# Cafes in Jalan Besar

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: 69
- Matched to a government licence/register: 6
- Median years in business: 17

## 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-jalan-besar), Jalan Besar · #B1-04, City Square Mall · 1 min walk from Farrer Park MRT · SFA licensed · registered 1996
- [The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf](https://lookup.sg/biz/the-coffee-bean-and-tea-leaf-207277), Jalan Besar · 10 Verdun Rd · 3 min walk from Farrer Park MRT · registered 1996
- [Bistro 8](https://lookup.sg/biz/bistro-8), Jalan Besar · 30 Foch Rd, #01-02 · 4 min walk from Bendemeer MRT · registered 2018
- [Asylum Coffeehouse](https://lookup.sg/biz/asylum-coffeehouse), Jalan Besar · 311 Jln Besar · 4 min walk from Farrer Park MRT · registered 2024
- [Ya Kun Kaya Toast](https://lookup.sg/biz/ya-kun-kaya-toast-jalan-besar), Jalan Besar · 180 Kitchener Rd, B1-K18 · 1 min walk from Farrer Park MRT
- [Enchanted Cafe](https://lookup.sg/biz/enchanted-cafe), Jalan Besar · 88 Rangoon Rd · 1 min walk from Farrer Park MRT
- [Beyond Pancakes](https://lookup.sg/biz/beyond-pancakes-jalan-besar), Jalan Besar · 180 Kitchener Road, #02-35/36, City Square mall, 180 Kitchener Rd · 1 min walk from Farrer Park MRT
- [The Tiramisu Hero](https://lookup.sg/biz/the-tiramisu-hero), Jalan Besar · 121 Tyrwhitt Rd · 5 min walk from Farrer Park MRT
- [The Coffee Belt](https://lookup.sg/biz/the-coffee-belt-jalan-besar), Jalan Besar · 10 Farrer Park Station Road · 1 min walk from Farrer Park MRT
- [Old Town White Coffee](https://lookup.sg/biz/old-town-white-coffee-jalan-besar), Jalan Besar · City Square Mall, 180 Kitchener Rd · 1 min walk from Farrer Park MRT
- [Acoustics Coffee Bar Owen](https://lookup.sg/biz/acoustics-coffee-bar-owen), Jalan Besar · 2 Owen Rd, #01-02 · 1 min walk from Farrer Park MRT
- [Cattractioncafe.sg](https://lookup.sg/biz/cattractioncafe-sg), Jalan Besar · 105 Desker Rd · 4 min walk from Jalan Besar MRT
- [Yeast Side](https://lookup.sg/biz/yeast-side-jalan-besar), Jalan Besar · 2 Perumal Rd, #01-06 · 1 min walk from Farrer Park MRT
- [Papa Palheta](https://lookup.sg/biz/papa-palheta), Jalan Besar · Petain Rd / Tyrwhitt Rd Shop Houses, 150 Tyrwhitt Rd · 5 min walk from Bendemeer MRT · SFA licensed · registered 2009
- [Killiney Kopitiam](https://lookup.sg/biz/killiney-kopitiam-jalan-besar), Jalan Besar · 1 Farrer Park Station Rd, #01-05/06 · 1 min walk from Farrer Park MRT · registered 1992
- [Yi He Eating House](https://lookup.sg/biz/yi-he-eating-house), Jalan Besar · 638 Veerasamy Rd, #01-101 · 2 min walk from Jalan Besar MRT · registered 2006
- [Sungei Road Laksa](https://lookup.sg/biz/sungei-road-laksa-jalan-besar), Jalan Besar · 31 Kelantan Lane · 2 min walk from Jalan Besar MRT · registered 1994
- [Gar Lok Eating House](https://lookup.sg/biz/gar-lok-eating-house), Jalan Besar · 217 Syed Alwi Rd · 5 min walk from Jalan Besar MRT · registered 2000
- [Big City Coffee House](https://lookup.sg/biz/big-city-coffee-house), Jalan Besar · 165 Kitchener Rd · 2 min walk from Farrer Park MRT · registered 2011
- [Gourmet Street](https://lookup.sg/biz/gourmet-street-jalan-besar), Jalan Besar · 27 Jalan Berseh, #01-1-00 · 4 min walk from Jalan Besar MRT · registered 2009
- [Old Rochor Beancurd](https://lookup.sg/biz/old-rochor-beancurd), Jalan Besar · 27 Foch Rd, #01-03 Hoa Nam Building · 5 min walk from Bendemeer MRT · registered 2014
- [Starbucks](https://lookup.sg/biz/starbucks-jalan-besar), Jalan Besar · 180 Kitchener Road City Square Mall · 1 min walk from Farrer Park MRT · SFA licensed
- [Koi Cafe](https://lookup.sg/biz/koi-cafe-jalan-besar), Jalan Besar · City Square Mall, 180 Kitchener Rd · 1 min walk from Farrer Park MRT · SFA licensed
- [Antea Social](https://lookup.sg/biz/antea-social), Jalan Besar · 9 Tyrwhitt Rd · 5 min walk from Farrer Park MRT · registered 2016
- [Bakerzin Holdings](https://lookup.sg/biz/bakerzin-holdings), Jalan Besar · Connexion, 1 Farrer Park Station Rd · 1 min walk from Farrer Park MRT · SFA licensed
- [Creatures](https://lookup.sg/biz/creatures), Jalan Besar · 120 Desker Rd · 4 min walk from Jalan Besar MRT · SFA licensed
- [Space 23](https://lookup.sg/biz/space-23), Jalan Besar · 393 Jln Besar · 5 min walk from Bendemeer MRT · registered 2024
- [Chye Seng Huat Hardware](https://lookup.sg/biz/chye-seng-huat-hardware), Jalan Besar · 150 Tyrwhitt Rd · 5 min walk from Bendemeer MRT
- [Kopi & Tarts](https://lookup.sg/biz/kopi-and-tarts-jalan-besar), Jalan Besar · 180 Kitchener Rd, B1 - 23 City Square Mall · 1 min walk from Farrer Park MRT
- [Wingstop City Square Mall](https://lookup.sg/biz/wingstop-city-square-mall), Jalan Besar · 180 Kitchener Rd, B1-33/34/K15 CITY SQUARE MALL · 1 min walk from Farrer Park 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.