Tyler Brule, editor-in-chief of totally-up-there culture magazine Monocle, will not be setting up his famous cafe in Singapore any time in the near future.

The 45-year-old pointed his finger at Singapore's lacklustre service culture and said "it's hard to find Singaporeans" who want to be part of the Monocle brand.

Brule feels Singaporeans do not see working in the hospitality industry as a legitimate career choice: "Singapore is very different from Japan, where there's a growing culture of young people who are assertive about their choices."

He also said: "Singaporeans see it a little differently... such jobs are for the labour class".

There are already two cafes in Tokyo and London.

Even the popularity of Monocle's brand in Singapore has not help Brule overcome his hesitance to set up shop here.

Last February, the magazine's first pop-up store at indie bookstore BooksActually made more than $10,000 in sales on opening night selling merchandise, such as stationery and prints, available from Monocle stores worldwide.

Top photo from here

Monocle magazine photo from here