It’s 2pm on a Tuesday, and the line to order has gone past the door – just what typically happens when a new spot in Singapore goes viral on the internet. It’s been less than three weeks since opening, but it’s easy to see why crowds are pooling at Pout Cafe on a sleepy weekday afternoon.
This rooftop hideout looks like it’s plucked straight out of the trendy Haebangchon neighbourhood in Seoul. The interiors are well-curated and dripping with prime photo spots, and there’s even a cosy booth on a raised platform by the back – a design feature you won’t find in most cafés.
But the main attraction here has to be the view: an unobstructed panorama of the Marina Bay skyline which you can admire through the large windows, or at the outdoor area when the weather is more forgiving. To access this ‘hidden’ spot, you’ll first have to locate CMO Building on South Bridge Road, then take the elevator next to Meh’r by Inderpal up to the sixth floor.
With places like these, food usually plays second fiddle to the ambience. Pout’s menu is lean and concise. This is not the place for a full meal, but you can grab coffee, pastries and dessert over a catch-up with friends, solo reading date or even a light midday work sesh. There’s free wifi and a couple of power sockets around, though note that the space can get noisy in the afternoon.
Two kinds of coffee blends are offered here. The Apache is a darker, chocolatey Brazil and Colombian blend, while the Sunbird is an Ethiopian, Brazilian and Laotian blend with brighter and more citrusy notes. We went with the Sunbird blend in an iced oat latte ($7.90), and it had lovely roasted notes that were somehow reminiscent of scorched rice.
Specialty drinks include strawberry matcha ($8.90), which the café adds a generous amount of strawberry purée to; honeycomb latte ($7.90) with large chunks of honeycomb crumble on top; as well as the coconut matcha cloud ($7.90). There’s also a lesser-seen peanut butter mocha ($7.90) on the menu.
If you prefer your drinks less sweet and more balanced like us, go for the coconut matcha cloud. The thick layer of matcha foam on top is creamy and fragrant, and the coconut water beneath isn’t too sweet either – just make sure to mix it well so you get even mouthfuls and not just the matcha foam, which can be a little astringent.
Onto the bakes and desserts. You’re likely to find a plate of the café’s signature brûlée Basque cheesecake ($9.90) on every table, and for good reason. There’s a perfect caramelised layer on the top, which cracks satisfyingly into the cheesecake’s creamy centre. We appreciate the side of Greek yoghurt as the tartness helps with cutting through the richness of the dessert.
The sticky cinnamon bun with pecan ($8) is delightfully warm and chewy, though lacking a little of that cinnamon flavour. And there’s still more on the menu, including a tiramisu ($9) which goes light on the sugar, caffeine and booze, matcha croissant ($), passionfruit cruffin ($8), brown sugar kouign amman ($8) and others. Savoury bakes are also available – simply ask the staff for the selection of the day.
Some online sleuths have discovered that the café is run by the same team behind the Modern European restaurant Lumo, which used to be located on the ground floor of the building before it closed. The plan is to transform the café into a cosy bar by night in a few months’ time, with the drink programming currently still in the works.
With a killer view and interiors like these, we can imagine the spot being a hit for date nights or a girl’s night out once the bar’s up to full shape. But for now, our only advice is to wait for the hype to die down a little before visiting for a more comfortable and quieter experience. Or, you can check out other similar ‘hidden’ cafés around the area, like Dawn and Ceres Haus.
Pout Cafe is open from Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm at 50 South Bridge Rd, CMO Building, #06-00, Singapore 058682.
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