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Almost everyone who's been to Manila would have come across a Mary Grace store at least once during their travels. The bakery is a household name in the Philippines, with a 30-year legacy and over 140 branches in the country. Its claim to fame? Pastries like the Mary Grace ensaymada, cheese roll and mango bene. This week, it launches its very first international outlet in Singapore. Café Mary Grace will start welcoming customers on March 13, 2026, at Tras Street in Tanjong Pagar.
For the uninitiated, Mary Grace started as a small-batch home bakery in 1994, before expanding to a brick-and-mortar bakery kiosk in 2002, followed by the opening of the first Café Mary Grace in 2006. The 28-seater Singapore store retains the look and feel of its Filipino predecessors, with brick-lined walls, stained glass pendant lights and warm wood accents. But perhaps the most defining feature of the café is the slew of handwritten notes and photographs lined across the tables – penned by diners themselves. You don't need Google reviews when your endorsements are as heartfelt as this.
Onto the food. You're likely to find plates of the bakery's ensaymadas ($5.50) and cheese rolls ($4.30) on every table. These are the headlining acts at Mary Grace. The former is a sweet, buttery brioche topped with premium aged Edam cheese that melts onto it. The pastry has roots in Mallorca, Spain, and is typically enjoyed dipped in hot chocolate ($7,50). The cheese rolls are equally fluffy, with a dense cheesy centre. We recommend ordering a serving of the hot chocolate. Surprisingly, the bitter, aromatic chocolate acts as a counter for the sweet pastries, instead of adding to their richness. You'll also be able to try two Singapore-exclusive pastries – the salted egg ensaymada ($6.50) and the kaya pandan cheese roll ($5.30), made with homemade kaya.
The mango bene ($14.50) is on the pricier side and definitely meant for sharing. Don't expect soft, shortcake-like layers here. Instead, crisp meringue and silky custard cream form the base of the pastry, topped with a few slices of fresh mangoes. Overall, we wish there were more mangoes and less cream to go around. Pair these treats with one of the many craft beverages on the menu. We sip on the frozen hot chocolate ($12) and the Ube Coconut Cloud ($10), which were both delightful and balanced. The latter in particular has nice savoury notes from the toasted coconut flakes, which add even more dimension to the drink.
While we anticipate most guests to be stopping by for desserts or a midday snack, it's also possible to enjoy a full meal here. There's a decent selection of sharing dishes and all-day brunch plates at Café Mary Grace, including the popular Angus beef tapa ($25.50), featuring sweet and savoury sirloin strip marinated for 24 hours and served with garlic and rosemary rice and eggs. Other items include the grilled chicken inasal focaccia sandwich ($19.50) and a local-exclusive crab cake brioche ($27), served as an open-faced sandwich. Looking for something simple and easy to munch on? The team recommends the cassava chips ($12), served alongside an addictive caramelised onion and sour cream herb dip.
And if you want to share a slice of Mary Grace with your friends and family, the bakery's takeaway selection makes it easy to do so. The queso de bola lengua thins ($24) and butter lengua thins ($21) are especially popular. These thin, buttery shortbread-like cookies are ideal for pairing with a cup of tea or coffee. And of course, the ensaymadas and cheese rolls are available for takeaway, presented in charming packaging perfect for gifting.
Time Out's rating: 4/5
Homely decor and heartwarming pastries – what's not to love? In today's trend-obsessed café culture, where everything is about the new and novel, having a well-loved heritage brand join the scene is something we can definitely get behind. Beyond the bakes perfected by time-honoured recipes, the café's welcoming atmosphere makes it fit for families and friends, young and old. More importantly, it's a slice of comfort and home for the Filipino community in Singapore – and fingers crossed that we'll see more Filipino representation in our F&B scene in the days to come.
Mary Grace is open from Tuesdays to Sundays, 9am to 6pm at 52 Tras Street, Singapore 078991. Find out more and make a reservation here.
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