Crystal Wee

Apr 26 2025

Daejeon Café Hop 2025 – Leafful Coffee, Seosew Café, Ordinary Project Café

I first visited Daejeon in 2018 as a carefree student, and now fast forward 7 years, it was unbelievably nostalgic to return as a jaded working adult. Nonetheless, I was still as passionate as I was about café hopping, so I explored 3 different cafes with my friend within half a day. With the trip from Seoul to Daejeon taking just a little under an hour by the high-speed KTX train, Daejeon made a great option for a day trip from Seoul. I also appreciated the fact that Daejeon was less crowded and had more wallet-friendly prices.

Leafful Coffee 대전카페 리풀

Our first stop was the furthest from the central train station, about an hour commute by public transport. This spacious café exudes European vibes and is characterised by warm yellow tones, wooden furniture, whitewashed walls and purposefully placed decorative items and trinkets.

On a sunny morning and afternoon, you can expect the space to be naturally lit through the large windows, casting lovely shadows across the front counter of the café especially. We just had to grab the window seats despite being thoroughly exposed to direct sunlight.

We had coffee – the Flat White (KRW5000, SGD4.6) which was their version of a “short latte”, and the Latte (KRW5000) which came in a bigger cup. No non-dairy milk options when I went, but I got an update that they have an oat milk option now.

The desserts on display were visually tempting. I had the Pistachio Berry Mousse (KRW9000, SGD8.3), which comprised an inner core of tangy and sweet strawberry and rhubarb compote, enveloped in nutty sweet pistachio mousse. The pistachio dacquoise base added a good crunchy texture to the tart.

40 Jukdong-ro 279beon-gil, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34127

11am – 9pm daily, closed on Tue

2. Seosew Café & Shop 서소우

With a completely different theme from our first café, Seosew was a café and vintage select shop we hopped over to as our next stop. The mixture of rustic wood furnishing and DIY metal shelving and racks gave the space an edgy, raw industrial look, boasting cool tones. Like Leafful, the space received lots of natural light in the afternoon.

My friend had the Latte (KRW5000), which I felt was on the milkier side, while I had their Chamomile Tea (KRW6000, SGD5.5). While waiting for your orders, you can browse their collection and shop for vintage clothing and goods, as well as items from their own brand, such as tea coasters.

If you’re feeling peckish, they have 2 simple desserts – the Pistachio Tiramisu (KRW8000, SGD7.3) and Strawberry Tiramisu (KRW8000).

1F, 457, Dosol-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon

12pm – 10pm daily, closed on Wed

3. Ordinary Project Café & Showroom 오디너리프로젝트 쇼룸, 카페

Near Daejeon Lotte Department Store was this café and furniture showroom that might be easily missed because of the lack of a conspicuous signboard and of the fact that it is located on the second floor of the building.

This is where you can enjoy sipping on an afternoon drink while (window) shopping for furniture. The showroom featured mainly hardwood furniture in varying shades of oak, against a backdrop of white walls, an exposed concrete ceiling and a wood panelled floor. The entire look was very clean and minimalistic. On one end of the café were large windows – a pity that it was winter when we went and missed out on the view of greenery.

Since we already had coffee and tea from the previous cafes, we opted for something more refreshing – the Iced Grapefruit Ade (KRW7000, SGD6.4) and the non-alcoholic Iced Lime Mojito (KRW7000). It felt weird to be sitting on chairs and placing my drinks on tables that were furniture going on sale for at least $1000~$2000. I suppose they will get brand new pieces for customers who wish to purchase them.

Don’t forget to remove your shoes and change into the indoor slippers they provide before stepping in – we totally overlooked the sign (oops).

