Huggs Collective, AIBI Maxwell: Spoil yourself with Huggs’ triple threat of food, drinks, and dessert to get you through the day

Maxwell Road is home to a slew of cafes, bars and restaurants which, without a keen eye for your destination, may just lead you to believe you’ve entered another universe. Enter an Instagram-worthy space decked out with visually-stunning plants and cosy seating area, and soak in the dreamy, oasis-like ambience.

A home away from home, Huggs Collective at 30 Maxwell Road is the place to go if you’re thinking about catching up on work or hanging out with friends over a cuppa. If a full meal is on your agenda, Fitmeal offers a wide selection of healthy meals to fill you up or a cone of handcrafted gelato from Denzy might just hit the spot during a hot day.

Serving up smiles for over a decade, Huggs has introduced a Huggs Collective concept along with their rebranding. Located at 30 Maxwell Road, this is their first and largest flagship till date. Here, Huggs Collective features a collaborative space among brands such as Denzy Gelato, Fitmeal, Samsung, Commune, Mandai Wildlife Reserve, TC Acoustics, and more. The 3,000 square feet outlet includes an exclusive members’ lounge, mini-amphitheatre, and a pet-friendly al fresco area.

What I tried

What’s visiting a cafe without kicking off with classic favourites? Upon hearing that their pastries are freshly baked daily, I got myself the Classic Butter Croissant (S$3), Chocolate Croissant (S$3.50) and Mixed Berries Tart (S$9).

I know croissants are typically a safe choice in cafes, but let me share something with you: the croissants at Huggs Collective Maxwell are soft, fluffy, and incredibly buttery. The Mixed Berries Tart, on the other hand, has a crumbly base but ended up being too sweet for my liking. However, it is great for those who have a sweet tooth.

Caffeine-heads will also enjoy their selection of ‘East meets West’ beverages ranging from Specialty, Classic and Local brews, along with Teas and Frappes. A hot cup of Melbourne Latte (S$6) is made with their special K-blend— a blend that consists of Colombian and Brazilian beans with a medium roast.

Apart from the Classic and Specialty coffees, you can also opt for local flavours like the Sumatra Kopi (S$2.60 for Tall, S$3.90 for Grande) which is brewed using Huggs’ Sumatran beans. Think Kopi Siew Dai or Teh Gar Dai, they certainly have it all!

Staying true to being a local brand, an item worth mentioning is the bright green Ondeh Ondeh Cake (S$6.90). Although it can be found in many places, I decided to get myself a slice. Besides, after the Booster dose, it’s advisable to have coconut, right?

The moist cake comes topped with desiccated coconut, and is layered with a generous serving of gula melaka and toasted coconut shavings between a pandan-flavoured sponge. Even with the robust presence of gula melaka, the Ondeh Ondeh Cake is immaculately balanced and avoids any traps of being overly sweet.

Pastries and cakes aside, Fitmeal Singapore at Huggs Collective Maxwell serves a wide range of hearty and flavourful mains. Originally from Thailand, this is their first dining concept in Singapore, bringing diners the thrill of experiencing Thai meals with a healthy twist. Expect to find dishes ranging across the following categories: Breakfast, Thai Twist, Plus+, Going Green, Fit to Share, and Fit Drinks.

The Fried Quinoa with Basil, comes with very intense flavours. Having very minimal air time with quinoa-filled dishes, I kept my fingers crossed with this one.

I took a spoonful of quinoa and was immediately greeted with an explosion of soy sauce with basil, packed with a spicy punch from the evident chilli bits. The quinoa, on its own, comes al dente, adding a surprise crunch to each bite.

I was also pleasantly surprised to find the chicken breast moist and well-cooked while the onsen egg was rather smooth and enjoyable by itself.

For starters, I’m a huge fan of anything pad thai-related, hence, I had to save the Pad Thai with Konjac Noodles for last. When the dish arrived, the familiar scent of sesame oil immediately filled the air. That’s when you know your pad thai is legit, right?

All of the ingredients were well-cooked, and the dish had a nice sweet-savoury fusion flavour to it. It was my first time having konjac noodles and I couldn’t wrap my head around it tasting eerily similar to jellyfish. Ultimately, this turned out to be one dish I’d come back for.

Fair warning, if you reverently worship a no-sugar diet, this part might be a test of faith! Denzy, a homegrown award-winning gelato brand, aims to serve handcrafted gelato with the best ingredients. They also offer a delicious spread ofgelato flavours with dairy-free and vegan options, and exclusively collaborated offerings such as the Yuan Yang and Sumatra Kopi. I opted to go with the Affogato (S$7.90).

The classic Italian dessert is a pairing of gelato and a shot of espresso, although a scoop of vanilla gelato is the preferred choice, I’d suggest taking it up a notch and having it with Denzy’s famous Roasted Bronte Pistachio Gelato instead. Personally, I always find the Affogato to exude stronger flavours of espresso as opposed to a coffee ice cream, but the one here has subtle floral notes, and a creamy finish.

The only time I’ve had delicious pistachio gelato was when I was in Melbourne. So imagine my surprise when I took a bite off Denzy’s Roasted Bronte Pistachio Gelato (S$5.20) and was blown away. Don’t be fooled by its appearance, for its incredibly delicate sweetness will leave you wanting more.

Fun fact: Denzy gets their Bronte pistachios directly from the farms of Italy and they are cultivated in the volcanic soils of Etna.

Final thoughts

Why not escape the hustle and bustle of the city, and spend it at Huggs Collective 30 Maxwell Road? Situated smack in the middle of the CBD concrete jungle, Huggs Collective makes for a collaborative and cosy space to spend time with your family and friends over a cuppa (including your furry and paw pals)!

Also, I’ve heard they’re expanding around the island, and I can’t wait to head to one that’s nearer to my home.

Expected damage: S$3 – S$20 per pax

*This post is brought to you in partnership with Huggs Collective.

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