A leisure afternoon spent surrounded by great company and delicious food will always be one of the greatest joys in my life. This time, that afternoon found us wandering into SKS City Mall (Johor Bahru’s newest mall that opened on 1 May) and stumbling upon something lovely.
A Cosmopolitan Garden: The Garden by Afters Pastry
After a rather heavy and filling lunch at a nearby restaurant, I spotted a dainty little cafe around the corner. The Garden by Afters Pastry is a floral-themed cafe concept known for its handcrafted cakes and sweets, with blooms and botanicals woven into every corner of the space.
The Pastries: A Sweet Spread
The chocolate banana cake was rich and sweet, while the tiramisu had a lightness to it with a faint coffee aftertaste. The strawberry lychee was a standout for its floral and fruity taste.
But the real highlight was the mini tarts. The lemon meringue was tart and gave me quite a rather sweet and sour jolt; the berries tarts were just joyful and tasted as good as they looked. I paired mine with an iced latte, which cut through the sweetness and made the whole experience a balanced treat.
A Beautiful Floral Interior
A garden-like cafe right in the middle of a modern mall was already surreal, but a fountain right in the cafe added a gentle, almost European quality to the dreamy space. Faux leather sofas, plenty of natural light pouring in, and photo-worthy corners at every turn make it easy to forget where we were.
One small note: if you’re seated directly under the sun, it can get quite warm, so a shaded spot is worth requesting.
Would I Recommend It?
We didn’t manage to try their recommended high tea sets this visit, but the standalone pastries were more than enough to leave a lasting impression. More than any single dish, it was the overall feeling of the place that stayed with me: unhurried, comfortable, and a little dreamlike.
If you find yourself at SKS City Mall, let yourself be lured in by the flowers.
Not a sponsored post.
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