Monument Lifestyle may not be a place you would walk in for coffee because it seems more like a clothing and accessory store.
There is one outlet at Duxton, and a lesser-known branch at Tiong Bahru – kind of near Forty Hands.
Started by couple Iris and Dustin who were originally from California, they wanted to bring a piece of their home to Singapore.
I liked how the entire space was done up, in a stylish yet cosy setting. The lifestyle store was at the front, while the café blended unobtrusively at the back.
Brands are mainly from local designers and changed every quarter, so that there is always something new for the regulars.
Moving on to my main point: Schmear Bagels.
Originally opened at Sentosa Cove in 2017, Schmear Bagels was started by Jason Parke and known for its New York-style bagels. Unfortunately, Schmear closed partly due to the pandemic.
As huge fans, Iris and Dustin decided to join forces with Jason to bring these New York-style bagels back.
The menu at the Yong Siak outlet is a leaner one, offering items of Bagels ($4.50) available in plain, sesame, cheddar and “everything”.
Top it up with Cream Cheese ($2.50) – choose from plain, jalapeno cheddar, spring onion, or garlic & herb. Or get a Bagel & Lox ($14) for the classic pairing with smoked salmon.
Hand-rolled, kettle boiled, and baked fresh daily with the simplest ingredients, I enjoyed the Bagel ($4.50 + $2.50 cream cheese) for the classic light and chewy textures.
Coffee beans are from Four Barrel Coffee, known to be one of the best coffee roasters in San Francisco.
There are the usual from Espresso ($5), Americano ($6), Flat White ($7), Cappuccino ($7) and Latte ($7.50). Okay, slightly pricier than the average cup around.
So what you get is San Francisco coffee with New York-style bagels right in Tiong Bahru.
Monument Lifestyle – Tiong Bahru
21 Yong Siak Street, Singapore 168651
Opening Hours: 8am – 6pm (Tues – Fri), 9am – 6pm (Sat – Sun), Closed Mon
Monument Lifestyle – Duxton Road
75 Duxton Road, Singapore 089534
Opening Hours: 8am – 6pm (Mon – Sun)
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