Patrick Kaffe Hus – Minimalist, Scandinavian-inspired Café in Daegu

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When I was planning my first trip to Daegu, Patrick Kaffe Hus was one of the cafes I wanted to visit the most. It isn’t just another minimalist Korean café—it’s built around a distinct narrative concept. The café imagines the life and tastes of a fictional character named “Patrick,” said to live in Denmark, and the entire space reflects what he might like: coffee, dessert, furniture, jazz.

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The café opens into a soft, Scandinavian-inspired space, with carefully arranged vintage wooden furniture and plants, creating a warm, homely atmosphere that feels more like a living room than a café.

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Don’t come expecting heavy dining. The food menu is not complex, with light brunch fare including the PATRICK French Toast (KRW12,000, SGD10.2), Grilled Veggie Sandwich (half KRW6,500, SGD5.5 or full KRW12,000), Grilled Potato Sandwich (KRW12,000) and Banana Bread (KRW6,500).

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I was here, though, for their popular Scandinavian buns – unfortunately, I did not get the memo that they were only out around 11am daily so I settled with the Banana Bread and a cup of hot Latte (KRW4,500, SGD3.8 +KRW1,000, SGD0.9 for oat milk) while waiting. There was also a filter coffee line up.

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When the buns were finally freshly baked and out of the oven, I got the signature one, which was their Kanelbullar (KRW4,500, SGD3.8), or cinnamon bun. The other 2 options were the Chocolate & Hazelnut Bun (KRW4,800, SGD4.1) and Cardamom Bun (KRW4,800).

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Crisp on the outside, fluffy and warm on the inside, with a tinge of saltiness from the salt flakes speckled on top, the cinnamon roll was especially comforting and satisfying on that cold winter morning. I liked how it was not cloyingly sweet, and instead there was a teaspoon of brown sugar on the side for you to adjust the sweetness to your preference. I was so tempted to try the other 2 but had to save space for the next café.

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Come for the Swedish buns and coffee, stay for the calm and peaceful ambiance.

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87 Jong-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, South Korea

8am – 7pm Mon to Fri (except Tues closed)

10am – 7pm Sat to Sun

Miyakori Coffee Keishoku Kissa – Japanese inspired Café in Taman Melodies, Johor Bahru

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Founded in 2013 by 2 branding and design professionals, Miyakori Coffee opened its first outlet in JB, focusing on Japanese fusion food with Japanese-inspired aesthetics. Since then, they have expanded to 3 other outlets.

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Their newly minted flagship is located in Taman Melodies – a modern reinterpretation of the classic Japanese keishoku kissa (casual café that serves light meals, desserts and coffee in a cozy, nostalgic setting). The building has a simple and clean façade with rustic wooden architecture and large windows.

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Inside, soft neutral tones dominate the space, with light wood furniture and clean lines creating a minimalist design.

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The keishoku kissa specialises in coffee (using 100% Arabica from Brazil Columbia), teishoku (a traditional Japanese set meal that includes a main dish such as grilled fish, meat or tempura served with steamed rise, miso soup, and a few side dishes like pickles or vegetables), and desserts such as waffles and cakes homemade daily at their central kitchen.

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I had the Caffe Latte (RM13, SGD4.2, +RM4, SGD1.3 for oatside milk), which was creamy and smooth and slightly towards the milky side. Perhaps the more distinctive choices would be their signature Mount Fuji Latte (RM14. SGD4.6), which comes in a glass shaped like Mount Fuji.

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For my main course, I had the Unagi Teishoku (RM48, SGD15.6) which came with sweet grilled unagi, tamago, pickled vegetables, sesame salad, miso soup and a bowl of rice on the side. Portion and quality-wise, I thought it was well worth the money.

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To end, I had the Matcha Cheesecake (RM24, SGD7.8) which unfortunately was too firm and dry (felt like it was refrigerated for too long and at a temperature too cold) and lacked the bitter, earthy notes of matcha I was expecting.

