Café hoppers are always looking for the latest and prettiest spots for their Instagram feed, and this is probably one they (or you) would bookmark.
Joining Under Der Linden and Ce Soir at Portsdown Road is a latest dessert house – La Forêt, which means “Forest” in French.
The team is no stranger to such floral-themed spaces as they are the folks behind Café de Nicole’s Flower at Telok Kurau, Le Jardin at Fort Canning, and these three concepts at Portsdown Road.
A short walk from one-north MRT station, head towards the left-hand side of Under Der Linden and you will be greeted by a walkway with flowers hanging from the arches leading to a standalone building at the rear end.
Inside, the entire space has an Autumn vibe, with brown flowers and plants hanging from the ceiling beams.
A mixture of furniture pieces can be found, from comfy plush sofa couch to padded chairs suitable for a cosy afternoon tea.
Oh, and the entire space is pets-friendly but only on weekdays, which is unlike all their other cafe concepts. (My guess they are afraid the space would be ‘over-populated’ during the weekends.)
But if you intend to come alone… hold your horses…
There is only ONE set menu available, slightly on the pricier side at $98 for 2 pax, with no ala carte options.
Each set menu is served in an Afternoon Tea setting which comes with 2 canapés, 4 desserts, 1 pot of tea and 1 set of Petit Four.
Served on a cake-stand decorated with plants and flowers of the same shade of their interior decor, this is probably one of the prettiest Afternoon Tea set ups I have seen this year (not served in a hotel).
The only 2 savoury bites on the menu served are the Egg Mayo Sandwich and Tomato Tart served in a Kueh Pie Tee tart shell.
The 2 savoury notes are pretty flavourful on but own, but the portions are little considering that they are meant for sharing between 2 persons.
4 sharing desserts are served, slightly bigger than what you will usually get in an afternoon tea set.
The Peony is a choux puff pastry with a crackling surface, piped with lychee and rose cream, with raspberry drizzle on top.
The entire combination is well balanced with sweetness and citrus-ness from the fruits, complemented by a flaky and airy texture.
The Camelia is my favourite, piped with Yuzu and Gin puree, with hazelnut bits on the tart shell.
The citrusy tang of the yuzu is distinctive, yet pairs well with the earthly profile of the hazelnuts.
The Poppy is also worth a mention, a cake studded with Sicilian Pistachio bits on the outside, top with dollops of pistachio cream and raspberries.
The cake has a pretty moist texture and a strong nutty flavour, enhanced by the pistachio cream on it.
The Foret is a Salted Caramel mousse with cocoa nibs encased within a tart, finished with a Bahibe 46% Ganache glaze on the surface.
Diners have the option to top up an additional $28 for 2 more desserts, namely the Rose and Mandale, each of them looked more refined and intricate in their shapes.
The Rose is a Pavlova, a meringue-based dessert, topped with almond and cherry cream with dark chocolate.
I preferred the balance of flavours in the Mandale, made from multiple pieces of milk chocolate, with passionfruit banana cream in the centre.
1 Flower tea pot is served with the set menu, with options such as Jasmine Rose, Lily Rose, Chrysanthemum, Osmanthus and Roselle.
I must say that the flower tea is not as distinct and on the subtle side, so that it doesn’t overwhelm the flavours of the desserts.
The meal is ended with Petit Four, a selection of Macaron, Bonbon Au Chocolat, Petit Choux and Seasonal Fruits served on a chess board.
The Macaron is my favourite, made from truffle cream with a very distinctive aroma.
La Forêt is a nice cosy dessert house with the right decor and ambience, complimented by their rendition of an afternoon tea set that will appeal to those who want to find a quiet place to spend their afternoon.
La Forêt Singapore
5B Portsdown Rd, #01-04, Singapore 139311
Opening Hours: 12pm – 5pm (Wed – Sun), Closed Mon, Tues
Other Related Entries
A Beautiful Day (Paya Lebar Quarter)
Knock Knock Cafe (Geylang)
Le Jardin (Fort Canning)
café Q Classified (Ngee Ann City)
Flourish Bakehouse (Tanglin)
* Written by Nicholas Tan @stormscape who loves all things [NEW]. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.
