New Little India Dog Cafe Has Pooch Cuddling & French Bulldog-Shaped Taiyaki
The canine taiyaki is called a 'doggyaki'.
The appeal of pet cafes in Singapore endures, with both dog and cat cafes enjoying much paw-pularity here. The latest dog cafe to join the scene is the aptly-named Cookie & Cuddle, which opened in February 2021 at a shophouse near Little India and kueh specialist shop Makan House by Ollella.
Cuddles & coffee
The cafe is named after its resident dogs, a pair of sibling Chi-Poos called Cookie and Cuddle (pictured). Chi-Poos are a chihuahua and poodle mix breed. The space houses three pooches in total, including a third dog named Kiki.
The adorably tiny furkids gambol in a playpen within the cafe that’s separated from the dining area, and customers can enter the pen to cuddle and interact with them.
The dogs are still settling down in their new digs
But you can only interact with the Chi-Poos around two weeks from now, as they are still getting used to their new environment. Cookie & Cuddle’s 28-year-old owner Alexandria (who declined to give her last name) says: “We’re in the process of introducing the dogs to the space, but the cafe is already up and running.”
She runs the cafe with her partner Nigel, 29, and co-owner Fabien, 30. While most pet cafes in Singapore serve food as an afterthought, Nigel explains that he wanted to set up a “proper cafe with proper coffee and bakes, and integrate it with dog cuddling”.
In-house bakes
Nigel and Alexandria, both self-taught bakers, make desserts like brownies and cookies to serve at their cafe. “We bake everything on-site. We don’t outsource anything, and we got a commercial machine for coffee [instead of an instant coffee maker],” says Nigel.
Unusually enough, the cafe also doesn’t charge customers an entrance fee, unlike most pet cafes. According to Alexandria, “We’re still discussing whether to charge a minimum spend or an entrance fee.”
They sell ‘doggyaki’
Other than the dogs, the other cute thing in the cafe is its ‘Doggyaki’, which is a taiyaki in the shape of a French bulldog’s head. “It’s a cross between a taiyaki, pancake and waffle. We use a mochi batter, hence its chewiness,” says Alexandria.
The doggyakis are made in a special French bulldog-shaped mould.
Doggyaki set
The doggyaki is sold as a set ($12) with two scoops of cookie & cream/ cookie butter ice cream, plus a bone made of dark chocolate. Alexandria shares that the cookie ice cream flavour was chosen to be “on theme” with her cafe’s name.
Currently there are two types of fillings offered for the doggyaki: Japanese Red Bean and Kinako (soybean flour). Alexandria and Nigel plan to introduce new flavours like Hae Bee Hiam Cheese and Kaya Vanilla Custard in the future.
Other desserts
The cafe also serves house-made Brownies ($5.50) in two flavours, cookie dough and macadamia, Banana Walnut Loaf ($4) and Brown Butter Macadamia and Dark Choc Salt Flakes Cookies ($4 each).
Drinks
You can order freshly-brewed coffee and tea (from $4.50 to $7.50) to go with your desserts, like Masalatte (spiced tea latte), Espresso and Iced White/Black coffee.
Other than bakes and cuddles, Alexandria also hopes to use her cafe space for dog adoption drives in the future. She also has plans to bring in more furry friends: “We’re keeping it small first, and maybe introduce one or two more dogs.”
