced apple. The menu changes from time to time, so check the official website before you go.

Good to know before you go

• Daytime café: it opens early for breakfast and closes in the afternoon, a little later at weekends.
• Beans to take home: bags of coffee beans are sold at the café, subject to stock.
• Vegetarian dishes: several dishes are marked vegetarian, such as avocado on toast and bircher muesli.
• Outdoor seats: the terrace faces the river, so ask for a table outside if you want the view.

Nearby

A riverside path runs from Robertson Quay down towards Clarke Quay, which makes for an easy walk after brunch. Our Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay guide covers the stretch in more detail. You can also browse restaurants in Orchard and River Valley, find hotels in the area, or see more cafés and bakeries across Singapore.