#7 JB Cafe Mount Austin

Soil

Unit SL009, Spring Lab, Lot A, Jalan Ekoflora Utama, Taman Ekoflora, 81100 Johor Bahru

Themed Cafe photoscoffeeworking Est. 2022
80
Google 4.2★

About

Soil is the vine-covered cottage cafe that has become one of JB's most photographed exteriors. Located in the Eco Spring Labs retail cluster in Taman Ekoflora, it sits on a small green hill, wrapped in plants and native greenery that give it a European countryside feel completely unexpected in Johor.

Inside, the mood shifts to modern industrial chic: concrete surfaces mixed with wood, air-conditioned with ample power points. The pastries are the main draw, all supplied daily by The Atlas Bakery, including buttery croissants (plain, almond, fruit), danishes, cinnamon doughnuts, and burnt cheesecake. Savoury options include tamago sando and smoked salmon open sandwiches. Drinks run from matcha espresso to houjicha yuzu to standard lattes.

The caveat: it is 30 minutes from CIQ, which is a genuine commitment compared to Mount Austin or JB City cafes. Parking is limited since the area was converted from residential plots. The pastries are consistently praised, but savoury items can be hit-or-miss. Come for the setting and the bakes, manage expectations on the mains.

ShiokScore Breakdown

Scored across 5 dimensions specific to cafes. Learn what each means →

Coffee 80

Espresso quality, bean sourcing, brew method variety, latte art. Does the barista know their single-origin from their house blend?

Food 78

Brunch and pastry quality, menu creativity, portion size. Some cafes are coffee-first with token food. Others are full kitchens that happen to serve good coffee.

Vibes 92

Interior design, natural light, photo spots, music, seating comfort. The reason half of Singapore drives to JB on a Saturday morning.

Value 90

Price in SGD equivalent, portion-to-price ratio. A flat white that costs $3 SGD equivalent vs $7 in Singapore changes how you feel about the whole experience.

Access 55

Distance from JB CIQ, parking availability, Grab access, opening hours. A great cafe that takes 45 minutes from the checkpoint and has no parking loses points.

Type: Themed Cafe

The interior IS the product. Garden themes, industrial lofts, vintage libraries. You go for the photos as much as the coffee.