Cover Spring menu at Esora
Spring menu at Esora
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It’s never too late to get a taste of Japan’s cherry blossoms on the island at these restaurants and cafés
Sakura season has arrived in Japan, but you won’t need to book a flight to experience these spring delights. That’s because you can treat yourself to a wide variety of sakura-themed menus at some of the best restaurants in Singapore that will transport you to the gardens of Japan.
The Raffles Singapore’s annual sakura afternoon tea is back with a luxurious spread of sakura-infused Japanese treats, as is Koma’s sakura-themed omakase dessert that will satiate your sweet tooth. You can’t miss out Esora’s new seasonal spring menu, which pays homage to the beauty of the sakura flowers. And, if you’re looking for more casual offerings, head down to Flipper’s Singapore for sakura pancakes.
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1. The Grand Lobby, Raffles Hotel Singapore
The Grand Lobby’s sakura afternoon tea at the Raffles Hotel Singapore is a must-try this season. From March 27 to June 4, nibble on desserts exquisitely designed to resemble sakura blossoms, such as the sakura nerikiri wagashi, a chewy dessert made with white bean paste and glutinous rice flour, or a Mont Blanc topped with a sakura strawberry purée.
Don’t skip out on the savoury Japanese delights on offer either, which include a tamagoyaki (rolled omelette) topped with ikura and Japanese pickles bursting with flavour, and a premium beef sando with katsu béchamel. Wash it down with Mariage Fréres loose leaf tea, or the Raffles custom-blended coffee.
The Grand Lobby, Raffles Hotel Singapore, 1 Beach Road, S(189673), +65 6337 1886
2. Esora
Head chef Takeshi Araki has designed a spring menu that will take you to the Hiroshima countryside of his family abode and the blooming of cherry blossoms. In his new 10-course menu, feast on highlights such as the sakuradai (literally ‘cherry bream’), a fish that hails the coming of spring and tinged with the colours of sakura blossoms. It’s presented with udo (angelica tree), mixed with somen (Japanese wheat noodles), and served with sesame sauce, myoga (Japanese ginger), kinome leaves and a soup made of seabream bone and konbu (dried kelp).
End the meal with a salted sakura dessert—salted cherry blossoms are blended with nitrogen to flavour ice cream, paired with a hot tonka bean milk pudding and topped with a kuro mirin (aged cooking wine) foam.
Esora, 15 Mohamed Sultan Road, S(238964), +65 8533 7528
3. Koma
Above Dessert omakase at Koma
Dessert omakase at Koma
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Koma celebrates the sakura season with an exclusive sakura-inspired omakase dessert, a decadent set that includes macarons, mochi, and a towering sakura Mont Blanc.
If you’re looking for a main, go for the pan-seared sakura chicken breast. The tender chicken is paired with leeks, caramelised shallots, and served with a sakura cream sauce—boldly blending sweet and savoury in Koma’s unique brand of modern Japanese cuisine.
Koma, 2 Bayfront Avenue, B1-67, S(018972), +65 6688 8690
4. Ippudo
Above Ohanami Sakura Umegaemochi & Torotoro No Umeshu at Ippudo
Ohanami Sakura Umegaemochi & Torotoro No Umeshu at Ippudo
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Ippudo’s sakura desserts prove that the culinary team doesn't just do ramen well. This spring, savour sakura-themed delights exclusively at Ippudo Tanjong Pagar at Guoco Tower until May 31. Start the meal with a steaming bowl of ramen, which you can pair with the Torotoro No Umeshu. It’s a plum wine made with a home-brewed shochu (a Japanese distilled beverage), and features fully-ripe plums in a paste and pickled green plums. The result is crisp and light, with the sweet tartness of a peach and a beautiful pink colour reminiscent of the sakura blossoms.
For dessert, the pastry team has crafted the Ohanami Sakura Umegaemochi, a speciality rice cake with sweet azuki bean filling originating from Fukuoka. At Ippudo, real sakura flowers are used to decorate the rice cakes, which are served with a pot of sakura green tea infused with a whole sakura flower for a soothing end to a hearty meal.
