There have been a few shifts in the Tiong Bahru café scene lately, and one of the more noticeable changes is at 82 Tiong Poh Road.
Drips Bakery Cafe has moved out of the unit, though it is still nearby at Seng Poh with a refreshed space.
In case you are wondering, Sakanoue Cafe previously within Drips is “permanently closed”.
I used to visit the old Drips café quite a bit, so I cannot help but miss the previous atmosphere.
Now in its place is Matchaya, a name that should already be familiar to many café hoppers.
Still, the brand has felt a little quieter in recent years, especially compared to some of the trending matcha and dessert names that are more active on social media.
The story behind Matchaya is said to come from both “love and frustration”.
After a trip to Japan, the founders developed an appreciation for high quality matcha, but realised that good and reasonably priced options were still hard to find in Singapore.
That led to the launch of the brand in August 2015. From a now defunct kiosk at ICON Village, Matchaya has since grown into what it calls a “Progressive Tea Bar”.
The brand places emphasis on sourcing tea and raw ingredients from different prefectures in Japan.
This Tiong Bahru outlet brings its Japanese tea and dessert focus into a more laid-back vibes.
The food menu is broader than expected.
Main dishes and all day items include the Ohaiyo Breakfast Set ($20.90), Burnt Cheese with Sauteed Mushroom on Sourdough ($16.90), Osaka Fluffy Pancakes ($19.90), Sesame Soba Salad ($13.90), and Classic Mac & Cheese with Honey Ham ($15.90).
There are also more substantial food like Dashi Chicken Stew ($16.90), Beef Bolognese with Sous Vide Egg ($17.90), Creamy Pesto Linguine with Fried Salmon Cubes ($19.90), and Tokyo Beef Short Ribs ($21.90).
I dropped by for the weekday set lunch and ordered the Miso Glazed Sous Vide Salmon Donburi ($19.90).
The salmon came sous vide with a miso glaze, and was served with edamame, red ginger, and a sous vide egg over Japanese rice.
It was a functional and fairly balanced meal, though it felt like it was missing that one extra element to make it more memorable.
If anything, it reminded me that Matchaya probably still works better as a tea and dessert stop than a place to come specifically for mains.
Dessert probably remains a bigger draw, with Warabi Mochi ($10), specialty parfaits (from $15.50 to $19), Matchaya Yuzu Cakes ($10), and Matcha Azuki Roll Cakes ($6).
One small detail I appreciated was that some of Drips’ tarts and bakes are still available here, which feels like a nice nod to regulars who used to come by for the previous tenant.
Another practical plus is that the café stays open until 10pm, which makes it a handy option for those looking for a later tea fix in the area.
Matchaya – Tiong Bahru
82 Tiong Poh Road, #01-05, Singapore 160082 (near Tiong Bahru MRT)
Opening Hours: 9am – 10pm (Mon – Fri), 8am – 10pm (Sat – Sun)
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