The world famous Café Kitsuné has landed in Singapore with a beautiful joint at Capitol Building. The French-Japanese chain was first opened in Paris by designer label Maison Kitsuné, and has since achieved cult status with 21 cafés in iconic locations around the world. The coffeehouse is known for its robust cuppas and fox-shaped sable cookies – which are among the signatures you'll find in our local joint too.
The Singapore outlet brings the charm with locally-inspired touches. Check out the brand's signature fox emblem hidden in the wood panellings along the exterior of the café, and even in the Peranakan-inspired herringbone floor tilings. Giant monsteras and money plants bring a lush, tropical touch to the indoor space – and similarly to the al fresco seating space where you can bask under the sun.
Café Kitsuné has a pretty extensive menu of hot and cold beverages, not least of which are its coffees. Try single origin coffees sourced from Nicaragua, Guatamela and El Salvadore, which are roasted in Café Kitsuné's roastery in Okayama, Japan. But if you're aiming for something sweet, then we recommend going for its iced lattes such as earl grey dark chocolate ($9.50) and sesame ($8.50).
The sweet treats are a must-try too. Sample all four flavours of its famed fox-shaped sable cookies – butter, sesame, chocolate, and matcha ($4 each). Other signatures are the Paris-Brest ($12), which has a fragrant hazelnut praline creme piped onto light choux pastry, and the matcha éclair ($11), which we declare 'not too sweet'.
There are Singapore specials too, of course. In a cheeky nod to our love of spice is the chilli chocolate tart ($12), a dark chocolate confection with chilli flakes to cut through the decadence. The yuzu pistachio strawberry entremet ($13) meanwhile, is a fruity dessert with a crisp and tart edge.
Café Kitsuné's savoury menu is limited to four sandos and quiches, including a chicken katsu sando ($15), caramelised onion and sundried tomato quiche ($13) and smoked salmon and spinach quiche ($16). We recommend the fourth, an egg sando ($13) with satisfyingly jammy eggs, a flavourful egg mayo, and fresh lettuce sandwiched between two slices of white bread.
Café Kitsuné officially opens to the public on December 1, and is open daily from 10am-10pm. We do expect quite the crowd – so plan to visit during the off-peak.