# Cafes in Downtown Core

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: 424
- Matched to a government licence/register: 71
- Median years in business: 13

## 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-079903), Tanjong Pagar · 10 Anson Road International Plaza #01-32 · 1 min walk from Tanjong Pagar MRT · SFA licensed · registered 1996
- [The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf](https://lookup.sg/biz/the-coffee-bean-and-tea-leaf-039802), Downtown Core · 8 Raffles Ave., #01-02/04 · 4 min walk from Esplanade MRT · SFA licensed · registered 1996
- [The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf](https://lookup.sg/biz/the-coffee-bean-and-tea-leaf-038983), Downtown Core · No 3, Temasek Boulevard, #01-341/342, Suntec City Mall · 2 min walk from Esplanade MRT · SFA licensed · registered 1996
- [The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf](https://lookup.sg/biz/the-coffee-bean-and-tea-leaf-downtown-core), Downtown Core · 252 North Bridge Rd #01-45/45A · 1 min walk from City Hall MRT · SFA licensed · registered 1996
- [Joe and Dough](https://lookup.sg/biz/joe-and-dough-tanjong-pagar), Tanjong Pagar · 168 Robinson Rd, #36-01 L36, Capital Tower · 1 min walk from Tanjong Pagar MRT · SFA licensed · registered 2009
- [Jewel Coffee](https://lookup.sg/biz/jewel-coffee-049318), Raffles Place · Income, Raffles, 16 Collyer Quay · 1 min walk from Raffles Place MRT · SFA licensed · registered 2010
- [Jewel Coffee](https://lookup.sg/biz/jewel-coffee-raffles-place), Raffles Place · 1 Shenton Way · 2 min walk from Shenton Way MRT · SFA licensed · registered 2010
- [6oz Espresso Bar](https://lookup.sg/biz/6oz-espresso-bar), Tanjong Pagar · 20 McCallum St, #01-K1 Tokio Marine Centre · 3 min walk from Tanjong Pagar MRT · SFA licensed · registered 2014
- [The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf](https://lookup.sg/biz/the-coffee-bean-and-tea-leaf-039192), Downtown Core · Millenia Tower, 1 Temasek Av · 1 min walk from Promenade MRT · registered 1996
- [The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf](https://lookup.sg/biz/the-coffee-bean-and-tea-leaf-tanjong-pagar), Tanjong Pagar · 80 Anson Rd #0l-K1 Fuji Xerox Towers · 3 min walk from Cc32 MRT · registered 1996
- [The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf](https://lookup.sg/biz/the-coffee-bean-and-tea-leaf-raffles-place), Raffles Place · 30 Raffles Place #01-09 Change Alley Mall · 1 min walk from Raffles Place MRT · registered 1996
- [The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf](https://lookup.sg/biz/the-coffee-bean-and-tea-leaf-188021), Bugis · 200 Victoria Street, #03-10H, Bugis Junction · 1 min walk from Bugis MRT · registered 1996
- [Killiney Cafe](https://lookup.sg/biz/killiney-cafe), Downtown Core · #02-230A/231A, Marina Square · 2 min walk from Promenade MRT · registered 2004
- [Cafe Mosaic](https://lookup.sg/biz/cafe-mosaic), Bugis · 76 Bras Basah Rd · 2 min walk from Bras Basah MRT · registered 2010
- [Huggs Coffee](https://lookup.sg/biz/huggs-coffee-tanjong-pagar), Tanjong Pagar · #01-07/08, The Clift · 3 min walk from Tanjong Pagar MRT · registered 2007
- [Wild Honey](https://lookup.sg/biz/wild-honey), Downtown Core · 26 Beach Road, #B1-18 · 1 min walk from Esplanade MRT · registered 2008
- [Brotzeit @ Raffles City](https://lookup.sg/biz/brotzeit-raffles-city), Downtown Core · 252 North Bridge Rd #01-17 Raffles City Shopping Centre · 1 min walk from City Hall MRT · SFA licensed
- [Joe & Dough](https://lookup.sg/biz/joe-and-dough-downtown-core), Downtown Core · #01-68 Millenia Walk, 9 Raffles Blvd · 1 min walk from Promenade MRT · registered 2009
- [Killiney Kopitiam](https://lookup.sg/biz/killiney-kopitiam-bugis), Bugis · Bugis MRT Downtown line · 1 min walk from Bugis MRT · registered 1992
- [Jewel Coffee](https://lookup.sg/biz/jewel-coffee-tanjong-pagar), Tanjong Pagar · 7 Wallich St, #B1 - 06 Guoco Tower · 1 min walk from Tanjong Pagar MRT · registered 2010
- [Jewel Coffee](https://lookup.sg/biz/jewel-coffee-018935), Raffles Place · #B2-51, The Heart · 1 min walk from Downtown MRT · registered 2010
- [Nanyang Old Coffee](https://lookup.sg/biz/nanyang-old-coffee-039596), Downtown Core · Millenia Walk, 9 Raffles Boulevard · 2 min walk from Promenade MRT · registered 2010
- [Domba Coffee Singapore Pte Ltd](https://lookup.sg/biz/domba-coffee-singapore-pte-ltd), Tanjong Pagar · International Plaza, 10 Anson Rd · 1 min walk from Tanjong Pagar MRT · registered 2013
- [TWG Tea on the Bay](https://lookup.sg/biz/twg-tea-on-the-bay), Marina Bay · 2 Bayfront Ave, B1-122/125 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands · 1 min walk from Bayfront MRT · SFA licensed
- [Ya Kun Kaya Toast](https://lookup.sg/biz/ya-kun-kaya-toast-downtown-core), Downtown Core · 252 N Bridge Rd, B1-05 · 1 min walk from City Hall MRT · SFA licensed
- [Ya Kun Kaya Toast](https://lookup.sg/biz/ya-kun-kaya-toast-188024), Bugis · Bugis Junction, 200 Victoria St · 1 min walk from Bugis MRT · SFA licensed
- [Paris Baguette Cafe](https://lookup.sg/biz/paris-baguette-cafe), Bugis · Bugis Junction, 200 Victoria St · 1 min walk from Bugis MRT · SFA licensed
- [Ya Kun Kaya Toast](https://lookup.sg/biz/ya-kun-kaya-toast-038983), Downtown Core · 3 Temasek Boulevard · 2 min walk from Promenade MRT · SFA licensed
- [Dimbulah](https://lookup.sg/biz/dimbulah-raffles-place), Raffles Place · Lobby, 63 Market St · 1 min walk from Raffles Place MRT · SFA licensed
- [Dimbulah Coffee](https://lookup.sg/biz/dimbulah-coffee), Downtown Core · Chijmes, 30 Victoria Street, #01-17 · 2 min walk from Bras Basah 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.