The buzz: The latest opening from grandma favorite S&P sees the chain head in an all-new hipster direction. The vast multi-purpose space (restaurant, espresso bar, bakery, cake studio and workshop) sits on the ground floor of the building that houses S&P’s headquarters, hence the name. 

 

The decor: Very open, very bright and very industrial-chic. The minimalist, black-and-white diner vibe is occasionally interrupted by the sort of things hipsters are meant to enjoy, like big shelves lined with jars and sans-serif typography. The separate espresso, bakery and cake studio zones mean you can also grab your freshly-baked pies and bread, while waiting for your grab-and-go coffee. There are some pretty beautiful cakes on display, too. 

 

The food: The setting isn’t the only thing given a makeover. While the focus remains mostly Thai comfort food, the ingredients, execution and presentation have been spruced up. Stylish breakfast dishes are served from 7-11am, like kai krata (sunny-side-up eggs on a skillet, B195) topped with stir-fried chicken with holy basi, sauteed pork with garlic and pepper, or quinoa congee with fried minced pork with Chinese olives (B180). Superfoods and microgreens also figure in dishes like rad na (thick noodles in pork gravy) with sunflower greens (B180) and the quinoa salad with grilled salmon (B280). Do try the tasty eggplant fries (B120). The Thai-inspired desserts are a hit, too, namely the soy milk chia pudding parfait (B160) and lod chong (pandan sweet dumpling) with Thai melon and puffed rice, served with finely-grated snow ice (B120). There are also lunch sets (from B165) to suit the office crowds.

 

The drinks: A large espresso counter stands in the middle of the space serving the usual cups of coffee (from B100) alongside tea and juices. Most exciting are the nitro cold brew taps (B150), which spurt out smooth and creamy coffees. There are also a bunch of fun smoothies and shakes—try the Tub Tab Frozen (milk smoothie topped with Thai-style peanut candy, B150).

 

Why you should care: All the old-school comfort of S&P given a trendy, more photogenic update. Even with the obvious hipster touches, it manages to feel more soulful than your usual branch.