On’Lee Cafe (pronounced “only”) and Bakery: It takes over Staytion’s spot in Woodlands MRT

I walked past it twice without spotting it. That’s how hidden On'Lee Cafe is.

(But then again, I'm quite a blur girl when it comes to my surroundings. It's embarrassing that I had missed the large glowing sign board too...)

Tucked away in the bowels of Woodlands MRT’s new extension line, Exit 7, it feels like a quiet little nook. If you’re after variety, full-blown meals, bakes, and coffee, this café might be up your alley.

When I stepped inside, it looked suspiciously like Staytion (I used to see their ads everywhere). And I wasn’t wrong: Staytion had closed its Woodlands branch, and On’Lee Cafe & Bakery has taken over the space.

I even noticed people working away in the old Staytion seats. On’Lee Cafe clearly didn’t splurge on renovations, which honestly works out, because it means more attention (and budget) for the food.

Now, let’s talk about what we ate!

We started with their signature banana bread with toffee sauce. For $5, you get four slices. Dunking them into the not-too-sweet sauce was an interesting touch. Usually at Starbucks or other cafés, $5 gets you a single stingy slice. So by banana bread standards, this felt like a steal.

First time I've had banana bread with toffee sauce

It was warm, moist, and enjoyable; not exactly out of this world, but definitely good value for money. I'm one of those who finds warm banana bread comforting.

Next up, for our mains, we strayed from the Chef’s Recommendations and went for what sounded like the most exotic dish on the menu (at least to me): the Crabby Belgium Waffles ($18). Freshly made waffles topped with fried soft shell crab, melted mozzarella, and served with curry sauce.

On paper, it sounded exciting. In reality? I liked the salad and the crab on its own, but the dish as a whole didn’t quite gel. The curry turned out to be fish curry (which was nice, albeit a bit strange), and the waffles were just okay. I found myself nibbling on the crab solo. Maybe I should’ve gone with something from the “chef recommendations” instead...

To drink, I ordered a Rose Latte ($6): pleasant, floral, and pretty. It was nice enough, though a bit on the sweeter side. The Strawberry Matcha Latte ($8) was alright.

And because I can never resist savoury carbs, I picked up a Jalapeño French Bread from the adjoining bakery. Context: I'm a long-time fan of Auntie Anne’s Jalapeño pretzels... which, tragically, is only available in Malaysia.

The Jalapeño French bread was a win: soft in the middle, crusty cheese along the edges, and jalapeños with just the right amount of heat.

Overall, On’Lee Cafe & Bakery is a little hidden spot worth checking out if you're tired of the ever-bustling Causeway Point.

Tucked inside Woodlands MRT’s new Exit 7, it’s quiet, easy to miss, but actually a nice place to sit down, get some work done, or just chill for a while. The food menu is huge, and while not everything hit the mark for me, the bakes and drinks make it fun to explore. I'll be back to try the other food options!

- Please note that their prices differ slightly for online orders and in-cafe.

Location:

On'Lee Cafe / Bakery, Woodlands MRT Station Exit 7 (row of shops there)