Located on the second floor of Marina Square, Betsubara is named after the Japanese term for “separate stomach”, which suggests that we always have room in our bellies for dessert. That proved true for me – even after the heavy breakfast I had – when I caught sight of this tiny cafe’s rather large and delectable-looking ice cream selection.
The ice cream at Betsubara is smooth and slightly dense due to its low fat content, and reminiscent of gelato.
I tried the Dark Nama Roasted Almonds and Kyoho Grape flavours, both of which were light, refreshing and not overly sweet. The former was rich, filled with pieces of crunchy almonds and had just the right amount of intensity for a dark chocolate ice cream. Meanwhile, the latter had that sweet and tangy finish that’s characteristic of Kyoho grapes.
Although their signature offering, the Smores Waffle, wasn’t available when I visited, the Hokkaido Butter Waffle was a delicious substitute. This was a superb waffle – easily the best I’ve had in a while – being perfectly light, crisp and buttery, and just a teensy bit chewy in the middle. The butterscotch syrup it was served with was a plus, but the waffle was so tasty I ended up eating most of it on its own.
Betsubara’s Cappuccino isn’t listed on the menu for some reason, but is available upon request. Made with Common Man Roasters’ 22 Martin blend, this dark and subtly sweet brew was a great accompaniment to a highly satisfying dessert.
Overall, I’d rate Betsubara highly in my list of waffle & ice cream places to check out (probably top ten or at least top fifteen). The only downside is the limited seating space. The cafe isn’t really optimized for dining in, and things can feel pretty cramped even if you’re there alone. Still, I loved the bright, light, simple decor and cute polar bear mascot. If you plan to visit, it’s best to go during teatime on a weekday to avoid the crowds.
Ratings
WAFFLE: 4.5/5
ICE CREAM: 4.5/5
COFFEE: 4/5
Address (Marina Square outlet):
6 Raffles Blvd, #02-300 Marina Square, Singapore 039594
Contact: 8222 0140
Website: betsubara.sg
IG: instagram.com/betsubara.sg