12pm – 8pm daily, closed on Thu

574-1, Gyeryong-ro, Seo-gu, Daejeon 35269

Apr 19 2025

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Malmö, Sweden

Malmö Day Trip from Copenhagen

In just under 40 minutes by the high-speed train, Malmö is a coastal city in the southern part of Sweden that can be easily accessed from Copenhagen across the iconic Oresund Bridge. It is the perfect day trip destination from Copenhagen, especially with the fuss-free commute (quite unlike the tussling through the crowds and long wait for buses when I do a day trip from Singapore to Malaysia).

Taking advantage of the early sunrise in late spring, we boarded the train to Sweden early in the morning and alighted at Triangeln station in downtown Malmö. There are many trains running daily between the 2 cities, so you don’t have to worry about pre-booking the tickets in advance.

9am – Malmö City Library

On the way to the planned brunch spot, we walked from the Triangeln train station to the Malmö City Library (Malmö Stadsbibliotek). The huge public library comprises 3 interconnected buildings – a castle, a cylinder, and a modern glass extension which I was there for. This striking new extension is also called the “Calendar of Light” designed by Henning Larsen, for its large, floor-to-ceiling glass panels allowing natural light in the library and offering tranquil views of the surrounding greenery. Perhaps the best library visit I’ve ever had.

10am – Brunch at Atrium

We then moved on foot to Atrium for brunch, passing by the Slottsparken park. The full review of my brunch experience can be found in the separate post here.

11.30am – Walk along Ribersborgs Open-Air Bath

Post-brunch, we walked towards the sea where Ribersborgs open-air bath (Ribersborns Kallbadhus) is. It is one of the few historic places in Malmo that has been preserved. We did not swim or have lunch at the restaurant but took in the lovely view of the open sea and shore.

12.15pm – Coffee at Nordic Style Coffee Laboratory (Closed)

As we headed back into downtown Malmo by public bus (also another fuss-free affair), we made a stop for coffee at Nordic Style Coffee Laboratory, which…. unfortunately has closed its doors just 3 weeks ago. Definitely a sad news for me, because I had a very good cup of coffee there. The café featured a different coffee every week from roasteries in the Nordic region, and mine was from Kafferaven in Gothenburg, Sweden. The light roasted coffee had tasting notes of red currant, candied citrus, and winegums.

1pm – Lunch at Nostra

On the way back to the train station, we dropped by for lunch at Nostra, a brunch café. We ordered a main dish and a few pastries and coffee to share. Their Focaccia Florentine 2.0 (SEK 135, SGD 18.4) featured 2 poached runny eggs, cold smoked salmon, spinach and hollandaise sauce on sourdough focaccia. I loved that it was saucy and umami without being too heavy on the tastebuds. We also had their Flat White (SEK 46, SGD 6.3), Cardamom bun (SEK 38, SGD 5.2), Cannoli Pistachio (SEK 36, SGD 4.9) and Cannoli Hazelnut (SEK 36, SGD 4.9), but I felt that I’ve had better pastries in Copenhagen.

2pm – Shopping in Downtown Malmo

Just before heading back to Copenhagen, we did some shopping around the station, though there was nothing much in particular.

Malmo may not be as exciting and trendy as its neighbour Copenhagen, but I loved that the atmosphere was lazier, more relaxing, with less people and buzz. I also noticed that the prices/cost of living in Malmo were also a notch lower than the Danish cities.

Tagged Copenhagen, Denmark, europe, Sweden, travel

Apr 05 2025

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Food

Alani – Rooftop Bakery at KADA with Greek Mediterranean Pastries

One of the most awaited openings at KADA, a newly opened creative lifestyle hub at 5 Kadayanallur St right outside Maxwell MRT station, is Alani, a Greek Mediterranean bakery-café and restaurant. I was anticipating its official opening 2 months ago since it is opened by the same team behind Proud Potato Peeler, a private dining concept which I visited and left with good reviews of the food.

In Greek, “Alani” is used to describe someone who lives life without restrictions, embodying a free and wandering way of life. The ambiance of the open-air rooftop contributes to the overall theme of the café, with potted greenery, large communal tables and rattan chairs. Plus point: the outdoor dining area is also dog-friendly.

