# Cafes in Chinatown

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: 105
- Matched to a government licence/register: 7
- Median years in business: 14

## 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)
- [The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf](https://lookup.sg/biz/the-coffee-bean-and-tea-leaf-chinatown), Chinatown · 133 New Bridge Rd, #02-55 Chinatown Point · 1 min walk from Chinatown MRT · SFA licensed · registered 1996
- [Nanyang Old Coffee](https://lookup.sg/biz/nanyang-old-coffee-058817), Chinatown · 268 South Bridge Rd · 1 min walk from Maxwell MRT · SFA licensed · registered 2010
- [Pek Sin Choon Pte Ltd](https://lookup.sg/biz/pek-sin-choon-pte-ltd), Chinatown · 36 Mosque St · 1 min walk from Chinatown MRT · registered 1975
- [huggs coffee](https://lookup.sg/biz/huggs-coffee-chinatown), Chinatown · #01-K110, Cross Street Exchange · 1 min walk from Dt18 MRT · registered 2007
- [Group Therapy Coffee](https://lookup.sg/biz/group-therapy-coffee), Chinatown · 181 S Bridge Rd, #01-05 & #K1-04 · 2 min walk from Dt18 MRT · registered 2011
- [Nanyang Old Coffee](https://lookup.sg/biz/nanyang-old-coffee-chinatown), Chinatown · 70 Eu Tong Sen St · 1 min walk from Chinatown MRT · registered 2010
- [Tea Chapter](https://lookup.sg/biz/tea-chapter), Chinatown · 9 Neil Rd · 1 min walk from Maxwell MRT · SFA licensed
- [Ette Tea Company](https://lookup.sg/biz/ette-tea-company), Chinatown · 333 Kreta Ayer Rd, #03-25 · 1 min walk from Maxwell MRT · registered 2014
- [Kafe Utu](https://lookup.sg/biz/kafe-utu), Chinatown · 12 Jiak Chuan Rd · 2 min walk from Maxwell MRT · registered 2018
- [The Food Peeps Coffee and Deli](https://lookup.sg/biz/the-food-peeps-coffee-and-deli), Chinatown · 34 Sago St, #01-01 · 1 min walk from Maxwell MRT
- [Kopi Xpress](https://lookup.sg/biz/kopi-xpress), Chinatown · Chinatown NE4 MRT Station · 1 min walk from Chinatown MRT
- [Bundt by The Backyard Bakers](https://lookup.sg/biz/bundt-by-the-backyard-bakers), Chinatown · 21 China Street · 1 min walk from Dt18 MRT
- [Sinnkawa Gift Shop](https://lookup.sg/biz/sinnkawa-gift-shop), Chinatown · 15 Trengganu St, #01-01 · 1 min walk from Chinatown MRT
- [ShanCha Mobile Cafe](https://lookup.sg/biz/shancha-mobile-cafe), Chinatown · Gold Coast · 2 min walk from Chinatown MRT
- [Pearl's Hill 34](https://lookup.sg/biz/pearls-hill-34), Chinatown · 34 Upper Cross St, #01-170 Block 34 · 3 min walk from Chinatown MRT · SFA licensed · registered 2011
- [Wang San Yang Tea Merchant](https://lookup.sg/biz/wang-san-yang-tea-merchant), Chinatown · 531 Upper Cross St, #01-61 · 1 min walk from Chinatown MRT · registered 1989
- [Long Shan Ger Tea Culture 龍山閣](https://lookup.sg/biz/long-shan-ger-tea-culture), Chinatown · 5 Banda St · 1 min walk from Maxwell MRT · registered 1996
- [Tiffany Cafe and Restaurant](https://lookup.sg/biz/tiffany-cafe-and-restaurant), Chinatown · 60 Eu Tong Sen Street, Level 2 Furama City Centre · 2 min walk from Chinatown MRT · registered 2007
- [Kou Wei Eating House](https://lookup.sg/biz/kou-wei-eating-house), Chinatown · 34 Upper Cross St · 3 min walk from Chinatown MRT · registered 2002
- [Lan Kee Hot and Cold Drinks](https://lookup.sg/biz/lan-kee-hot-and-cold-drinks), Chinatown · 32 New Market Rd · 1 min walk from Chinatown MRT · registered 1976
- [The 1950's Coffee](https://lookup.sg/biz/the-1950s-coffee), Chinatown · 335 Smith St, #02-048 · 2 min walk from Chinatown MRT · registered 2008
- [Hoshino Coffee](https://lookup.sg/biz/hoshino-coffee-chinatown), Chinatown · 133 New Bridge Rd Chinatown Point · 1 min walk from Chinatown MRT · registered 2012
- [Tong Ah Eating House](https://lookup.sg/biz/tong-ah-eating-house), Chinatown · 35 Keong Saik Rd. · 2 min walk from Outram Park MRT · registered 2013
- [Bread & Hearth](https://lookup.sg/biz/bread-and-hearth), Chinatown · 18 Keong Saik Road · 2 min walk from Outram Park MRT · registered 2013
- [Good Morning Nanyang Cafe](https://lookup.sg/biz/good-morning-nanyang-cafe-chinatown), Chinatown · 75 Pagoda St · 1 min walk from Chinatown MRT · registered 2012
- [Han's Cafe](https://lookup.sg/biz/hans-cafe-chinatown), Chinatown · 133 New Bridge Rd, #B2-34 Chinatown Point · 1 min walk from Chinatown MRT · SFA licensed
- [Black And Gold Coffee Stop](https://lookup.sg/biz/black-and-gold-coffee-stop), Chinatown · 2 Havelock Road #B1-27, HAVELOCK, 2 · 1 min walk from Clarke Quay MRT · registered 2017
- [Starbucks](https://lookup.sg/biz/starbucks-chinatown), Chinatown · SGH BLK4 · 2 min walk from Chinatown MRT · SFA licensed
- [Wang Yuan Cafe](https://lookup.sg/biz/wang-yuan-cafe), Chinatown · 33 Keong Saik Rd · 1 min walk from Outram Park MRT · registered 2017
- [Luk Yu Restaurant and Teahouse](https://lookup.sg/biz/luk-yu-restaurant-and-teahouse), Chinatown · Chinatown Point, 133 New Bridge Rd · 1 min walk from Chinatown MRT · SFA licensed

## 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.