7 best ice cream bars in Singapore to check out

Singapore’s unforgiving tropical heat calls for one much-needed thing: ice cream! Not just any plain ice cream, but ones made with wacky flavours that are both delish and perfect for beating these sweltering days.  

Forget the calories — with an abundance of unique ice cream parlours emerging across the city these days, we’ve scooped up a list of the best few that are worth indulging in!

1. Museum of Ice Cream

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Get ready for a sugar rush at the Museum of Ice Cream and its unlimited servings of frozen treats!

Hailing all the way from America, the iconic Museum of Ice Cream (MOIC) recently made its way to our sunny shores. In fact, Singapore is its first-ever overseas location after successful sold-out stints in cities like New York and San Francisco.  

Think Charlie and the Chocolate Factory but instead of chocolate bars, you’d find all things ice cream in this gorgeous pink wonderland. Essentially, it’s an exhibition space dedicated to the world’s most popular dessert — and it’s sprinkled with a foray of sweet surprises at every turn!  

This pastel-coloured space boasts 14 multi-sensory and interactive installations that are ideal for both children and the young at heart. Some great finds include a Dragon Playground, a massive pink bouncy castle, the largest MOIC Sprinkle Pool and a mini basketball area to shoot some hoops. In other words, this is an Instagrammable place designed for endless photo opportunities - just whip out your phones, and you’re all set! 

In case you think it’s just an exhibition, it’s not. Ticket holders actually get to savour unlimited servings of ice cream treats while exploring the space (say what!). Expect to find unique ice cream flavours with a local twist — anything from Lychee Bandung to Pulut Hitam, all of which are produced either by Häagen-Dazs or made in-house by the MOIC team. Find out more about admission prices here.  

Address:100 Loewen Rd, Singapore 248837 

Opening Hours: Thursday to Sunday — 10:00am to 10:30pm  

2. Kind Kones

As far as dessert goes, ice cream has its way of making us feel a wee bit guilty (considering all that sugar and calorie intake). Kind Kones, however, is a godsend for those on the hunt for a healthier alternative.  

As its name suggests, this is an all-natural vegan ice cream bar that allows us to be kind not only to our bodies, but to the planet as well. The brand’s bevy of hand-crafted ice cream utilises no dairy, soy, refined sugar, eggs, artificial additives or preservatives. Instead, all-natural ingredients go into making these icy flavours.  

There are even gluten-free options here — great for those with strict dietary restrictions! 

Though vegan ice creams may seem unsatisfying, don’t dismiss them just yet. Kind Kones prides itself in serving flavours that are equally rich and delicious compared to non-vegan ones. Word has it that the difference in flavour is unnoticeable, so why not give it a shot? 

We’d recommend trying Blue Planet, a scoop of goodness that looks pretty much like planet Earth itself. Ingredients-wise, it comes with matcha cake bits perched on a base of coconut, cashew and almond milk.  

Address: 583 Orchard Rd, #B1-27, Singapore 238884 

Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday — 10:00am to 10:00pm 

3. Birds of Paradise

On the note of healthier alternatives, here’s one gelato boutique to check out in the east of Singapore: Birds of Paradise. Its first location appeared along East Coast Road while the second cafe can be found in Jewel Changi Airport. Offering healthier meal options at Jewel Changi Airport, you’ve likely chanced upon this shop and its snaking queues.  

This botanical-inspired ice cream bar is sophisticated, to say the least. They’re most known for natural ice cream flavours derived from flowers, herbs, nuts and spices! Some fan favourites of Birds of Paradise include signatures like the Strawberry Basil and Lemongrass Ginger. The former’s a tang of fruity freshness rounded off with mellow tones of basil infusion, while the latter boasts a bold flavour that’s both mildly spicy and sweet at the same time.  

It’s S$4.70 for a single scoop and S$7.70 for a double scoop across all flavours. For an additional $1, these can be served with the brand’s house-made thyme waffle cone. The White Chrysanthemum is another popular must-try. It tastes similar to the classic chocolate chip thanks to sprinkles of cacao nibs — only gentler, with a unique floral take to it. Worth the long queues for an affordable scoop at this cafe, if you ask us!  

Address:

Jewel outlet - 78 Airport Blvd., #01-214/215/216, Singapore 819666

East Coast outlet - 63 East Coast Rd, #01-05, Singapore 428776

Opening Hours: Open dailly from 12:00pm to 10:00pm

4. Tom’s Palette

No other place screams unconventional ice cream flavours than long-standing ice cream cafe Tom’s Palette. If you’re tired of the classic chocolate and vanilla, why not spice up with something out of the box? Flavours are constantly rotating here, so do expect a refreshed menu from time to time. (Note: Once they’re sold out, you’d have to wait till it returns).  

