# Cafes in Tiong Bahru

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: 28
- Matched to a government licence/register: 3
- 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 28)
- [The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf](https://lookup.sg/biz/the-coffee-bean-and-tea-leaf-tiong-bahru), Tiong Bahru · 302 Tiong Bahru Road, #01-112 Tiong Bahru Plaza · 1 min walk from Tiong Bahru MRT · SFA licensed · registered 1996
- [The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf](https://lookup.sg/biz/the-coffee-bean-and-tea-leaf-169608), Tiong Bahru · 1 Hospital Drive, Outram Road, Singapore General Hospital Block 4 Level 1 · 5 min walk from Outram Park MRT · registered 1996
- [Matchaya](https://lookup.sg/biz/matchaya-tiong-bahru), Tiong Bahru · Tiong Bahru Estate, 82 Tiong Poh Rd · 5 min walk from Havelock MRT
- [Sushiro Tiong Bahru Plaza](https://lookup.sg/biz/sushiro-tiong-bahru-plaza), Tiong Bahru · 302 Tiong Bahru Rd, #B1 - 138 · 1 min walk from Tiong Bahru MRT
- [Gourmet Street](https://lookup.sg/biz/gourmet-street), Tiong Bahru · 131 Jalan Bukit Merah, #01-1599 · 8 min walk from Tiong Bahru MRT · SFA licensed · registered 2009
- [Yong Seng Coffee Powder](https://lookup.sg/biz/yong-seng-coffee-powder), Tiong Bahru · 30 Seng Poh Rd, #01-44 Market · 3 min walk from Havelock MRT · registered 1974
- [Jia Wang Cafe](https://lookup.sg/biz/jia-wang-cafe), Tiong Bahru · Blk 4 Jalan Bukit Ho Swee #01-164 · 4 min walk from Havelock MRT · registered 2015
- [Kopitiam](https://lookup.sg/biz/kopitiam-tiong-bahru), Tiong Bahru · Blocks 6/7 Level 1, Singapore General Hospital, Outram Rd · 6 min walk from Outram Park MRT · SFA licensed
- [Tiong Bahru Yong Tao Hu](https://lookup.sg/biz/tiong-bahru-yong-tao-hu), Tiong Bahru · 56 Eng Hoon St, #01-46 · 4 min walk from Havelock MRT · registered 2017
- [Flock Cafe](https://lookup.sg/biz/flock-cafe), Tiong Bahru · 01-25 Tiong Bahru Estate, 78 Moh Guan Terrace, #01-25 Block 78 · 5 min walk from Tiong Bahru MRT
- [Glass Roasters](https://lookup.sg/biz/glass-roasters-tiong-bahru), Tiong Bahru · 60 Seng Poh Ln · 3 min walk from Havelock MRT
- [Little Rogue Coffee](https://lookup.sg/biz/little-rogue-coffee), Tiong Bahru · 27 Yong Siak St · 6 min walk from Tiong Bahru MRT
- [Toast Box Coffee House](https://lookup.sg/biz/toast-box-coffee-house), Tiong Bahru · 58 Seng Poh Rd, #01 31 · 3 min walk from Havelock MRT
- [Starbucks](https://lookup.sg/biz/starbucks-tiong-bahru), Tiong Bahru · 302 Tiong Buhru Road Tiong Bahru Plaza · 1 min walk from Tiong Bahru MRT
- [PS.Cafe Petit](https://lookup.sg/biz/ps-cafe-petit), Tiong Bahru · 78 Guan Chuan St · 6 min walk from Havelock MRT
- [Sam Yat Coffee](https://lookup.sg/biz/sam-yat-coffee), Tiong Bahru · 241 Outram Rd · 3 min walk from Havelock MRT
- [Food Paradise](https://lookup.sg/biz/food-paradise), Tiong Bahru · 11B Boon Tiong Rd · 3 min walk from Tiong Bahru MRT
- [Today Restaurant 日日茶室](https://lookup.sg/biz/today-restaurant), Tiong Bahru · 71 Seng Poh Rd · 4 min walk from Havelock MRT
- [Hey brew cafe](https://lookup.sg/biz/hey-brew-cafe), Tiong Bahru · 259 Outram Rd · 3 min walk from Havelock MRT
- [回味·蛋炒饭](https://lookup.sg/biz/business-169074), Tiong Bahru · Tan Boon Liat Building, 315 Outram Rd · 1 min walk from Havelock MRT
- [Happy Hawkers](https://lookup.sg/biz/happy-hawkers), Tiong Bahru · 18 Jln Membina · 1 min walk from Tiong Bahru MRT
- [Forty Hands](https://lookup.sg/biz/forty-hands), Tiong Bahru · #01-12, 78 Yong Siak St · 6 min walk from Tiong Bahru MRT
- [Narambi Cafe](https://lookup.sg/biz/narambi-cafe), Tiong Bahru · Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Duke-NUS Medical School, 8 College Rd · 6 min walk from Outram Park MRT
- [Toast Box (Tiong Bahru Plaza)](https://lookup.sg/biz/toast-box-tiong-bahru-plaza), Tiong Bahru · 302 Tiong Bahru Rd, #01-110 Tiong Bahru Plaza · 1 min walk from Tiong Bahru MRT
- [Kommune](https://lookup.sg/biz/kommune), Tiong Bahru · 3 Seng Poh Rd · 2 min walk from Havelock MRT
- [Tiongbarhu Market #Soon Li Coffee Stall 02-45](https://lookup.sg/biz/tiongbarhu-market-soon-li-coffee-stall-02-45), Tiong Bahru · Tiong Bahru Market, Green World, 3 Seng Poh Rd · 3 min walk from Havelock MRT
- [238 Coffee Stall](https://lookup.sg/biz/238-coffee-stall), Tiong Bahru · 30 Seng Poh Rd, #02-81 Market · 3 min walk from Havelock MRT
- [Paik's Coffee](https://lookup.sg/biz/paiks-coffee), Tiong Bahru · Central Plaza, 298 Tiong Bahru Rd · 1 min walk from Tiong Bahru 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.