Dome Cafe - Singapore

The Dome Cafe is a Perth based coffee chain expanding throughout South East Asia & the Middle East; featuring an all day menu and superb Arabica coffee. The wooden floors, distinctive green tiling, plush seats and beans stored in glass wall mounted dispensers behind the counter create the style of the cafe.

The cafe at the Singapore Art Museum on Bras Basah Road doesn't exactly follow the architecture of standard outlets; I find this an excellent ambiance to read a copy of the Straits Times and reflect on the fast paced life we all now engage in.

Quality coffee served at the art museum in the colonial district of the Singaporean city state is a throwback to a bygone era. I find the colonial district the most interesting area of Singapore, the history of Singapore dates back pre-11th century - formally becoming a republic in 1965. Portuguese, Dutch, Japanese and British colonial powers ruled Singapore with Sir Stanford Raffles formalising the agreement in 1819 lasting until February 1942.

Japanese Imperial Forces took the island following the surrender by Lieutenant General Arthur Percival, who incidentally met his victor General Yamashima on the deck of the USS Missouri in Tokyo Harbour, refusing to shake his hand was cold comfort for the prisoners of war who endured Changi, the Burma Railway, Sandakan including hell ships, death marches, starvation, beatings, bayonet practice and beheading. In an ironic moment, MacArthur reportedly handed Percival one of the pens used to sign the Japanese surrender.  

I constantly reflect on the most famous of cafes, the Le Dome of Paris fame known as the intellectual gathering place of the bohemian culture of post WW I artists, writers, sculptors, poets and dealers immediately enters my conscience. Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Maugham, Picasso and Gauguin all graced the cafe during its heyday. Reading and discussing contemporary issues is the lifeblood of the modern cafe - I seek solace spending my time absorbing contemporary culture and observing people over a coffee.