A Special Exhibition on Traditional Kopitiams of Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand

Waking up, walking over to your local traditional kopitiam in your neighbourhood, for a warm cup of Nanyang kopi, served together with kaya toast bread and soft-boiled eggs, watching the community kickstarts the day. With the old wooden chairs and tables with the white marble top, it’s nostalgic and classic. At the Brewing Nostalgia: Kopitiams in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand special exhibition launched by Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC), a special exhibition on traditional kopitiams of Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.

60 Years of Diplomatic Relations between Singapore and Malaysia, as well as Singapore and Thailand

This special exhibition is the first collaboration between SCCC with the High Commission of Malaysia and the Royal Thai Embassy Singapore, to commemorate the establishment of 60 years of diplomatic relations between Singapore and Malaysia, as well as Singapore and Thailand.

According to Mr Alvin Tan, CEO/SCCC: “There is no better way to commemorate 60 years of diplomatic relations between Singapore and the two countries than with a photography exhibition on traditional kopitiams which can be found in all three countries. This is because kopitiams not only represent a common cultural experience shared by our three countries, they also symbolise the warm ties between our countries that endure even with the passing of time.”

Mrs. Chonlatee Chanrachakul, Charge d’Affaires a.i. from Royal Thai Embassy Singapore said: “Kopitiams are more than just coffee shops; they are the enduring social pulse of our communities and a testament to the rich, interwoven cultural heritage of Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia. This exhibition, marking 60 years of diplomatic relations, invites everyone to savor the shared taste of Nanyang coffee and kaya toast—a sweet reminder that our deep history and warm friendships are beautifully brewed together.”

24 B&W Photographs of various Traditional Kopitiams in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand

This exhibition features 24 black-and-white photographs of various traditional kopitiams in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, taken by award-winning travel photographer and write Lester V. Ledesma over a period of more than a year.

This series of black and white photographs of traditional kopitiams honours the region’s vibrant kopitiam culture. They are well-cherished and well-loved community gathering spaces, enduring icons of Southeast Asia lifestyle.

Lester shot the photographs on black-and-white film using vintage cameras as a timeless tribute to the iconic yet humble kopitiam that we in Southeast Asia loved so much, authentically capturing the character, raw charm and kopitiam lifestyle, beautifully showcased across the different 24 black-and-white photographs on display.

Photographer Mr Lester V. Ledesma shared: “I started this project in early 2024 at a humble Singapore coffeehouse, with a roll of black-and-white film and a 70-years-old rangefinder camera. Brewing Nostalgia is my way of celebrating what has been part of my life in the two-plus decades that I’ve lived in Singapore and I am thankful to SCCC for their support in showcasing our rich, authentic and truly homegrown coffee heritage.”

Nostalgic Memories – Planning to Re-Explore my Old Places and Traditional Kopitiams

Looking at the different traditional kopitiams in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, it brought back nostalgic memories of my childhood and travel days. The rustic, old school, laid back kopitiams, with their iconic wooden furniture, white marble table top, sipping my Nanyang kopi, with kaya bread toast and soft boiled eggs.

In Singapore, there aren’t many traditional kopitiams around, most of them have changed with the modern times. Although I have visited some of the remaining traditional kopitiams in Singapore at North Bridge Road, Tanglin Halt and Lengkok Bahru, I have yet to check out the kopitiams at Jalan Benaan Kapal and Jalan Minyak.