Viral acai concept Soft Spot Acai from Bangkok debuts in Singapore

Singapore’s love affair with acai doesn’t seem to be slowing down — this berry-packed superfood has managed to maintain a loyal following, and is regularly seen in cafes, takeaway kiosks, and even at the new-to-Singapore Australian yoghurt concept Yo-Chi. 

Just when you think you’ve seen all things acai in Singapore, Bangkok’s viral Soft Spot Acai — which has just opened its first Singapore outlet in Joo Chiat — takes things a step further.

Instead of the usual sugar-sweetened blends, Soft Spot Acai serves pure Brazilian acai in soft-serve form — with no added sugar and no preservatives. The soft-serve comes with a smooth, velvety texture that best highlights the berry’s natural tang.

The acai here gets its sweetness from monk fruit, also known as luo han guo. Besides this, no additional filler fruits are used to enhance its sweetness. 

The result? Its naturally sweet taste provides a sort of “clean indulgence”, and we can easily see how that has led to the brand expanding across five outlets in Bangkok since it first came about in the Thonglor neighbourhood in May 2024.

From Bangkok to Joo Chiat

The brand in Bangkok is run by two Thai sisters, Kat and Mai, who share a deep passion for acai. 

Their travels exposed them to diverse styles and mixes of acai, which they refined into one guiding principle for the brand — pure Brazilian acai berries with no other fruits or added sugar.

The Joo Chiat shop — its first international outlet — is led by Singaporean owners Samantha Tan and Mustafa Maui Abdullah, who carry on the same principle in the vibrant eastside neighbourhood.

Samantha met Mustafa and Soft Spot Acai’s Bangkok owner, Kat, through her boyfriend and instantly clicked over shared interests. 

It was from this friendship that Samantha and Mustafa decided to dive into the world of F&B and launch Soft Spot Acai in Singapore, as they saw firsthand how Kat and Mai’s concept connected with Singaporeans during their time in Bangkok. 

Samantha and Mustafa chose Joo Chiat to set up shop, for its mix of local and expat residents, along with its numerous notable cafes and trendy fitness studios.

The Singapore store, which is primarily a takeaway concept, keeps things cosy and casual, with two long benches for those who want to linger a little longer over their soft-serves. 

It’s currently in its soft launch phase and will open officially from October 17.

Layers of love — what goes inside a Soft Spot cup

If you’re not sure where to start, Soft Spot Acai has five Signatures (starting from S$9.40 for a medium portion), each with a combination of ingredients crafted for the best flavour combinations. 

As with most acai spots, you’re also free to customise your own acai cup or bowl here. The smallest option, Baby, starts at S$5.50 for 80g of acai or yoghurt, with one regular topping, while the biggest option is a shareable large bowl (S$14), which comes with 210g of acai or yoghurt, and three regular toppings of your choice. 

For the base, you can choose from any its four flavours available at any one time: Pure acai, Biscoff Greek yoghurt, acai yoghurt & swirl (a mix of pure acai and Biscoff Greek yoghurt), and a seasonal Greek yoghurt flavour, which rotates every three or four months. 

The latter wasn’t launched when we had a sneak peek of the store, but its current flavours are anything to go by, we’re sure you’re in for a treat, regardless! 

Its toppings include the usuals such as digestive crumbles, bananas, and cacao nibs. 

However, what stands out at Soft Spot Acai is its line-up of housemade nut butters and drizzles — there’s a total of nine to choose from. 

All its acai options, both customised bowls and Signatures, also come with plant-based cocoa-vanilla granola as the base.

Diving into Soft Spot Acai Singapore’s Signatures

For its Singapore launch, it’s bringing its Bangkok Signatures, such as Softspot for Fruits, Softspot for Chocolate, Softspot for Nut Butter — while keeping the menu dynamic to accommodate local tastes. 

If this is your first introduction to the brand, its longtime favourite, the Softspot for Love, is a must-order.

The Softspot for Love comes with your base of choice and is topped with strawberries, almond flakes, digestive crumbles, granola, and pistachio butter sauce. 

Be sure to dig in quickly, as the goopy pistachio butter sauce semi-sets into a thin shell quite quickly, thanks to the cold acai. We also recommend digging deep into the cup to get a wholesome bite of everything.

Unlike other acai we’ve tried before, this acai soft-serve has an airier texture and tastes lighter and less sweet. Given that Soft Spot also uses 100% pure acai, there’s a great balance of the berry’s natural tartness and the monk fruit’s sweetness.

We were able to polish off the entire cup without feeling overwhelmed. 

As for the pistachio butter drizzle, as most Asian compliments go: It was not too sweet, but still maintained its distinct, robust nutty flavour. Even with a thick, creamy consistency, it wasn’t cloying, which made this all the more enjoyable.

If you’re looking for something more indulgent, the Softspot for Cookies will really hit the spot for those with a sweet tooth. 

Your choice of soft serve comes topped with strawberry, Biscoff crumbs, digestive crumbs, granola, and cookie butter sauce.

This combination made us feel like kids again, licking off cookie butter sauce cheekily from the spoon. Fun fact: This recipe was conjured from one of the sisters’ dreams — and we’re so grateful she not only dreamt it, but remembered the details enough to make it a full menu item! 

Aside from Soft Spot Acai’s mainstay Signatures menu, it will also roll out limited-time creations from time to time. 

One of the first unique creations that Soft Spot Acai Singapore is introducing is the Turkish Dream (S$11.50) — a healthier take on Dubai’s viral pistachio-chocolate kunafa dessert.

After you’ve chosen your soft-serve base, it is laden with pistachio sauce, pistachio feuilletine crunch, burnt butter honey-glazed kataifi (shredded filo pastry dough), and granola, before being finished off with whipped cream.

While the acai version may not carry the exact richness of the original viral chocolate dessert, it’s just as enjoyable, especially when you make your way to the core of this delectable dessert. 

As you dig into the centre, the heap of pistachio feuilletine crunch greets you with a satisfyingly sweet, nutty flavour that pairs incredibly well with the light acai soft serve.

Little touches that sweeten the deal

If acai soft serve really speaks to you or you’re the sort that really loves collecting branded merch, Soft Spot Acai also sells its own merchandise, including T-shirts, caps, reusable tumblers, and even its signature granola in a resealable pack.

Even if you don’t go home with anything more than a bowl of acai, this merch wall also makes for a visually pleasing backdrop for your acai shots — clear proof that the folks at Soft Spot Acai are great at blending flavour with a sense of fun. 

It may be our first brush with Soft Spot Acai here in Singapore (we didn’t manage to visit its Bangkok outlets yet!), but there’s something quietly confident about this brand: It doesn’t need flashy gimmicks or sugary shortcuts to win you over, just good acai done right. 

And judging by the buzz that Soft Spot Acai Singapore is already generating, we think its winning formula is about to catch on fast with the local crowd in Singapore. 

For more ideas on what to eat, try Pout Rooftop Cafe, a viral cafe at Clarke Quay with a great view, and also check out our 15 recommendations for comforting bak kut teh in Singapore.