Kopitiam
coffee shop
Kopitiam can describe the general type of coffee shop or refer to a business using the name; context tells you which.
Just Tell Me
A kopitiam is a local coffee shop where drink and food stalls share a casual dining space serving a neighbourhood or nearby workers.
Also called: coffee shop, coffeeshop
Explain Like I’m Five
A kopitiam is a casual neighbourhood eating place built around local coffee-shop culture. It normally has a drinks counter and several food stalls, with tables shared by their customers.
Where You’ll Run Into It
You may find one below an HDB block, beside a market or near offices. People go there for kopi, breakfast, lunch, dinner or a chat without treating it like a formal restaurant visit.
Example
“I’m downstairs at the kopitiam having kopi.”
The person is at the local coffee shop, probably seated in its shared dining area.
The Part People Get Wrong
Kopitiam does not mean a shop that sells only coffee. Many also contain stalls serving full meals throughout the day.
Sources
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