PETALING JAYA, Feb. 21 -- We are welcomed by pristine white walls softened by generous stretches of wood panelling, lending the space a gentle, unforced warmth.

Another weekend, another rarer opportunity for friends to set busy schedules and catch up.

Yet before the decor fully registers, it is the aroma of freshly baked bread and pastries that commands our attention. Consider this a subtle but persuasive invitation.

In an era when bakery-cafes seem to appear overnight in every neighbourhood, Granule has chosen a more discreet approach.

Tucked into a back corner of 3 Two Square in Section 19, PJ, it still feels like a place discovered rather than advertised.

That sense of discovery, however, along with its hidden gem status, is unlik...