Step aside, minimalist cafes. Cottagecore spaces are here to stay. Cafe Margaret, a popular dessert cafe from Yeonnam-dong, Seoul, has set up shop along Bali Lane in Bugis where the now-defunct Brotherbird Coffeehouse used to be. 

Its cottage-core aesthetic marks a complete change from the space’s previous tenant, known for its stark white decor and sleek, plastic furnishings. Its cozy decor, which is characterised by vintage portraits, warm lightings, and surfaces filled to the brim with baked goods, is reminiscent of a homely kitchen in a children’s storybook. 

Upstairs, you’ll find about thirty seats spaced out around various wooden tables, along with a scattering of vintage cupboards and decor that would not look out of place in an English countryside home. With power plugs aplenty, this would make the perfect place to plug in and work with a couple of your favourite baked goods for fuel. 

Make sure you have a table before buying your food and drinks, as you could be in the queue (which starts from the second level and runs through the stairs) for a while. 

Cafe Margaret’s menu is typical of many Korean cafes (on that note, what makes a cafe, a Korean cafe anyway?) – filled with decadent sweets and desserts. There aren’t any savoury items, so don’t expect to have both lunch and tea here. 

The most famous and sought-after item on the menu is the cube pie, a cube-shaped take on the classic croissant with a whopping 72 layers of laminated pastry! Just think of how flaky and buttery the pastry itself is. There are five flavours available, with matcha and injeolmi selling out the fastest. Do time your visit wisely as they are only available from 11am, while the cafe opens at 10am. 

Cube Pie – Real Vanilla ($7.80), Matcha Cream ($8.30), Lotus Cream ($8.30), Nutella ($7.80)

Slicing into my Injeolmi Cube Pie ($8.30), I understand the hype around the cube pie. Flaky and crispy, the layers of pastry form a croissant on steroids. In meme speak, this would be an absolute unit. 

The soybean powder and nutty injeoli cream is sweet and rich, yet not too overwhelming on the tastebuds. The thickness of the cream reminds you of a warm and inviting hug on a relaxing weekend. The powder lends the pastry its distinct sweetness, while the nut-forward flavour of the cream is comforting. Well worth the calories. 

Chocolate and Walnut Cookie ($4.90) and Injeolmi Cubepie ($8.30)

Aside from cube pies, you can also indulge in chunky cookies such as the Chocolate and Walnut Cookie ($4.90) and Peanut Butter Cookie ($4.90). The nuttiness and chewiness of the Chocolate and Walnut Cookie lends it its homely taste, which I really love.   

Peanut Butter Cookie ($4.90)

Cafe Margaret is the place to be for lovers of baked goods, and those looking to re-create their Korean cafe-hopping adventures. Weekends are fairly hectic, so be prepared to wait your turn…and bide your luck as popular goods are known to sell out while you are queueing. 

Address: 32 Bali Lane, Singapore 189868
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Nearest MRT: Bugis EW12/ DT14
Opening Hours: 10am – 8pm daily 

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Menu (Drinks)

chueonit.