365days2play
Haji Lane must be one of the quaintest and most unique streets in Singapore! The stores all look very different from the ones you see in the mega shopping malls. And Haji lane must be one of the narrowest streets in Singapore. It is flanked by 2 storey shop houses on both sides, and cars are still allowed to drive through!
It was amazing walking through the entire street. I can’t believe a gem like this exists in Singapore. Every shop is like a breath of fresh air, waiting to surprise the unknowing visitor. So it was almost not surprising to find a cafe within a furniture store. Cafe Fables and Bar Stories are on the 2nd floor of A Thousand Tales the furniture store. Luckily, we spotted the sign saying ”cafe upstairs”, or we would have totally missed it. As you can see from the photo below, the 1st floor houses is the furniture store itself specialising in mid-century Scandinavian furniture.
You push open that big wooden door and ascend the staircase inside, or you could simply take the direct access through the white door on the right. I recommend taking the furniture store route as the designs are really unique compared to what we’re used to.
Those who are afraid of heights may find the ”openness” of the stairs a little scary so take the closed stairs next door
This is the bar area where the bartender makes the alcoholic drinks as well as coffee and tea
We didn’t want anything alcoholic so we ordered a cafe latte $3.80 and a Cinnamon iced latte $5.50. That is not a wavy table you are looking at, but one of the bar stools. All the furniture is for sale.The cinnamon iced latte came in such a humongous glass we couldn’t finish it all.
This is the 2nd floor of the furniture store. The chairs and tables actually have price tags on them. The actual cafe and bar area is rather small, so I asked the guy what would happen if a big group came along. Apparently, despite the price tags, customers can still sit here to enjoy their coffee. Is that amazing or what? So after you have your coffee, if you like your chair so much, you can just buy it and bring it home!
I really love the woody brick feel of the place. I can just imagine furnishing my own house to look something like this. And I love those stairs! The steps are also drawers which you can pull open to store things in them! Isn’t that smart?
The furniture isn’t cheap, but isn’t so expensive that only CEOs and celebrities can afford. Each chair costs over 1000 dollars.
Even toilet space should not be wasted
Women save up their salary to buy LV and Hermes handbags. I think I would be the type of person to save up to buy furniture. ”Hey honey, look what I bought today! A new chair!”
A Thousand Tales (Furniture Store)
Opening hours: Monday — Friday 11am — 7pm, Saturday — Sunday 10am – 6pm
Cafe Fables and Bar Stories
Opening hours: Mon to Sun 3pm-1am
55 — 57 Haji Lane
Call 6298 0838
SMS 9855 6662
*At this point in time (ie 26 June 10), they only serve drinks and 2 desserts. In 1 month’s time, they will also start serving snack food.*
thanks for posting about such amazing places i didn’t know existed…i love love love that red chair! I bet it’s expensive though…love scandinavian decor.
You’re welcome! I chanced upon it too and I’m really glad that I did. I didn’t even manage to explore the whole Haji Lane fully. Gotta go back and check it out again! You can go to Cafe Fables and try out the chair for free first…hehehe…
I’d rather save up for a chair too!! 🙂
it amuses me to see there are two type of staircases, the “open” type and the classic “closed” type, that leads to the 2nd storey. Haha. It must have felt nice to sip coffee alonside atas furniture. Makes one feel like a taitai 🙂 I love the clean lines and airy feel of this place. I would totally splurge on nice interior decor rather than bags or shoes too!
I think the open stairs is more to fit in with the furniture store. I believe the closed stairs was there all along, ie all shophouses have the closed stairs. Interestingly, the furniture store opened 4 months ago, while the cafe was opened only 1 month ago. So
do you have vertigo?…i suffer more from claustrophobia
I suffer from scaredycatness….
hehehe me too!!
Wow I had no idea that this place existed! It’s now at the top of the list of places i must go! Good find 🙂
Yes it’s a lovely place. At this point they only serve drinks and 2 desserts. In about a month’s time, they will also serve snack food.
It’s so funny… I was doing a google search on BAR STORIES (it’s featured on the papers today!) and ur blog turned out to be 1 of the results! Wanna check out this place soon, I love such cozy and intimate cafes. Have u been to TEA COZY in PS? I’ve a feeling that you will enjoy the place as much as my gfs and i do 🙂
YAYYY!!! I have to warn you Bar Stories is damn small! Try to go during off peak hours if possible. I think I’ve been to Tea Cozy something like 5 years ago. That’s the one on the 5th floor or something right, sort of like within a trinkets store? Thanks for reminding me about it, I should pay it a visit soon!
ooooo so checking this out!
btw…i think you asked abt the speed date thing for your friends….it is back up…give me a shout if you want more details.
Hope you like it there. I was there last year when they first opened. I hear these days they are jammed packed. Hopefully you are able to get there early to snag seats.
The speed dating thing sounds fun, only problem is, I’m very available but not single! Hee hee hee….