Restaurant and Cafe Singapore Fit Out Cost in Singapore
If you are in the restaurant business, you know how hard it is. It’s one of the riskiest businesses in the world with over 98% restaurants shutting down within the first year. So why is a restaurant renovation important?
Last updated: 4 November 2026
How much does a restaurant or cafe renovation cost in Singapore?
Short answer: Typical 2026 Singapore ranges put an F&B fit-out at about S$180–500 per sq ft. A cafe or quick-service outlet is usually about S$180–250 per sq ft, a casual dining restaurant about S$250–380 per sq ft, and fine dining or a high-end bar S$500 per sq ft and up. The kitchen is the biggest single cost, often 40–60% of the total, because of exhaust, grease trap, gas, power and fire safety works. You also need an SFA Food Shop Licence (S$195 a year), and the premises must be approved for food use before you sign the lease. Final price is confirmed after a site visit.
Cost by type of outlet
| Outlet type | Typical range | What usually drives it |
|---|---|---|
| Cafe / quick-service | S$180–250 per sq ft | Simple layout, light kitchen, coffee counter |
| Casual dining restaurant | S$250–380 per sq ft | Larger kitchen, themed interior, more seating |
| Fine dining / high-end bar | S$500+ per sq ft | Premium materials, custom carpentry, advanced kitchen |
| Mall food kiosk (about 200 sq ft) | About S$195 per sq ft | M&E, exhaust and signage packed into a small footprint |
| Mall restaurant, open-flame kitchen | About S$160 per sq ft | Gas cooking, hood fire suppression, exhaust, grease trap |
| Mall restaurant, no open flame | About S$150 per sq ft | Electric or induction cooking; exhaust and grease still needed |
| Small cafe, 500–800 sq ft (total, entry level) | S$80,000–150,000 | Simple menu, minimal kitchen |
| Casual dining, 1,000–1,500 sq ft (total) | S$180,000–300,000 | Full commercial kitchen |
| Full-service restaurant or bar, over 1,500 sq ft (total) | From S$300,000 | Full back-of-house, premium front-of-house |
Mall kiosk and mall restaurant rates cover in-mall units only; shophouses follow different building and fire rules and can cost more. Kitchen equipment, cold rooms and POS are usually budgeted separately.
Kitchen and line-item cost factors
| Item | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen exhaust hood, ducting and air treatment | S$6,000–15,000+; complex runs S$15,000–30,000 | Depends on duct length to the exterior, hood size and airflow |
| Grease trap | S$1,500–3,500 | Stainless steel unit plus plumbing diversion; must stay accessible for cleaning |
| 3-phase power upgrade and LEW submission | S$3,000–10,000 | For heavy-duty ovens, fryers and coffee machines |
| Kitchen and cafe equipment | S$15,000–60,000 | Espresso machines, ovens, chillers |
| Bar / service counter | S$15,000–50,000 | Carpentry, stone or stainless tops |
| Washroom upgrade | S$10,000–25,000 per toilet | If the unit needs its own toilets |
| Gas piping and fire suppression | Quoted after a site look | Open-flame kitchens need hood fire suppression |
| Water, drainage and floor traps | Quoted after a site look | Check the unit has a floor trap to connect to |
| Flooring, wall tiling, aircon, signage | Quoted after measurement | Kitchen floors must be non-slip and impervious |
| Contingency | 10–15% of total | For hidden site conditions |
Worked example (illustration only)
- A hypothetical 800 sq ft cafe at S$180–250 per sq ft = about S$144,000–200,000.
- Add 10–15% contingency: about S$158,000–230,000.
- Equipment (often S$15,000–60,000), licence fees and GST (if the contractor is GST-registered) are usually extra.
A former F&B unit that already has exhaust ducting, a floor trap and enough power usually costs less to fit out than a bare shell. This is an illustration from typical ranges, not a quote.
Licensing and permits checklist
- Approved use first. Make sure the unit has URA change of use approval or HDB usage approval for food before you sign the tenancy or start renovation. SFA asks for this approval as part of your licence application.
- SFA Food Shop Licence. Apply on GoBusiness with a scaled metric layout plan showing kitchen equipment (exhausts, sinks, wash basins) and the seating area. Renovate only after SFA approves the application. The licence costs S$195 and is valid for 1 year.
- Kitchen design rules SFA checks. Floor graded to floor traps, non-slip impervious flooring, coved floor-to-wall edges, impervious wall lining at least 1.5 m high, at least one sink and one hand-wash basin, and appliances and storage racks at least 150 mm above the floor.
- Grease trap and pipes. No grease trap, manhole, sump or overhead waste pipes over areas where food is prepared, stored or served.
- Pre-licensing inspection. After the fit-out, SFA inspects by virtual walk-through or photo submission before you can open.
- Fire safety. Works that change fire safety provisions may need SCDF plan approval through a Qualified Person.
- Landlord or mall rules. Malls set their own approved contractor lists, work hours, exhaust and grease trap methods and drawing approvals.
How our quotes work
- Site visit to check exhaust route, floor traps, power supply and gas.
- Itemised quote by area: kitchen, front of house, M&E, carpentry, signage.
