Plain Vanilla Tiong Bahru

Almost a quarter past 3 & no seats for a party of 3 because apparently many guests were hoarding while sipping the last bit of their drink. The male staff, forgotten his name, saw our predicament & assisted us to secure a booth for us 3. Kudos to him. Excellent service 10/10. Cafe Latte 9/10 White coffee 9/10 Iced Latte 8/10 Muffin Earl Grey 8/10 Salted Caramel 9/10 Almond Croissant 8/10 Nice clean & well stocked bathroom. Sliding toilet door a bit difficult to lock, management may wanna check & verify this. Nice cool ambience on the inside. Outside pretty warm. Right at the back even hotter. Will be back if in the area. Monday June 24th, 2024.

Tried a blueberry muffin, an oreo cupcake and their tuna sourdough sandwich. Loved their muffin and cupcake, sandwich was alright, was rather dry. It was filled with olives too, which overpowered the flavour of the entire sandwich :/ Service was really good, they helped us to find a seat indoors on a sweltering day :) and the ambience in the café was really nice too,, would come back to try other cupcake flavours and maybe their drinks!

This café exudes a warm atmosphere with indoor seating, as well as outdoor seating up front and in the back. They offer a good selection of pastries, beverages, and lunch/brunch items. The coffee was enjoyable, though I was disappointed they had run out of their signature single origin beans. Known for their cupcakes, we tried their earl grey lavender cupcake, a delightful surprise. Its slightly crumbly texture and delicate lavender and early grey fragrance made for a unique treat. The sweet frosting complemented it perfectly. Overall, a charming spot for a tasty bite and a cup of coffee.

I’ve given this place several tries, but it just doesn't seem to get any better. The café definitely wins points for style, with a stunning interior and a cool ambiance, but the food seriously lags behind. The sourdough is notably tough, and overall, the dishes just aren't worth the steep prices. The outdoor seating feels cramped too, which means it gets uncomfortably noisy when it’s busy. It’s baffling that they haven’t improved the queuing system despite the same feedback over the past year, a simple numbering system could work wonders. Although the staff are attentive and try their best, the shortcomings are too big to overlook. Sadly, I don't think I’ll be coming back.

Plain Vanilla gets the basics right — offerings (good menu, wholesome and healthy), execution (well cooked, no nonsense), and service (with a smile in spite of being slammed). I gravitated towards the seasonal specials after perusing the menu. The Spring Omelette was delicious. So good — I would have no qualms having it again and again. (Please include in main menu!!) Great option for those who enjoy more subtle flavours. Truffled Cauliflower & Chestnut soup was slightly sweeter than I would’ve liked but tasty nonetheless, very wholesome and could be a meal in itself. Breakfast Skillet felt like a hangover cure — personally not a fan of the wholegrain mustard within it, but it was everything it promised. Sourdough here is dark, denser than usual, and sliced thick. Coffee (organic browns mill blend) tastes like a light/medium roast. Cupcakes seem to be a thing here… Strong AC. No resos, walk ins only. Booths are the best experience :)

A decent cafe for dessert. I recommend their sweet treats over savoury dishes, their banana bread was quite surprisingly delicious! Visited on a Saturday at around 2pm after lunchtime and had to wait awhile for a seat. Nevertheless, the cafe has really nice vibes and comfortable seatings, including private pods. The abundance of natural lighting + woody furniture creates a nice cozy atmosphere! There is a mix of indoor and outdoor al fresco seating, and the outdoor areas are pet-friendly! Love that. About the food: A little disappointed my banana bread took 30 minutes to arrive even though all they needed to do was reheat it. We ordered other bakes and they came within 5-10 minutes warmed…. Nevertheless, I did enjoy their banana loaf. It reminded me of the ones I had in Australia, perfectly buttery and fragrant with strong banana flavour. Really liked the cinnamon sugar crust, and I like that there were generous banana bits inside too. If you’ve been searching for decent banana breads in Singapore, give this one a go! As for the coffee, not very strong but good enough for the general coffee drinker. Dining time limit is 90 minutes, but about 30 minutes in the staff came and reminded us we had 30 minutes left. Not sure why. Overall, cafe isn’t a must visit, but if you want a relaxing cozy spot with good bakes, Plain Vanilla would be just the place. Beware of crowds on the weekends, though! food 4/5 service 2/5 (not a big issue but the waitress kept thumping the drinks and food loudly on the table when serving them..🥲) ambience 6/5

