Thinking of opening a cafe in Singapore, where the F&B industry is notoriously brutal? Now, the ONE thing that’s most important to get right is your location. Here, you’ll want to choose someplace that’s easy to get to, and has a high amount of foot traffic.
If you ask us, it’s a smart move to locate your cafe in the CBD (more specifically, somewhere that’s frequented by people who are more willing to drop, say, $6 on a latte). In this blog post, we share five great spots where you can rent out a space to start your very own cafe in the CBD. Read on to find out more!
#1: This unit at Hong Leong Building
District: D01
Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer, Raffles Place
Size: 355 sq ft
Rent price: $4,500
PSF rent price: $12.68
Hong Leong Building is located right smack in the middle of the CBD, and it makes sense to locate your cafe here if you’re looking to target OLs (read: Office Ladies) and their male counterparts.
This F&B unit in the building is right next to the basement escalator and Starbucks, which means that you’ll get a ton of foot traffic and eyeballs on your brand. It’s also newly renovated, and available to rent immediately. The only catch is that cooking isn’t allowed here, so you’ll either have to limit your menu to drinks only, or get ready-made food delivered from a supplier or central kitchen.
#2: This unit at One Raffles Place
District: D01
Nearest MRT: Raffles Place
Size: 248 sq ft
Rent price: $9,920
PSF rent price: $40
Like Hong Leong Building, One Raffles Place is located strategically in the middle of Raffles Place, and tons of office workers throng the building every single day. This particular unit at One Raffles Place is located at the basement, where all the other eateries and restaurants are congregated. There are no takeover fees applicable, and the unit is available to rent immediately.
#3: This unit at Boat Quay
District: D01
Nearest MRT: Raffles Place
Size: 1,812 sq ft
Rent price: $6,890
PSF rent price: $3.90
If you’ve got grand plans for your cafe, and you need a ton of space to be able to execute your vision, then this restaurant at Boat Quay will be right up your alley. The restaurant spans a whopping 1,812 sq ft over a ground floor space and a mezzanine floor; this makes it perfect for those multi-concept businesses that are so popular these days.
Cafe by day, bar by night? Cafe cum retail space, with a showroom on the mezzanine floor? The options are endless, so take your time to figure it out!
#4: This unit at Chinatown Point
District: D01
Nearest MRT: Chinatown
Size: 129 sq ft
Rent price: $4,515
PSF rent price: $35
This F&B unit at Chinatown Point has plenty of things going for it; we’ll tell you why.
First and foremost, Chinatown Point houses an office block on top of retail units, which gives you built-in demand that you can capitalize on. On top of that, the mall is also linked to Chinatown MRT station, and it gets two thumbs up when it comes to accessibility. Finally, the F&B space is located at B1 next to NTUC Fairprice, so they’ll be plenty of people walking by everyday (and hopefully checking out your cafe).
#5: This unit at Sunshine Plaza
District: D07
Nearest MRT: Bras Basah
Size: 517 sq ft
Rent price: $6,204
PSF rent price: $12
Sunshine Plaza is a mixed development that comprises of apartments, offices, and shops and F&B businesses. The building might not look all that impressive, but don’t judge it by its cover – it’s surprisingly popular with those who study and work in the area.
The good news? While there are plenty of popular F&B businesses (including Thai Gold Food and Victor’s Kitchen) located at Sunshine Plaza, there aren’t many cafes in the mix. This helps your potential cafe stand out from the competition, and attract more customers.
Are you intending to locate your cafe in the CBD, or do you have other plans in mind? Voice your thoughts in our comments section or on our Facebook community page.
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About Elizabeth Tan
Elizabeth is a writer, a Harry Potter fanatic, and a Game Of Thrones addict.
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