There’s nary a Singaporean who hasn’t visited Gardens by the Bay to see the Supertrees. Those futuristic-looking trees aren’t just for you to gawk at – they’re actually vertical gardens that are homes to more than 162,900 plants, totalling 200 species altogether.
That’s a fact you may already know, but this one has gone unnoticed: there’s a dessert cafe right at the top of one of these Supertrees. Here’s what you need to know about Janice Wong at the Supertree:
Janice Wong is best known as a chocolatier and dessert chef in Singapore. She opened 2am: dessertbar in 2007, where she serves inventive desserts that play with texture, flavours, and even theatrics that make them worthy of the ‘Gram.
You might also recognise her name from her eponymous chocolate stores found in many shopping malls in Singapore. Here’s where you can pick up boxes of her chocolate bonbons (from $25/5 pieces) inspired by local ingredients like gula melaka, gingerflower, and chilli padi.
This one’s a no-brainer since the cafe is located at the observatory deck of the Supertree Grove. That means panoramic and unobstructed views of the Gardens by the Bay, thanks to its floor-to-ceiling glass windows.
The observatory deck also wraps around the entirety of a Supertree, which means you’ll get a full 360˚ view from walking around the 16-storey tower.
Stay till the evening if you want to catch the Garden Rhapsody show. It happens twice nightly at 7.45pm and 8.45pm, where the trees light up in sync to music. The music changes according to the season like Christmas carols in December and even moon-inspired tracks for Mid-Autumn Festival.
Image credit: Janice Wong
Think Janice Wong and it’s her chocolate that first comes to mind. Of course, her signature artisanal bonbons and bars are available for sale if you’re looking for a tasty souvenir to take home.
But this cafe also has savouries you’re not going to find at any other Janice Wong store or at her pastry cafe, 2am:dessertbar. Come for a literal high tea and enjoy sandwiches made with soft potato buns and stuffed with the likes of Ham & Egg ($16) and Caesar Chicken ($18).
Image credit: @cookienz1967 via Instagram
Otherwise, you’ll want to indulge in handcrafted desserts named after attractions at GBTB. The mousse-based pastries like Cloud Forest, Floral Fantasy, and Gardens are $12 each – a must-try for the palate, and must-take for the ‘Gram.
For something lighter on these incessantly hot days, consider getting a scoop of gelato ($6) in flavours like dark chocolate, strawberry watermelon, and mao shan wang durian. There are also cocktails ($25) like bergamot gin & tonic, negroni, and old fashioned to cool down with. Those keeping it teetotalling-friendly can get a mocktail ($18) instead in flavours like yuzu freeze, virgin mojito, and lychee summer.
Just note that you’ll need a ticket to enter the Supertree Observatory Deck ($10/pax) but you’ll get admission to Janice Wong at the Supertree thereafter. Your entry ticket also entitles you to climb up to the open-air rooftop deck for more panoramic views of Marina Bay.
Many of us can probably count Gardens by the Bay as a been-there-done-there thing to do in Singapore. But it might be time to head back if you’ve yet to conquer climbing up the Supertree. You’ll get to see the gardens from a new point of view, plus indulge in locally-made desserts and chocolates.
Other food places for dates:
Cover image adapted from: Gardens by the Bay, @cookienz1967 via Instagram
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