crowded place during saturday brunch time, but nice vibez and a good place to pet-watch. had to sit in the outdoor area but thankfully it’s not hot as its well-sheltered from the sweltering heat of the sun and have many ceiling fans installed. particularly enjoyed the pieces of art and decorative lining their walls. good for a nice catch up with friends, with decent food and coffee. nothing too special about their savoury food as they are more well known for their cupcakes and bakes. would say that their food is more on the pricey end!

not sure if i got the wrong flavour, but the vanilla bean cupcake was not impressive at all. to be fair the cake itself is pretty tasty, a little bit on the sweeter side. but the icing is a big no from me. i could feel the icing sugar in my mouth and it is too sweet when eaten with the cake tgt. $5.30 for one cupcake, i would expect the icing to be something fancier and not the standard american buttercream.

This marble loaf cake was absolutely amazing! As always, I needed something to satisfy my cravings for sweets and stumbled upon this little gem. The collection of pastries and small cupcakes are so aesthetic, and they also serve drinks as well. The worker was very friendly and patient with my indecisive self as I decided what to get. After deciding and paying, I brought my cake over to their sitting area which is calm, serene, and perfect for just relaxing and reading a book! The cake was moist, yet not too dense, and the chocolate flavor was not too overwhelming. The icing on the cake wasn't too sweet either. It was a perfect combo and definitely satisfied my cravings for chocolate. Check out this little gem if you're in the area, it deserves some recognition!

Bought a dozen cupcakes to go. They are definitely pretty but to be honest they are very plain tasting. The red velvet was okay, the cream cheese wasn't too sweet, the cake itself was moist. The dark chocolate cupcake had crunchy little bits in there, so it was a very interesting bite. It is also not very sweet, or gerlat tasting which was good since I had this right after dinner. The cinnamon cupcake frosting tasted very doughy and again very moist. The cupcakes are reasonably big and you definitely cut them up to share

Love the looks of this place :) and once you see their cakes and cupcakes, you would fall in love with this place. Open kitchen for you to look at how all the sweet delights are prepared. They are shelves of kitchen items and cookbooks for sale too. No wifi, as I see this as a trend now a days... Either their are being cheap about it or maybe they use to greater-good excuse that people are suppose to socialise more rather than having their head bend down and stuck to their phones. Either way, they have a very limited sitting area - one large square table to share, one Long side seat with cushions and a Long table Infront. Ok if you are just there to get a cuppa coffee and read your papers or just enjoy a cup cake or pastry, for bigger groups of people, maybe not. They use wooden forks and styrofoam plates (not a big fan of their plates - very Unenvironmentally friendly...) and paper cups. Still , beautiful place to be at. I see people doing take away of their cupcakes in very large numbers. I would say that the cupcakes are pretty but fairly much on the normal side of things. Have yet to try their delicious looking cakes and pastries. Saw a poster recently to say that they do breakfast/brunch now. Look forward to going back :)

This place has a great setting. It was what first attracted us into stepping in. Then comes the aroma of freshly baked goods. Mmmm... A bakery cum cafe, the place is decorated in a way that allure you to instagram every single corner. They have seats in front of the bakery; even a swing if you prefer. Step further in, you're brought to the food display! Loved the look of everything! Even the glimpse of cake pans and baking tools in their huge cupboard was instagram-worthy. Haha! Kudos to whoever the interior designer was. They sell, tarts, cakes, brownies and etc. Even cookie and cake mixes in jars. How wonderful! But what captivated us the most were the cupcakes on display. Me being the salted caramel lover ordered 2 of those, vanilla and hazelnut chocolate ones. Prices for the cupcakes were alright, standard. But the drinks! Blimey! $7 for a cup of lemonade? Eh?! And oh! You might as well know that they don't offer you any paper bag to stuff your cake boxes. They'll just tie them up with a string to act as a handle. Quite the hassle if you're already holding many things in hand.

