Sinpopo Brand Cafe at Joo Chiat Road: A Montage

I visit Sinpopo

Brand café, located

along the famous Joo Chiat Road, to explore nostalgia-themed

cafés, which have gained surprising

popularity in the past few

years. (Photograph by Jennifer

Yip)

Sinpopo’s interior is

both stylishly

minimalistic and

comfortingly homely. (Photograp

h by Jennifer Yip)

Sinpopo logos on the glass window panel and on the

signboard outside. The white sliding grilles and

classic patterned floor tiles are a subtle vintage

touch. (Photograph by

Jennifer Yip)

Left: the first suitcase designed for use by Singapore Airline stewards and stewardesses. Above: the Sharp

television on the right is a beloved artefact. (Photographs by Jennifer Yip)

An old grille and several metal food tins – proud

vintage artefacts

tucked into the corner of

the café. (Photograph by Jennifer

Yip)

Left: the café menu disguised as an old school attendance register, and a freshly prepared kopi

peng (iced Nanyang coffee). Above: the orange kaya pisang crème brûlée.

(Photographs by Jennifer Yip)

The café’s nasi lemak set for two: a distinctly local item on the menu. The

dishes, served with rice, are (clockwise, from top left): rojak

slaw, sambal fishballs, potato curry, pork belly,

har jeong kai wings, ma ling luncheon

crisps, and a generous helping of

sambal chilli. (Photograph by

Jennifer Yip)

The view from across

the road: Sinpopo’s

signboard is just visible in this photo. Looming

somewhat awkwardly in

the background,

in jarring contrast to

the charm of the old

shophouses, is Katong

Mall. (Photograph by Jennifer

Yip)

Walking in the opposite

direction, I find a

distinctly dated, faded building with

“1939” printed at the top. Next to

old blinds and shutters is a

classy Japanese

restaurant. (Photograph by Jennifer

Yip)

Just a little past the 1939

building, I find a

traditional Chinese medicine

outlet nestled next to a pub

and an “expat hair

studio”. (Photograph by Jennifer

Yip)

According to Chris, the restaurant manager at

Sinpopo, this bicycle shop

has been around for about forty

years. (Photograph by Jennifer

Yip)