Tucked away in a quiet alley of Petaling Jaya, 10 Ten Baker (The Secret Place) lives up to its name: a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. Even finding it felt like part of the adventure – a Grab driver circling the block, an uncooperative map, and one wrong turn too many before the café finally revealed itself with a modest little black-and-white sign. Easy to miss if you’re just looking, but impossible to forget once you’ve been inside.

Up a narrow staircase and through a bell-marked gate, we entered a space that felt more like someone’s living room than a café. Shoes off, a baby cooing softly in the corner, the owner greeting warmly behind the counter – it was a welcome that felt personal, almost familial. Inside, floral cushions, wooden chairs, family photos strung along twine, and children’s toys tucked onto shelves gave the café a lived-in warmth. Nothing staged, nothing forced. Just real, cosy, and full of heart.

The resident cats, a beloved part of the café, were dozing quietly in their cages that afternoon – apparently, the previous guests weren’t fans. However, keep in mind there are two beautiful companions for fellow cat lovers to look forward to meeting. Having the entire café to ourselves only deepened the sense that we’d stumbled upon a secret haven.

From the kitchen came our order: three slices of cheesecake (original, dark chocolate, and hojicha), paired with drinks that ranged from a matcha latte to a cold coconut latte, iced chocolate, and a porcelain teapot set. Each plate arrived photogenic yet unpretentious. The original cheesecake immediately set a new standard – light, creamy, with just a hint of salt that elevated its buttery smoothness. The dark chocolate slice leaned richer, its slight bitterness balancing the sweetness, while the hojicha stood out for its subtlety, delicate without being overwhelming. Even as someone who never considered herself a cheesecake fan, I found myself converted. The drinks held their ground too: as a matcha lover, the matcha latte won me over with its smooth, balanced profile; the rose tea carried an elegance, its floral notes gentle enough to soothe the throat and clear the head. The cold coconut latte was a refreshing surprise, nutty and creamy with a tropical lift that softened the espresso’s edge, while the iced chocolate, leaning slightly darker, offered comfort without being overly sweet – a fitting companion to the richness of the cakes.

Yet, beyond the food, it was the people who made the visit unforgettable. It was my first time meeting the three girls I came with – our photographer, graphic designer, and videographer – but somewhere between the first bite of cake and the second serving of elegant rose tea, colleagues became friends. 10 Ten Baker had that effect: like being invited to your grandmother’s home for tea, nostalgic and familiar, yet modern enough to slip into an Instagram feed.

The afternoon was made even more memorable by the owner’s son, a bright and charismatic six-year-old who wandered over mid-conversation armed with a collection of McDonald’s toys. Within minutes, he had us laughing, playing Concentration 64, and even humouring his cheeky, playful “flirtations.” What was meant to be a two-hour work session turned into a three-hour detour of laughter, games, and easy camaraderie. By the time we left, we had not only shared cakes but created a group chat jokingly named in his honour – the unofficial “fanclub” of the little boy who stole our hearts. 

10 Ten Baker isn’t just a café; it’s a hidden home tucked away in the city. It’s where cheesecake tastes like comfort, tea arrives in dollhouse-perfect porcelain, cats nap quietly in the back, and strangers walk out as friends. A place that makes every wrong turn worth it.

Atmosphere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Food: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

Drinks: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Interior: ⭐⭐⭐.5

Service: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Written by Khardeeja Sapora

Photos by Jia Tong