Upon stepping into the indoor dining area (with just a few dining tables) where the ordering counter is, we were greeted by a wooden display of tantalizing bread and pastries which were mostly Greek/mediterranean-inspired. Despite the wide range of options of brunch dishes on the main menu, the visuals of the bakes made us lean towards the bakery menu.

The café also serves coffee made from beans from Morph Coffee Roasters, who partners with One Fifteenth Coffee from Jakarta. My white with oat milk was delightful.

At $18, the Fermented Pumpkin Pesto & Wagyu Beef Sourdough was easily one of the priciest items in the bakery which we still readily paid for. The chewy, slightly charred sourdough bread, together with the pumpkin pesto filling, melted cheese, wagyu beef bits, and a drizzle of homemade spiced chili oil, felt like a hearty brunch dish I would love to have for breakfast every day. Their sourdoughs are made from a 14-year-old hand carried Greek sourdough starter.

Another one of the highly raved items here is the Pistachio Cinnamon Roll ($9). This is also made with the sourdough starter and perhaps one of the most sinful items here, with a generous filling of homemade pistachio praline with crushed and candied pistachios. Not for the faint-hearted.

The only item we had from the brunch menu was the Avocado on toast with burnt sherry tomato vinaigrette, feta cheese, poached eggs and seeds ($24). Unfortunately, the 2 poached eggs were overcooked and the yolks already firm.

We ended off with the Portokalopita ($10), a Greek orange cake made with layers of custard, phyllo dough and honey-orange syrup. I loved the moist and juicy insides of the cake which has absorbed the saccharine syrup, well-balanced with the zesty, citrusy orange flavours. The dollop of bitter chocolate ganache and thin sheet of phyllo pastry topped on the cake perfected the sweet ending.

The space gets filled up quickly on the weekends, so I recommend being there early morning to grab the most comfortable seats.

KADA, Kadayanallur St, #04-095, Singapore 069183

11am – 3pm Thurs to Fri

9.30am – 2.30pm Sat to Sun

Mar 16 2025

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Cafe, Chiang Mai, Food, Thailand

Lot of Taste, Chiang Mai

It was an early Saturday morning in the Chiang Mai, when the roads were still rather empty and footfall still low. I went into Lot of Taste, the latest outpost of Taste Cafe. On that cloudless morning, the café was directly lit by the rising sun which cast beautiful long shadows. It was a lovely sight to behold while having my coffee – though if you cannot deal with sun exposure, and don’t mind dealing with a busy/packed café, I would advise to come later in the afternoon or evening.

The interior was spacious, with a mix of wooden and stainless steel furniture, and the speakers played jazz music, building a relaxed atmosphere.

I could tell that the café was serious about their coffee when I chanced upon their in house coffee roasting machine at the back, which you may get to see in action if you’re lucky. Along the back wall of the café, there was also a huge glass display of the different roasted beans packaged for sale.

The signature item here was the Soft Latte, with the dollop of silky cream on top, but I went for the basic hot Flat White (THB100/SGD4, +oatly THB25/SGD1) with Oat Milk instead as I normally have hot coffee in the morning. There were also extensive options for both espresso and filter coffee. The coffee lived up to my expectations with a deep flavour and smooth mouthfeel.

The food menu was simple and limited to just 3 sandwiches and 3 muffins when I visited. I ordered the Spinach and Cheese Sandwich (THB125, SGD5) just as a stomach filler without much expectations since the focus here seemed to be much heavier on coffee, but it turned out to be very decent, with a generous portion of each ingredient of toast, spinach and cheese that I couldn’t finish it (I had to save space for a few more cafes I planned to visit on the same day).

If you’re looking for good specialty coffee in Chiang Mai, Lot of Taste is that cafe you should save and tick off in your itinerary. Apart from being conveniently located in the bustling Nimmamhaemin area, it is also opened from as early as 8am to as late as 10pm.

