# Cafes in Toa Payoh

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: 95
- Matched to a government licence/register: 5
- Median years in business: 16

## 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-toa-payoh), Toa Payoh · 480 Toa Payoh Lorong 6 #01-09 HDB Hub · 1 min walk from Toa Payoh MRT · SFA licensed · registered 1996
- [Old Village Puer Pte Ltd](https://lookup.sg/biz/old-village-puer-pte-ltd), Toa Payoh · 1003 Toa Payoh Industrial Pack #07-1503 · 12 min walk from Potong Pasir MRT · registered 2013
- [Ya Kun Kaya Toast](https://lookup.sg/biz/ya-kun-kaya-toast-toa-payoh), Toa Payoh · Hdb Hub, 470 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh · 1 min walk from Toa Payoh MRT · SFA licensed
- [LeVie5.SG](https://lookup.sg/biz/levie5-sg), Toa Payoh · 151 Upp Paya Lebar Rd · 6 min walk from Tai Seng MRT
- [Châteraisé](https://lookup.sg/biz/chateraise-toa-payoh), Toa Payoh · 490 Toa Payoh Lor 6 #01-15 · 1 min walk from Toa Payoh MRT
- [Red Sun Tea Shop](https://lookup.sg/biz/red-sun-tea-shop), Toa Payoh · 190 Lor 6 Toa Payoh #01-580 · 7 min walk from Braddell MRT
- [Red Sun Tea Shop](https://lookup.sg/biz/red-sun-tea-shop-toa-payoh), Toa Payoh · 190 Lor 6 Toa Payoh #01-580 · 13 min walk from Toa Payoh MRT
- [Hua Fong Kee Food Court](https://lookup.sg/biz/hua-fong-kee-food-court), Toa Payoh · 116 Lor 2 Toa Payoh, Block 116 · 1 min walk from Braddell MRT · SFA licensed · registered 2006
- [New Trend Eating House](https://lookup.sg/biz/new-trend-eating-house), Toa Payoh · 120 Potong Pasir Ave 1, Block 120 · 9 min walk from Potong Pasir MRT · registered 1993
- [Killiney Kopitiam](https://lookup.sg/biz/killiney-kopitiam-toa-payoh), Toa Payoh · Tai Seng Centre, 3 Irving Rd · 2 min walk from Tai Seng MRT · registered 1992
- [Polar Puffs & Cakes](https://lookup.sg/biz/polar-puffs-and-cakes-toa-payoh), Toa Payoh · #01-23/24 Mount Alvernia Medical Centre B, 820 Thomson Rd · 6 min walk from Caldecott MRT · registered 1995
- [Lek Chew Restaurant](https://lookup.sg/biz/lek-chew-restaurant), Toa Payoh · 124 Lor 1 Toa Payoh · 4 min walk from Braddell MRT · registered 1975
- [New Century Food House](https://lookup.sg/biz/new-century-food-house-toa-payoh), Toa Payoh · 66 Lor 4 Toa Payoh, #01-327 · 7 min walk from Toa Payoh MRT · registered 2008
- [海南街老咖啡 Nanyang Old Coffee](https://lookup.sg/biz/nanyang-old-coffee-toa-payoh), Toa Payoh · Beatty Secondary School, 1 Toa Payoh N · 10 min walk from Braddell MRT · registered 2010
- [Liberty Coffee](https://lookup.sg/biz/liberty-coffee), Toa Payoh · 37 Mactaggart Road, #06-01, Trade visits by appointment only, Not a Cafe · 6 min walk from Tai Seng MRT · registered 2013
- [Kim Keat Food And Drinks Centre](https://lookup.sg/biz/kim-keat-food-and-drinks-centre), Toa Payoh · 260 Kim Keat Ave · 14 min walk from Toa Payoh MRT · SFA licensed
- [Balance Delight Coffeeshop](https://lookup.sg/biz/balance-delight-coffeeshop), Toa Payoh · Blk 85C Toa Payoh Lor. 4. · 4 min walk from Toa Payoh MRT · SFA licensed
- [Hashtag Cafe](https://lookup.sg/biz/hashtag-cafe), Toa Payoh · 3 Irving Rd, #01-18 Tai Seng Centre · 1 min walk from Tai Seng MRT · registered 2018
- [Luvall Coffee](https://lookup.sg/biz/luvall-coffee), Toa Payoh · 1 Irving Pl, #01-30 The Commerze @ Irving · 2 min walk from Tai Seng MRT · registered 2023
- [Fullybooked](https://lookup.sg/biz/fullybooked), Toa Payoh · 45 Tai Thong Cres · 4 min walk from Potong Pasir MRT · registered 2023
- [Ling’s Patisseries](https://lookup.sg/biz/lings-patisseries), Toa Payoh · Block 120 Potong Pasir Ave 1, #01-820 · 9 min walk from Potong Pasir MRT · registered 2023
- [Durian Era Cafe](https://lookup.sg/biz/durian-era-cafe), Toa Payoh · 177 Toa Payoh Central, #01-108 · 1 min walk from Toa Payoh MRT · registered 2024
- [Starbucks](https://lookup.sg/biz/starbucks-toa-payoh), Toa Payoh · 51 Upper Serangoon Road The Poiz · 1 min walk from Potong Pasir MRT
- [Alchemist](https://lookup.sg/biz/alchemist-toa-payoh), Toa Payoh · 2 MacTaggart Rd, #01-01 Khong Guan Building · 3 min walk from Tai Seng MRT
- [Kizuna](https://lookup.sg/biz/kizuna), Toa Payoh · 148 Potong Pasir Ave 1, #01-37 · 2 min walk from Potong Pasir MRT
- [The Larder Cafe](https://lookup.sg/biz/the-larder-cafe), Toa Payoh · Blk 177 Toa Payoh Central, #01-124 · 2 min walk from Toa Payoh MRT
- [Fuel X](https://lookup.sg/biz/fuel-x), Toa Payoh · 2 Tai Thong Cres, #01-06 The Venue Shoppes · 4 min walk from Potong Pasir MRT
- [HDB Hub](https://lookup.sg/biz/hdb-hub), Toa Payoh · 480 Toa Payoh Lorong 6 #01-09 HDB Hub · 2 min walk from Toa Payoh MRT
- [Honest Cup Specialty Coffee](https://lookup.sg/biz/honest-cup-specialty-coffee), Toa Payoh · KA Centre, 150 Kg Ampat · 6 min walk from Tai Seng MRT
- [Yi Jia Cun](https://lookup.sg/biz/yi-jia-cun), Toa Payoh · 20 Lor 7 Toa Payoh, HDB · 14 min walk from Toa Payoh 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.