Local flavours, from Salted Egg Yolk, Nasi Lemak, and Sticky Mango Rice, to Hainanese Kaya, Chee Cheong Fun and Kueh Bangkit, make it a wild experience at each visit. Tom’s Palette even makes it a point to create a new flavour every month. As of now, the collection stands at a vast selection of 180 in total! Affordable cafes in Singapore may be hard to find at times, but Tom’s Palette’s prices are considered reasonable in comparison — S$5/single scoop cone, S$7.70/double scoop cone, S$4/small cup and S$5/medium cup.  

Address: 51 Middle Rd, #01-01, Singapore 188959 

Opening Hours: Monday to Thursday — 12:00pm to 9:30pm, Friday to Saturday — 12:00pm to 10:00pm, Sunday — 1:00pm to 7:00pm 

5. Bread & Butterfly

Opened by the same team behind the popular French restaurant Saveur, Bread & Butterfly is a new whimsical ice cream bar in town to keep your eyes on. Here, you’d find exotic creations like Apple Cucumber and Blue Vanilla with Black Sea Salt (S$5/scoop) as well as hand-made ice cream cones (S$1) made with fresh lavender.  

For something a little more seasonal, try their Pumpkin & Cinnamon instead. Earthy flavours ooze with a pleasant, woody aroma — perfect to indulge in during the end of year season between Halloween and Christmas. Adventurous folks should definitely try their tangy Strawberry Tomato sorbet! It’s made with fresh tomatoes and strawberries blended together, topped with mint leaves and a spritz of fresh lemon juice.  

And lest we forget: the aesthetics. The vibrant backdrops and illustrated walls of Bread & Butterfly seal its palace as one of the many Instagram-worthy cafes in Singapore.  

Address: 435 Orchard Rd, #B1-46, Singapore 238877 

Opening Hours: Monday to Thursday — 12:00pm to 3:00pm, 4:00pm to 9:00pm, Friday to Sunday — 12:00pm to 9:30pm 

6. The Ice Cream & Cookie Co

Ice cream and cookies? With a name like this, it can’t possibly go wrong. Sure enough, this homegrown brand has made itself known since 2012. The Ice Cream & Cookie Co’s signature ice cream cookie sandwich is a best-seller for a reason. Made of artisanal gelato ice cream wrapped in between two freshly baked, chewy cookies, it’s one of the best desserts to delight in while beating the heat in Singapore. 

Think of it as a chunky variation of the sandwich ice creams from traditional carts along Orchard Road. In terms of flavours, they’ve got classics like vanilla and chocolate, but are also known for locally-inspired choices like Onde Onde and even bubble milk tea! Just be sure to pack tissues and wipes with you in case of any crumbles.  

Plus, they pride themselves on the use of fresh ingredients instead of synthetic flavourings and palm oil that are commonly used in commercial ice creams. While they may be a local standout and distributor today, the brand originated from humble beginnings. In their early days, these homemade cookies and ice cream were only sold occasionally at weekend farmers’ markets. 

As they’re not exactly a retail store, do make sure to pre-order before heading down for the pick-up! Alternatively, you can find their products at marts such as Fairprice and Cold Storage. 

Address: 5 Burn Road, #01-01, Singapore 369972 

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday — 10:00am to 5:00pm 

7. Kindred Folk

Kindred Folk is a quaint, two-storey cafe serving distinctive ice cream among other desserts and mains like pasta. With multiple flavours to choose from (S$3.90 per scoop), including the likes of Roasted Rice Milk Tea, Watermelon-Calamansi Sorbet, Sea Salt Gula Coconut and even Wasabi (for the daring few).  

These are best eaten atop a Charcoal Waffle — a crisp batter with a hint of smokiness — along with a drizzle of maple syrup for an additional sweet kick. For those yearning for an extra dose of sweetness, opt for their Red Velvet waffle instead — here’s where you can find dollops of cream cheese baked inside.  

And if that’s not enough, Kindred Folk offers some cool add-ons like Fried Mantou (S$1) or Brownies (S$3.50) to take the dessert game up a notch.  

Address: 9 King Albert Park, #01-67, Singapore 598332 

Opening Hours: Tuesday to Thursday, Sunday — 12:00pm to 10:00pm, Friday to Saturday — 12:00pm to 10:30pm  

 

And there you have it — the inside scoop to some of the best ice cream cafes in town! These unique selections are bound to satisfy those sweet cravings that one might have. When it comes to the weather, Singapore can be rather relentless too. Thankfully, ice cream is a magical way to cool us down while giving us that fuzzy, happy feeling. 

 

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