Stumbling upon a narrow alley, thinking about something else, and then something stopped me in my tracks and then I saw it. I have to admit, I wasn't looking for it when I chanced upon Little Rouge. That's how all beautiful encounters begin, isn't it? Drewery Lane, where Little Rouge sits, is stuffed perpendicular to the Little Lonsdale and Lonsdale, parallel to the super busy Elizabeth and Swanston streets. The lane looked pretty deserted, but this speaks to the proverbial no venture no gain.

Peculiar and mismatched drawings lined the cafe's pristine white walls. The rest of the ambience relied heavily on wood and the coffee fragrance, but that's more than sufficient. I take a seat anyway. The cafe gave me vibes reminiscent of a South Korean- or Japan - or Taiwanese cafe. In a good way.

Leo Eull Lee and Calvin Ko, the owners of Little Rouge, strike up a conversation with one of the patrons. It seemed like it's a regular customer - they know each other. 

The glisten on the top of the mocha, my favourite brew, and it's beautiful. I read the brochure of Hey Big Spender that I dug from the recesses of my bag. I can't do a cafe without reading materials. It rains outside, and I felt super cozy and warm in the cafe. 

It's perfect, I thought. It's one of those places you'd hide at if you wanted some alone time away from the world and some coffee for yourself. It feels detached from the rest of the city.