I almost walked past it.
Jiak Chuan Road has that effect, a row of shophouses so pretty they blur together, and you keep moving before you really look. Then the door of Kafe Utu opened, and the smell of coffee and something slow-cooked and spiced pulled me back.
I stepped inside without a plan. I left with a full stomach and a head full of places I’ve never been.
What Kafe Utu Is
Kafe Utu calls itself Singapore’s first African-themed cafe and lounge, and it opened back in 2019. The owner, Kurt, grew up across Liberia, South Sudan, and Kenya, and you can feel that this place isn’t a concept dreamed up in a boardroom. It’s someone’s memory of home, rebuilt into three floors of a Keong Saik shophouse.
The ground floor is the coffee spot, an eight-metre hand-carved banquette runs along one wall, and it’s the kind of furniture you touch just to feel the grooves. Upstairs there’s a cozy lounge, and above that, a bar and terrace. By day it’s brunch. By night it turns into something quieter and darker, with cocktails and small plates.
It’s not a cheap café, and it doesn’t pretend to be. But I’ll get to that.
First Impressions Across Three Floors
The décor is the first thing people talk about, and I understand why.
African artwork lines the walls. The wood is warm and worn-in, the doors carved by hand. There’s a real sense that someone chose each piece rather than ordering it in bulk. I could see why some tables become a photo before a meal, though a few corners run dim, so if you like eating in bright light, ask for a seat near the front.
I settled on the ground floor with a coffee. The Ubuntu house blend, beans from Uganda, Mexico, and Brazil, came out with a soft, buttery body and a finish that leaned toward dark chocolate. Made with creamy Hokkaido milk, it was gentle without being flat. A good first sip.
The Menu: African Food You Slow Down For
Here’s the thing about the brunch menu, it asks you to be a little curious.
This is African cuisine drawn from many places at once, not one narrow tradition. Some dishes carry heat. Some use goat, fried plantain, or spice mixes you might not recognise. If you come open to that, you’ll eat well.
A few things I’d point you toward, from what I tried and what the room kept ordering:
Mbuzi Breakfast ($33), goat sausage, scrambled eggs, goat cheese, and batbout with a smoky harissa sauce. Savoury and grounding, the kind of plate that wakes you up properly.
Ricotta Hotcakes ($28), fluffy, moist, with fresh berries and a house cardamom maple syrup. The sweet counterpoint to everything else.
Buttermilk Fried Chicken ($18), crisp fried skin, tender inside. Served with three house-made sauces including Congo Bongo and mango chilli marmalade, it is a safe, satisfying anchor if the rest of the menu feels unfamiliar.
Liberian Peanut Chicken Stew ($28), nutty, deep, and comforting. This one tasted like it had time behind it and is thick and creamy.
Caribbean Goat Curry ($28), a delicious Caribbean goat curry, rich with spices and served with fluffy coconut rice that rounds out the palate.
Goat Curry ($31), goat has its own distinct aroma, and this leans into it. Not brutally spicy, just full and honest.
For dinner regulars, the Zanzibar Curry Goat gets mentioned again and again, usually paired with the coconut rice. And don’t skip the lamb samosas, crisp, generously filled, easy to share. If you’re around for the evening service, the pulled pork breakfast items and small plates carry over into that slower, cocktail-lit mood.
Order the coconut rice with anything stewed. It softens the heat and rounds out the plate.
Service That Takes Its Time With You
The staff here made the meal easier.
When I hesitated over dishes I couldn’t pronounce, someone walked me through them without rushing, where a flavour came from, what to expect. That patience matters when a menu is this unfamiliar. I’ve read older reviews about feeling hurried on busy nights, so I’d say this: come on a weekday if you can, and give yourself room. The place rewards a slow visit.
Practical Information
Address: 12 Jiak Chuan Road, Singapore 089265 (Keong Saik / Chinatown)
Nearest MRT: Outram Park or Maxwell, both a short walk
Hours: Tue, Sun, 10am, 4:30pm and 6, 11pm; closed Monday (last lunch order 4pm, last dinner order 9:30pm)
Payment: Cashless, Visa, Mastercard, Amex, PayNow
Spend: Around $30 per person, more with mains and drinks
Booking: Worth reserving for dinner and weekends, walk-ins can mean waiting
Hours shift sometimes across listings, so check before you go.
Final Thoughts on Kafe Utu: A Unique African Cuisine Experience in Singapore
Kafe Utu isn’t the café you drop into for a quick, cheap coffee.
It’s the one you visit when you want the meal to mean something, when you’re curious about African food, happy to try goat and fried plantain and stews you can’t quite name, and willing to pay a little more for the experience. The prices sit on the higher side, some corners are dim, and weekends get busy. All true.
But I went in unsure, and I left thinking about Kurt’s childhood across three countries, folded into three floors of a shophouse most people hurry past.
If you’re building a slow day of cafe hopping, our guide to the Best Cafes in Singapore is a good place to keep wandering after.
Some meals you photograph. This one, I mostly just sat with.
FAQ
Is Kafe Utu worth visiting?
Yes, if you’re curious about African cuisine and want more than a standard brunch. Come for the delicious food, the amazing Ubuntu coffee, and the three-storey space, not for a budget cup.
What should I order at Kafe Utu?
The Mbuzi Breakfast, Liberian Peanut Chicken Stew, buttermilk fried chicken, Caribbean goat curry, and lamb samosas are strong starts. Pair stews with the creamy coconut rice. Don’t miss the sour cream cheesecake for dessert or the eggs benedict for brunch.
Where is Kafe Utu and how do I get there?
It’s at 12 Jiak Chuan Road in Keong Saik. The nearest MRT stations are Outram Park and Maxwell, both within a short walk.
Is Kafe Utu expensive?
It sits in the mid-to-upper range, around $30 per person, with mains climbing higher. It’s cashless, so bring a card or PayNow.
