KPO

Bright, airy, greenhouse-like are not words usually associated with a bar, but the idea of a post office is perhaps many more steps further away. The recently refurbished Killiney Post Office building is one such absurd marriage. Sharing the same premises as the post office is its siamese twin by the name of KPO (K. P. O., get it?). Situated at the intersection of Killiney Road, Penang Road and Orchard Road (K. P. O. , get it??? haha!), it is a bar occupying part of the original post office building and the double height glass extension at the back.

A palette of raw concrete and timber is consistently applied to both the indoor and the outdoor areas of the bar, with matte black plastic furniture lined along solid timber tabletops and faux corbusier sofas paired with dark marble low tables. The overall feel is sleek and trendy, if a little overconscious, especially with the floral vector motifs on the walls, a tired remnant of the recent neo-baroque trend that I thought designers ought to long have moved on from.

Though one would hardly call the view of Orchard Canal a riverside view, the outdoor seating, with the landscaping growing into place, is suitably pleasant in the evening or the day when the weather is mild. Communal counter seating makes for a convivial atmosphere. A low timber tabletop doubles as a bench while two higher ones straddles a concrete overflowing water feature, which might not seem to be such a good idea in a dark place with drunk people. I foresee many wet handbags and shirt sleeves and other unsavory things.

Points must be given for the effort in dishing out a decent food menu. Predictably, I ordered the house burger served with home made chips which makes for a perfect bar snack or a light lunch on a late Sunday afternoon. There is also an ice cream bar at the entrance, perhaps to catch the post office going crowd, serves interesting ice cream with flavours like Chivas Blue and honey chamomile (which I tried).

Consciously hip and trendy it might be, KPO is sure to attract the young and fashionable set looking for a place in the town area to chillax.




KPO
1 Killiney Road
Killiney Post Office