Glamp In Comfort At Tiong Bahru Bakery’s New Safari-Style Cafe

Dream of glamping in Botswana’s luxury safari reserves but can’t make the long trip there? Tiong Bahru Bakery’s fifth and latest permanent cafe concept offers a taste of that, albeit on Dempsey Hill. It opened yesterday (November 16).

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Let’s go on a safari

Located within the garden at farm-to-table restaurant Open Farm Community (they are both owned by the same parent company, Spa Esprit Group), the cafe is tucked within a giant canvas tent similar to the kind you find on a Botswana safari. The staff are also decked out in safari rangers’ outfits. Interesting enough for one to warrant trekking to Dempsey Hill.
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Kinda al-fresco

The 46-seat tent is surrounded by flora and fauna, and is sorta open-air, but not quite. During our visit for the media preview, it was raining heavily, though you’re kept comfortably dry from the splashes. You will also not be swatting mosquitoes and fanning yourself in the tropical heat while you’re there (see what we mean about true glampin’?). Cynthia Chua, founder of the Spa Esprit Group, tells us she had bought four gigantic special air coolers planted at the four corners of the tent to cool the overall temperature to 25 degrees Celsius. “Very expensive, but necessary,” she laughs. Skylights on the tent top provide additional natural lighting for your 'gram.
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So glamp

The quaint safari-themed knick-knacks here are sourced from Cynthia’s travels all around the world.
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Trunk show

Like this vintage picnic cutlery set.
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Get close to wildlife… sorta.

Taxidermied butterflies that formerly adorned Cynthia’s now-defunct Dempsey restaurant, House, reappear here.
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This one not real

What’s a camping experience without creepy crawlies? At least this one’s fake.
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Animal encounters

While you won’t find nosy giraffes loitering outside the tent, there’s a, er, wooden cow and wooden pig chilling beside you as you sip your coffee.
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The wild outdoors

There are also unsheltered seats overlooking Dempsey’s lush greenery for those who want to be truly in the wild. To add to the authentic experience of being on a safari, a speaker hidden in the bathroom plays a realistic looping audio clip of thunderstorm sounds while you tinkle. Very cute.
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You can still go indoors

We predict the tentage tables will be jam-packed. But there’s a cosy podium indoors where you can snuggle up and enjoy your cuppa away from the bustle. It’s also right next to a small retail section hawking the Spa Esprit Group’s cheeky merch like a chewing gum-scented handwash and canvas tote bags specially designed to safely carry a croissant.
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The food

You will be eating out of mess tins here ’cos, glampin’. Only Tiong Bahru Bakery’s savoury and sweet pastries (supplied by their central kitchen) and drinks are served here to avoid competition with the Open Farm Community restaurant right behind. “You can also get a coffee here while waiting for your table at OFC,” says Spa Esprit Group’s rep.
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Farm to table

Platters of herbs and flowers from the surrounding garden are placed on tables to encourage customers to touch, sniff and discover the ingredients that go into their drinks and food.
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Turmeric Ginger Latte, $6.50 (TBB Safari exclusive)
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Beetroot Roselle Latte, $6.50 (TBB Safari exclusive)
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Blue Pea Latte, $6
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Caffeine-Free Red Tea Rooibos Latte, $7
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Power Breakfast Jars, $8.50 to $8.80 each (TBB Safari exclusive)

These healthy breakfast jars come loaded with oatmeal, sago and fruits.
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Pulled Pork Bun, $9
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Plain Kouign Amann, $3.80
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Plain Croissant, $3.20 and Almond Croissant, $4.20

Tiong Bahru Bakery Safari, 130E Minden Road (at Open Farm Community). Tel: 6877-4876. Open daily 8am-5pm. Last orders at closing. www.tiongbahrubakery.com.

PHOTOS: EALBERT HO