We first announced the news of % Arabica opening in Singapore back in August last year and we are happy to report that the wait is finally over.

The ever so popular Kyoto coffee chain % Arabica has finally opened their doors in Singapore at Arab Street! And at a pretty apt location we’d say. Striving to let people “see the world through coffee” as their philosophy, they have currently 36 stores in 10 countries.

Taking up a corner shop space, the coffee shop is decked out in their signature minimalist white interior that is incredibly aesthetically pleasing. Serving up their specialty blends and single-origin coffees, we predict long queues for the next few days. Or months.

% Arabica prides themselves in quality coffee beans that are harvested from their own farm in Hawaii as well as sourced from around the world. Our blend Caffe Latte (S$7) in short was aromatic from perfectly roasted beans which were soothed by the mellow creaminess of the milk. There was a pleasant bitter aftertaste that was not too overwhelming on the palate too.

Next up was a very photogenic iced Matcha Latte (S$9.60) that had a beautiful gradient against the cup bearing their iconic % emblem. Earthy and smooth, % Arabica nailed the matcha to milk ratio, with the full-bodied milk harmonizing with the bitter notes of matcha.

Fans of % Arabica will be pleased to know that apart from an in-house coffee roaster where you can purchase their freshly roasted beans, you can also get your hands on a range of the brand’s merchandise as well.

% Arabica Coffee Singapore has also announced the opening of two other outlets in Singapore at Chip Bee Gardens and 313@Somerset.

% Arabica Singapore
56 Arab Street
Singapore 199753
Daily: 8am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Bugis

A new kid on the block, DUAL Cafe Singapore joins the line-up of hip cafes on the famed and graffiti-covered Arab Street. The cafe is decorated with classic wood furnishings and welcoming shades of green.

Impeccably fusing Western culinary techniques with Asian flavours, DUAL Cafe Singapore offers customers the option to pick from dishes on their set menu or create their own food bowls.

With customisable protein bowls often coming with a hefty price tag, it is easy to understand the cafe’s popularity; their lunch special on Mondays to Fridays, from 11.30am to 2pm, offers food bowls with Ice Lemon Tea for just S$6.90 nett!

We customised our own bowls for the lunchtime special—with a choice of one base (such as Soba Noodles and House Salad), one protein (including Dijon Chicken Thigh, Baked Garlic Dory and Sesame Chicken Breast), and three toppings.

Customers also have the option to add extra sauce to their bowls without extra charge!

Our first bowl was made up of Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Mirin Salmon, Sous Vide Egg, Mushroom Medley and Honey Balsamic Mushrooms.

The servings were incredibly generous considering the price. Every single ingredient on the plate was well seasoned and complemented one another perfectly.

The other customised bowl we ordered consisted of Organic Brown Rice, Braised Pork Belly, Mushroom Medley, Steamed Broccoli and Corn. Unsurprisingly, the highlight of the bowl here was definitely the Braised Pork Belly.

Fatty and salty enough to enjoy with the fluffy bed of brown rice, the pork belly was so flavourful with it being steeped in a myriad of sauces for hours to give it that savoury burst of flavours.

Office workers looking for a healthy yet affordable lunch meal in the area should definitely check out DUAL Cafe Singapore; they even serve local brew craft beers at wallet-friendly prices so you can indulge yourself after office hours!

DUAL Cafe Singapore
48 Arab St
Singapore 199745
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 9pm
Sat: 10.30am – 9pm
Sun: 10.30am – 5pm
Nearest Station: Bugis