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While the café was still relatively quiet and empty, it did feel like I was transported to a peaceful, traditional coffeehouse in Kyoto.

10am – 10pm daily

382 Tebrau Highway, Taman Kebun The, 80150 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia

Shuu Patisserie – New Cottage Café in JB Serving Aesthetic Pastries and Desserts

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Shuu Patisserie is a Muslim-owned café which started as a small, humble pastry shop in Johor Bahru with a Korean café-inspired interior. They were known for their signature choux pastries and caneles amongst other desserts like brownies and cookies.

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I didn’t have the chance to visit until recently, after they relocated and expanded to a much bigger space at Taman Abad, an area that is also home to many popular cafes. Designed like a cosy brick cottage, both the façade and interior of the café were highly aesthetic, perfect for photos.

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While the café has continued to focus on pastries and desserts, they have expanded their menu offering to serve brunch. Expect western brunch dishes such as Shakshuka (RM26, SGD8.4) and Chrysanthemum Benedict (RM29.9, SGD9.7), and Chinese-inspired dishes such as Beef Butter Noodles (RM28, SGD9.1) and Shuu’s Chicken Noodle (RM26, SGD8.4).

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I chose the Prawn Toast (RM25, SGD8.1) as I saw strawberry ketchup listed as an ingredient and was curious. Plump and juicy prawn farci was sandwiched between two large slices of crispy fried shokupan, then topped with a thick layer of strawberry ketchup and garnished with spring onions. The tangy-sweet strawberry ketchup paired well with the prawn farci and toast, though I felt the toast was quite greasy and “gelak” towards the end.

I really wanted to try more from the brunch menu but decided to save space for more desserts. Choosing from the different flavours of choux puff, canelé and cakes on display was too difficult – they all sounded and looked appetizing.

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In the end, I had the Mango Passion Oolong Choux Puff (RM15, SGD4.9), Matcha Canele (RM12, SGD3.9) and the Christmas Special – Christmas Tree Cake (RM21, SGD6.8). In my opinion, the most well-executed dessert was the choux puff – the choux layer remained airy, thin and crisp despite my extended photo-taking under the harsh sunlight. The generous filling of mango passion oolong was not overly sour or sweet.

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Though the outer crust of the Matcha Canele was harder than I expected, I loved the inner filling of gooey, bitter matcha lava. The Christmas tree cake was also fun to cut into, with layers of chocolate fudge and sponge within.

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I tried both the Hot Latte (RM14, SGD4.5) and Iced Matcha Strawberry Latte (RM18, SGD5.8), which were just alright.

Though the café is still relatively new to the scene, it has been gaining traction, with queues forming at peak hours especially on the weekends. Slot this brunch spot into your next JB trip as soon as you can, before the Singaporean crowd spots this under-the-radar café.

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Do take note that prices stated above have not included service charge 10% and SST 6%, and only cashless payment (via Duitnow QR code) is accepted.

203, Jln Wijaya, Taman Abad, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia

10am – 6pm daily except Wednesdays

Living Room – New Café Opening in the Late Morning Lifestyle Shop in Chinatown

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My first café visit in Singapore for the year was to Living Room – newly opened within a curated lifestyle store, Late Morning. The store has been around for nearly 2 years in Chinatown, bringing in aesthetic tableware, cutlery and home décor items from designer brands all over the world. Some of these boutique brands include APFR and Kinto.

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Recently, they received the F&B license to operate the cozy nook at the back of the store as a café which is now in soft opening phase. Maintaining the same minimalist setup as the store, the café features a small coffee and matcha counter where orders are taken and drinks are made, a compact kitchen where simple food is prepared, and wooden chairs and tables in the humble dine-in area.

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Though the space was narrow and probably would not fit more than 10, the atmosphere was snug and homely like a living room, a space to unwind.

