Already buzzing with customers despite soft launching less than 1 month ago, Paaru is perhaps one of the hottest new openings among café-goers.
Brought to you by the folks behind Punch, Gather, and Asaru Studio, the Japanese-themed café is reminiscent of the style at Asaru Studio which is just a few units away, within Pearl’s Hill Terrace. The interior is designed like a Japanese tea house, and dimly lit with a few lightbulbs.
Outside, there are some stools for those in the queue/waitlist, and a mini garden with bamboo that is befitting of the overall theme.
I had the White ($6, +$1 for oat) and the Mocha ($6.50, +$1 for oat) on a separate occasion, and I preferred the Mocha as it masked the acidity of the coffee without the chocolate overpowering.
Apart from coffee, the menu offers a few simple all-day breakfast dishes, featuring their signature shokupan (Japanese milk bread) which is made in-house at Paaru Bakery a few doors down. I opted for the Eggs on Shokupan ($12), which was decent with smooth scrambled eggs (slightly more firm than soft and creamy) and the savoury slice of toast. Though I did wish that the portion was bigger.
For a sweet option, there is the French Toast Shokupan ($12) topped with kuromitsu (Japanese black sugar syrup), cacao nibs, sea salt and fresh cream. Since only half a slice of shokupan was used, this made for a good snack but not a satisfying breakfast.
Don’t forget to check out the bakery, which is helmed by an experienced Japanese baker in collaboration with the café. This serves more of a takeaway store, though there is a bench inside if you would like to eat on the spot. A range of bread and cakes are freshly baked and made available at different times throughout the day.
As I was there at their opening time at 9am, only the shokupan loaves, madeleines ($2 each) and financiers ($2 each) were available after a 30-minute wait. Thankfully, the warm madeleine, fresh out of the oven, was soft and fluffy. I would love to be back for the other cakes (think Mont Blanc, Strawberry Shortcake, Rare Cheese Tart).
Paaru Bakery
Open 9am – 6pm daily except Wed
195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace, #01-61, Singapore 168976
Paaru Cafe
Weekdays 9am – 7pm (closed on Wed)
Weekends 8am – 6pm
195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace, #01-61, Singapore 168976
Foodography: A Singapore Food Blog 