New-age kopitiams in Singapore

As its name suggests, Two Face Pizza & Taproom has dual personalities. By day, it is an old-school kopitiam with vendors selling yong tau foo and mee pok. By night it becomes a casual chic pizzeria with the help of some strategically placed chalkboards. Do try the kiam he (salted fish) thin crust pizza.

Instead of taking over entirely a 70-year old mee pok stall, Bincho at Hua Bee cleverly incorporates a trendy Japanese yakitori joint at the back of the traditional kopitiam. Pop by for good ol’ mee pok during breakfast, donburi sets during lunch and omakase sets of grilled items during dinner.

Merging the coffee shop and bar bistro concepts, Alibabar the Hawker Bar features five stalls selling kopitiam staples like hokkien mee and prawn noodles, as well as Japanese cuisine, gourmet burgers, value-for-money French fare and of course international beers, including upmarket brews like Belgian Trappistes Rochefort beers.

Grown from a small spot in a food court, Bar Bar Black Sheep’s updated kopitam concept, with stalls serving wholesome Indian, Thai and Western fare alongside a hopping bar, is such a hit with both locals and expats that they can now be found at four different locations around the island.