8/5 Nimmanahaeminda Road, Suthep, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand

8am – 10pm daily

Mar 09 2025

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Cafe, Food, singapore

Lean and Rich Bakery – Minimalistic Bakery Café in UE Square with Northern European Bread and Pastries

Helmed by a Korean baker from the famed Tartine Bakery in Seoul, Lean and Rich Bakery opened in UE Square last year as a Northern European, minimalistic style bakery. The bakery café occupies a modest space on the first floor of UE Square, with a bold red branding for their name/logo and storefront. The interior is kept minimal with cement floors, exposed ceilings and simple wooden tables and stools.

On the weekends, the indoor area got filled up quickly about an hour into their opening and patrons started to take up seats in the outdoor area where more tables were placed.

“Lean and Rich” refers to the type of dough used in the menu items. Lean dough, made with basic ingredients, is used to bake bread such as their signature sourdough and focaccia; Rich dough, made with additional ingredients like eggs, butter, sugar and milk, is used in the pastries.

From the “Rich” menu, I tried both the Vanilla ($7) and Pistachio ($7). My pick would be the Vanilla – I thought the smooth and creamy vanilla filling with vanilla beans paired better with the flaky and buttery croissant layers. On the other hand, I felt that the Pistachio custard was a tad too sweet and lacked the distinct nuttiness I was expecting.

For drinks, I tried the Vanilla Bean Latte ($7), Vanilla Bean Milk ($5.5), White ($5.7, +$1 for oat milk) and Matcha Latte ($7). The vanilla drinks and matcha latte were too sweet for my liking and I would stick with the White.

Post-opening, the café also launched breakfast/brunch dishes. Reminiscent of the Scandinavian breakfast was the Morning Platter ($11) which came with sourdough, soft-boiled egg, cheese, whipped butter and fig jam. I enjoyed the simple yet classic dish.

The Apple and Brie ($12) was a good surprise – I particularly liked the balance between the subtly sweet apple, candied pecan and honey and the savoury brie cheese, wild rocket and pastry layers. The mix of textures was also commendable.

Perhaps the most luxurious item on the menu, the Caponata and Burrata ($21) came with sourdough, a goulash-like mixture of eggplant, tomato, onion, celery, pine nuts, and burrata cheese. The burrata unveiled a soft and creamy filling, which when spread on the vegetables topped on the crispy, toasted sourdough, made a scrumptious open-faced sandwich.

With the emphasis and focus on serving consistently quality bread and pastries, I could see why the bakery gets crowded right from the early morning.

81 Clemenceau Ave, UE Square, #01-14, Singapore 239917

Tues to Fri 8.30am – 5pm

Sat and Sun 8.30am – 4pm

Mar 01 2025

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Seoul, South Korea, Travel

3 Indoor Spots to Watch the Snow in Seoul

On my most recent winter trip in Korea, I had planned to explore some indoor places to watch the snowfall if I got lucky. Fortunately (or unfortunately), Seoul experienced heavy snowfall during the last few days of January due to a cold wave, leading to an all-white Lunar New Year.

1in1jan Café (1인1잔)

Eunpyeong Hanok Village (은평한옥마을)has been on my list of places to visit in Seoul for years and, NGL, I was in a dismay that it got extremely popular in the past couple of years with foreigners for its iconic café, 1in1jan. The café is probably the sole reason why most people are flocking to the hanok village nowadays, which is somewhat obscurely located in Seoul. Its 5-storey building, with a basement and rooftop, is situated advantageously with a view that overlooks the hanok village with Bukhansan in the backdrop.

On the very day of heavy snowfall in Seoul, I was joined by many other locals and tourists in the queue for the 4^th floor of the café, where you can order a full set meal.

