MERCI MARCEL

FRESHLY SPROUTED FRENCH CAFE AND CONCEPT STORE IN TIONG BAHRU.

You would think that Tiong Bahru couldn’t get cooler than it already is but, et voila, it can. French cafe and concept store Merci Marcel has recently opened for business, imparting a refreshing dose of joie de vivre to the creative enclave.

By day, folks can stream in for an espresso or a leisurely brunch; by night, it turns into a brasserie serving a tapas-style dinner menu of French plates created for sharing, such as marinated crab rillettes ($18), tarte flambee ($24) and pork tenderloin ($24). As a concept store, Merci Marcel retails a hand-selected range of artisanal gourmet food, fine drinks, art and lifestyle products. It specially champions small, independent brands from Singapore and Europe – coffee is locally roasted by Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee, adorable illustrated sweets from Le chocolat des Francais, and chic eyewear from Parisian brand Izipizi.

The long bar counter is the centrepiece of the main dining space.

Hanging plants and string lights create a delightful ambience in the garden patio.

Merci Marcel’s interior design was conceptualised by Lim Siew Hui of Hui Designs. Drawing inspiration from Parisian restaurants in the districts of Le Marais and Montmartre, she wanted to infuse their cosy vibe with the local and tropical. The interior palette is a vivid, citrus tone, accented by the lush, verdant suspended plants and rattan chairs.

Don’t think that Merci Marcel is just French in name, though. Prints of the pendant lights hanging over the bar counter are by Parisian atelier Antoinette Poisson, and the fresh flowers on each table are prepared by Aude Giraud from Ask a French Flowers, a Paristrained Singapore-based floral designer.

Pendant lamps made from prints by Parisian paper studio Antoinette Poisson.

The Mix of 5 cheese platter ($36) serves an assortment of farm cheeses with baguette slices.

Merci Marcel is owned by French couple MarieCharlotte Ley and Antoine Rouland (pictured) of Frog’ys, the F&B company that opened the French bars O Batignolles and O Comptoir.

Fresh table flowers by Ask a French flowers.

The gourmet corner stocks a wide range of foodstuffs from fruit juices, jams, and iced teas to chocolates that are created by small producers.

Gracing the entrance are canvas artworks depicting Lee Kuan Yew and Charles de Gaulle, Singapore and France’s most famous leaders, created by Singaporebased French artist Gabriel Dufourcq.