99 Gelato Bar: A sensory experience of calm aesthetics, exotic gelatos & unique drinks

The vision that 99 Gelato Bar has for its customers is to immerse them into a stimulating sensory experience. They serve artisanal gelato, refreshing drinks, and in-house baked goods in Lavender, but it’s so much more than that!

This becomes evident as I walk in and feel immediately at peace. Minimalistic designs and soothing tones of white, beige, and brown envelope the space as you step into it, with marble top tables and comfy chairs scattered around.

It’s connected to a flagship concept store of XM which sells prized statue collectibles inspired by brands like DC and Marvel. The contrast in visuals between the bright colours of the store and soothing colours of the gelato bar is intentional, we’re informed.

Now on to the exciting part: the range of gelato! They weren’t kidding when they said the flavours were unique. We had the chance to try out a mix of Classic (S$6 for a scoop), Premium (S$7), and Exclusive (S$8) ones. For Classic, we had the Mango Taijin and Tomato Strawberry both which tasted like summertime. Under the Premium, we tasted EVOO & Strawberry where extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) from Sicily is used. Who would’ve thought that could go well in a gelato? But it did, and it stood out as a favourite amongst my dining partners and me. 

We also had the Ricotta and Lime Curd, but my flavour of the evening was the Ceylon Tea and Peach Liqueur. Bold and sweet, I couldn’t stop scooping it up. The Exclusive ones included Sorrel, Creme Fraiche, and Yuzu Jelly (which was a looker but a bit too sour for my liking). For those who like some bitterness with their dessert, the Dulcey Chocolate, Whiskey and Seasalt has a strong alcoholic kick to it. The gelatos also come with crispy cones you can munch on.

99 Gelato Bar’s drinks were a rainbow of colours and perfect for the ‘gram. The ones that stood out were the Omija Berries Soda (S$8) that’s made from Korean berries and is a good mixture of sweet, sour, and slightly bitter. The Earl Grey Momo Tea (S$8) floods your mouth with the taste of white peaches and stays with you a long while after you’re done.

The baked goods here were definitely a highlight. We were served the Sticky Date Pudding with Gelato (S$10) and the Lemon Pound cake with Gelato (S$10 for Vanilla Gelato, S$11 for Rum and Raisin Gelato). While the pudding was pleasant, the pound cake was perfectly moist and oozed with flavour. The maple syrup was unlike any I’ve tried before and impacted the dessert as a whole.

For an afternoon to relax and lounge around, treating yourself to some sweet serotonin, keep this place on your list.  

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