I had the Seasoned Chicken Leg Steak which was well-marinated with sriracha mayonnaise, with some sides of potato, roasted baby cabbage, paprika pickle, mini salad & bread. The set meal also came with a drink of my choice, which was the refreshing Omija ade.

Despite the long wait and hustling with other patrons, the panoramic views were worth it.

534 Yeonseo-ro, Jingwan-dong, Eunpyeong District, Seoul, South Korea 서울 은평구 연서로 534

Tues to Sun

Bakery & Coffee on 1^st and 2^nd Floor – 1인1잔(카페) – 10am – 9.30pm
Showroom and Café on 3^rd Floor – 1인 karimoku(쇼룸, 카페) – 10am – 8pm
Brunch Café on 4^th and 5^th Floor – 1인1상(한상차림) – 11am – 7.30pm
Rooftop Garden on 6^th Floor – 10am – 9.30pm

2. The Forest Chosochaekbang (인왕산 더숲 초소책방)

After my leisurely brunch at Eunpyeong Hanok Village, I made my way via 2 local buses to Buam-dong. From the nearest bus stop, I trekked about 20 minutes to a book café nestled at the base of Inwangsan. Amidst the heavy snow, the climbing the hilly slopes was not an easy feat and felt closer to a hike instead. Thankfully there were many other people heading to and fro the café which was encouraging, and just like 1in1jan, the book café was packed with both hikers who were taking a respite and café-goers who visited deliberately for the space/view/atmosphere.

The book café features 2 storeys overlooking the city and has plenty of seats, both indoor and outdoor. Since it was the peak of winter, there were plastic globes in the outdoor section to keep the cold winds and snow away.

A full-fledge bakery and bookstore were parked within the 1^st floor of the café, from where I browsed the books, got caught in a dilemma over what to order and finally ordered and enjoyed a slice of Pumpkin cheesecake. I would love to visit again in fall, when the backdrop would be colorful.

172 Inwangsan-ro, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea 종로구 인왕산로 172, Seoul, Korea

8am – 9pm daily

3. Kangaroo Wine Bar (캥거루)

As the snow started to subside, I made my way to lower ground in search of Kangaroo wine bar located in Seochon Hanok Village. Right as you step into the modern wine bar, you will see Bugaksan and the hanok village spread out under it. I highly recommend taking the high counter seats for the unobstructed view.

The concept of the wine bar was very casual – you pick your drinks and snacks from this area which was designed like a mini-mart, and head over to the counter for payment. There was also a proper food menu at the counter from which you can order from, featuring staples such as pasta and meat pies. Since it was compulsory to order 1 drink per person, I had a bottle of alcohol-free Mojito, along with a Pineapple Granita. Perhaps not a very good choice since I was already freezing from the cold.

3F 18-13, Jahamun-ro 5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea 종로구 체부동 120-14 3F

Tues to Sun 3pm – 11pm

Feb 08 2025

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Chiang Mai, Thailand

Path – Minimalist Korean Café with Adorable Bakes in Chiang Mai

Located in the Hang Dong district of Chiang Mai, about 30-40 mins away by car from the Old Town, is Path. The café is known to be owned by a Korean family who settled down in Chiang Mai and is thus well visited by many Koreans.

I had to rely on Grabcar to take me to the remote area where the café was housed in a large white house. It seemed to be the only café housed amongst the neighbouring residential bungalows with large front and backyards. Even my Grab driver was surprised to see a café there.

The spacious, white and minimalistic café had large windows which overlook the yard/garden where visitors were posing for photos, and which allowed plentiful sunlight to fill the interior.

At the corner was the ordering counter where an array of bakes was displayed on a wooden table – these are mostly the café’s mainstay items, such as cookies, canelés, scones and madeleines. On the side is a glass display cum refrigerator with season limited and rotational cakes, designed cutely and reminiscent of desserts you could find in a Korean café.

