Popular Arab Street eatery Fika Swedish Cafe And Bistro to close in August

Fika Swedish Cafe And Bistro, a beloved eatery on Arab Street, announced on August 4 that it will close its location on August 14. The social media pages of the cafe shared the news with its followers, expressing gratitude for the patronage over the past 17 years since its opening in 2009. The management stated that they will celebrate their milestone anniversary while also informing the public of their final day of service at the Arab Street location.

Tasneem Noor, one of the founders, explained that the decision to close was a result of the team's desire to focus on growing their offshoot bakery, Konditori, located on Bussorah Street. The closure was not easy for Tasneem, who considered Fika as her first baby, even before her own children were born. However, she is excited to see Konditori's growth and is open to keeping the Fika brand alive through pop-ups and events.

The cafe, known for its Swedish food made with halal ingredients, particularly its signature meatballs, will transition its focus to Konditori. Tasneem mentioned that the decision to close was not solely due to rent prices, which have increased in the Kampong Glam area. Nevertheless, the brand remains committed to supporting its staff during the transition, either through retraining or providing assistance to employees whose roles are affected by the closure.