This is perhaps the best cupcakes Singapore has to offer. No trip to Tiong Bahru is complete without a visit to this quaint little cafe tucked in a corner. My recommendation will be to try the Strawberry White Chocolate cupcake and Lavender Earl Grey cupcake.

New outpost in the new hip town, and just like before, they've kept things simple - a super-wide counter/display, and now a coffee machine, and a couple of benches. I love the open look to this spot, and you really get to feel the space as you walk in. You don't need that much more when all you want is to eat a cupcake, right? The flavours are stellar as always, and I'm a big fan of the dark chocolate cupcake with Varlrona chocolate nibs, maybe because I think it's the manliest cupcake there - dark chocolate, and brown, muted colours - but then again, it's just so dang delicious. And those nibs add that crunch and a touch of that bittersweet raw chocolate finish... I think I'm saying too much. In fact, every one I've tried is tasty as heck, and with well-made classic flavour pairings like cinnamon brown sugar, strawberry white chocolate and milk chocolate banana, it's hard not to like everything you eat. This new store in Tiong Bahru is on the same street as the massively hip bookstore BooksActually, and also picturebook mecca Woods in the Books, not to mention earlybirds 40 Hands, you'll have your weekend needs covered just wandering down this stretch.

After grabbing a bite over at Tiong Bahru, we wandered around the neighborhood a bit and ended up at Plain Vanilla Bakery. It was a nice place to stop and hop out of the rain for a little bit. The front is open-air with artificial turf that kids can (and do) run around on a little bit; there's also an ice cream cart that you can get indulge yourself at (with the help of a barista from inside the shop). Inside, the ordering area is lined with lots of different bites, especially cupcakes. The enclosed seating area is to the left of the outside area; we didn't actually make our way in there as we wanted to enjoy the (mild) relief that the rain brought. We didn't have to wait too long for our drinks, and they were both solid - mine was a very refreshing agave lemonade that I housed in about a minutes' time; my wife went with a fruity iced tea that was still quite unsweetened and was a much more subtle flavor. We did grab a brownie to share as well; while the texture was a tad chalkier than I like, I did like the faint hint of fruit (think it was blackberry, or something similar) that was baked into it. While it's a tad out of the way, Plain Vanilla is on a street that has a few other hipster-y shops as well, and it's a solid place to grab a brew (or another beverage) and relax/work.

If you ever had a Kinfolk Fantasy, PV Bakery is going to be more than you've ever imagined. Picture wooden tables filled with flowers, a store front overflowing with natural light, turquoise bicycles with baskets out in the front, water jugs filled with citrus and cucumber... I could go on and on and on about how perfect everything is but lets cut to the chase. These are one of the best, if not the best cupcakes in Singapore. Love Vanessa, love the quality of her bakes, and most importantly, love how rustic this store looks!

Tiong Bahru has fast become one of my favourite little precincts in Singapore and Plain Vanilla's cupcake shop definitely tops my list of places to dwindle away your afternoon in. The charming entrance greets you warmly with an army of vintage aqua bikes, an open communal dining space and a glass tankard of lemon scented water (they understand the effects of humidity!) The shop itself is lined with daily specials, old favourites and row upon row of Plain Vanilla's famous cupcakes - to me, these are definitely the best cupcakes in Singapore! They have a great texture and deviate away from being outlandishly sweet; I love that every flavour says what it means and means what it says. Must-trys are the Earl Grey and Cinnamon! The cupcakes start from $3.50 each and I usually grab a box of 6; just like the Sound of Music, they're adorably tied up with string! (A useful handle for when you're commuting with cupcakes!) I love the ritual of hopping a few doors down to Books Actually to grab some reading material and then settling myself into a quiet corner at PV Bakery. Although the seating is limited and they don't do coffees (yet!), it's none the less a beautiful space to wind down in. Be sure to check out their mini concept store for little trinkets and gifts before you leave!

