There is something mesmerizing about being in a place where you feel you belong. A place where you can tell yourself that you are in a safe bubble, far away from your troubles. A place where you can drop the world's expectations on you, down on the floor- even for just the time being - and feel great about it.
I found that place in The Narrative Coffee Stand.
I remember it was a cloudy October afternoon. The breeze was cooling and I walked my way from the train station towards Bras Basah Complex where the cafe was located. Eager to meet a friend, I walked as fast as I can.
I had no expectations about how the place looked like. What mattered most to me at that moment was reaching safely and catching up with our previous intern who I've grown close to. So, when I arrived, I felt satisfied with what I saw - it was a cozy little coffee shop and I couldn't wait to get inside.
Tucked between the National Library of Singapore and the buzzing Bugis Area, this dainty cafe brought a smile on my face the moment I arrived. The first thing I noticed about The Narrative Coffee Stand was its nostalgic location. A second-hand bookstore was directly beside it and it made my heart leap with joy. I immediately knew that I was in the right place.
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| One of the photographs on the wall. |
When I entered the cafe, a minimalist atmosphere greeted me. The interior was mostly painted in a lower white tone with subtle details of plant decors and wooden furniture. Zooming into more details, a few photographs hanged on the wall too, adding a modern feel to the overall vibe.
Space-wise, it was ample for only a handful of people, not more than 10 I would say, especially now with the on-going social distancing measures in Singapore. Albeit having a smaller space relative to other coffee shops, The Narrative Coffee Stand successfully provides the customers with a comfortable space to lounge and enjoy a sip of coffee with comfort and ease.
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Coffee bags arranged in this simple wooden shelf.
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| What a beautiful coffee machine. |
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Brought my Kindle Paperwhite along with me. In case you are interested, my polka-dotted skirt is from Uniqlo and my top is from Muji.
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This place is also a good spot to read your book.
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The main highlight, of course, was the coffee. I ordered a milk-based coffee called El Salvador Las Palmas by Nylon Coffee Roasters, Singapore. This had a creamy taste, with a tinge of red cherry & hazelnut. I loved that it had a rich taste and such a joy to the palette.
You may not see this coffee on their menu as they mentioned changing the list frequently. When I heard this information from their staff, I thought it was cool because you don't expect the same thing every single time you visit. There's always something new and unique.
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The glass with a silver straw was my coffee. The other one with the gold straw was my friend's. She ordered Nicaragua Santa Maria De Lourdes which is also by Nylon Coffee Roasters. We paired our drinks with the pastries - brownie and banana cake.
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This is a menu that was on their wall. Apart from these options, Narrative Coffee Stand also offers filter on V60 coffee, long black, and coffee cherry tea.
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Look at that sea salt on this tasty pastry.
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I paired my iced cup of coffee with a delectable chewy brownie with sea salt and they were a match made in heaven. The pastry had just the right amount of sweetness that blends well with the rich coffee.
Its sea salt factor made this a note-worthy treat, and I'm even thinking about the taste now as of this writing! It's just that delectable. Usually, brownies are more chocolatey with a high sweetness intensity but this one's different. The saltiness kicks in along with the sweetness and I love it.
My friend and I spent the entire afternoon talking about our life experiences. We covered a myriad of topics - Psychology, books, hobbies, places traveled, memories, and coffee!
I was so immersed in the conversation and I find that as one of the best things that this place has to offer. It complements your stories with a subtle comforting feeling like you're at home, feeling peaceful. And at that moment, I had forgotten about my worries in life.
I hope you will enjoy this place as much as we did. Thank you Hui Jun for introducing this beautiful place to me. I highly recommend The Narrative Coffee Stand.
Love,
Mary Jedde
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The Narrative Coffee Stand is located at Blk 231 Bain St, #01-05, Complex 180231, Singapore.
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