- Clear list of what is excluded, such as equipment, licence fees and GST.
- Timeline matched to your licence and landlord approvals.
Restaurant and cafe renovation FAQ
How much does a cafe renovation cost per sq ft in Singapore?
Typically about S$180–250 per sq ft for a cafe or quick-service outlet, so an 800 sq ft cafe is roughly S$144,000–200,000 before equipment.
What is the most expensive part of a restaurant fit-out?
The kitchen, often 40–60% of the total, because of exhaust, grease trap, power, gas and fire safety works.
How much is a kitchen exhaust system?
Typically S$6,000–15,000 or more, and S$15,000–30,000 for long or complex duct runs.
Do I need a licence before renovating a food shop?
Yes. Apply for the SFA Food Shop Licence with a layout plan first, and renovate after SFA approves the application. The unit must also be approved for food use by URA or HDB.
How much is the SFA Food Shop Licence?
S$195, valid for 1 year.
Is a former F&B unit cheaper to fit out?
Usually, if it already has exhaust ducting, a floor trap and enough power, since those are costly to build from scratch.
Planning a restaurant or cafe fit-out? WhatsApp us on +65 9172 6611 for a site visit and itemised quote.
Restaurant Renovation Singapore
The restaurant business is very trend based. This means what was a popular food choice in the past, may not be in the future. Or what was a popular decor style in the past, may not be a popular choice in the future. In the restaurant business, there is a lot of chopping and changing. From the food menu to the staff to the decor. It’s very important to understand the trends of the consumer every once in a while.
Recently the trend of healthy eating has risen. This means your decor and the marketing on your restaurant should suggest that only top and healthy ingredients are used and so on.
Premium pricing requires premium decor
In Singapore, food is cheap. You can get the tastiest and most fulfilling meal for just $2. If you are a restaurant, then you have a lot of competition. This includes hawker stalls that sell for cheap? How are you different and why should people come to your restaurant?
They come not only for the food, but also for the ambience and decor. People pay for a premium experience and they want a feast for the eyes as well. Beautiful decorations and artful paintings are important for a premium restaurant. From the chairs and tables, to even the cutlery, everything should scream premium for the patron to open their wallets and spend.
If you want to stand out from the other places that sell food, then you need to make sure your decor speaks before your food speaks.
Branding of the restaurant
You walk into the restaurant of a posh hotel and walk into another one, you might not see the difference. These days, all the restaurants look the same. So why should customers come to yours? It’s important to showcase your brand in your store.
When you enter a Mcdonald’s, even if you aren’t aware it’s a Mcdonald’s, you will be able to tell if it is one or not. This is because of the colour combinations, the way the restaurant is set-up primes the user for the next time they visit.
If you have multiple restaurants in different locations, it becomes more important to be able to have a streamlined decor. This is possible through renovation.
Cafe Renovation Singapore
A cafe is similar to a restaurant in one aspect. That is people come and eat, but it is fundamentally different from a business perspective. If you are looking at cafe renovation, then there are a few things you need to consider.
Why should you renovate your cafe in Singapore?
More seating areas
Cafes have a big problem and that is people coming into their shop, buying one cup of coffee and sitting there for hours on end without purchasing anything else. This is super risky for a business. It can dent their revenue and ultimately bring them down. The best way to avoid this situation is to improve the spacing in your cafe. If you have more seating, there is a bigger chance of improving your customer base. This is one of the biggest reasons for the renovation.
Space management is a big deal inside the kitchen as well, as you have newer equipment, space gets cramped. You can pick a renovation service to add in more equipment in your cafe and to place it strategically to save space.
Improving Revenue
You might ask, what does revenue have to do with the renovation? There are two aspects for it. If your seating and your chairs and other aspects of your cafe don’t scream, comfort, then you are missing out on a whole load of customers that are frequently called “regulars”. You need your regulars to come as they love the food and they love the ambience. As there are more and more freelance workers these days, a lot of people choose to work in coffee shops. They do their breakfast, lunch and sometimes dinner all at the same place while working. This is one of the ways to improve your revenue.
The other way to improve your revenue is to improve your decor, ambience and charge more. This way, you get only high-quality customers to your cafe, that don’t mind paying a premium for the beautiful setting.
More with the Trend
There are no constant these days. Everything works on trends. From buying habits to eating habits, everything has a trend. If you want to stick to the trend, then your decor must reflect that. Having interesting colours, better lighting, flooring and wall art can considerably make your decor look more attractive and bring in visitors.
Better branding
There are numerous cafes in Singapore. Every street has one and you compete with so many in just a single location. Branding is not about colours, it’s about identity and standing out distinctly. People should be able to identify and recognize your cafe only through the look and feel of the store. If you want to brand better, then you must renovate your cafe.
Why Get Contractor?
Get Contractor has some of the best cafe renovation contractors in Singapore. They understand your requirement before embarking on a renovation project and also make sure to abide all the laws of the government and engineering.
Ping us for a FREE Consultation!
Need this work done in Singapore? See our Restaurant and Cafe Renovation page, or WhatsApp us on +65 9172 6611 for an itemised quote.
