With plain black frontage bearing only a horizontal slit window, this narrow Samyan hideaway is easy to miss. Tucked below experimental public art space The Shophouse 1527, the achingly hip cafe serves inventive slow bar brews, like the sweet and softly fruity Black Magic (B90) featuring coffee, lychee and milk foam, as well as the chocolatey Koko Yen for those who don’t drink coffee (B80). Lined with short wooden stools, the narrow bar is surrounded by raw concrete walls and contemporary artwork, while gravel flooring creates an outdoor vibe that clashes with the bunker-like space.
Natural light pours down the staircase leading to the comparatively bright second floor, where you can often catch art installations, though the crumbling shop-house with its huge windows and circular mirrors is photogenic even during downtime. Check the cafe’s Facebook for updates on exhibitions.
