The festive season always brings about good cheer, a reason to indulge (in shopping and eating!), and to gather your friends and family for some quality bonding time. After all the turkeys, roast beef, and potatoes, you’re sure to want to sink your teeth into something a lil’ sweeter!
Raffles City is all geared up to offer you an unmissable line-up of joyous treats that is sure to light up your end-year festivities. Here are seven choice spots in Raffles City to shop for sweet delights to share with family and friends!
1. Janice Wong
Janice Wong is a name synonymous with electric, colourful creations that are just as delicious to feast on for the eyes, as they are for the belly. Chef Janice has made a name for herself following her appearances on Masterchef Australia, along with the raving success of her constantly-booked out 2am:dessert bar.
This Christmas, brighten up the season with the brand’s Neon Christmas Chocolates (S$25 for a box of five, S$38 for a box of nine, S$68 for a box of 16, S$105 for a box of 25) with captivating flavours such as Laksa Leaf Lemongrass, BBQ Pork Praline Poprocks, Popcorn And Spice, and Whiskey Orange. I was surprised at how the BBQ Pork Praline Poprocks was an odd recipe that truly worked—especially with the sizzle of poprocks that made it truly fun!
If you’d prefer an assortment of colourful treats to truly dazzle your friends and family, they also have Christmas Hampers starting from S$150. These works of art include Biscotti Cookies, Cinnamon Spices Snap Cookies, Crème Brûlée Tea, and plenty more (depending on size of hamper)!
Alternatively, you may pick and choose which praline chocolates you feel suit the taste of
your friends best, the Christmas Season Limited Edition Neon Collection assortment boxes of either five (S$25), nine (S$38), 16 (S$68), or 25 (S$105). This includes special festive flavours such as Gingerbread, Peppermint, Cherry & Dulce De Leche.
Add some colour to this festive season and have yourself a vibrant Christmas!
Janice Wong: #B1-48 | Opening Hours: 10am – 9.15pm (Daily) | Instagram | Website
2. Tiong Bahru Bakery
Well-known for their croissants and pastries, Tiong Bahru Bakery has served many Singaporeans a comforting cup of coffee and a sweet cake during their mid-day respite from the toil of work and life.
This Christmas, they’ve sweetened up their offerings with the limited-run Chestnut Tart (S$9.50++), Logcake (S$10.50++ per mini size, S$65++ per whole cake), and Papa Rum Fruit Cake (S$4.50++ per slice, S$43.50++ per cake). Just a reminder, that all whole cakes require an advance order, which you may do in-store or online.
Their Papa Rum Fruit Cake was soft and moist from the saturation of rum, complete with tang and sweetness from the cherries, ginger, melon, and apricot bits scattered throughout the cake. It’s definitely one of the best I’ve tasted in recent years!
Should your palate fancy something a tad more tart, the Chestnut Tart would be your pick. Within the choux pastry lies raspberry currant confit which awaits you, and luxuriously smooth chestnut Chantilly cream. This dainty dessert had great balance and is undeniably too pretty to eat.
I can’t stay away from éclairs, so I was elated to find their Log Cake a simulating one. The hazelnut crumble log cake is glazed with chocolate and comprises of hazelnut sponge, layered with praline Chantilly. The texture was like velvet, and the contrast of hazelnut crunch and the decadently soft sponge was indeed very pleasurable.
If you’re considering Christmas cakes or tarts, you’ll find ideal choices here. Just like how Tiong Bahru Bakery is there for all your tea time needs, they’ll definitely satisfy your hunt for a festive treat!
Tiong Bahru Bakery: #B1-11 | Tel: +65 6333 4160 | Opening Hours: 8am – 10pm (Daily) | Facebook | Instagram | Website
3. Garrett
I’m a plain Jane when it comes to popcorn. I stick to the basics with a mix of salted and sweet when I purchase a bucket from the concession stand at the cinema.
So, it was my first time trying Garrett when I caught wind of their festive Dark Chocolate CaramelCrisp (starting from S$9 for a small pack), and gave it a try.
Hunky chunks of caramel popcorn are encased in a dark chocolate layer, making this the ultimate non-stop snack for when you want to binge during a holiday movie marathon. I found myself liking it more than I’d anticipated, given I would consider myself a popcorn purist for many years. If I could take an instant liking to this, this would make an easy favourite for many.
Want to gift it and bring the cheer to your family and friend’s Christmas party? You can purchase this limited-time flavour in their limited edition tins—the Red and Blue Holiday Spruce.
The Raffles City outlet is also a special one, with it being a Garrett Gold, which offers premium Garrett products enrobed with Belgian chocolate. These beauties come as Mini Bonbon—Single Kernel (S$9 for a tube, S$18 for a jar) and Bonbons (S$12 for three pieces, S$19 for six pieces S$38+ for 12 pieces). The Ruby Chocolate Bonbon proved to arouse divided opinions, as it was both slightly tart as much as it was mildly sweet. The Dark Chocolate Bonbon was an easy favourite, with its bittersweet notes and soft crunch.
Garrett’s offerings are familiar, yet undeniably delicious, which makes it an easy crowd favourite no matter the party you’re bringing their snacks to!
Garrett Gold: #B1-29 | Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Daily) | Facebook | Instagram | Website
4. The Coffee Academïcs
Known for their curated brews and celebrated baristas, The Coffee Academïcs is here to spice up your year-end celebrations. With both drinks and cupcakes to perk you up as you take a break from Christmas shopping, one of the must-try creations for this year is the Spiced Apple Espressoda (S$8), along with one of their three holiday cupcakes—Forest Berries, Peppermint Hot Chocolate and Salted Caramel S’mores (S$5.50 per cupcake, S$20 for four).
