Relax and savour wafts of Seattle's coffee culture

THE more you get to know Seattle, the more you want to return. It's designed for urban travellers looking for all the attractions that high-profile cities like New York, London and Paris have to offer - but at a more relaxed pace. As the birthplace of Starbucks, this is where coffee culture began, which means you'll find yourself stepping into a quiet cafe frequently to rest and relax.

Now that Singapore Airlines has introduced direct flights to Seattle, there's more reason to visit and have your fill of what the ultimate chill-out city has to offer. In Friday's issue of Weekend magazine, we check out the great restaurants, hip microbreweries, niche museums, great bookstores, rare record stores and jaw-dropping roster of top touring musicians that it's known for. It also has the advantage of being a short drive away from expansive nature reserves, something not all cities can boast.

Continuing the American connection albeit on Singapore shores, we look at how the lobster roll - which originated in New England - has become a dining phenomenon that shows no signs of abating. While it started out here as a major fad a few years ago, it is now entrenched in mainstream dining, with new entrants like the famed Burger & Lobster sparking a resurgence.