For drinks, I ordered the Dalgona Latte (THB100), which was a modified version of the original trending homemade drink. It was essentially an iced latte topped with honeycomb which gradually melted, resulting in a mildly sweetened coffee.

From the cake display, I chose the Mont Blanc and the Apple Lemon Mousse Cake (THB150). There were also cakes with puppy and Christmas tree designs but I found them too cutesy for my taste. While I found the Mont Blanc rather ordinary, the Apple Lemon Mousse Cake stood out with both its visuals and taste. The white lemon mousse layer was shaped like an apple, topped on apple compote and an almond crumble cookie. Upon slicing it, there was more apple compote hidden within the mousse. Though I wished the mousse could be more citrusy and the crumble softer, the mousse and compote paired well.

Before you fit this café into your itinerary, please take note that they have a different opening schedule every month so check their Instagram/Facebook page!

6, Moo7, San Phak Wan, Hang Dong District, Chiang Mai 50230 Thailand

10am – 4.30pm (Check IG/Facebook for their specific opening dates)

Jan 18 2025

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Chiang Mai, Food, Thailand

Enough for Life – Vintage Café, Shop and B&B in Chiang Mai

Tucked in a corner of Rampoeng Village away from the bustling urban life in central Chiang Mai is Enough for Life. I walked over within 5-10 mins from Baan Kang Wat, a popular charming art village home to a community of local artists.

The space serves multiple functions – as a Bed and Breakfast on the second floor which you can book directly on their website or via AirBnB, a store selling vintage trinkets, and a café. The accommodation also comes with a private pool with guest-only access.

With the many different aesthetic corners you could find here, it’s no wonder that both locals and tourists go a little out of the way to explore the café and shop. I particularly loved the mishmash of vintage furniture and purposefully placed decorative items.

The café menu was lean, with just 3 cakes and several drink options available. Out of the carrot cake, lemon cream cake, and tiramisu cake, I had the Tiramisu Cake (THB160, SGD6.3). Unlike the usual Italian tiramisu I was expecting, their version was simpler, made with cake dipped in espresso, layered with whipped cream and flavoured with cocoa. With the lack of mascarpone and ladyfingers, it felt more like a chocolate and cream sponge cake rather than a tiramisu. I also wished that the cake could be more soaked with espresso.

I also had the Café Latte (THB75, SGD3) to pair with the cake – take note that there are no alternative milk options here.

While there was outdoor seating, I took respite in the well air-conditioned indoor area where I could just idle my time away,thinking how the name of this place was so apt. Enough for Life.

160/7 Moo 5 (in front of Wat Ram Poeng) Soi 7 Dok Kaew, Suthep Subdistrict, Mueang District, Chiang Mai 50200

8.30am – 5pm daily

Jan 11 2025

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Chiang Mai, Thailand, Travel

Khagee – Minimalist Café in Chiang Mai Known for Natural Yeast Bread

Khagee had been on the top of my list of cafes to visit in Chiang Mai – thanks to the great reviews and aesthetic photos of its baked goods and interior I’ve come across. Getting to its location along may not be the most convenient without a bike/car, but I managed to do it on foot from the Old Town. You can expect to explore some hidden shophouses and cross the Ping River along the way.

With its white brick walls, wooden counter and concrete floors, the café exuded minimalistic vibes. The café was also filled with natural light, with the sun casting long shadows as it got deeper into the afternoon.

My first pick was their Carrot Cake (THB95, SGD3.75), which, unlike the conventional carrot cake, was cutely shaped as a cylinder. It was soft and moist, and I appreciated the fact that the portion was suitable for 1 pax.

Apart from the carrot cake, their popular items also include the Canele (THB75, SGD2.96) and Custard Cream Bun (THB75, SGD2.96). The latter was already sold out when I went in the early afternoon.

What complemented my carrot cake was my order of Flat White (THB95 (SGD3.75), +THB20 (SGD0.79) for oat milk), brewed using a Seasonal Espresso Blend from Samadool Coffee, a coffee shop and roastery in Bangkok. With tasting notes of caramel, chocolate, and juicy, and a light flavour with low acidity and bitterness, the coffee suited my preference.

