Tucked away in a quiet corner of Ahigas Magu in Hulhumalé, Bakerloo has been my absolute favorite café to come by in the city ever since I discovered it a little over a year ago. The small café famous for its baked goods has now become a symbol of cozy vibes for me. This is largely due to the interior and décor that the place offers; on the outside where patio seating is available, the café is framed by towering Boston Ferns, Philodendrons, and many other plants that are both in planters and hanging pots. The green against the white walls creates a contrast that seems to immediately calm you. As you enter the tiny indoors, you are greeted by the same neutral tones with wooden accents and an array of plants once again. It almost has a rustic feeling to it, with heaps of sunlight pouring in through the glass windows.
As you sit down, one of the first things you will notice is how comfortable the booth seats are. In most places, while booth seats are always the preferred seats, they are mostly uncomfortable and hard to sit on while Bakerloo offers a cozy, soft, and inviting space. It’s perfect for someone who wants to bring their laptop and just work away the afternoon in a quiet spot. The second thing you will definitely notice once you sit down is the display case and the range of baked goods that are available. From Brownies to Creme Bruleé, Bakerloo offers a decent selection of deserts to tingle your tastebuds.
Being someone who frequents the café often, I have always found myself ordering their brownie and recommending it to all my friends as well. There is just something about a well-made brownie, and Bakerloo seems to have gotten it all right. It’s moist with the right balance of flavors, and just gooey enough to be still in the brownie category instead of fudge. I’m someone who has grown a distaste for dry brownies, so this has definitely made my favorites list over time – and I’m never getting tired of it. I have also tried their Creme Bruleé a couple of times, and it can definitely be a hit or a miss. I’m not sure why exactly but if I am to take a wild guess I would say that it is probably a disadvantage of being unfresh. Though I’m not sure about that, so take it with a grain of salt if you must. In short; Brownies yes, Creme Bruleé no.
Enough with the deserts, for now, let’s move on to the mains. I have tried several dishes on their menu and there are some clear favorites that I always find myself gravitating towards. Personally, I think the star of the menu is their Eggs Benedict. And as I sit here in my room and write this article, my tastebuds once again crave the warm goodness of the dish and all I want to do at this moment is to go back to the café and treat myself to one. If I were to describe it, I would definitely say it’s a sensory experience for your tastebuds. It’s got the slightest tang of sourness balanced quite well by the velvety hollandaise sauce that gives off the yellow of the egg yolk. The perfectly poached egg sits on top of a soft English muffin that is baked in-house, giving the chefs full control over the dish. The beef bacon and perfect seasoning seemingly pull the dish together effortlessly. No matter how many times I seem to have it, it has always been consistently good, and I couldn’t recommend it enough.
While Eggs Benedict does steal the spotlight, there are quite a number of good dishes on their menu. I’ve tried the Beef and Chicken Teriyaki Donburis on different occasions, and I’ve recommended it to several friends. All of them, including myself have the same verdict; it’s good for a heavy meal. The seasonal greens and the shredded carrots in the dish alongside the teriyaki meat serve a meaningful punch of flavors.
If you are thinking about what to order for drinks here, don’t worry about that either because I got you covered. My go-to has always been their Classic Mint Fresca, which I would say is quite close to a Virgin Mojito and perhaps is even more refreshing than one. While they do have Black and Green Tea listed on the menu, do ask around for what other flavors they have. I’ve tried the peppermint they have, and trust it was pure goodness. As for their milkshakes, I will definitely vouch for the brownie milkshake – as if the chocolate brownies weren’t good enough, they turned it into a milkshake too!
Though I have never really tasted or tried the coffee available here thanks to my love-hate relationship with caffeine, I am told that they source the beans through a local roaster. So I’m guessing they would be good too, and if I am back in love with caffeine again, perhaps I will give it a try and report back to you.
That feels quite enough about the food, I suppose. Let’s talk about what really ties the experience of Bakerloo together; the staff. During all of my visits, I’ve always received excellent service and smiles all around. They have always been really nice to me, and have always accommodated some of the more bizarre requests I might have had. Don’t worry, I will spare you the details.
Overall, I would say Bakerloo is a solid 9/10. I would have given it a 10, but the place is so tiny that sometimes I find it difficult to get a table there – and yes, I have waited somewhere else nearby until a table freed up at the café. I suppose I just know what I want, sometimes. If it was a little bigger and able to sit a few more people, it would be perfect, and other than that they really don’t have anything else to change. This was also a reason why I have always wanted to gatekeep the place for myself, but sharing is caring so here we are.
Also, if you are craving some of their goodness, they do deliver for free. Share the information, and help a fellow foodie out.