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Cafes in Singapore: 3,372 cafes, typically 14 years in business

Updated October 2026How we rank
Cafes in Singapore are licensed by SFA and, since January 2026, show a SAFE food-safety grade on their licence. Most specialty cafes charge nett at the counter, but sit-down cafes with table service often add 10% service charge plus 9% GST. Dogs are allowed only in outdoor seating unless the cafe holds a pet café licence.

12 of the best-documented cafes in Singapore

Businesses with the most complete public records first, photos, licence matches, hours and track record. Never ordered by payment.

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

Novena

30+ years in business

2 min walk from Novena MRT

Caffe Beviamo

Caffe Beviamo

Orchard

28+ years in business

2 min walk from Orchard Boulevard MRT

Coffee Club

Coffee Club

Orchard

41+ years in business

1 min walk from Orchard MRT

The Royals Cafe

The Royals Cafe

Bedok

18+ years in business

6 min walk from Siglap MRT

GM Food Centre

GM Food Centre

Punggol

16+ years in business

1 min walk from Cove LRT

Al-Amin Food Paradise

Al-Amin Food Paradise

Buona Vista

18+ years in business

3 min walk from Buona Vista MRT

Joe and Dough

Joe and Dough

Tanjong Pagar

17+ years in business

1 min walk from Tanjong Pagar MRT

Nanyang Old Coffee

Nanyang Old Coffee

Chinatown

16+ years in business

1 min walk from Maxwell MRT

Nylon Coffee

Nylon Coffee

Tanjong Pagar

16+ years in business

3 min walk from Outram Park MRT

Jacob's Cafe

Changi

14+ years in business

5 Changi Village Rd, #01-2049

Jewel Coffee

Jewel Coffee

Orchard

15+ years in business

5 min walk from Orchard MRT

Common Man Coffee Roasters

Common Man Coffee Roasters

Robertson Quay

13+ years in business

6 min walk from Havelock MRT

Ordered by verifiable signals, licence matches, track record and completeness of public records. Featured placements are labelled and never change this order.

Show all 3,372

Compare 8 cafes side by side

Location, MRT walk, years in business, licence and published hours, facts from public records.

  • The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
    Area
    Novena
    MRT
    2 min · Novena
    In business
    30 yrs
    Licence
    SFA licensed
  • Caffe Beviamo
    Area
    Orchard
    MRT
    2 min · Orchard Boulevard
    In business
    28 yrs
    Licence
    SFA licensed
  • Coffee Club
    Area
    Orchard
    MRT
    1 min · Orchard
    In business
    41 yrs
    Licence
    SFA licensed
  • The Royals Cafe
    Area
    Bedok
    MRT
    6 min · Siglap
    In business
    18 yrs
    Licence
    SFA licensed
  • GM Food Centre
    Area
    Punggol
    MRT
    1 min · Cove
    In business
    16 yrs
    Licence
    SFA licensed
  • Al-Amin Food Paradise
    Area
    Buona Vista
    MRT
    3 min · Buona Vista
    In business
    18 yrs
    Licence
    SFA licensed
  • Joe and Dough
    Area
    Tanjong Pagar
    MRT
    1 min · Tanjong Pagar
    In business
    17 yrs
    Licence
    SFA licensed
  • Nanyang Old Coffee
    Area
    Chinatown
    MRT
    1 min · Maxwell
    In business
    16 yrs
    Licence
    SFA licensed

What licence should a cafe have?

  • Food Shop Licence (SFA)

    Singapore Food Agency (SFA) · Required by law

    Every restaurant, cafe, bakery, stall and food court outlet selling food to the public must be licensed by SFA. Since 19 Jan 2026 the licence carries a SAFE grade (A, B, C or NEW) based on the outlet's food-safety track record; scan the QR code on the displayed licence to see it.

    Check the official register
  • MUIS Halal Certificate

    Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) · Optional accreditation

    Voluntary, but MUIS is the only body that can issue halal certificates in Singapore (Administration of Muslim Law Act). Certified outlets must display the original, valid certificate; photocopies are not allowed.

    Check the official register

How to choose a cafe

  • Check whether ordering is at the counter (usually nett) or at the table (often "++", adding about 19.9%).
  • If you plan to work from the cafe, ask about time limits or minimum spend on weekends – some popular cafes set seating time limits at peak times.
  • For halal needs, verify the outlet on the MUIS directory; certification is per outlet, so one branch being certified does not mean all are.
  • Bringing a dog? From 1 Jan 2025 pets are allowed in outdoor refreshment areas without special approval, but indoor seating needs an SFA pet café licence.
  • Scan the QR code on the SFA licence to see the SAFE grade if food safety matters to you (e.g. eating with young children or elderly diners).

Red flags

  • Halal claims without a displayed MUIS certificate.
  • Indoor pet seating at a cafe that does not hold a pet café licence.
  • Undisclosed service charge added to counter-service orders.

Questions about cafes in Singapore

What happened to the A, B, C, D hygiene grades in Singapore?

From 19 January 2026 SFA replaced the annual A–D hygiene grade with the SAFE framework. Outlets now get A (more than three years with no major lapse), B (one to three years), NEW (operating under a year) or C (a court conviction for a food-safety offence or a licence suspension under the demerit-points system). Scan the QR code on the SFA licence at the counter to see the current grade.

Are cafes in Singapore halal?

Only outlets certified by MUIS are halal-certified. Many chains certify some outlets but not others, and certification is voluntary. Check the MUIS Certified Eating Establishments list or the MuslimSG app before visiting, and look for the original certificate displayed at the outlet – MUIS does not allow photocopies.

Can I bring my dog into a cafe in Singapore?

Yes, to the outdoor area. Since 1 January 2025, SFA no longer requires extra approval for diners to bring pets to a food outlet's outdoor refreshment area. Indoors is only allowed at cafes that hold an SFA pet café licence, which is required if the cafe serves pet food. Halal-certified cafes cannot admit dogs at all.

What does "++" mean on a Singapore menu?

"++" means a 10% service charge and 9% GST will be added. GST is charged on the service charge too, so the multiplier is 1.1 × 1.09 = 1.199 – a $50++ meal costs about $59.95. IRAS lets restaurants that levy a service charge show pre-GST prices, but they must state prominently that prices are subject to GST and service charge.

How many cafes are there in Singapore?

Lookup lists 3,372 cafes in Singapore as of October 2026, with the largest concentration in Downtown Core (424). Listings are compiled from government registers and open map data and refreshed regularly.