The inspiration behind this unassuming eatery is simple: two friends decided to turn their sweet love for baking into reality. Simple Café is set up by Sheryl Tan and Maisie Chew, two avid bakers who first met at Le Cordon Bleu, Tokyo. Besides sharing a love for working with the oven, the pair also had a common goal: to own a physical dessert shop they can call their own.
The fuss-free, 15-seater café is conceived to provide “a simple place with simple desserts that people can look forward to.”
The interior reflects that pared-down approach, with simple wooden furnishing and white-clad walls. The main highlight of the minimally decorated space: a single counter with a cake fridge, pastry stand, and coffee machine. Know that you won’t find variety here; instead, Simple Café serves up a homely selection of straightforward sweets. The unfussy selection, splayed out before your eyes, features a line-up of chilled cakes and tarts, pastries, and a small selection of coffee and tea.
Most will like the Mont Blanc ($9), a light, easy-to-eat treat suffused with sweetness from the chestnut cream and mascarpone chestnut. Other popular options include the strawberry shortcake ($8.50), Bassion tart ($8) with tropical flavours of passionfruit and banana compote, and the mocha cake ($8) crowned with a dollop of espresso cream.
Old favourites from the pair’s home-baking days also make an appearance on the menu. Bagels smeared with blueberry cream cheese ($4) and pillowy donuts ($4.50) freshly piped with vanilla or pandan custard continue to delight – all of which are best washed down with some coffee (from $5) or matcha (from $6).
To find out more about Sheryl and Maisie’s journey, read our story here.