Nickel Cafe

So glad to have tried @nickel.sg recently, as their coffee and matcha drinks were simply fantastic 😍 to add on to that, their cafe is also really aesthetic!

The Iced Latte ($7) was a very smooth cup, and it was rich and aromatic. Chocolate and nutty notes were strong, and the milk amount was just nice. Definitely a wonderful blend that is worth sipping!

The Dirty Matcha ($8) was also a flavourful cup. The matcha powder used was of a high quality and hence it was intense and aromatic. The matcha itself was very nutty, almost to the point that it tastes slightly savoury. I actually like this kind of intense matcha and hence it worked out well for me! The Matcha was hand-wisked as well, so it was really smooth 😍 It did overpower the coffee notes quite a bit so maybe it's better to just order the Iced Matcha Latte instead!

Loved the touch of mini Madeleines as well. It was crispy and buttery, perfect with the drinks we got.

Definitely an aesthetic cafe that you should come try! Their desserts look good too!

Its also a perfect place for a simple cuppa coffee which comes with mini madeleines on the side ☕️
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They also have a changing menu of fresh bakes 🥐 mainly classic french pastries done well 💯

❤️A Sweet Valentine Day!❤️ Sharing this Seasonal Special “春” Chun 🍓 ($12.50) from @nickel.sg ( moved from @lees_confectionery )

Made with fresh strawberries, touch of ginger torch flower, it’s too pretty to eat! Absolutely love the refreshing yet sour sweetness in the main strawberry cake with their own house made strawberry torch flower gelato 👅

Christmas Special
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Figs & cheesecake; together with horlicks gelato topped with gingy cookie

Kamala Batukaang 04
Country: Indonesia
Region: Batukaang, Bali
Varietal: Kartika
Process: Anaerobic Natural
Tasting Notes: Winey, Cacao Nibs

Lee’s Confectionery’s cessation of business was one that seemed to have been felt by the cafehopping scene and the residents around Jurong for quite a bit — the establishment being one of those rare gems in the far West alongside their unique creations is something that seems to be deeply-missed by those whom have been to Lee’s Confectionery before. It does seem that the folks have been working on a new concept ever since; Nickel is a concept conceived by the same folks behind Lee’s Confectionery, though this time situated at a more centralised location in the island. Nickel is located at Middle Road; despite being situated in the city this time around, there is still some level of obscurity in the surroundings that it has chosen to operate at — the establishment being tucked at a corner of a dead-end road between where the former TMC Academy was at along Middle Road and the iconic David Elias Building that has since been preserved; not a spot particularly known to have been occupied by F&B tenants in the past. Whilst Lee’s Confectionery was a more simple set-up that was also of a cafe-like nature, it seems that the direction taken for Nickel is more towards something a little more upscale — the lighting comes with a yellowish hue being slightly on the dim side to evoke a certain vibe; the look of the space can also be said as raw with its use of concrete-esque finishing for the walls, floors and ceiling that is matched against wooden furniture and fittings. There is a deliberate sectioning done for the dine-in space; the seats towards the front of the space are mostly counter seating while proper dining table and chairs suitable for groups are located towards the end of the space. Visiting Nickel during its soft launch phase, there are only a limited selection of items available; this includes a small variety of danishes that are baked freshly in-house, as well as plated desserts similar to what they have offered previously when they are Lee’s Confectionery in the past — the items offered being on a rotational basis as daily specials. Beverages available at Nickel includes espresso-based specialty coffee, drinking chocolate, and artisanal brewed tea.

Offered as a rotating special on the day of our visit to Nickel, the Matcha Sesame Choux with Matcha Yuzu Ice-Cream was an item that is not being listed on any menu nor being displayed in any way during our visit to Nickel on a weekend afternoon. Instead, the item is being mentioned to us in narration — this also meant that we did not have a visualisation of how the item would look like until it is served to the table. On first sight, the Matcha Sesame Choux with Matcha Yuzu Ice-Cream looks like an item where they had somehow forgotten about the sesame — turns out, one can actually find sesame paste filled within the choux as one slices it apart. It is noted that the choux here is actually served in a way that the pastry is sliced into half; not an encased pastry with the filling piped in. Still, the pastry itself was crisp on the exterior yet light and airy within.

The matcha filling and sesame paste was an interesting combination of its own — there was some sort of nuttiness going on from the roast-y notes of the sesame that matches with the inherent bitter undertones of matcha that is so familiar, yet kinda foreign but complimenting. That being said, all gets even more appetising as one reaches the Matcha Yuzu Ice-Cream; it is clear that the dominant notes of the dessert is Matcha and this is very much a Matcha-based dessert at hearty but the use of Yuzu provides a light tang that keeps things interesting and refreshing from the main element of the choux pastry here. We also tried the danishes that they have to offer — something that they introduced at Lee’s Confectionery during its later stages of operations which was not too sweet, yet buttery with well-defined layers. Lee’s Confectionery was an establishment with humble roots that garnered a loyal following over the years with their innovation, execution and attention to detail — Nickel does seem like a continuation of Lee’s Confectionery birthed out of the experience and growth through said establishment; a more mature form to take the brand to further heights without having been tied to its roots. We look forward to what Nickel has in store for us as it enters into its official opening and full launch of its menu — certainly a name in the local F&B scene to keep a look out for!