Cottage Kitchen and Bakery is a cosy Upper Thomson hideaway serving comforting, home-style fare

Cottage Kitchen and Bakery is perhaps one of the cosiest spots we’ve visited in a while — tucked into a basement corner of a quiet building, away from the bustle of the city centre.

Located in the basement of Thomson V Two, a short walk from Upper Thomson MRT station, the little bakery can be easy to miss. A handful of dine-in seats are squeezed neatly along the corridor, leading into the neighbouring storefronts. 

The entire space feels intimate and unassuming — like stumbling upon a hidden community corner.

The food fits the atmosphere perfectly. Here, you’ll find simple, comforting fare: Light sandwiches, freshly baked focaccia, soups, toasts, and coffee. There’s nothing overly polished or extravagant — only warm, home-style food.

The bakery is run by Anne and her husband, who manages much of the backend operations. 

As Anne speaks to us about the space, there’s a fondness in the way she describes the small community that exists within the building, alongside its next-door neighbour AhMah’s Legacy and tiramisu spot Tiramizus De Sensare, further down the corridor.

This concept is not entirely new. Before this, the couple ran Cottage by The Straits People (TSP) at Pemimpin Drive for close to nine years. About a year and a half ago, they opened Cottage Kitchen and Bakery, originally intending it to function mainly as a baking space. They hadn’t expected so many customers to stop by and dine in.

Just a few months ago, the original concept closed, as the couple chose to fully embrace this newer chapter instead. Anne says it all felt like a natural progression — a reflection of how things evolve with time.

A large part of the experience here comes from the hospitality. Customers are welcomed cheerfully the moment they walk in, and Anne regularly makes her rounds to chat with diners, checking in on how their meals are going and making genuine conversation. 

It all felt incredibly honest — warm and community-driven.

Sandwiches, soups & coffee

The chicken ‘n focaccia sandwich (S$10.90) comes packed with diced juicy roasted chicken leg, crisp iceberg lettuce, and the bakery’s signature dressing — all tucked into toasted homemade focaccia.

The focaccia itself was a definite highlight — soft, fluffy, and freshly baked, while still sturdy enough to hold everything together. The roasted chicken remained tender and juicy throughout, while the dressing tied the sandwich together with a light and savoury touch.

Ham ‘n Oozy egg sandwich (S$7.60) is layered with lean turkey ham, an oozy sunny side egg, melted cheddar, and mozzarella, grilled between light wheat bread. It ended up being my personal favourite.

The oozy egg and melted cheese came together beautifully for a rich bite, but the lighter bread kept it from ever feeling too heavy. It was simple, homely, and done well.

We also tried the grilled cheese sandwich and soup (S$7.30) set, which pairs a grilled cheddar and mozzarella sandwich with a medium-sized soup of the day.

On our visit, the soup was tomato-based — savoury, clean-tasting, and comforting, without being overly rich. The sandwich had a satisfying cheese pull, and dipping it into the soup made for an especially good bite.

We also had the frothy mocha (S$4.60) and frothy taro latte (S$4.20). The prettiness of these drinks aside, they were well-made. The mocha was soothing, and the taro latte was creamy, earthy, and slightly sweet.

Cottage Kitchen and Bakery is a place you’d visit for its sincerity. Anne hopes to watch the concept grow naturally and organically over time. Between the comforting food, warm conversations, and hideaway setting, it feels far from a typical cafe, and more like someone’s cosy kitchen.

Just be prepared to get your food to-go during peak periods — seats are limited, especially on weekends.