Yeast Side, Best Side? – Cafe by Day, Craft Beer Joint by Night (This is NOT in the east)

We’ve all heard the arguments about which side is the best side in Singapore but there’s a new place with a bold declaration of “Yeast Side, Best Side”. And where is that, you might ask? Look no further than King Albert Park, where you’ll find one of the chillest cafes in the west. 

Yeast Side is a picture of tranquility just by its setting alone. Patrons who enjoy relaxing with the wind in their hair can be seen relaxing al fresco on the first floor where the bakery and rotational beer taps are situated. Pop upstairs for a comfy seat in the cosy, air-conditioned second-level space. 

Outfitted with rattan chairs, sleek wooden furniture, some potted plants, and a sofa tucked away at the back, the cafe receives floods of natural sunlight which gives the whole place a soothing and comfy atmosphere. This seems to be becoming the norm amongst a lot of cafes that have been popping up. 

While the view was just of the roads below, there’s just something about gazing outside from above through large windows. 

They didn’t have any physical menus and orders are also made downstairs, which can get a little awkward when the counter seats are all filled. 

Only early-birds will get to enjoy popular bakes and pastries like the Sourdough Sticky Bun ($6.50) and Carrot Cake ($6). Besides that, they also offer a series of sourdough such as Country ($9), Seeded ($10) and Honey Spelt ($10), all made in-house. A new breakfast platter, Yeastside Bakkie, that includes creamy scrambled eggs, has been recently added to the menu as well. 

Among my chosen pastries, the one that appealed to me the most was the Banana Bread ($5). The texture was nicely dense, maybe more cake than bread. It was not too sweet, but the natural flavours of the bananas shone through. It could have afforded to be more moist on the inside though as it was a teensy bit dry. 

Still can’t beat my all-time favourite banana cake from Hiap Joo Bakery & Biscuit Factory from JB. 

The Brownie ($5) was also plenty dense, but in a heavy and slightly jelak way to the point where I got a bit tired of it after I’ve gone through half my serving. The chocolatey notes did hit the right spots, so if you’re a chocolate lover or fan of brownies, share this with another companion.

I was looking forward to the Apple Tart ($8) the most. Picture these gorgeously caramelised apple slices gracing your tastebuds alongside the beautifully browned crust. 

And that’s where the fantasy ends. Imagine my disappointment as I sliced through – or attempted to – the tart only to be met by the extremely hard crust at the bottom. The middle layer, on the other hand, was too mushy in contrast and created a dissonance in this otherwise pretty-looking tart. At least the baked apples on top still tasted good. 

As someone who needs to balance out my sweet treats with something savoury, I opted for a Cheese & Herb Scone ($5) which was crumbly on the outside but nice and fluffy on the inside. The only complaint I have is that I can barely taste the cheese-and-herb components in the scone. 

It was a bit too early for beer so I settled for a Flat White ($5). Robust with nutty and slight fruity tones, this is one brew I definitely favour. 

As for my Iced Chocolate ($6), it started off with a deep and rich chocolatey flavour before giving way to a weirdly sweet taste that is almost saccharine. I would have preferred it to stay dark and rich. 

Come 5pm, the cafe turns into a bustling hub for folks to come and enjoy craft beer, pizza and bar bites. This would definitely have been one of my go-to haunts if I were still a Ngee Ann Poly student. Even so, I reckon it’s still worth the trip if you’re after a relaxing day or evening.

MissTamChiak.com made an anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

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