# Cafes in Buona Vista

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.

## Key facts
- Listings: 38
- Matched to a government licence/register: 9
- Median years in business: 15

## Licences
- **Food Shop Licence (SFA)** (Singapore Food Agency (SFA), required): 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: https://go.gov.sg/sfa-track-records
- **MUIS Halal Certificate** (Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS), optional): 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: https://muis.gov.sg/Halal/Halal-Certification/Certified-Eating-Establishments

## How to choose
- 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.

## Listings (top 30)
- [Killiney Kopitiam](https://lookup.sg/biz/killiney-kopitiam-buona-vista), Buona Vista · The Metropolis, 9 North Buona Vista Dr · 1 min walk from Buona Vista MRT · registered 1992
- [Jimmy Monkey Cafe and Bar](https://lookup.sg/biz/jimmy-monkey-cafe-and-bar), Buona Vista · #01-51 One-North Residences 9 One-north Gateway 138643 · 4 min walk from One-North MRT · SFA licensed
- [Nanyang Old Coffee](https://lookup.sg/biz/nanyang-old-coffee), Buona Vista · Genome@Biopolis #01-05,, 60 Biopolis St · 6 min walk from Buona Vista MRT · registered 2010
- [CALI, Park Avenue Rochester](https://lookup.sg/biz/cali-park-avenue-rochester), Buona Vista · 31 Rochester Dr #01-01/02 · 3 min walk from Buona Vista MRT
- [House Downstairs](https://lookup.sg/biz/house-downstairs), Buona Vista · 170 Ghim Moh Rd, #01-03 Ulu Pandan CC · 7 min walk from Buona Vista MRT
- [SCOOTR, Food Delivery](https://lookup.sg/biz/scootr-food-delivery), Buona Vista · 31, Rochesetr Drive, #01-01 · 3 min walk from Buona Vista MRT
- [Cedele](https://lookup.sg/biz/cedele-buona-vista), Buona Vista · #01-19, Star Vista · 2 min walk from Buona Vista MRT
- [Al-Amin Food Paradise](https://lookup.sg/biz/al-amin-food-paradise), Buona Vista · 47 Holland Dr, #01-377 · 3 min walk from Buona Vista MRT · SFA licensed · registered 2008
- [New Century Cafe](https://lookup.sg/biz/new-century-cafe), Buona Vista · 19 Ghim Moh Rd · 7 min walk from Buona Vista MRT · SFA licensed · registered 2011
- [Dover Coffee Hub](https://lookup.sg/biz/dover-coffee-hub), Buona Vista · 19A Dover Cres · 9 min walk from Buona Vista MRT · registered 2002
- [46 CTK Eating House](https://lookup.sg/biz/46-ctk-eating-house), Buona Vista · 46 Holland Dr · 4 min walk from Buona Vista MRT · registered 2014
- [Starbucks](https://lookup.sg/biz/starbucks-138640), Buona Vista · 37 Rochester Drive · 4 min walk from Buona Vista MRT · SFA licensed
- [Starbucks](https://lookup.sg/biz/starbucks-138588), Buona Vista · 9 North Buona Vista Drive #01-13/14 · 1 min walk from Buona Vista MRT · SFA licensed
- [Starbucks](https://lookup.sg/biz/starbucks-buona-vista), Buona Vista · 70 Biopolis Street, P&G At Biopolis · 5 min walk from Buona Vista MRT · SFA licensed
- [Fun Toast](https://lookup.sg/biz/fun-toast-buona-vista), Buona Vista · 1 Vista Exchange Grn, #02-03 The Star Vista · 3 min walk from Buona Vista MRT · SFA licensed
- [Mr Bean (The Metropolis)](https://lookup.sg/biz/mr-bean-the-metropolis), Buona Vista · 9 North Buona Vista Drive, #01-09, The Metropolis · 1 min walk from Buona Vista MRT · SFA licensed
