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A Guide to Renovating F&B Spaces in Singapore
Mar 10
2 min read
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From compliance to concept - what every restaurant or café owner should know before starting an F&B renovation in Singapore.
01. Start With Your Concept — Not Just the Floor Plan
Every great F&B space starts with a clear vision. Whether you’re opening a café, tapas bar, or fine dining venue, the concept should drive everything - from layout to material choices, lighting to acoustics.
At Studio Unfold, we begin every F&B project by defining the emotional atmosphere first - what should guests feel when they walk in? Is it grounded, moody, social, or soft?
02. Understand Local Regulations & Compliance
Renovating F&B spaces in Singapore comes with its own set of requirements. Here’s what you’ll likely need:
SCDF Fire Safety Compliance
NEA Licensing (for food preparation areas)
URA Change of Use (if applicable)
HDB / BCA submissions (depending on tenancy type)
Landlord approval and design review
Pro tip: Engage a designer who’s experienced with commercial kitchens, grease traps, and ventilation routes early on - these can shape your layout significantly.
03. Prioritise Flow — For Both Guests & Staff
Your spatial planning must support two simultaneous experiences: your team’s operational efficiency and your guests’ comfort.
Key tips:
Keep the bar or coffee station visible, but not disruptive
Define zones for entry, waiting, dining, and transition
Anticipate peak-hour bottlenecks (e.g., order queue vs. walk path)
At Lavi Tapas Bar, we used curved joinery and layered lighting to divide space without hard partitions - keeping intimacy without reducing flow.
04. Materials That Age Well (And Clean Well)
F&B spaces experience higher wear and tear than most interiors. Materials should be:
Easy to maintain (stone, sealed concrete, vinyl, microcement)
Resistant to stains and scratches
Texturally rich to hide small imperfections over time
For Armoury Aperia, we used burnt cement and aged brass to embrace patina and wear - turning them into features, not flaws.
05. Lighting & Acoustics: Underrated, But Crucial
Good lighting = mood + appetite. Bad lighting = early exits.
Layered lighting plan should include:
Ambient glow (e.g., cove or wall wash)
Focal accents (e.g., pendant over tables)
Task lighting (e.g., bar, kitchen pass)
And don’t forget sound. Use soft finishes (upholstery, wood slats, acoustic panels) to reduce echo, especially in hard-surface interiors.
06. Timeline & Budget Considerations
F&B renovations in Singapore often take 8–12 weeks depending on:
Extent of hacking & reinstatement
Custom joinery lead times
Landlord review duration
NEA inspection clearance
Pro tip: Always allow 1–2 weeks buffer before your target launch.
Final Thoughts
Renovating an F&B space is about more than fittings and finishes. It’s about shaping an experience - one that aligns with your brand, your operations, and your guests' memories.
At Studio Unfold, we design for story, service flow, and soul — crafting restaurants and cafés that feel as good as they function.
Thinking of launching your own F&B concept?
Let’s design a space that guests remember — and return to.
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