Neighborhood Cafe: Maple & Market

I would love a cafe in my hood that would allow me to satisfy any cake or croissant craving in the middle of the day without having to doll up and travel to the ends of the world. It doesn't have to be fancy or spectacular, it just has to be cooler (literally) than the coffee shop, and provides some fancy cake or pastry that i can't get at the traditional bakery. Maple & Market is one of the first few to recognize this sandwiched market and is sure gaining popularity with the Kallang neighborhood tai tais and lazy yuppies.

M&M is by no means indie. There isn't a need for that. Instead, they are comfortable being simple and homey as evidenced by the bare-bones furnishing; a long wooden table with an assortment of mismatched stools was all to the 'cafe'. To set your expectations right, it's not a place for chilling out for long.

M&M offers a variety of cakes and pastries.

Their butter croissants looked a little deflated imo but popular enough for aunties to come by regularly to grab some for what i presume is breakfast for their kids. For $1.80, i guess this is reasonable quality. Their pastries are also on the lower price point, ranging from $2 to $3.

Saw some bacon topped cake of sorts but the batter looked too dry for me to wanna be adventurous.

My $4 latte was strong and decent enough. It was a good complement to the 1919, a Gula Melaka cake with kaya cream cheese frosting and almonds ($5.50). I like cakes that are moist (who doesn't) but i took to this grainy porous one, though i agree that it could be less dry. The kaya cream cheese wasn't overpowering like the traditional coconut jam, instead it was a little more pandan. I would have loved it better if the frosting were creamier and less separated from the sponge. We had the cake a second time for a birthday celebration and that's when i was more aware about how dry the cake was. :/

Baking classes are available and they do teach you how to make pretty things. Not a bad way to keep the ladies in the neighborhood occupied.

Maple & Market makes the cut as a neighborhood cafe. I wouldn't mind popping by if i'm in the area but it's not quite worth the traveling for. 

Maple & Market
34 Cassia Crescent #01-82
Tel: +65 6348 8068
Weekdays: 12 - 10pm (Closed Tue)

Weekends: 10am - 10pm