Looksee Looksee: Come Look Look See See In This Public Reading Room Cum Tea Salon At Beach Road

Tucked away in a quaint street along Beach Road lies a shophouse with an understated elegance that seems to draw in curious looks from passers-by. With its allure of pastel-coloured aesthetics, there is no reason to not head in for a look-see.

In this era of new cafes springing up every other day, it is easy to mistake Looksee Looksee as just another one adding on to that long list. However, this is far from true. Branding itself as a reading room and tea salon, Looksee Looksee is an extension of The Lo & Behold Group’s chain of hospitality and food and beverage concepts.

The minimalistic yet intricate interior design complemented the concept of a reading room cum tea salon really well, giving off a certain homely charm that draws you in.

Be it for a catch-up session with friends or to just satisfy the desire to nua somewhere during the day, you will want to spend the entire afternoon here after falling for its chill vibes.

Emphasising its concept as a public reading room, the rows of books neatly arranged on the bookshelves were curated by various professionals in the lifestyle industry. I also really liked how only local titles written by our very own homegrown authors were selected.

If you are curious about the inspiration behind this space, let me give you a clue – the books are only for browsing and can’t be borrowed.

Every month, Looksee Looksee changes its menu to include four different types of teas with a unique pairing. Even if you are caffeine intolerant (like I am), there’s a caffeine-free option as well!

One unique feature about this place is that it runs on a gratuity basis, meaning you are free to tip whatever amount you wish to. Of course, if you enjoyed the brews, do tip generously to support the folks behind this initiative.

I ordered a cup of caffeine-free Auld Lang Syne and it came in a really nice set, complete with its own pairing (almond crisps) and an information sheet of the blend. The main concept behind pairings is that certain elements in both food and tea interact and finding the right combination makes the entire experience much more enjoyable.

If you enjoyed the tea with its pairing, you can buy them in-house or online as well. I learnt that the almond crisps are handmade with no preservatives added and they are a good pairing for both tea and coffee, making it an ideal afternoon snack.

Before purchasing, you are even able to smell the tea leaves stored in these dainty test tubes. Tea varieties not on the menu are available for sale too!

In this small but homely space, you are always welcome to stay even after finishing your cup of tea. On weekdays, the place is rarely crowded so take this opportunity to have some alone time while sipping on tea and enjoying a good read.

Unlike cafes, no free WiFi is provided here. With soft, soothing music playing in the background, disconnect from your social media activities and find contentment in engaging in face-to-face conversations.

Next time you are thinking of spending the day at an overpriced cafe where everyone is constantly glued to their phones or trying to take the perfect flat lay shot to post onto Instagram, why not head to Looksee Looksee instead for a quiet afternoon lepak-ing amidst the aroma of freshly-brewed tea?

Price: Operates on tips

Looksee Looksee: 267 Beach Rd, Singapore 199545 | Tel: +65 6338 8035 | Opening Hours: 10am – 6pm (Mon to Fri), 1pm – 5pm (Sat), Closed on Sundays & PH | Facebook | Website