A gorgeous view of Keppel Bay, dotted with yachts that could be - but are not - yours, sophisticated marina ambience without having to pay a membership fee, what's not to like?

There's plenty of la dolce vita to be had in this tiny capsule of nautical elegance called Marina at Keppel Bay and it starts with the dramatic teardrop-shaped sculpture sitting in its fengshui-enabled water feature at the complex's entrance.

That's what greets you at the end of a short but very pretty weekend drive - maybe after a shopping spree at VivoCity when you just need to get away from the hordes - to Keppel Island. Linked to the city by a spanking new white bridge, it makes you feel like you're entering a miniature Sentosa. Once you're there, wander around and enjoy the view before settling down to a casual meal at Prive's Bakery Cafe, Michel Lu's homage to the Aussie cafe lifestyle.

One-third of his triple F&B concept Prive (which comprises cafe, gastrobar and fine-dining restaurant) that takes centre-stage here on Keppel Island, the bakery-cafe is simply that. Blond wood chairs and matching upholstered sofa seats against the wall dominate the simply furnished cafe, where a chilled display case contains the home-made baked goods of the day. The opera gateaux is supposed to be a hit, although the fruit charlotte we tried was just so-so.

The menu is simple but decent. There are no hits but no obvious misses either. Salads like a chilled Caesar ($13) with lightly dressed greens, bacon and pita crisps over a hidden poached egg hit the spot, as do tasty and not-too-creamy mushroom and asparagus soup (some might call it too thin though). The croque madame ($11) is a macho broiled egg, ham, and cheese open-face sandwich (made with good multigrain bread) while the crabmeat and prawn wrap ($9) is a lighter alternative.

If you're not afraid of busting out of your size zero pants, you could also succumb to a glass of liquid fat from the milkshake menu - offering every flavour from "malted maltesers" to a coffee version made with Illy dark roast beans. But what really stopped us from devouring the mixed berry shake was the artificial-tasting syrup used in it. Anyway, if you're too busy gazing into the Caribbean condo and wishing you had a unit there, you probably wouldn't notice.

Prive Bakery Cafe
2 Keppel Bay Vista,
Marina at Keppel Bay
(S) 098382
Tel: 6776-0777