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The drinks menu was similar to what was previously being served from Late Morning. For coffee, I had the White ($7, +$1 for oat milk), made with light roasted beans from Costa Rica, with tasting notes of dried mango, orange and whipped cream. For filter coffee, there were 2 types of Ethiopian beans available.

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While for matcha, I tried their Matcha Latte ($7, +$1 for oat milk) in both hot and iced versions. They were using matcha powder from Zhejiang which had a good intensity. Though many preferred the iced matcha, I personally liked the hot one better.

Both coffee and matcha were above average and I could see myself returning for a regular cup.

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As for the food menu, it was kept simple, with a roasted capsicum salad, 4 types of open-faced sandwiches and a cheesecake for dessert. I had the Sun-dried tomato, pesto ricotta on sourdough ($13) and Charred chili, ricotta on sourdough ($13) in a Half & half arrangement (additional $3)

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The sourdough was sourced from 174bingo, one of my favourite artisanal bakeries in Singapore, while the toppings were homemade in the kitchen. I liked the creamy, savoury pesto ricotta which paired with the sun-dried tomato, and the interesting charred chili which was smoky, sweet, with just a tinge of spiciness.

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I ended with the Homemade Basque cheesecake ($8) with salt and pepper and lemon curd on the side. It paired best with the lemon curd (wished there was more!) for me.

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Tues to Sun 11am – 7pm

1F, 230 South Bridge Road, Singapore 058779

OTTO Café, Johor Bahru – New Aesthetic JB Café in Taman Melodies

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Opened in September 2025, OTTO café is one of the latest cafes in JB to check out on your weekend or holiday getaway. It occupies a plot in a private residential area where many other cafes can be found in the vicinity, making it a good addition into your café-hopping agenda.

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The walkway leading to the entrance of the café featured brick-red aesthetics with neat landscaping. Stepping into the inviting and spacious indoor dining space, I could see there was an attention to detail in putting together the interior. From the clever use of contrasting curved and sleek lines, brick and terracotta designs, and primarily orange and grey tones, the space was well-designed like a model house featured in an interior webzine.

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With a large glass window at the front and an area with a see-through transparent ceiling, the cafe allowed much natural light to fill the space.

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From the selection of drinks, I tried both the coffee and matcha. My preference here was for the Latte (RM14, SGD4), followed by the Mocha (RM14, SGD4) and then Matcha Latte (RM19, SGD6).

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If I were to pick my favourite item from the dishes I’ve tried, it would be their Soft Shell Crab Toast (RM35, SGD11) which was also one of their signatures on the menu. I loved the distinct but not overwhelming curry flavour in the dish, which paired well with the creamy egg mayo and crispy and substantial soft shell crab. Non-spicy eaters could also enjoy this dish.

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Another main course that was recommended was the Mum’s Aglio Olio (RM38, SGD12) comprising spaghetti, vannamei prawns, chili flakes, confit garlic and ginger flower. The al dente spaghetti packed a garlicky punch.

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We also had the Golden Salmon Fillet (RM38, SGD12) which was a fusion Thai dish. The coconut toh kha, green pea, and papaya brought a good balance of sweet, tangy and savoury flavours to the dish.

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For the appetizers, you could go for a healthy option such as the Summer Garden Salad (RM23, SGD7) which featured an aesthetic plating of mesclun, yogurt honey dressing, seasonal fruits, and crumbled feta, or you could go for the less healthy but more tantalizing Crispy Cauliflower with Sour Plum Dust and Almond Flakes (RM23, SGD7).

Living up to its namesake, the cauliflower had a crispy batter which and made a crunchy dish together with the almond flakes, while the plum dust gave a sweet-sour edge. As sinful and addictive as it could get.

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As a dessert, we had the Tropical Acai Bowl (RM24, SGD8) which featured three small scoops of acai with homemade granola, banana, jackfruit, kiwi, mango, peanut cream, and chia seeds. The acai had a smooth and creamy texture, with notes of dark chocolate and berries.

