A new Japanese-style coffee bar transforms into a craft beer haven each evening, offering two distinct experiences under one roof.
Coffee enthusiasts and craft beer lovers now have a single destination to satisfy both cravings. Tokyo Brew Lab, a pour-over coffee bar by day, morphs into Hanoi Story Bar, a Vietnamese-inspired craft beer joint, every evening at The Concourse, directly across from Nicoll Highway MRT station. The dual-concept venue, opened by owners Bobby Yeoh and Flin Lee, occupies the first floor of the mixed-use development and has quickly become a favorite among locals seeking a seamless transition from morning caffeine fixes to evening pints.
A Space That Shifts With the Sun
The interior strikes an immediate chord: cozy seating arrangements, a central bar counter anchored by a striking red feature wall lined with vinyl records, and Japanese city pop filling the air. By 5 p.m., the lights dim and the atmosphere pivots—without changing a single piece of furniture.
Coffee That Commands Attention
Tokyo Brew Lab serves espresso-based drinks starting at $5, but the real draw is the hand-drip specialty coffee, priced from $9. Available weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the pour-over selection rotates every few weeks based on harvest seasons. Current offerings include Sherry Oak and Hanaichigo beans, alongside Mori Mori Medium and Slow Beans Medium.
Coffee aficionados should grab a seat at the bar to watch the process: hot coffee gets poured into chilled, tulip-shaped stemmed glasses, instantly cooling it while releasing aromatic notes. For those wanting to try their hand, a DIY brew kit ($10) provides a pour-over kit, grinder, thermometer, and burner for an hour of self-guided crafting.
The compact day menu features five sandos and two sourdough breakfast plates starting at $9. The viral banana cake ($8)—crisp exterior, warm center, paired with banana ice cream—has drawn comparisons to Thailand’s Bake it Babe version. The classic egg mayo sando ($7) packs a generous, seasoned filling with a jammy Hanjuku egg center, though the bread could be fluffier. Other sandwich fillings include Spam with scrambled eggs and hashbrown ($9), and otah with hashbrown ($8), with nothing exceeding $15.
Evening Brings Asian Craft Beer and Vietnamese Flair
As Hanoi Story Bar takes over at 5 p.m., the focus shifts to craft beers and spirits sourced across Asia. Owners Yeoh and Lee gravitate toward sours and hop-driven IPAs, and the rotating tap list reflects those preferences, changing monthly to feature different breweries.
At launch, the bar showcases Chinese craft beers from Wild West Brewing in Chengdu and Ye Brewing in Shijiazhuang, Hebei. IPA lovers can choose single, double, or triple versions from Wild West (from $19 for 500ml). Fruity sour fans should explore Ye Brewing’s smoothie sour ales, made with high fruit purée concentrations in flavors like kiwi, Piña Colada, Sweet Guava Heart, and Tart-Tastic—a berry blend.
Five craft cocktails ($18 and up) incorporate Vietnamese spirits, while sake from Mua, a Vietnamese distillery, includes passionfruit and yuzu dragonfruit varieties (from $12).
Bar bites pack bold flavors to complement punchy beers: anchovy crackers ($9) and river prawn fritters ($6) come with Vietnamese chili sauces, fried pork belly ($18) features a fish sauce marinade, and the big market spicy fried chicken ($23) reimagines la zi ji with larger, meatier chunks. Sandos return with wagyu patties and pork katsu options (from $19), served with fries.
The Verdict
Time Out’s rating: 4/5 — The day-to-night concept and Instagram-worthy aesthetics make this a must-bookmark spot. The only notable drawback: a two-hour gap on weekdays between last coffee service at 3 p.m. and bar opening at 5 p.m., making afternoon work sessions tricky. Still, the venue remains relatively under the radar despite its central location.
Tokyo Brew Lab and Hanoi Story Bar are at 302 Beach Rd, The Concourse, #01-03. Tokyo Brew Lab hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m.–3 p.m.; Saturday to Sunday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Hanoi Story Bar hours: Monday to Friday, 5–11:30 p.m.; Saturday, 5–11 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
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