Merci Marcel is anew cafeand wine bar in Tiong Bahru that is brought to us by the same French couple behind Ô Comptoir andÔ Batignolles. That alone was enough to pique our interest, as we had a feeling the concept would be just as good as their other two French bistro-style spots in Singapore. From the minute we stepped inside the lovely light-filled space, saw the tables full of smiling, satisfied diners, and took a sneaky peek at the menu, we knew our hunch was correct.
Why you should come here:
There are three different areas to settle into at Merci Marcel including an outdoor lounge area in the front; a chic dining room with mosaic-tiled floors, wooden tables and a long wooden bar; and a pretty garden patio in the back with hanging plants and natural light. Come during the day for great brunch offerings like organic egg dishes and salads, or swing by in the evening for shared plates and glasses of vino. You can also buy cheeses, chocolates, wines, tableware, tote bags and more to take home.
What we love:
We stopped by Merci Marcel for brunch on a Saturday around 2pm and the place was absolutely packed, so we had to wait about half an hour for a table. However, the vibes and the food were well worth the wait. The atmosphere here is easy-going and upbeat with cool art on the walls and friendly staff that make you feel comfortable enough to want to sit for hours just sipping, snacking and chilling. Most importantly, the food is seriously on point.
Our brunch consisted of light, butteryCroissants ($3), Avocado Toastpiled high with perfectly ripe slices of avocado and theKale Caesar Salad ($22)with grilled chicken, poached eggs, and aged parmesan, which was honestly one of the best caesar salads we’ve ever had in Singapore.
The all-day brunch and lunch menu runs until 5pm, and after that the chic cafe turns into a lovely Parisian style wine bar with a menu of light bites and French sips. We’ll definitely come back in the evening another time to try their18-month Bayonne Ham ($16),Mixed 5-Cheese Platter ($36),Marinated Crab Rillettes ($18), and theTarte Flambee ($24), a thin-crust pizza with asparagus, blue cheese, bacon, apple and rocket.
UJ Tidbit:
This is a great spot for group gathering like a girly brunch out on the garden patio or a dinner with friends where you can share plenty of tapas and order a few bottles of wine at very pocket-friendly prices. Be warned though—once you’ve had a few glasses of vino, you might find yourself perusing their collection of cheeses flown in weekly from France, premium teas and wines and making tons of purchases to take home with you.
Damage:
Lunch or brunch will set you back about $20++ to $25++ not including drinks, and dinner could run about $40++ without wine depending on how many plates you share.
Where:56 Eng Hoon Street #01-68
Tel:+65 6224 0113
Hours:Tues – Sat: 8am – 11:30pm, Sun: 8am – 10pm
