Cafe Kitsune – Famed French-Japanese Coffee Chain Opens at Capitol Singapore

Do we need yet another specialty coffee chain in Singapore? Oui, most certainly so. World-famous Cafe Kitsune has recently expanded its presence – beyond France, Japan, Korea, and other major cities – to open its doors in sunny Singapore. 

Chic Parisian aesthetic is combined with charming Japanese sensibilities to make the 40-seater outlet feel warm and welcoming all at once. And as a nod to its new tropical address, the Capitol Singapore outlet also comes splashed with lush potted fauna and overhanging plants to enliven the space. Look out for other cute touches: the brand’s iconic fox emblem peeks through as a door handle, and even on the Peranakan-inspired herringbone floor tiles. 

The menu itself is a concise selection of warm brews, cold drinks, pastries, and some savouries. Coffee (from $4.50) remains a highlight at Cafe Kitsune – it uses a special blend of Brazil and Guatemala beans, which come flown in specially from the brand’s roastery in Japan. The result: cups that are full-bodied, with hints of chocolate, honey, and peach. 

Other beverage options include earl grey dark chocolate ($8.50) and an iced hojicha latte ($8.50) that we especially enjoyed for its fragrant, bittersweet notes. Regardless of what you choose to sip on, be sure to pair it with the adorable fox-shaped cookies ($4). These iconic shortbreads are available in flavours of butter, matcha, chocolate, and sesame – and more importantly, serve as edible props for your Instagram photo. 

For those feeling peckish, choose from a display of pastries and cakes. Japanese-inspired treats of melon pan ($7) and matcha cookie ($5) are available along with classic Parisian bakes of croissant ($7) and eclair ($11). Other highlights include the strawberry shortcake ($13), with a cloud-like layer of whipped cream, and a ring of Paris-Brest ($12) that could have benefitted from a tad less praline filling. Exclusive to the Singapore menu are two creations: chilli chocolate tart ($12) – a delicious celebration of our love for spice – with gentle heat that helps cut through the richness; and the refreshingly fruity yuzu pistachio strawberry entremet ($13). 

Without a hot kitchen, savoury options run scarce; there are only two quiches (from $13) and two sandwiches ($13) to choose from. The kombini staple of egg sando, in particular, seems to make an appearance on most tables. But we wished the buns came toasted, and found the filling to be relatively sparse, with the amount of egg mayo not being distributed evenly. 

Cafe Kitsune is, ultimately, a casual spot for afternoon teas and light bites. And beyond just being a stylish coffee spot, the outlet also has a small retail nook where fans of the brand can pick up themed merchandise, including cups, apparel, and tote bags. Bags of its signature coffee blend can also be bought to recreate the flavours of the famous brand at home. 

MissTamChiak.com made an anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the cafe featured here.