New in town: Gentle Roast, Upper Thomson Road — Minimalist brunch spot with chilli crab pasta

As a cafe lover, Upper Thomson Road is an area I often patronise. With long-standing cafes like One Man Coffee, Habitat Coffee and Columbus Coffee Co. situated along both sides of the road, I am often spoilt for choices every time I visit. Now, adding onto the list of brunch spots scattered in the area is Gentle Roast, a minimalistic cafe serving up an array of bunch delights that are sure to whet our appetites. 

Decked in gorgeous gold and white, Gentle Roast makes for a relaxing spot to spend an afternoon over wholesome treats and cups of freshly brewed coffee. 

For a hearty meal after a hike at the nearby MacRitchie Reservoir, opt for their Sourdough (S$20), a dish prepared using slices of freshly baked sourdough topped with honey cream cheese, mixed berries and bananas. Served by the side is a concoction of berry sauce, an addition that elevates the brilliance of this crisp sourdough with its tangy-sweet flavours. 

Looking for something out of the box? Then let Gentle Roast’s Chilli Crabby (S$16) win over your heart with its addictive spiciness. Specially curated using the cafe’s in-house chilli crab sauce, this toothsome plate not only contains a heap of minced crab meat in its pasta sauce, but is also crowned with a whole soft shell crab that is lovingly fried.

To supplement your mains, the cafe also offers sumptuous sides like Black Pepper Wings (S$11), Mentaiko Mayo Fries (S$9) and the Portobello Bomb (S$8). No cafe experience is complete without caffeine. Classics such as the Latte (S$5 for hot, S$6 for cold) and Mocha (S$6 for hot, S$7 for cold) aside, Gentle Roast also offers refreshing iced teas like the White Peach (S$6.50) and Mint Honey Green Tea (S$6.50)—cups that are sure to cool you down in Singapore’s hot and sweltering weather. 

For more brunch spots, here are 30 of Singapore’s best cafes that we put together for your next brunch outing.