Ippudo, 7 Wallich Street, 01-15 Tanjong Pagar Centre, S(078884), +65 6584 0087
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5. Gokoku Japanese Bakery
Above Sakura anpan at Gokoku Japanese Bakery
Sakura anpan at Gokoku Japanese Bakery
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Gokoku Japanese Bakery is a favourite for Japanese pastries, and it does not disappoint this sakura season. Catch the sakura anpan, which sees sweet white sakura bean paste topped with mijinko, a puffed glutinous rice mochi. Both are showered with sesame seeds and crowned with a cherry blossom, bringing a hint of the sakura season’s beauty in these delicate pastries.
Gokoku Japanese Bakery (multiple outlets), 9 Raffles Boulevard, Millenia Walk, #01-51, 039596, +65 6255 1541
6. Pomme Café
Known for its delicate pâtisseries, Pomme Café has released a new spring menu with several sakura-themed treats. To start a sumptuous meal, go for the new sakura Caprese salad, which sees slices of mozzarella, tomato, and basil leaves drizzled with a sakura-inflused balsamic glaze.
As you’re munching on delectable mains like a mentaiko risotto, sip on drinks like the Sakura Cloud or the Sakura Misto. The former sees housemade sakura cream over fresh milk, while the latter sees the same cream over fresh milk and espresso for a caffeine boost. For desserts, try the Haru, a sakura-infused cheese mousse with a sweet peach compote and an acidic raspberry coulis. Squeeze in some Strawberry Cream Baileys for an alcoholic touch of decadence.
Pomme Cafè, 47 South Bridge Rd, Singapore 058680, +65 8168 3778
7. Matchaya
Beloved Japanese matcha chain Matchaya is celebrating the sakura season with a series of exclusive sakura and strawberry treats. You’ll be treated to several new drinks, which include a sea salt matcha strawberry sakura. This drink mixes the umami Uji matcha with Tochigi strawberry milk, sea salt flakes and sakura spring tea leaves, which is delightfully complex with the balance of sweet, umami, and salty. Don’t miss the houjicha strawberry sakura either, which sees the sakura spring tea leaves brewed with houjicha milk and strawberry milk to bring out the houjicha’s tannic qualities with the strawberry milk’s sweetness.
To accompany your drink, go for the sakura and strawberry parfait, which blends sakura and Uji matcha soft serves with Tochigo strawberry purée, over toasty rice puffs, shiratama (a type of mochi), matcha warabi mochi made with bracken starch, Kanten jellies made from algae, and fresh strawberries. The result is a collision of bitter and umami matcha with the sweetness of sakura blossoms and the acidity of strawberries, making this a perfect dessert.
Matchaya (multiple outlets), 391 Orchard Road, 03-10A, Singapore 238872, +65 6980 6577
8. Flipper’s Singapore
Flipper’s is known for its fluffy, airy soufflés, and the team have cooked up pretty pink treats this sakura season. At its Takashimaya branch, sink your teeth into sakura kiseki (miracle) soufflé pancakes paired with homemade mochi-wrapped ice cream, topped with ruby cream that is perfectly light and floral.
To complete a satisfying afternoon tea, go for the matcha sakura latte. If you don’t drink caffeine, opt for the sakura milk served either hot or cold.
Flipper’s Singapore (multiple locations), 391A Orchard Road, B1-56 Takashimaya Shopping Centre, S(238873)
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About
Ethan is a dining writer with Tatler Singapore. Trained in literary arts and filmmaking, their work has previously been published in Esquire Singapore, Men's Folio, and with the Asian Film Archive and the Singapore International and Film Festival, across a wide range of interests from gastronomy to fashion and arts criticism.
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Ethan writes about exciting news in the F&B industry, specialising in fine dining, exclusive spirits launches, and new restaurants. They are always looking for riveting voices to bring something fresh to an already-dynamic industry.
Follow them on Instagram at @faustiangourmand.
