'Like a hotel toilet': 12 coffee shops spruce up washrooms under government grants, with more in the pipeline
The National Environment Agency has received 171 eligible applications since the grants were launched.
Before and after: Rong Fa Coffee Shop's male toilet renovated to improve lighting and ventilation. (Photos: Jenny Shi, CNA/Alyssa Tan)
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SINGAPORE: A long-time stall owner at a Clementi coffee shop used to rush through trips to the washroom, put off by the unpleasant odours and grime there.
Since the toilet at Rong Fa Coffee Shop underwent a major overhaul earlier this year, Mr Hong Khu Tee, 57, no longer feels the need to rush.
"The smell of urine used to drift from the area as the day passed. Now there is no such smell and it's cleaner," he said in Mandarin.
"Many customers tell me that this renovation makes it look like a hotel toilet."
Since applications opened on Nov 3, the authorities have received 171 eligible applications: 142 for the renovation grant and 29 for the deep cleaning grant.
"This is heartening. It tells us that the coffee shop operators are interested in renovating, redesigning and improving the accessibility and hygiene of their toilets," Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Janil Puthucheary said on Friday (May 15).
He was speaking on the sidelines of a visit to Rong Fa, which had received both grants.
"It's important for us to have these clean, accessible toilets in our heartlands, close to our homes, but it's just as important that we behave with some respect to these shared spaces," Dr Puthucheary added, calling on users to keep facilities clean for others.
Apart from Rong Fa, Coffee Sense and Kim San Leng are among the 12 coffee shops that have completed renovations or started deep cleaning works, with more expected as applications are processed, the National Environment Agency (NEA) and Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said.
UPGRADED TOILET, BETTER MAINTENANCE
Rong Fa's director Jenny Shi spent about S$49,000 (US$38,300) renovating the toilet, with 95 per cent reimbursed under the grant. Works took 10 days between January and February, completing before Chinese New Year.
The cubicles were upgraded with new fittings, improved lighting and automated flushing systems. The female toilet, accessible to those with disabilities, received a new sink, mirror and hand dryer.
In the shared sink area, storage was added beneath auto-faucet sinks, and larger wall and floor tiles with fewer grooves were installed to reduce grime build-up and ease cleaning.
Asked whether the high upfront cost had been a hurdle, Ms Shi said in Mandarin that the coffee shop had "no choice" but to do it, as dirt kept accumulating in old fixtures and hard-to-reach crevices despite regular cleaning.
The upgrade has cut cleaning time by 10 minutes per session. The toilet is cleaned three times daily, with deep cleaning twice a month at S$400 per session.
Stall owners like Mr Hong, who has manned the dim sum stall for 12 years, said the upgrade has been good for business.
Taxi driver Chua Chong Hoi, 68, who visits Rong Fa regularly as his father lives nearby, welcomed the brighter, better-ventilated space.
"Last time the floor was wet and slippery. Now with the new floor tiles, it is safer for children and seniors," he said in Mandarin.
Another patron, who wanted to be known as Mr Bala, described the old toilet as "very stinky".
"Right now, I think the new one is a bit better because it's still new. So if someone is maintaining it, then I don't think it's a problem," said the 60-year-old, who works in therapy.
The works fall under the Coffeeshop Toilet Renovation Grant and Deep-Cleaning Grant, introduced on the recommendations of the Public Toilets Taskforce to address persistent cleanliness issues at coffee shops and hawker centres.
The renovation grant covers up to 95 per cent of costs, capped at S$50,000 per coffee shop. The deep-cleaning grant co-funds up to 95 per cent of a two-year cleaning contract, capped at S$25,000. Priority is given to smaller, non-chain operators that may need greater support.
As a condition of both grants, operators must ensure cleaners are trained and certified under the Happy Toilet Programme, administered by the Restroom Association (Singapore).
Not all operators have been eager to apply. Some previously told CNA they were concerned about costs, business disruption and the requirement to pay upfront while awaiting reimbursement. Others said they saw little need for upgrades, citing limited toilet space.
COFFEE SHOPS SUSPENDED FOR TOILET LAPSES
Beyond grants, NEA and SFA have taken enforcement action against errant operators.
About 280 enforcement actions were taken in 2025, with more than 200 involving coffee shop owners for hygiene lapses such as failing to maintain sanitary fittings in good working condition.
SFA suspended 61 coffee shops for toilet-related lapses under its points demerit system.
NEA has also stepped up audits through the environmental sanitation regime, with more frequent checks for recalcitrant operators.
Last year, about 150 enforcement actions were taken against coffee shop operators for failing to comply with environmental sanitation requirements, including lapses in toilet cleanliness.
Other than coffee shops, Sport Singapore was the first to adopt the task force's recommendations, implementing better ventilation and anti-slip impermeable tiles at its ActiveSG Jurong East Sport Centre.
The Public Toilets Taskforce, set up in 2024, submitted its recommendations to the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment in February last year, following a study that found dirty public toilets remained an issue despite years of campaigns.
Its recommended design features were communicated to more than 1,300 premises and involved parties.
