A local fixture along Jalan Besar yet easily missed due to its dim interior; it is as if time stood still in the old school coffeeshop.Stepping beyond 合利 Hup Lee’s iron gates, you can expect to be greeted by the aroma of coffee and whiff of toast prepared over the charcoal grill.

And with the short getaway from the hustle and bustle, calm yourself with a cup of coffee (but in my case, milo), simple butter-sugar or kaya toast and take a closer look around - noting the greying walls, old ceiling fans, fashioned marble top tables and even an outmoded orange payphone on the counter. Hence, immensely charmed by the space, I really enjoyed my thick malty beverage and quintessential Singaporean breakfast that we shared.

Furthermore, with the endorsement of the many regulars lounging for hours at time sipping on their kopi, it just makes the place a perfect spot to seek shelter from the rain or sun when you are in the area.