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Meanwhile, I found the OTTO’s Brownie with Toffee Sauce (RM26, SGD8) slightly too dry for my liking.

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While the cafe is still new to the scene, the owner is a chef and entrepreneur with experience in cafe operations in Singapore, and that was evident from the overall quality of the food, service and ambiance.

81 Jalan Chengai 80250 Taman Melodies, Johor Bahru, 80250 Johor, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia

Mon to Fri 10am – 6pm

Sat to Sun 9am – 6pm

Fulley 馥里 – Japanese-inspired Guangzhou Café with Aesthetic Desserts and Interior

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One of my favourite cafes that I discovered in Guangzhou this year has got to be Fulley. Occupying 3 storeys of a residential building, the café operates by a reservation-only system, where reservations can be made 1 week in advance on their WeChat mini program. I didn’t do sufficient research and made 1 wasted trip initially.

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You get to choose your table on a first-come, first-serve basis within your reservation time slot. I sat on the third floor, which has good natural lighting with window views of the greenery. The white walls, linen curtains, wooden chairs and tables, and concrete floor made a minimalistic interior with a serene atmosphere.

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Their menu boasted an array of Japanese-inspired desserts with pictures – the signature item is the Parfait which changed seasonally. When I went, I had the September – October Parfait Cup (CNY98, SGD17.9). It came with a card to describe the ingredients belonging to each layer of the intricate parfait. Mine featured fig and chestnut as the main fruits, paired with a long, curated list of ingredients – buckwheat crisps, chestnut rum gelato, chestnut puree, candied orange peel, Brittany shortbread, thousand silk cakes, fig sorbet, fig, wuyi rock tea milk jelly, black tea bergamot crisps, fig leaf butter, caramel chocolate chip, lemon jelly, red wine fig jam.

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I liked the balance of fruity and nutty flavours, creamy and crisp textures, and that it was only subtly sweet. I finished it easily on my own.

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The parfait set also came with a dainty cup of Jasmine Silver Needle Tea – premium chinese white tea made from the unopened buds of the tea plant and scented with fresh jasmine flowers. It was a good palate cleanser.

I was surprised to see a Durian Cheese Tart (CNY45, SGD 8.2) on the menu so I tried it – the overall durian and cheese flavours were not too heavy, and the texture was rather light like a souffle cheese tart.

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The Peach Cheese Tart (CNY55, SGD10.1) tasted as good as it looked. I sliced through its glossy pink surface into the layers of juicy peach flesh, peach compote and creamy cheese tart, all of which came together excellently.

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For a smaller, lighter snack, there was the Matcha Genmaicha Rice Mousse (CNY48, SGD8.8) – though I wished the matcha flavour could be more pronounced.

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There were no non-dairy milk options here for the Hojicha Latte (CNY38, SGD6.9) and Matcha Latte (CNY38, SGD 6.9). Both were sufficiently intense, without much sweeteners.

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I haven’t had such good quality desserts in a while and the entire experience truly reminded me of my time spent in cafes in Japan (even the people at the table next to mine were Japanese).

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广东省-广州市-越秀区-寺右新马路南二街12号3F

五羊邨站(A口步行4分钟)

3F, 12 Nan Er Jie, Si You Xin Ma Lu, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou city, Guangdong province, China

Wuyangcun Station (4 mins walk from Exit A)

12pm – 7pm Fri to Mon (by reservation only)

Kaa Room – Guangzhou Café Specialising in Filter Coffee

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Near the Baiyun International Airport in Guangzhou is the district of Huadu, where I stopped by before heading to the airport to catch my flight back to Singapore. From the Huadu Plaza subway station, I hopped on a Didi to Kaa Room, a café on my list.

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Housed along a small street away from the main road, the café stood out from the surrounding older buildings, especially with its bright blue door. Stepping in, it felt as though I was transported to another city, as the atmosphere turned relaxing and peaceful.