The Spiced Apple Espressoda (S$7) is a mix of double ristretto and ginger ale topped with an apple slice, and torched with cinnamon sugar. I enjoyed the fizzy cut of the ginger ale, as it proved to be an invigorating thirst quencher that afternoon.
Of the three cupcakes, I was partial towards the Peppermint Hot Chocolate, solely because it reminded me so much of After Eight minty chocolate squares (just writing about it makes me wish I had some with me right now!). However, if you’re looking for something more decadent, the Salted Caramel S’mores is the way to go.
All the cupcakes were moist and airy—a great juxtaposition in texture to the thick, luscious frosting.
I could very well see myself popping in to The Coffee Academïcs, given that they have festive drinks to pair along with their wholesome eats and tantalising sweets. You’re in for a mini pampering session with them this jolly time of the year!
The Coffee Academïcs: #B1-12 | Tel: +65 6266 0560 | Opening Hours: 8am – 8.30pm (Mon – Thu), 8am – 9pm (Fri – Sun) | Facebook | Instagram | Website
5. Awfully Chocolate
I’m a self-professed avid fan of Awfully Chocolate‘s array of chocoholic desserts, especially their Hei ice cream. This Christmas, give the gift of pure lust for that chocolate-crazed friend with their Christmas Collection 2019, which includes cakes, hampers, and chocolate bars.
Their eight-inch Christmas Black Forest Cake (S$108) is a hefty number, loaded with kirsch-infused dark pitted cherries and French sour cherries, held within layers of moist chocolate cake with kirsch cream and chocolate fudge. The exterior is a beautiful coat of torched Italian meringue.
All the ingredients combined beautifully, with the sweetness of the meringue, complementing the tartness of the cherries, finished with an elegant touch of rich chocolate.
For those more inclined towards chocolate bars, they also sell The All-New Set (S$48), a trio of 75g assorted chocolate bars (Soba, Key Lime, Dark Cherry). The Soba left me with a surprising end, as the familiar rich chocolate flavours gradually gave way to a mild umami soy-esque profile.
They also have The Exclusive Set (S$48), a quad squad of four tins of five chocolate batons (70% Dark, 60% Dark, 45% Dark Milk, Ruby). I instantly gravitated to the 70% Dark, as I prefer my chocolates bittersweet.
Still can’t decide what to get? Their festive bundles and hampers are always a good choice, with prices ranging from a wallet-friendly S$60 all the way to a regal S$528. No matter your budget or preferences, Awfully Chocolate will be there to fulfil the wishlist of the chocoholic in your life!
Awfully Chocolate: #B1-52 | Tel: +65 6338 3527 | Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Daily) | Facebook | Instagram | Website
6. PS.Cafe
No one can deny the popularity of PS.Cafe and the institution status it has garnered over the years. I’ve witnessed many a-celebration when dining there, and this Yuletide season should be no different.
With the surge of burnt cheesecakes appearing in more and more menus, it only makes sense that they would create the Burnt Rum &Raisin Cheesecake (S$15) for Christmas 2019. The raisins are macerated in rum, so you’ll get a warm punch in every bite of delicate cheesecake.
There’s always room for dessert, I firmly believe. That’s why every meal here has to end on a sweet note. The Double Chocolate Blackout Cake With Dark Chocolate Sauce (S$16) is perfect for sharing, given its irresistible decadence. The dark chocolate sauce and a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream elevated this no-frills dessert into an absolute heavyweight winner.
Another staple dessert that I know only begets raving reviews is their Sticky Date Pudding With Lashings Of Toffee Sauce (S$15). The treacle toffee sauce is hard to stay away from, as you’ll want to load up your spoon with a bountiful amount of date pudding, caramel sauce, and ice cream.
It’s a tough choice to make when trying to settle on a café to gather at during the holidays, but one thing’s for sure, PS.Cafe will be the cherry on top of your festivities!
PS.Cafe: #03-37 | Tel: +65 6708 9288 | Opening Hours: 9.30am – 10pm (Daily) | Facebook | Instagram | Website
7. GODIVA
The day I found out GODIVA introduced their very own ice cream, I was ecstatic. The price-point didn’t phase me one bit, given that their chocolate is divine.
This year, their Holiday Chocolate Luxury Box (S$310 for 42 pieces) is an intricately stitched present that you’ll be proud to gift to anyone! The best part is that the box is pretty enough to upcycle—best for keeping trinkets and jewellery.
There’s also the lavish Holiday Chocolate Truffle Gift Box (S$100 for 15 pieces) that’s sure to delight the chocolate fanatic in your life.
Feeling generous this festive season? They also have grand hampers to truly share the joy of giving to your loved ones. There are four sizes available, from a simple S$298 Allure Hamper, right up to a bounteous S$940 Glamour Chocolate Hamper for that very special person in your life.
‘Tis the season to truly indulge and spread the joy of Christmas, and there’s no better way than with the gift of sweetness from GODIVA!
GODIVA: #B1-K1/K2 | Tel: +65 6338 3103 | Opening Hours: 10.30am – 9.30pm (Daily) | Facebook | Instagram | Website
How else to end off a day feasting than with a sweet treat from one of Raffles City’s array of merchants? There’s something for every type of sweet tooth, and you may even find something for those who aren’t inclined towards dessert!
*This post is brought to you in partnership with Raffles City.
Our Rating: 4 / 5
Raffles City
252 North Bridge Road, Singapore 179103
Raffles City
252 North Bridge Road, Singapore 179103