Filter coffee was also available on the menu, and for non-coffee drinkers, there were also options such as matcha latte, hot/iced chocolate, orange juice and herbal tea.

Additionally, I also got the Berry Banana Bread (THB210, SGD8.29), featuring a thick slice of fluffy banana bread topped with banana slices, a layer of light cream, berries and nuts. The sweet notes of the banana and banana bread were well-balanced with the tartness of the berries, with neither overpowering the other. I loved how both carrot cake and banana bread I had were not overly sweet.

I left extremely satisfied with the overall experience – ambiance, service, coffee, food. Save this café for your next trip to Chiang Mai if you have not.

29 30 Chiang Mai-Lamphun Soi 1, ตำบล วัดเกตุ Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50000, Thailand

9am – 5pm daily

Dec 31 2024

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Johor Bahru

Johor Bahru Cafe Hop – Reviewing the 5 Cafes I Visited in JB in 2024

Dona Bakehouse

Founded by the same owners of Poke Twins, Dona Bakehouse offers an artisan bakery and café experience. The spacious 2-storey establishment is located conveniently in the Jalan Tan Hiok Nee area near the customs, beside the famous Hiap Joo Bakery. They have recently opened a second outlet in Kuala Lumpur.

From the all-day breakfast menu, I tried the Mashed Avo & Mushroom Toast (RM28, SGD8.5) which features mashed avocados, cherry tomatoes, mushroom medley, poached eggs, seeds & crushed pistachios on sourdough toast. The savoury mushrooms and sourdough stood out to me.

From the display of French viennoiseries behind the glass counter at the entrance, we had a sweet item – the Pistachio Supreme Swirl (RM7.49, SGD2.3) and a savoury one – Tuna Salad Danish (RM14, SGD4.3).

The layers of the pistachio swirl were crisp and flaky, unveiling a creamy core of pistachio which I thought could be nuttier, while the tuna Danish was quite flat in flavour.

Drinks-wise, I had the Hot Mocha (RM12, SGD3.7) which was a pretty decent cup with a good balance of sweet and bitter tones. However, the Matcha Strawberry Latte, which seemed to have been taken off the menu, was too sweet.

14, Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia

Weekdays 8.30am – 5pm, weekends 8.30am – 9.30pm

2. Palates and Bagels by T.A.M

In contrast to the bright and natural light filled Dona Bakehouse, Palates and Bagels by T.A.M. boasted low ambient lighting in a moody interior. The highlight of the café was their range of bagels and bagel dishes, with both sweet and savoury options.

Each of their savoury bagels had a male name to it, and I opted for the Louis (RM34.9, SGD10.6). I chose the sesame seed bagel to go along with the filling of cajun mayo, smokey beef brisket, hash brown, egg, caramelized onion and sliced cheese. While the combination of ingredients made a saucey, satisfying meal, I thought the bagel could be chewier.

I also had a main dish – their LFC Aglio Olio Pasta (RM20.9, SGD6.4) which was essentially an aglio olio paired with local fried chicken. This tasted very normal.

P.s. they recently opened a second outlet in JB, at Taman Melodies, which offers exclusive Thai-inspired bagels and main dishes not found at the first outlet.

10, Jalan Dhoby, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia

8am – 6pm daily

3. Eden by Wizards

Recently, I ventured into the up-and-coming Austin Heights neighbourhood which has turned into an enclave of cafes. Eden by Wizards is nestled within an industrial area of the neighbourhood, with a raw charm to its interior. The space is designed with a garden concept, meticulously landscaped with green plants and stones. The addition of artificial bird sounds enlivens the entire place.

