“& Why” Cafe @ Bali Lane Singapore

As I step into And Why, a quaint café along Bali Lane in Kampong Glam, I feel like I have been transported back in time to 1920s New York City.

This is a cafe that serves Western coffee, pastries, desserts, salads, sandwiches, and other beverages.

A friendly staff decked out in a classic American sack coat, vest, bow-tie, and fedora hat promptly leads us to our table.

Also read: 20 Best Places to Eat in Kampong Glam

A Scene from The Great Gatsby

And Why exudes a vibe that is reminiscent of a scene from the quintessential American novel, The Great Gatsby. The bistro is decorated with dark-wood furnishings, vintage lamps, and other old-school memorabilia. Classic Jazz and Blues pop-tunes play in the background.

Pictures of 1920s flamboyant New York City line the brick walls, exhibiting both the excesses and charm of that era.

The And Why staff are all smartly decked out in vintage American suits, to be in line with the theme of the café.

Good effort but they must feel really warm under those thick clothes!

Three Types of Coffee Brewing Method

And Why Cafe Coffee Menu – click to enlarge
The staff wearing a sack coat notices that we are having trouble deciding what to order and comes over.

“Hi Mdm, do you need any assistance?”

For a moment I feel like I am Daisy from The Great Gatsby.

“Hi… can I get your recommendation for the coffee?”

The enthusiastic staff proceeds to give us a detailed explanation of the differences between the various coffee brewing methods and coffee beans on the menu.

There are three brewing methods available at And Why: V60, Chemex and Cold Brew. The café offers three types of in-house roasted beans: Panama Boquete SHB, Sumatra Mandheling Gayo, and Guatemala Puerta Verde.

After hearing Mr-Great-Gatsby’s explanation, I decide to go with the V60, a “nuanced and balanced” brewing method. For the coffee beans, I choose the “Panama Boquete SHB”, which is supposed to have a rich and smooth body along with mild chocolate, hazelnut and toffee flavours.

We also order the Chocolate Rocher Cheesecake – no recommendations needed for this one, it looks tantalizing enough!

‘Panama Boquete SHB’ Coffee, Brewed Using V60 Method

After a short while, our orders arrive. Kudos to good and prompt service at And Why!

The Panama Boquete SHB Coffee ($7) meets our expectations. It is light-bodied with a smooth texture, and the vivid coffee flavour leaves a nice aftertaste in my mouth.

It’s always nice to drink good coffee.

Chocolate Rocher Cheesecake

Next, we help ourselves to And Why’s tantalizing-looking Chocolate Rocher Cheesecake ($9.90). The cake is sweet with a well-balanced texture. Glazed with the luscious velvety chocolate cream and topped off with a crunchy chocolate rocher, it makes for a pleasant dessert.

Salads, Sandwiches, Mocktails, Beverages

And Why Cafe Food Menu – click to enlarge

And Why also offers a variety of salads, sandwiches, mocktails, and beverages like Tea and Hot Chocolate.

The Lobster Mobster ($16.90) catches my eye, will definitely be trying that next time!

Great Café with Unique Vibe, Good Service, Delicious Desserts, and Great Coffee!

We are truly glad to have stumbled upon And Why. With its classic New York City vibe, good service, and delicious food, this is definitely one of the hippest cafés in Kampong Glam! Make sure you check out this new joint before it gets overcrowded with café-lovers.

& Why
Address: 31 Bali Lane #01-01 Singapore 189867
Opening hours: | Thur to Tue: 11am to 11pm | Closed on Weds |
Phone Number: +65 62910993
Email: andwhyatbalilane@gmail.com
Website: www.facebook.com/andwhyatbalilane

How to go And Why
The cafe is a short five-minute walk from Bugis MRT Station. Click here for directions.