Blue Bottle opens its first standalone cafe in Southeast Asia at Paragon

Cult-favourite coffee chain Blue Bottle has finally debuted its first standalone cafe in Southeast Asia, at Paragon Shopping Centre where Prive used to sit, facing the main road.

Not too long ago, the international brand gave coffee fans a taste of what was to come with its first Southeast Asia outlet in Singapore, as a store-within-a-store concept at the Japanese fashion retailer Lumine’s flagship in Raffles City. 

Blue Bottle Coffee was founded in 2002 in Oakland, California, and has since built a massive fan following with over a hundred outlets across the United States, Japan, South Korea, and more. 

The cosy new space

The new standalone cafe is a warm and inviting space that can house up to seventy guests and is furnished with a mix of stainless steel, terracotta-toned plaster, oak wood, and leather.

It all comes together to create a cosy, yet elegant atmosphere that complements the upscale vibe of Paragon. This marks a stark contrast to the brand’s first in-store outlet at Lumine, which embraced a minimalist aesthetic.

That’s not all: This new concept also features an alfresco dining area, perfect for enjoying a cup of coffee and a fresh bake, while soaking in the energy and hustle-and-bustle of Orchard Road.

What continues to steal the show are Blue Bottle Coffee’s signature brews. With the same menu as the Raffles City outlet, two of our must-tries remain: The Gibraltar (S$7.50) is a pretty dang good option.

Another signature brew is the Nola (S$8) — a refreshing iced coffee that’s cold-brewed with roasted chicory and lightly sweetened with organic cane sugar and milk for a smooth, mellow finish.

Apart from its coffee, Blue Bottle Coffee continues to partner with Bakery Brera to offer a variety of viennoiseries. While most of the bakes mirror those at the Raffles City outlet, the Paragon cafe features a few exclusives — including the buttery Liege waffles (S$8.50) and yogurt bowls (S$12), both freshly made in-store.

New additions to the line-up include the sea salt cookie (S$5.50), perfectly balanced with just the touch of salt — crisp on the outside and soft within — and the banana bread (S$6), generously topped with cranberries.

Personalised tote bags 

To kickstart its launch, Blue Bottle Coffee has set up a personalised tote bag station for guests who purchase the Singapore tote. Located right outside its neighbour Ferragamo, the station is only available on the first two weekends — July 17 to 20 and July 25 to 27, from 12pm to 7pm. It features adorable renditions of Blue Bottle coffee mugs and waffles, and guests can choose up to three sticker designs to customise their tote. It’s a fun, limited-time experience that makes for the perfect weekend stop!

This was a hosted tasting.

For more coffee spots, check out this hidden alley cafe at Arab Street, and Singapore’s first Pull-Tab coffee outlet.