A great treat to the neighbourhood. I've followed Vanessa from Holland V to Tiong Bahru and even to some of her pop-ups. She has been consistently fabulous at her baking. She keeps things simple and in this day and age, it's the most welcoming approach to bakeries. While her HV store is small and cosy, this is welcoming and enticing. I love the wide space and benches. The counter space allows us to stand in front and ponder. Her selection as always, spoils us like an only child in the family. I am always drawn to a salted caramel or special of the day. A new old favourite is earl grey lavender cuppie. An old because I always had it in USA but never in Singapore. Thank you for bringing it here. Have yet to attend her events. Plain Vanilla has a line up of events through out the month so pop over to their facebook for more details.

This lovely looking little bakery and pastry shop is located on the ever popular Yong Siak Street in Tiong Bahru. The place is fairly small and the space a bit narrow but they do have some space outside, still covered by a roof so possible to use when raining as well. They actually also have a big swing there for people to play in. It is however also a lot of people who take the cupcakes and other pastries with them. The focus seems to be cupcakes in many forms and shapes. In general not one of my favorite pastries or baked goods but here they actually make some really good ones. They are not on the fantastic side of the scale but well worth to stop by if you are in the neighborhood but would not travel out here just for this. They also offer some beverages, would not recommend the coffee but the tea is decent as well as the cold beverages. The prices for the beverages are however a bit steep.

Best cupcakes in Singapore. Nuff said. The salted caramel and the earl grey lavendar ones are INSANELY good, and I'm not even a dessert person!

As a pastry lover kind of guy, I do always find my way into local bakeries, patisseries and cafes wherever I go and this time it not an exception here in Singapore. Plain vanilla just attracted us from far, with it's pretty Scandinavian-European kind of concept. I love their so well done cake display as well as how beautifully made their pastries are. Prices are pretty average for this kind of place but slightly pricy for our expectations (we spent around 25 € in coffee and cakes for two) it is definitely worth a visit while in this area of the city though. We had a red velvet cupcake (good one btw), lemon tart, flourless chocolate cake, ice latte and ginger lemonade (quite refreshing one). I would definitely come back !. As mentioned before I particularly loved the whole concept.

Cute little bakery shop with a nicely decorated outdoor patio. We tried a couple different desserts there including cupcakes, raspberry cake, dark chocolate with filling, and a brownie. I thought the desserts were all ok, but not spectacular. The drinks were a bit expensive for what you get. There is limited seating which consists of just one huge communal table and one high top table. This isn't a good place for groups, but a perfect place to hang out and read if the place is not busy and you can find a place to sit.

This is my go-to place when I want to spend some time alone, reading a book. The space is so pretty! I mean, ok, I thought gentrification in Tiong Bahru is bad but it's not all that bad. I love the storefront with the large square communal table where people just sit there going on about their own business. It's not air-conditioned but usually there is a nice breeze. It's good for people watching on weekends since a tonne of visitors come to Tiong Bahru and Yong Siak street is their no. 1 destination. Besides, what's better than sitting there being immersed in the smell of warm butter? I have bought their cupcakes and they are pretty good. A whole range of flavors to choose from and not too sweet. Besides cup cakes, they also sell cakes but I have yet to try, they all look too big for one person. There are also other peculiar home goods on offer here, as well as cook books, which I don't think are a whole lot practical or necessary but nevertheless interesting to look at. This is a place that leaves a memory on your senses. As I am writing I can recall the warm breeze brushing on my skin and the aroma of sugar and butter.

Only take away items and everything in paper plates. Not a Café. Bad seating. Over priced for what you get. Had a funny smell when I walked in - should have been my clue to exit. Server was very sweet.

The Salted Caramel Cupcake was to die for! And the aroma of coffee and baked sweet deliciousness was the best welcome, combined by a friendly smile or two as I walked in

There is nothing plain about Plain Vanilla. Delicious baked items as well as a small assortment of home goods and a nice covered patio makes for a nice break from the midday heat and humidity.

Great ambiance and decent coffee however we were not at all impressed with the pastries / cakes we ordered. Blueberry cake was overloaded with sugar it was all you can taste. Too bad the food wasn't better because it is a nice venue to hang out for awhile

I ordered the Dark Chocolate Ganache and a Raspberry Pink Lemonade for a meal closer. Loved the lemonade. The cupcake was fine. Not a fan of the crispy texture but the cupcake could use a little moistness. I would want to try the Red Velvet next time.