The all-day brunch menu at Eden was pretty extensive and after careful deliberation, we got the Avocado Toast (RM33, SGD10). It came with toasted sourdough topped with avocados, pesto, datterino tomatoes, grated cheese and poached eggs. I loved the generous amount of pesto, but felt that the sourdough was slightly tough.

We also splurged on the Braised Wagyu Beef Karubi (RM88, SGD26.8), which was herb crusted and paired with mash potato, sauteed assorted mushroom & grilled cherry on vine tomato. Though the karubi was not tough, it was dry and had to be eaten with the sauce on the side. The mashed potato was clumpy and not seasoned enough.

Both drinks we tried – the Ayame Matcha Latte (RM17, SGD5.2) and Hojicha Latte (RM17, SGD5.2) were decent but on the sweeter side.

19, Jln Tiong Emas, Kawasan Perindustrian Tiong Nam Tebrau 3, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia

10am – 10pm daily

4. Slow Day Café

For the artistic creatures, or those simply looking to do couple/group activities, Slow Day Café would be your choice of café. As a modern art café, you can indulge in not just their popular matcha desserts and drinks but also their Acrylic & Quartz Painting Workship and Edible Toast Painting Workshop. Sadly, we didn’t know we had to reserve on their website in advance so we had to give the activities a miss.

I highly recommend the Matcha Nama Cake (RM28, SGD8.5). Comprising 3 layers, the top layer was a light matcha cream, the middle layer a rich and smooth matcha nama chocolate ganache and the base a dense and moist matcha gateau au chocolat. The ganache in the middle was thick and intense and perfect for a matcha lover, balanced with the lighter, softer layer of mousse on top and a dense layer of cake at the bottom.

My drink, the Strawberry Matcha (RM17.9, SGD5.4), was also one of the better strawberry matcha lattes I’ve had. It did not bear the artificial taste of strawberry milk, while the matcha was smooth with bitter tones that complemented with the sweet strawberry jam.

As for the Rose Latte (RM14.9, SGD4.5), it tasted quite like a normal bandung drink you could get at a coffee shop so I would recommend skipping it.

No. 2-01, Jalan Austin Heights 7/8, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia

Mon to Thurs 12pm – 8pm

Fri to Sun 12pm – 12am

Closed on Tues

5. The Blue Door Coffee House

Just a few units away from Slow Day Café was The Blue Door Coffee, popular for its pistachio desserts. I was overwhelmed by the quirkiness of the space – upon entering, the right side of the café has a bed parked right smack in the middle of the seating area. And on the left side, you will find Narnia’s wardrobe which when opened, will lead you to another large seating area. This area had dark blue walls and was decked in Christmas decorations when I went.

Since we already had a full brunch, we skipped the main courses here and opted for the Matchamisu (RM22, SGD6.7) instead. Unfortunately, the matcha mascarpone was too sweet and lacked the earthy, bitter tones of matcha. We also thought the ladyfingers could be more well soaked with coffee.

There was a relatively new item on the menu – The Kunafa (RM55, SGD16.7), a platter of a kunafa chocolate, pistachio latte and kombucha.

It was my first time having the viral Dubai chocolate, featuring a crunchy pistachio and kunafa (shredded phyllo pastry) filling nestled between 2 layers of chocolate. I liked that the filling was nutty and crisp, complementing the sweet chocolate.

As for the pistachio latte, we were advised to first take a sip from the top to enjoy the rich, creamy layer of pistachio on the top, then drink from the middle layer coffee, and then the final layer of pistachio at the bottom. We were also warned not to stir everything as it will get too sweet. I loved the combination of the coffee and top layer of pistachio cream which was rich, nutty and savoury. The bottom layer felt syrupy and was too sweet.

Lastly, the kombucha served as a palate cleanser between sips of latte and nibbles of chocolate.

Alternatively, you can also try their viral croissants.

36A, Jalan Austin Height 7/8, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia

Mon to Wed 11am – 10pm

Thurs to Sun 11am – 12am

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