Joe & Dough, Madame Tussauds:
Waxing Lyrical

This little outlet of the cafe chain greets visitors, exiting from the Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum gift shop at Resorts World Sentosa, with a bit of old-world charm. Embossed tin panels line stretches of wall, with poured concrete underfoot. A white, subway-tiled backdrop, with clocks cleverly replacing the 'O's, reminds one that “Life is too short for bad coffee.”

The seating areas are styled like the verandahs of tropical shacks, tucked underneath roof overhangs of corrugated zinc roofing on exposed framework, with gunny sacks, trunks and crates stacked above. An artisanal ambience is injected through faux-vintage posters, rough-hewn wood counters and warm lighting, set against the clean-lined furniture and fittings associated with Joe & Dough cafes, alluding to the rich heritage of coffee-making staying alive in modern times.