There are cafés that open with a lot of noise and deliver very little, and then there are places that arrive quietly and make you wonder why it took so long. Café Mary Grace falls firmly into the second category. The brand has been feeding generations of Filipinos since 1994, and on 13 March 2026, it finally opened its very first international outlet at 52 Tras Street in Singapore’s Tanjong Pagar district. Over 30 years of baking, more than 140 branches across the Philippines, and now a cosy 28-seater space in one of Singapore’s most well-loved dining neighbourhoods.
For anyone who has visited the Philippines and made a point of stopping by a Café Mary Grace, this opening will feel personal. For everyone else, it is simply a very good reason to head to Tanjong Pagar.
A Brand Built in a Mother’s Kitchen
The story behind Mary Grace is the kind that stays with you. Founder Mary Grace Dimacali did not set out to build a café empire. She started baking in her own kitchen, making birthday cakes for her five children and sweet treats like fruitcakes, cream puffs, lemon squares, and brownies to share with family and friends. Everything was handmade and done in small batches.
Word got around, as it does with good food, and those treats began travelling to bazaars and local markets. A bakery kiosk followed in 2002, and the first Café Mary Grace opened in 2006. What started as a mother’s labour of love grew into one of the Philippines’ most cherished homegrown brands, built entirely on the idea that food made with care and no shortcuts tastes different from everything else.
That same philosophy has made the journey to Singapore.
What Is on the Menu
The two items you need to try first are the Ensaymada (S$5.50) and the Cheese Roll (S$4.30). The Ensaymada is a light, buttery brioche topped with premium aged Edam cheese that melts with every bite. The Cheese Roll is soft and golden with a smooth, creamy cheese centre. Both are best paired with the Mary Grace Hot Chocolate (S$7.50), which is rich and properly satisfying rather than sickly sweet.
If you want something more indulgent, the Mango Bene (S$14.50 for a petite portion) layers crisp meringue and silky custard cream with fresh mangoes. It is the kind of dessert that earns its price.
What makes the Singapore outlet particularly interesting are the exclusive creations developed just for local palates. A Salted Egg Ensaymada (S$6.50) and a Kaya Pandan Cheese Roll (S$5.30) sit alongside the classic Philippine favourites, offering a distinctly Singaporean twist on the brand’s signatures. It is a thoughtful gesture that suggests Mary Grace is here to settle in, not just make a cameo.
For those who want a proper meal, the menu covers Filipino comfort food classics. The Angus Beef Tapa (S$25.50) serves tender Angus beef slices with fragrant rosemary fried rice or garlic rice and eggs cooked your way. The Grilled Chicken Inasal Focaccia (S$19.50) is marinated in an achuete-spiced blend and grilled until done properly. Brunch lovers should note the Crabcake Brioche (S$27), another Singapore exclusive, with savoury golden crab cakes served on soft ensaymada brioche dough.
For those who want to bring something home, the signature bakes are available in beautifully packaged boxes. The Queso de Bola Lengua Thins (S$24) and Butter Lengua Thins (S$21) are crisp, buttery biscuits that pair well with coffee or tea and make genuinely thoughtful gifts.
A Space That Feels Like Someone’s Home
The interior of Café Mary Grace Singapore is small but considered. Stained-glass pendant lights, warm wood accents, and a collaborative mural by Filipino artist Amanda Lapus Santos and Singaporean artist Eunice Hannah Lim give the space a warmth that feels earned rather than manufactured.
Mary Grace Dimacali personally handpicks and arranges the décor in every café she opens, and Singapore is no exception. Look under the tables and you will find photographs and handwritten notes, a detail carried over from the Philippine branches where guests are invited to leave their own messages and become part of the café’s ongoing story. It is a small thing, but it is the kind of detail that makes a place memorable long after the meal is finished.
A Café Worth Making Time For
Café Mary Grace Singapore is open Tuesday to Sunday, from 9am to 6pm. The address is 52 Tras Street, Singapore 078991, a short walk from Tanjong Pagar MRT station.
What Café Mary Grace brings to Singapore is not just another Filipino food option. It is a café with genuine roots, a clear sense of identity, and a menu built around the idea that honest food, made with real ingredients and no shortcuts, is always worth the effort.
If you are in Tanjong Pagar this week or planning a weekend brunch, it is worth adding Tras Street to the list. Order the Ensaymada, get the Hot Chocolate, and take your time. This is exactly the kind of place that rewards a slow visit.