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There was a group of customers sitting at the coffee bar, engaged in light-hearted conversations with the owner cum barista who brewed each cup of filter coffee from behind the wooden counter. The café serves only hand brewed coffee and a non-coffee beverage according to the season, with no pastries or bakes. The menu had a range of single origin coffee from Panama and Ethiopia, with prices ranging from CNY 58 to 158.

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As I was already caffeinated in the morning, I chose the non-coffee beverage – the Green Plum Cold Brew (CNY 45). I loved the balanced sweet-sour flavour profile, making a refreshing iced drink in the heat and humidity.

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After the group left, it was my turn to make casual conversation with the owner – we talked about the aesthetics of the café, about how the light and shadows moved in the café.

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The café was also pet-friendly – I sat across the table from the owner’s unabashed cat which perched itself on the chair, feeling less lonely.

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12pm – 6pm Thu to Fri (check their rednote for the exact schedule of the current month)

13-32 Meigui Road, Huadu District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, China 510813

Nearest station: Huadu Plaza Exit C

广东省 广州市 花都区 玫瑰路 13-32 号

花都广场站C口

Che Cha 迠茶 – Modern, Minimalistic Tea House and Café in Guangzhou

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Along a small lane of the touristy Beijing Road in the old town of Guangzhou was Che Cha, a tranquil tea house which specialises in traditional tea, kombucha and tea cocktails. The main tea house was on the first floor, divided into 3 areas with moody lighting and tones – the outer veranda, tea hall and private rooms.

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Heading up the stairs, you could find creative spaces on the second and third floor, housing art exhibitions. And finally, up on the fourth floor was where I found myself spending the rest of my time at the café.

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The white, minimalistic space featured their handmade objects, primarily white pieces of porcelain, lit by natural light from the windows. In the center, there was a kombucha bar displaying glass jars of kombucha undergoing fermentation, with a communal table right in front. Through a door, you could also step outside to sit in a backyard with bamboo chairs and wooden benches in the cooler season.

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I ordered a drink and tea snack on the first floor where the cashier was, and the owner kindly brought them up to the fourth floor where I wanted to sit.

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The Ginger Lemon Kombucha (RMB 48, SGD 8.8) I had was made with 2 rounds of fermentation – the first round with oolong and the second round with ginger lemon. I liked the subtle spiciness of ginger blended with the refreshing acidity of lemon, creating a bright, aromatic flavour that was refreshing in the heat and humidity. It also came with a small piece of peanut candy on the side for a sweet finish.

Alongside the kombucha, I ordered a Red Bean Yokan (RMB 28, SGD 5.2) which made a substantial snack.

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As I was the only customer that morning, I could indulge fully in the quiet, peaceful atmosphere of the tea house and gallery, leaving behind the touristy Beijing Road below and the busy CBD district where I was working at.

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10.30am to 8pm

广东省广州市越秀区北京街道北京路昌兴街7号

地铁1号线/2号线公园前地铁站出口

7 Changxing Street, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province

Nearest MRT Station: Gongyuanqian station

Jo & Dawson Tearoom, Seoul – Is their French Toast Worth the Hype?

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Touted as the café serving the best French toast in Seoul, Jo and Dawson came to life in the café abundant neighbourhood of Yeonnam-dong in 2021. It has been attracting a steady stream of customers, both locals and foreigners since then, and is known for having long queues.

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Last year, they expanded to a more spacious, dedicated “Tearoom” just a few blocks away from the main store. I happened to be in the area, looking for a café to kill some time before my lunch reservation, and decided to pop by to take a look. Surprisingly, there was no queue at all around 1pm, so I took the opportunity to grab a seat.

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Their Signature Classic French Toast (KRW10,000, SGD8.9) was good for 1 pax. The inside was extremely soft and moist with a custard-like texture, while the top was crusty and crisp with a layer of torched sugar and powder. On the side of the plate is a pinch of sea salt for dipping as you wish, and there is a layer of syrup at the bottom. Personally, I thought the sweet and savoury flavours were well-balanced, and I loved the overall texture.

