now

o pp o sit e , l e ft
& b o tt o m l e ft

The second floor is

designed to be an
eccentric living room
filled with art and
second-hand finds.
o pp o sit e ,
b o tt o m r ight

Grungy paint-splattered
walls, baroque frames
and oriental upholstery
are audaciously
thrown together.
b e l o w & b o tt o m

check
out

Studio 1939 on the third

floor is a reservationsonly space that serves
a more bespoke food
and drink menu.
fa r r ight

Potato
H e a d Fo l k
Known for its unique
dining spaces around
Indonesia such as the
Potato Head Beach Club
in Bali lifestyle and
hospitality company PTT
Family has finally made
its mark here. The design
of its first overseas
venture definitely lives
up to the hype think
Alice in Wonderland
meets Mad Men.
It took us a while to
find the perfect location
as we were shown many
contemporary buildings
without much character,
soul or connection to the
local history, explains
creative director and
founding partner
Jason Gunawan.
Potato Head Folk
is housed within the
former Tong Ah building,
and is built to be a
home. Its four floors
have individual dining
concepts the first and
second floors comprise
a kitchen and a living
room, the third floor is a
private studio and the top
floor is a rooftop garden.
You can enjoy a juicy
burger from Three Buns
on the second floor
a living room packed
with vintage furniture,
haunting sculptures
38

The Tong Ah buildings

facade is restored to
its former glory.
b e l o w , r ight

Every corner in this

delightful space,
incuding the stairway,
is unquestionably
Instagram-worthy.

Chef Adam Penney flipping his famed Three

Buns burger patties in the kitchen, which
always has hip-hop music blaring from it.
The burgers are 100% natural, and come
with homemade slow-cooked sauces, too.

(for sale!), antique

curios and circus
buntings. The walls
are filled with floral
murals, as well as
nature- and childhoodinspired art by
Australian artist
David Bromley.
Go up the winding
stairway which is
a kaleidoscope of
chequered floors,
contemporary
photographs and
murals inspired by
childrens books
illustrations and
youll arrive at the
Art Deco-themed
Studio 1939. The name
and interiors of this
reservations-only
bespoke restaurant

text Mavis Ang photography veronica tay art direction kaffy tan

and bar is PTT Familys

homage to the year
the site was built.
To top it all off,
this heritage building
is blessed with a
roof terrace an
uncommon feature
in the buildings
around the area. The
Rooftop serves as the
establishments tiki
bar, where you can
sip cocktails served in
wooden bamboo and
coconut cups from
Bali, lounge among
whimsical sculptures
and enjoy the view of
the neighbourhood.
D r o p by P otato H e ad
F o lk at 3 6 K e o ng S aik
R o ad, t e l : 6 3 2 7 - 1 9 3 9 .

39