Vibey new Upper Thomson cafe Beth serves giant hotcakes plus 13 different matcha & hojicha options
Looking for a new brunch spot to hit up at Upper Thomson that’s not one of the usual hotspots? Add the new Beth to your bookmarks, then!
This cafe is located far away from the collective of popular makan spots — it’s further up north, a few bus stops down from Upper Thomson MRT, and right beside the legendary Casuarina Curry.
It’s not just any ol’ brunch spot though: Beth is the brainchild of Amanda Chia, a contestant on Masterchef Singapore Season 4 who was also behind popular home-based Italian sandwich brand Paan.
Beth has been open for a little over two weeks and it’s already popping off on social media, with many travelling there for its unique brunch offerings.
While it’s tucked away in a little enclave of old-school hawker favourites, it stands out with its chic aesthetic.
Its elegant wooden facade hides a unique rotating door, which swivels open to reveal a supremely cosy space underscored with stylish wooden stylings and a sharp Modern European vibe.
It’s perfect for feeding your cameras.
On top of that, it feels just like you’re in someone’s home with its ambience and service — that homely warmth is something that the team wants to give to customers.
Sandwiches and giant hotcakes
Beth’s menu offerings change up depending on the time of the day you visit.
There’s an all-day section, but also a slew of sandwiches and brunch dishes that are available only until 5pm.
Dinner service starts from 5pm until closing, and features larger sharing mains and focaccia instead.
The all-day section includes the salmon croquette (S$23), one of the current bestsellers, with juicy salmon enrobed in a crunchy golden-brown batter and served with a sharp and fragrant homemade tartare sauce.
Another crowd favourite on Beth’s all-day menu is the very unique sour cream fried chicken (S$24), tantalisingly plated atop a pool of bright red tomato sauce.
Beth’s inspiration behind this was the ultimate childhood snack: Sour cream and onion potato chips.
The chicken is lavishly dusted with sour cream seasoning, endowing it with plenty of twang and salinity — nostalgic for sure, but can be quite a lot on its own.
That’s where the tomato sauce comes in. It’s a key component in the ensemble with its sweetness and piquancy, helping to balance out the seasoning, while keeping things nice and tangy.
As for fans of Paan, its Italian sandwiches are also making a return at Beth during brunch.
Both the pistachio & mortadella sandwich (S$18) and truffle & beef carpaccio sandwich (S$23) have their fans. Of the two, we decided on the latter.
The bread was too chewy — but that could be blamed on us letting it sit while we took these photos — but the umami and tender beef, the creamy stracciatella and kiss of truffle perfume means we still wolfed it down.
Our favorite dish on the Beth brunch menu, though, was undoubtedly Beth’s hotcake (S$17).
The hotcake was so thick and fluffy, with a satisfying touch of caramelisation crackle.
On top of that, Beth serves it with butter, tangy strawberry rhubarb jam and an addictive honey soy maple syrup — the most delightful mix of sweet and savoury.
All the matcha and hojicha you need
Another highlight at Beth is the drinks selection, which will leave matcha and hojicha fans excited — there is a combined total of 13 different matcha and hojicha options here.
These range from the simplest ceremonial matcha latte (S$7.50) to less common flavour combinations, such as brown sugar hojicha latte (S$7) and melon or banana milk matcha (S$9).
Beth also does a strawberry rhubarb matcha latte (S$9) using the homemade strawberry rhubarb jam also used in the hotcake. This one is nice and fragrant with a more vibrant acidity due to the rhubarb.
But if you want something comforting, the apple pie hojicha latte (S$8.50) really hits the spot. The hojicha’s toastiness and earthiness blends so harmoniously with the cinnamon-rich sweetness of the apple pie.
In case you only need something light to nibble on, or to pair with your drinks, we also strongly suggest the Grandma’s corn cookie (S$6.50).
It’s a bit plain and nondescript compared to Beth’s other much more visually appealing dishes, but the distinct sweetness and aroma of the corn is so delightful — it’s giving Kenny Roger’s corn muffin.
It might not be as accessible as the other Upper Thomson cafes, but we think there’s a charm to Beth’s quaint location and it’s worth visiting for the great vibes, hearty brunch plates and a whopping 13 different matcha and hojicha offerings.
This was a hosted tasting.
For more ideas on what to eat, read our stories on Alice Boulangerie’s swanky new concept at Raffles City and the char kway teow in Singapore that will warm the cockles of your hearts.
Wed 10.30am - 3pm, 5.30pm - 9pm
Thurs 10.30am - 3pm, 5.30pm - 9pm
Fri 10.30am - 3pm, 5.30pm - 9pm
Sat 9am - 9pm
Sun 9am - 9pm
- Lentor
- Mayflower
Evan started off writing about food on Instagram, before joining outlets such as Buro and Confirm Good to pursue his passion. His best work usually comes after his first whisky shot in the morning.
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