One of the hottest new café openings in April is Mozmoji, which also serves as a ceramic shop and gallery. Tucked on the second floor of a shophouse in Chinatown with a discreet entrance, the café felt like one of those hidden cafes you stumble upon by chance and immediately want to gatekeep.
Inside, the bustling, touristy atmosphere of Chinatown shifted completely to a peaceful ambiance. At the end of the shophouse facing the main road is the gallery and shop with wooden shelves displaying beautiful, handcrafted ceramics. There were also a few dine-in tables there, where I sat by the window with soft, natural light flowing in through the white curtains. The other end was the main café and dine-in area – with the coffee counter, kitchen and bar seats by the counter.
A unique aspect of the café was that diners get to pick their own ceramic cup for their drinks, and their own plates for their desserts. After scanning the QR code at my table to place my order, the employee at the reception came over and led me to a display of cups and plates from which I chose my desired ceramic pieces.
The menu was kept simple, with a selection of espresso-based drinks, signature drinks, hand brewed coffees and cakes.
I had the Latte ($7.8, +$1 for oat milk) which was made with medium-dark roasted beans from oma coffee roasters – the coffee was smooth and well-balanced.
I also had their signature Matcha Latte ($9.8, +$1 for oat milk) made with Marukyu Koyamaen’s Isuzu matcha powder, which had a smooth and mild flavour profile.
Beyond coffee and matcha, the other signature drinks on the menu were their Viennas, available in variations such as Pistachio ($12.8), Black Sesame ($12.8), and Matcha ($11.8). These were topped with freshly whipped cream.
From the dessert menu, the Cotton Cheesecake ($12.8) which I really wanted to try was unfortunately not available when I went, so I had the Matcha Strawberry Cake ($15.8) and Black Tea Basque Cheesecake ($14.8) instead.
The former, like the matcha drinks, was a cheesecake infused with Marukyu Koyamaen matcha powder. Though I wished the matcha flavour could be more pronounced, it paired well with the layer of fresh, juicy strawberries at the base which adds sweetness and tartness to balance the rich cheesecake.
I preferred the Black Tea Basque Cheesecake, which was infused with selected black tea. The center was smooth and creamy, with a delicate tea aftertaste that was not heavy on the palate. I thought that the tea flavour was brought out well. Both cakes were not overly sweet.
Compared to other cafes, the prices here were on the higher end, though I enjoyed the overall experience and ambiance. As the main dine-in area can get noisy with more patrons settled in, I suggest visiting as early as possible to revel in the calming space.
252 South Bridge Road, #02-01, Singapore 058801
Soft launch period: 10am – 7pm Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun
Foodography: A Singapore Food Blog 