Butter and Blue is a cafe bakery that was once a bed and breakfast in a former life. The charming building is tucked away in Baldwin Village and has been revived to house a cute coffeshop on the first floor.

Aptly named for the exterior colours of the house, it's also a callback to the "B&B" abbreviation.

The entrance is located on the side wall, connected to a laneway patio garden that is often packed with students and remote workers during warmer weather.

Owner Natasia Leung took over the space in 2020 while working as a freelance graphic designer and poured her passion and design skills into creating a charming interior space. 

Blue is Leung's favourite colour and the theme is not lost here. She says the entire process of building out the space to fit a full kitchen in the back and cozy seating area out front was a labour of love, and she often got help from friends and family.

Leung's friends made the mirror that sits by the entryway, and her younger brother built her a bench. 

All the chairs, teapots, and plates were thrifted or found at estate sales, and a lot of DIY was done to get the shop running. 

In the middle of the cafe, you'll find handmade goods from local makers and artists for sale — many of whom are Leung's friends. 

Everything is baked in-house, with items often rotating and being swapped out for whatever the team is newly working on.

The menu is an homage to Hong Kong diner classics, with many ingredients being from the garden greenhouse in the back. 

The Spam & Egg Bun ($6.50) comes with a side of spicy mayo and is their most popular savoury item. Shaped like a pig in a blanket bun, pastry wraps thickly around a slice of spam and a rectangular fried egg layer. 

The meat isn't overly salty and would make for a good snack. There's also a vegetarian option that comes with a Hashbrown & Egg ($6.50).

My favourite item was the classic Chocolate Chip Cookie ($4.50), which Leung proudly dubs it the "best chocolate chip cookie" she's ever had.

The confidence is well-earned as it is indeed a very good cookie. It's perfectly balanced with chocolate throughout, not too hard, and has a good salt top to finish.
The Mapo Tofu Bun ($5) is inspired by the Chinese bakery staple. Tofu and minced pork in mapo seasoning sit with scallion atop of a sesame seed milk bun. The Matcha Mochi Cake ($4), which is completely dairy-free, is their most popular sweet item. A pretty swirl pattern adorns each square and it's an interesting alternative to a brownie. Expect a chewy and mildly sweet bite.

For those looking for something even more unique, try the Miso Sesame Rice Krispie ($4). Cereal is mixed in brown butter and tossed with toasted sesame. It's supremely umami and a wonderful take on a childhood favourite. 

For drinks, you'll be able to find all the classic cafe items here, but some standouts include the Hong Kong Milk Tea ($5.50) which is brewed the traditional way. It's not too sweet and is served hot.

There are also tea-based lattes like Hōjicha ($5.50), Matcha ($5.50), Ovaltine ($6), and Horlicks Latte ($6).

Since their opening, the cafe has proved to be a popular neighbourhood destination — finding a seat here is often a task. They now have a two-hour seating policy to encourage turnover and accommodate more patrons.

Butter and Blue is located at 7 Baldwin Street.