Nimmies Pastry Cafe: All-in-one JB cafe with a huge variety of fresh bakes & hearty mains

What’s a Singaporean’s favourite pastime? You can’t tell me it isn’t taking a day trip across the Causeway to Johor Bahru. With unique things to do and delicious food aplenty, it really is the perfect place for a breather. Nimmies Pastry Cafe is the ideal addition to your itinerary if you’re on the prowl for a cosy spot to chill out over delectable bites and beverages.

If you’re anything of a digital native, this probably isn’t your first time hearing about Nimmies Pastry Cafe. It has been a crowd favourite since it swung open its doors in Jan 2023, with many customers waxing lyrical about its ambience and offerings (you’ll see why).

This cosy cafe is housed in a beautiful two-storey mansion at Taman Melodies. With an extensive menu of creative pastries, hearty mains and refreshing drinks, it quite possibly offers the whole package. What’s more, it’s located just a stone’s throw away from KSL City Mall, making it the perfect place to swing by after a shiok massage or shopping spree.

Framed by wood-lined windows, brick walls and ornate lamps, the cafe exudes an elegant Parisian aesthetic. It’s flanked by alfresco dining areas complete with string lights for diners to bask in the atmospheric charm.

Those seeking respite from the hot weather will be able to enjoy their food in cushy seating areas inside as well. Here, feature walls adorned with art pieces and vintage-style paraphernalia emulate an art gallery ambience. There’s so much character in that space; I mean, just take a look at that quirky croissant sculpture!

The main attraction at Nimmies, however, is the sprawling variety of croissants and pastries of different flavours, shapes and colours. Sitting in glass cases at the front counter, these delightful bakes gently crooned ‘buy me’. And get this: these photos don’t even showcase half of what’s on offer.

What I tried at Nimmies Pastry Cafe

As we were reeled in by the sheer variety of pastries, it was only fitting that we started with one. We got the ball rolling with the Hoe Lemak (RM19). This adorable creation looked just like a plate of nasi lemak in pastry form — a circular golden-brown croissant topped with a sunny-side-up egg, some ikan bilis and peanuts, a cucumber slice and a dollop of sambal.

Our first order of business was to pull apart that glorious golden yolk. Although it didn’t ooze out like lava, it was still satisfyingly soft and jammy.

The croissant, on the other hand, was firm and took a fair bit of effort to saw into. To our surprise, the pastry had a dense bread-like consistency, which made for easy eating without crumbs flying all over the place.

What made the Hoe Lemak for me was the fragrant sweetness that the sambal lent to the otherwise mild-flavoured pastry. I also relished the creaminess of the yolk as well as the textural contrast of the crunchy peanuts and salty ikan bilis against the soft bread. An infusion of coconut milk would have perfected its nasi lemak likeness.

Next on the roster was the Kaya Butter Croissant (RM16). There were no bells and whistles to this one; it looked just like your textbook croissant with its crescent shape and glossy, golden-brown flaky crust.

Velvety kaya was slathered onto the bottom half of the croissant and topped off with a slab of butter, which melted as we let our cameras eat first. Regardless, taste matters most and the Kaya Butter Croissant absolutely delivered in that arena.

An audible crisp emanated from the croissant as I sunk my teeth into it. The flaky, buttery pastry was complemented by the pleasantly coconutty kaya and the richness of the creamy butter. Yeah, kaya toast may be irreplaceable, but the kaya croissant certainly serves as a formidable substitute in my books.

Before we moved on to the mains, we couldn’t help but tear into yet another adorable pastry: the eye-catching Tuna Onigiri (RM26). Like its Japanese riceball counterpart, this delightful triangular-shaped creation sports a sliver of seaweed wrapping.

Concealed within the crispy croissant was a smooth and creamy filling generously studded with soft bits of tuna. Earthy hints of truffle lingered in the background, although they were unfortunately rather muted. As a result, there was barely a counterbalance to the briny fish and it became a tad overwhelming as I worked my way through the pastry.

While this sadly wasn’t my cup of tea, I’d say that this stands as a great option for tuna lovers seeking some savoury indulgence.

Now, onto the mains. First up was the Curry Laksa Spaghetti (RM36), a hearty dish of spaghetti in a vibrant laksa sauce peppered with laksa leaves. Crowning the pasta was a medley of ingredients: bright orange prawns, lala clams and cut-up tau pok pieces. 

Just take a look at that generous assortment — this dish is definitely well worth its price point!

I’ve tried many renditions of laksa pasta that go heavy on the cream, detracting from the essence of its fragrant base. Fortunately, this wasn’t the case here.

The sauce was aromatic, enriched with the herbal fragrance of laksa leaves and sharp notes of lemongrass, turmeric and chilli that gave it a bold and spicy profile. At the same time, it was savoury and full-bodied with a hae bee-esque fragrance. Pairing perfectly with the al dente spaghetti, the sauce had me hooked from the first spoonful.

The supporting cast of the Curry Laksa Spaghetti did a stellar job as well. The prawns were fresh, plump and sweet, while the lala clams released a gentle brine that complemented the punchy flavours of the sauce. The lightly crispy tau pok nuggets were a great complement as well, soaking up the flavours nicely.

It was then time for our next conquest, the World Chef Championship Gold Medal Fish & Chips (RM59). Once again, don’t be alarmed by that seemingly exorbitant price tag. Here, you’re served 2 colossal pieces of battered fish, a side of criss-cut fries, arugula and 3 different sauces.

My knife glided through the layer of golden-brown batter with ease, revealing succulent, pearly-white flesh within. The fish was exquisitely soft and tender, and I really wouldn’t have minded enjoying it on its own. Its delicate flavour was wonderfully complemented by the tasty batter, which provided a satisfying crunch and an additional layer of savoury goodness.

As a lover of all things truffle and creamy, I enjoyed the pairing of the fish with the decadent truffle mayonnaise the most out of the 3 sauces. The rich, earthy notes of the truffle enhanced the delicate flavour of the fish, while the creamy texture of the mayonnaise provided a layer of indulgence.

Fret not if you’re a traditionalist; it also comes with tangy onion-laced tartar sauce to have your fish the classic way. Those craving something refreshing and herbal can try out the special green condiment of coriander and spring onion.

Finally, we washed it all down with a selection of 3 drinks: Iced Gula Melaka Latte (RM18), Virgin Mojito (RM17) and Smoked Biscoff Latte (RM35). Don’t these just sound — and look — like the perfect midday pick-me-ups?

The standout was the Smoked Biscoff Latte. Topped with marshmallows, dried orange and a Lotus Biscoff biscuit, it arrived in a bell jar filled with swirling smoke — instant plus points for the theatrics! Robust smoky notes permeated the rich latte, rendering it a unique full-bodied flavour profile. 

While the drink leaned towards the sweet side, the infusion of caramelised Biscoff flavours in the rich coffee was a delight to savour.

Final Thoughts

My meal at Nimmies Pastry Cafe was nothing short of satisfying. The extensive menu of pastries, mains, drinks and desserts caters to every palate. Then, there’s the fantastic location, attentive service and classy, cosy ambience. Can you name a better place to include in your itinerary or spend the whole day at?

Whether you’re a JB local or a fellow Singaporean day-tripper, it’s never too late to discover Nimmies Pastry Cafe.

Expected damage: RM17 to RM67 per pax

*This post was brought to you in partnership with Nimmies Pastry Cafe.

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