Paaru Cafe is a new cafe hidden in Pearl’s Hill Terrace that may evoke memories of exploring Kyoto in Japan. Getting to the coffee space may mean a rather unusual trek but it feels special and makes you want to linger once you are there.
Getting to Paaru at Pearl’s Hill Terrace
To get to Paaru café, you can either drive up a very narrow road to 195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace or climb a steep stairway from the back of People’s Park Complex. The area around the café feels somewhat forgotten, with mature trees casting shadows over the old building that was the Uppeer Barracks which housed married Sikh police officers and their families till the end of the Second World War in 1945.
As you enter the foyer of the building, you’ll be greeted by large Charlie Brown and Snoopy statues that have a strangely welcoming vibe.
From there, you’ll make your way through narrow corridors, occasionally passing sunny courtyards, until you finally reach Paaru, which has an exterior reminiscent of a Japanese tea house.
Paaru パール
As you approach Paaru cafe, the first thing that catches your eye is a rustic courtyard. It has a Japanese garden ambiance although along with bamboo trees there are also banana and pomelo trees there. Along the corridors, you will notice a few stacked milk crates that serve as makeshift seats for customers waiting to be seated.
The entrance to the cafe features sliding screened timber doors. Inside, you will find a coffee bar, an open kitchen, and a compact dining space. The decor follows a minimalist Japanese style, with a large hanging fabric lamp taking center stage.
Menu of Paaru
The menu of Paaru is also minimalist – in style and substance. Currently, there are only 5 all-day breakfast items. Besides salad and muesli, you can opt for shokupan, or Japanese milk bread, served in 3 different ways with add-ons.
We understand that Paaru will be introducing a new dinner menu in August 2023.
Brunch at Paaru
We ordered the Scambled Eggs on Shokupan ($13) and French Toast Shokupan ($12) with white coffee ($6).
The Eggs on Shokupan was delightfully uncomplicated. It featured scrambled eggs cooked to perfection, with a soft and moist texture. With minimal ingredients, it allowed one to savour the simple pleasure of eggs and bread.
The French Toast Shokupan was a small slice of bread accompanied by kuromitsu (Japanese black sugar syrup), cacao nibs and a sprinkle of salt. The bread itself was soft, with a caramelized outer layer. While the plating was basic, the dish excelled in terms of taste, offering a delightful balance of flavours. It was one of the finest renditions of French toast we had tried in Singapore. The only gripe would be that the portion size was small.
Coffee at Paaru was as good as those you would find in the top specialty coffee houses in Singapore nowadays.
Paaru Bakery
If you enjoy the Shokupan at Paaru cafe and like to bring home some Japanese milk bread goodness, you can. But first, you will have to embark on a search for treasure adventure in Pearl’s Hill Terrace to track down Paaru Bakery. It has no signboard – only a plant and a lightbulb serve as clues that you have arrived at the destination of your treasure hunt.
Paaru Bakery is a kitchen studio run by Chef Yuki Kaneda. The bakery specializes in whipping up fresh batches of shokupan, shortcakes and an assortment of baked treats.
Filter coffee is available at Paaru Bakery.
We bought Madeleine ($2 each) and financier ($2) to try at home. They were very good.
Reasons to Visit Pearl’s Hill Terrace
Pearl’s Hill Terrace offers a peaceful and serene escape from the bustling Chinatown, with its lush greenery and matured trees providing a tranquil environment. The pre-war buildings with their intriguing history make Pearl’s Hill Terrace a place worth exploring. It is one of the stops along the Police Heritage Trail. Photographers will find many interesting subjects. Now with hidden gems like Paaru Cafe and Paaru Bakery, food loving Singaporeans will have another very good reason to trek up to Pearl’s Hill Terrace. Once you are there, you may feel you want to linger.
Ratings:
Food: 4
Service: 4
Value: 3
Atmosphere: 4
Overall Rating: 4 TOPs 
Paaru Cafe パール
195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace, #01-61
Singapore 168976
Opening Hours
Mon – Fri: 9 am – 7 pm
Sat – Sun: 8 am – 6 pm
Paaru Bakery ベーカリー
195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace, #01-18
Singapore 168976
Opening Hours:
Mon – Fri: 10.30am – 6 pm (closed Wednesdays)
Sat – Sun: 9 am – 6 pm
The Ordinary Patrons | Real Dining Experience of Ordinary People
an independent Singapore food blog
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