Takara House is a vintage retail-cafe with a cosy dessert corner by M Patisserie

Along one of Haji Lane’s busiest stretches — where photobooths shops and thrift stores line the street — Takara House stands out with its cool, solid blue facade. It is quite eye-catching in its own charming way.

You’ll also find M Patisserie upstairs — a cosy dessert spot serving up freshly made sweets.

A thoughtfully curated vintage trove

Climb the stairs and you’ll step into what feels more like someone’s home than a store, complete with a shoes-off policy that adds to its homely charm.

The space leans into a warm, Japanese-inspired vintage aesthetic, and it does so well.

Takara House is run by Kiki and her partner, who have been sourcing vintage finds from across Japan, Thailand, Taiwan. Many of their stylish leather jackets, too, come from Australia.

The racks are filled with a wide variety of offerings and plenty to browse — from stylish clothing pieces to nostalgic trinkets.

Before settling into this shophouse in May this year, the pair had been making the rounds at pop-ups and flea markets around Singapore — from Katong to Chatuchak — always on the lookout for a permanent home.

Then, they found this two-storey space — and it just so happened to come with a kitchen.

A cosy dessert corner by the window

At the corner of Takara House, you’ll find a sunny corner right by the shophouse window where natural light spills in. It’s an inviting spot to take a break, with cushions on the floor to sit on.

Here, you can sit and enjoy the sweet treats from M Patisserie run by Miki, Kiki’s sister.

Before this, Miki was running her own home-based baking business, crafting pastries out of a central kitchen and selling them online. 

When Kiki and her partner found this shophouse, it only made sense for them to do it together with M Patisserie in mind.

Sweet treats and sips as you shop

You’ll find a tempting selection of desserts here, and it is all freshly made.

We started with the lemon meringue tart (S$12), a classic done perfectly.

The fluffy, soft and lightly torched meringue sits atop a crisp tart shell, giving it a great bite. The lemon curd steals the show — zesty, sharp, and wonderfully refreshing.

We also had the matcha tart (S$12), and it was another favourite.

The smooth matcha ganache gives way to a molten matcha custard that oozes when sliced, set in a crunchy tart base.

It is rich, earthy, and bittersweet — a proper matcha fix.

For something more indulgent, go for the chocolate mousse cake (S$8.90). It layers silky mousse with chocolate sponge and a crunchy base, finished with hazelnuts and delicate chocolate curls.

It’s not overly sweet, letting the cocoa shine in the best chocolatey way. It has the right balance of creamy, crunchy, and rich, without feeling too heavy.

To pair with the sweets, we had the genmaicha (S$3) and yuzu manuka honey (S$5.80) drinks. The genmaicha was a mellow blend, while the yuzu manuka honey was gently sweet with a hint of citrus.

Both were pleasant, light accompaniments to the desserts and decent, though not particularly outstanding.

There’s something warm and intentional about the Takara House space — from its vintage finds to the dessert nook, everything appears to be curated with care. 

The second floor can get a little cramped in the afternoon, so visiting earlier may give you the best chance to soak in the cosy charm.

For the latest food news, read our stories on Beth, a new Upper Thomson cafe with giant pancakes and the bakery Alice Boulangerie and its elevated dining menu.