As I wandered around Singapore, I was in constant awe of how the nation had preserved their older buildings with their classical Asia-meets-Europe style that neatly lined its pavements. The last time I was in Singapore, I was barely old enough to appreciate the splendors of great architecture but this time around, I soaked in everything like a sponge as I walked through some of the city’s quieter streets.

A couple weeks ago, I did a piece on Curious Palette. This time, I found my focus directed to its mother. Housed in an older building, Strangers’ Reunion looked demure enough from the outside, but peering inside, you’d be surprised to see that it was a Melbourne-style café packed full of people enjoying a meal with their coffee.

Stepping inside, we were met by sight of a laidback space packed full of lunch-goers. Their interiors were slightly more relaxed than their sister store’s with stool chairs, coffee knick-knacks on display, and a subway tile lined backsplash behind the baristas’ counter. Cakes and bakes proudly sat alongside their popular White Magic, a cold-brewed latte made with their signature Chakra blend (a combination of 60% Ethiopian and 40% Salvadoran beans). Since we hadn’t tried it previously at Curious, we ordered a bottle of magic, as well as an Americano, and sweet potato fries. Having heard somewhere that sweet potatoes were a superfood, I was convinced that the gigantic bowl of perfectly seasoned fries was practically a salad.

I spied a familiar face behind the baristas’ counter and found that it was Wynne, the same barista I had seen at Curious. Wynne explained that Strangers’ Reunion opened a couple years before their Prinsep street counterpart and had a cozier and homier feel. She explained that they had just finished renovating and that now the space was significantly larger than before.

As we stepped back onto Singapore’s kaleidoscopic streets, more and more people piled in for a taste of Strangers’ Reunion’s magic. Friends congregated over whatever delicious meal they were having and the whole atmosphere buzzed with cheerful chatter. Everyone at Strangers’ Reunion was incredibly warm and welcoming, and to me, that summed up their oxymoron of a name perfectly.

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Shout out to the lovely Wynne, the stranger with whom I reunited with. See you soon!

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