Guess who just turned one! Wimbly Lu. I love the name of this cafe, though I have no idea what it means, just sounds really quirky and happy. Located in Jalan Riang, just off Serangoon MRT, I absolutely adore the ambience here. While you've got waiters at the doors of other restaurants to greet you, Wimbly Lu's got a sweet vintage red and white Volkswagen Beetle, pretty much permanently parked right outside their entrance.




This cafe feels almost like it'd fit comfortably among a row of quaint shop houses somewhere in France. The decor inside was also really pretty, with coloured buntings hanging from the ceiling, old school brick walls, dim lighting and dark wooden floors. But my favorite part about the cafe would definitely be the skylight. Allowing sunlight to stream in and fill the cafe during the day and the evening hues of purple and dark blue to fall on us, it's a great place to share a dessert or two with a loved one.




Selling different types of handmade chocolate truffles, you can purchase a box or two to enjoy them in the comforts of your home.




So we had the popular Root Beer Cake ($6.00) first which was served in a martini glass with a single scoop of homemade Vanilla ice-cream. The combination of root beer and chocolate was surprisingly good! The taste of root beer wasn't too overpowering and we were still be able to enjoy the chocolatey cake. Definitely a must-try, if you're heading to Wimbly Lu.

Root Beer Cake ($6.00)

We also tried the signature Blackout Cake ($6.00), which was essentially just plain chocolate cake. It was too dry and crumbly for my liking, since I prefer my cakes moist and slightly spongy. There wasn't anything that particularly stood out, and was pretty much just a good ol' slice of chocolate cake.
 

Blackout Cake ($6.00)

Next on our menu was the Chocolate Crème brûlée ($5.00) which Dee would gladly vouch for any day. (She pretty much wiped it clean all by herself, though I managed to steal a few spoonfuls before she proudly presented me with the empty ramekin). With a perfect texture of custard, it was just the right amount of sweetness and wasn't too chocolatey.

Chocolate Crème brûlée ($5.00)

And a great finish to our chocolate indulgence, was the Chai Latte ($6.00). It came with a cinnamon stick and a sweet biscuit which kinda reminded me of the latte served at Orange Thimble. The taste of cinnamon was a tad too strong though. Moderately sweet, the latte was otherwise a great accompaniment to the rich desserts.

Chai Latte ($6.00)

Wimblu Lu, was definitely a winner in terms of ambience and the interior. It's the place you'd want to take a special someone over to have a quiet chat over some rich chocolatey dessert. With a classic vintage vibe, and a very pocket-friendly range, we'd be back again to try the much raved about waffles and salted caramel ice-cream!

Wimbly Lu Chocolates
15-2 Jalan Riang
Tel: 6289 1489

Opening Hours:  Mon – Fri 1:00PM –10.30PM, Sat 9:00AM–11:00PM, Sun 9:00AM–10.30PM

Offering both savory delights such as the raved Salmon and Ham Squid Ink Burger ($8.50) and sweet treats like the personal favorite, Mixed Berry Crumble ($6.00), it seems like French baker Gontran Cherrier's set the bar up real high here in sunny Singapore.

Kouign Amann ($3.50)

Chocolate Mendiant Tart ($6.50)

With a dark chocolate top and a light yet crumbly tart base, this Chocolate Mendiant Tart ($6.50) was not only a visual winner but also tasted really really good. It had a layer of chocolate ganache and a dried fruit and nut base to give the tart an extra crunch. The base complemented the dark cocoa and was just the right amount of sweetness. The tart was served chilled, perfect for the afternoon heat. 

Chocolate Croissant ($3.20)

Although, the croissants are probably what's most famous at Tiong Bahru Bakery right now, priced at only $2.50 and offering a plateful of buttery goodness, I personally thought the Chocolate Croissant ($3.20) was just, well, alright. No doubt, the croissant in itself, as with all the other pastries, was beautifully baked. But we couldn't help but wonder if they'd forgotten to put the filling in our croissant since we barely tasted any dark chocolate. Thankfully the complimentary homemade raspberry jam was yummy enough to salvage the filling (or lack thereof) in this croissant!



Tiong Bahru Bakery's definitely one of my favorite chill out places right now. A comfy bakery exuding an old school charm, I see myself spending many lazy afternoons here, catching up with old friends over hot chocolate and some mixed berry crumble. Will be heading back to try the chocolate almond croissant and raved about magic coffee next!

Tiong Bahru Bakery (Eng Hoon Street)
56 Eng Hoon Street, #01-70
Singapore 160056
Tel: 6220 3430

Opening Hours: Mon, Wed - Sun 8:00AM - 8:00PM
(Closed on Tuesdays)

Tiong Bahru Bakery (Raffles City)
252 North Bridge Road
#B1-11/12 Raffles City Shopping Centre
Tel: 6333 4160

Opening Hours: Daily 11:00AM - 10:00PM