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Apart from their French Toast, Jo & Dawson is also known for their teas – the tearoom here had a dedicated display of their flavoured tea boxes on sale. These classic teas (white tea, green tea, black tea, rooibos tea) are also available on their drink menu.

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Between their classic teas and milk teas, I chose the tearoom-exclusive Matcha Milk Tea (KRW8000, SGD7.1) since there was an option to change to oat milk (only for the matcha milk tea).  The milk tea was blended with matcha powder from Marukyu Koyamaen and Okinawa brown sugar. The consistency was thick and rich, though I would prefer the sweetness level to be slightly lower and the matcha notes to be more bitter and umami. Do note that there is a minimum 1 drink per pax policy.

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Overall, I thought my experience at Jo & Dawson Tearoom was above expectation, given that I’ve heard mixed reviews. However I might not say the same if I had to queue for it. I highly recommend to try heading to the Tearoom instead of the main store which is tighter in space with limited seats.

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Also, just heard that they will be opening a third outlet in Gwanghwamun end of this month – if you’re curious to check it out.

Jo & Dawson (Main Store)

1F, 31 Donggyo-ro 41-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea

12pm – 9pm daily

Jo & Dawson Tearoom

3F,  24 Seongmisan-ro 29-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea

12pm – 9pm daily

Podd @ Taman Mount Austin, Johor Bahru – Best Matcha Latte in JB?

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Tucked in an industrial building in Taman Mount Austin is Podd Café, opened by the same team behind Vanilla Bean end last year. Promoting the slow living concept, the cafe warmly inviting guests to decompress and relax with their coffee, matcha and bakes.

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The 2-storey café prominently featured a modern industrial interior, making use of wooden furniture and concrete floors and walls for a moody feel paired with a raw, unfinished yet contemporary look.

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On the first floor, right past the display of baked goods and ordering counter is a coffee and matcha counter/bar where you can watch the baristas whisking and pouring away, and where you can chat with the friendly baristas.

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For the indecisive me who wanted to have the best of both worlds, I got both coffee and matcha and a cake to pair with each of them.

My White (RM15, SGD4.7) Coffee, brewed with Brewsmith Coffee Roasters’s espresso blend of Brazilian and Ethiopian beans, was my kind of coffee, light and well-balanced, with a smooth mouthfeel.

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The Matcha Latte (RM20, SGD6) was also high in quality. Initially, I was bumped that the only matcha available on the menu (Ajisai from Yame, Japan) was the lowest quality out of the original 3 selections they had, but it exceeded my expectation. There were adequate umami and nuttiness with just a hint of lingering bitterness, a rich flavour in totality. I could not imagine how much better the quality would be if the Kiku (RM30, SGD9.4) or Ren (RM50, SGD15.6) were not in short supply.

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I loved that the barista thoughtfully recommended me specific cakes to go with each of my drinks. He picked the Yuri Matcha Strawberry Cake (RM28, SGD8.7) to pair with the coffee – it had layers of sponge, matcha cream and strawberry white chocolate cream, and was subtly sweet.

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The Cherry Tart (RM30, SGD9.4), together with the matcha latte, was unexpectedly an interesting and impressive pairing. On its own, the tart was great, with sweet, juicy and slightly tart cherries topped on a bitter chocolate ganache tart. With the matcha, neither masked each other’s flavours but enhanced them instead.

Apart from cakes and tarts, there were also a range of yogurt bowls and their signature waffles on the menu.

While the café is still an underrated gem in JB, I highly recommend the trip here to unwind this year-end.

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B03 Lakeside, Jalan Austin Perdana 1, Taman Austin Perdana, Johor Bahru 81100

Mon, Tue, Thu 11am – 9pm

Fri – Sun 11am – 11pm

Closed Wed