Famed Blue Bottle Coffee unveils permanent cafe at Raffles City with Singapore-exclusive pastries

If you’re a coffee enthusiast, you’d probably already have heard the news: World-famous coffee brand Blue Bottle Coffee is opening its first-ever cafe concept at Raffles City! 

Slated for launch on April 3 — yes, it’s opening tomorrow, so mark your calendars — the cafe will be serving up its signature brews, alongside Singapore-exclusive pastries. 

If you recall, the coffee giant had previously opened as a pop-up in August last year, at Japanese fashion lifestyle boutique Lumine. 

Back then, it operated as retail-only, and sold merchandise and instant coffee. You couldn’t sample any of its beloved coffees in-store. 

Now, Blue Bottle Coffee is finally ready to introduce a full-fledged cafe concept on our shores, where you can sit down and unwind at. 

It occupies the same space at Lumine, but has transformed the bulk of its retail section to accommodate tables and chairs.

It’s a cosy pitstop, a little nook in the heart of a bustling shopping mall — one that we can see coffee aficionados making a beeline for.

The space itself is simple, yet inviting. It adopts a pleasing palette of light neutrals, with natural sunlight streaming in from Lumine’s floor-to-ceiling windows. 

A U-shaped island dominates the space in the middle of the cafe, allowing diners to catch an unobstructed view of expert baristas working their craft, brewing each cup from scratch.

The menu at Blue Bottle Coffee cafe 

On Blue Bottle Coffee’s cafe menu is a slew of mouthwatering brews, spanning the gamut from full-bodied, espresso-based drinks such as the Gibraltar (S$7.50), to non-coffee ones along the likes of matcha lattes (S$9.50) and the classic hot chocolate (S$9).

Of these, the Gibraltar is a highlight. Known as the “short, strong latte”, it comprises a rich dose of espresso and milk, and is served in a rock glass with some pretty latte art to round it off.

If you’re averse to the usual bitterness that comes with many espresso-based drinks, Blue Bottle’s rendition is well-tempered and surprisingly brims with nutty notes, with the sweet aroma of milk peeking through at the end.

Those who like their iced coffees sweet will fall head over heels for the Nola (S$8) — a refreshing drink brewed with roasted chicory, then blended with milk and organic cane sugar. 

The Nola is actually a cult-favourite beverage back home in Oakland, California — the birthplace of Blue Bottle Coffee — and we can see why. It’s sweet, creamy and undeniably delicious, and we’d go so far as to say that it’s one of the best coffees we’ve ever tried!

The beverages at Blue Bottle Coffee are also complemented by an array of decadent pastries, courtesy of local artisanal baker Bakery Brera. Here, you have a few staple viennoiseries such as the almond croissant (S$8), pain au chocolat (S$8), as well as a savoury triple cheese and turkey croissant (S$8). 

But most notable during our visit today are the Singapore-exclusive pastries created specially for Blue Bottle Coffee’s new cafe in Raffles City: Coconut kouign-amann (S$8), a delicious bake dusted with toasted grated coconut, then finished with a caramelised glaze, and the aromatic pandan canele with kaya (S$6) with silky kaya jam. 

Both pastries are light on the palate, yet tasty — perfect for a midday pick-me-up.

Opening deals

To celebrate Blue Bottle Coffee’s first-ever cafe concept in Singapore, you can get your tote bag customised for free, from tomorrow (Apr 3) until  April 5, from 12pm to 7pm. 

You’ll have to purchase Blue Bottle Coffee’s Singapore-exclusive tote bag to be eligible for the service.

This was an invited tasting.

For the latest eats, read about Anthology Singapore’s new local-inspired cocktail menu, and A Hot Hideout with its unique scrambled eggs malatang. Alternatively, check out the newest openings in Singapore here. 

Enjoy up to 50% off when you dine with GrabFood Dine Out.

You can also book a ride to Blue Bottle Coffee at Raffles City to check out its new cafe.