- [Central Hong Kong Cafe](https://lookup.sg/biz/central-hong-kong-cafe-buona-vista), Buona Vista · The Star Vista, 1 Vista Exchange Green · 3 min walk from Buona Vista MRT · SFA licensed
- [Tanamera Coffee](https://lookup.sg/biz/tanamera-coffee), Buona Vista · 9 North Buona Vista Drive #01-22 The Metropolis Tower 2 · 1 min walk from Buona Vista MRT · registered 2018
- [Italian Coffee Lab](https://lookup.sg/biz/italian-coffee-lab-buona-vista), Buona Vista · 01-02 · 4 min walk from Buona Vista MRT · registered 2025
- [Brash Boys Coffee](https://lookup.sg/biz/brash-boys-coffee), Buona Vista · 8 Biomedical Grv, #01-12 Neuros · 6 min walk from Buona Vista MRT · registered 2026
- [The Lawn Cafe](https://lookup.sg/biz/the-lawn-cafe), Buona Vista · 31 Biopolis Wy, #01-07 Nanos · 3 min walk from Buona Vista MRT
- [Little Big Coffee Roasters](https://lookup.sg/biz/little-big-coffee-roasters), Buona Vista · 8 Biomedical Grv, #01-06 · 7 min walk from Buona Vista MRT
- [Long black café](https://lookup.sg/biz/long-black-cafe), Buona Vista · 20 Biopolis Way · 4 min walk from Buona Vista MRT
- [Man Xiang Traditional Roasted Delight 满香传统烧腊 (43 Holland Drive)](https://lookup.sg/biz/man-xiang-traditional-roasted-delight-43-holland-drive), Buona Vista · 43 Holland Dr, Block 43 · 3 min walk from Buona Vista MRT
- [Curbside Cafe & Wine Bar](https://lookup.sg/biz/curbside-cafe-and-wine-bar), Buona Vista · Nucleos, 21 Biopolis Dr · 6 min walk from One-North MRT
- [Dutch Colony Coffee Co.](https://lookup.sg/biz/dutch-colony-coffee-co), Buona Vista · 1 N Buona Vista Link, #01-04 · 2 min walk from Buona Vista MRT
- [Petra Cafe](https://lookup.sg/biz/petra-cafe), Buona Vista · Biopolis Wy, #01-05 Nanos · 4 min walk from Buona Vista MRT
- [Chang Cheng Mee Wah Coffeeshop](https://lookup.sg/biz/chang-cheng-mee-wah-coffeeshop), Buona Vista · #01-39 Blk 40 Holland Avenue · 4 min walk from Buona Vista MRT
- [Mr. Holmes Bakehouse (Rochester)](https://lookup.sg/biz/mr-holmes-bakehouse-rochester), Buona Vista · 1 Rochester Park, #01-01 · 5 min walk from Buona Vista MRT
- [PEN & INC, Cafe & Bar, One-North](https://lookup.sg/biz/pen-and-inc-cafe-and-bar-one-north), Buona Vista · 11 Slim Barracks Rise, #03-01/02, Singapore · 4 min walk from Buona Vista MRT

## FAQs
### 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.

## Sources
- SFA – New Safety Assurance for Food Establishment (SAFE) framework: https://www.sfa.gov.sg/news-publications/newsroom/new-safety-assurance-for-food-establishment--safe--framework--to-strengthen-food-safety
- SFA – No additional approvals needed for pets at outdoor refreshment areas from 1 Jan 2025: https://www.sfa.gov.sg/news-publications/newsroom/no-additional-sfa-approvals-needed-for-patrons-to-dine-in-with-pets-at-outdoor-refreshment-areas-from-1-jan-2025
- MUIS – Certified Eating Establishments: https://muis.gov.sg/Halal/Halal-Certification/Certified-Eating-Establishments
- IRAS – Displaying and quoting prices (GST): https://www.iras.gov.sg/taxes/goods-services-tax-(gst)/basics-of-gst/invoicing-price-display-and-record-keeping/displaying-and-quoting-prices

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Source: Lookup (https://lookup.sg) · Data as of October 2026 · Listings compiled from Singapore government open data (data.gov.sg), OneMap and Overture Maps places. Free listings never show contact details; featured listings are labelled.