The Place One of the most anticipated coffee brand from Kyoto has finally opened in Singapore. Located at 56 Arab Street, this is % Arabica first outlet in Singapore, which has drawn a long queue on its 28 June 2019 opening day. The first location at Arab Street is an interesting, as the minimalist and predominantly white interior of the cafe contrast very strongly with the colourful vibes of this precinct.

The seating capacity is pretty limited, with a few seats by the counter, and a long white bench by the window. It is a very open setting I would say, which allows a good dose of natural light in the store. At the end of the space, there is an on-site coffee roasting facility, which explains the aromatic coffee beans smell in the air.

The Food Other than % Arabica’s signature cafe latte, you can pretty much expect espresso, Americano and Spanish latte, to which I have no clue what a Spanish latte means. There is also the ever-popular matcha latte for matcha fanatics.

I ordered the signature Iced Caffe Latte (S$8), which is more pricey in my impression as compared to Kyoto. Service is everything, and it is a pretty pleasant experience ordering over the counter despite the insane queue. Kudos to the staff for being professional.

For some reason, I personally find that the coffee here is much better than the Kyoto Arashiyama outlet I went previously. I chose the blend instead of single origin, which is relatively intense even for a latte. The milk used to make the latte is also of good quality.

The Hot Matcha Latte (S$8.60/short) is another worthy option where you get an intense matcha flavour.

Rants The Iced Matcha Latte is S$9.60, which gives you a gauge of the prices here. Prices are generally 20-30% more than Starbucks as a comparison for similar size beverages.

Will I Return Again? The zen looking space is ironically nothing like zen, at least when you have countless eyes in the queue peering into the store. While prices are steep, I would still have it again if I am in the vicinity.

TheRantingPanda says:
Taste bud: 4/5
Hole in the pocket: 4/5
Ambience: 4/5
Overall Experience: 3.5/5

%Arabica Singapore
56 Arab Street
Singapore 199753

Opening Hours
Monday to Sunday: 8am to 8pm

Ranted by The Ranter