Chye Seng Huat Hardware
· Singapore ·
First Impressions
Hidden in plain sight on an unassuming street in the Lavender neighborhood (in Jalan Besar) of Singapore is one of my favorite coffee shops in the whole world. Lavender seems to have avoided development in a city famous for reinventing itself every few years, and has kept its sense of historic charm. It's full of shophouses and old factories and has a really great vintage feel, like you stepped out from the future and into the 80s. Chye Seng Huat Hardware is such a great example of finding innovative ways to move forward while honoring the past. Papa Palheta's shops keep the look and feel of the industry that lived there before. So at this old hardware shop, you can see the remnants of the old neighborhood hardware store that used to be there, but instead of power tools or hammers and nails, the new hardware is coffee grinders and portafilters.
They have an awesome rotating coffee menu, offering a number of top-quality options for both espresso and filter coffee, and killer brunch food. They have a training center & store called the Annex out back and an amazing roasting facility as well. They're pretty creative with their indoor space, to allow as much seating as possible, and their patio is stunning. Pro tip: Be sure to check in about classes (which are offered in a separate tasting room on the second floor) and browse a really great curated store of locally made items (also above the cafe). The way Papa Palheta employees speak about (and clearly love) coffee, invites people up to their level and opens up the world to them.
Photos owned and copyrighted by 
Chye Seng Huat Hardware.
