Sugar & Spoon is a gelato coffeeshop stall in Hougang, with over 15 flavours from S$4
Hougang residents, you’re in for a sweet treat!
Tucked within Yun Fei Lai Eating House at Hougang Avenue 5 lies Sugar & Spoon, a gelato kopitiam stall serving over 15 flavours starting from just S$4.
As with most ice cream joints, Sugar & Spoon has a tiered pricing system for its gelato. A single scoop will set you back S$4 for regular, S$5 for premium, S$6 for VIP, and S$6.50 for seasonal.
In the morning, the humble kopitiam stall operates as a min jiang kueh spot by Han N Han Peanut Pancake. Come afternoon, it then transforms into Sugar & Spoon.
For co-founder Sean Xander Lim, 34, ice cream has been his lifelong love.
A self-declared ice cream addict, Xander — as he prefers to go by — says, “Since young, I have loved to eat ice cream. I can also finish one tub of ice cream, which a lot of people can’t.”
According to Xander, Sugar & Spoon’s gelato is lower in fat, thanks to its milk-based composition (instead of cream-based for ice-cream). Every flavour is also crafted based on Xander’s own preferences, before being produced in a halal-certified central kitchen.
The brand originally debuted as a cafe at SAF Yacht Club, but high rental costs pushed Xander to pivot.
More importantly, Xander wanted to make his gelato accessible to the everyday crowd, especially the older folks.
Since moving to the coffeeshop at Hougang, he has noticed a shift in tastes, too — the heartland crowd prefers familiar options, such as chocolate and mao shan wang durian.
That’s also why Sugar & Spoon offers a slew of gelato flavours, from all-time favourites to trendier creations such as Cookie Monster, espresso, and strawberry Yakult.
The pandan waffles (from S$1.60) are also Xander’s creation, perfected after plenty of trial and error.
But besides the usual old-school local-style waffles, Sugar & Spoon also offers thick Belgian waffles to go with the gelato.
When asked why, Xander says he wants to offer more choices — some might skip the pricier ice cream and waffle combo, in favour of more affordable options. He adds: “I want to make the neighbourhood residents happy.”
Having a Rocky Road? Let Sugar & Spoon sweeten the day
For the best of both worlds, we went with the thick waffle and double gelato scoops (from S$12) with Korean strawberry cheesecake and 85% dark chocolate.
The dark chocolate delivered exactly what it promised — creamy, with a gao (thick) cocoa intensity that hits the spot. Meanwhile, the strawberry cheesecake leaned a little too tangy for our liking.
If you like your waffles extra crispy, Sugar & Spoon’s version is softer than what most cafes serve. Still, the subtle pandan aroma paired nicely with the gelato, making for a satisfying treat overall.
Another must-try flavour is the mao shan wang durian (from S$6.50) — rich, smooth, and bursting with that unmistakable punch.
It’s everything a good durian gelato should be, and easily my top pick at Sugar & Spoon.
For something a little different, we also had the sourdough croffle with a scoop of ondeh ondeh gelato (S$10).
Its appearance is admittedly no-frills, but don’t be fooled — this combo delivered.
The croffle is crisp, buttery, and honestly so good to enjoy on its own. Add a scoop of the coconutty ondeh ondeh gelato, and it’s an unexpectedly impressive pairing that’s well worth a try.
So if you’re around the area and craving yummy gelato without breaking the bank, Sugar & Spoon has got you covered! With cool flavours, affordable prices, and a chill heartland vibe, it’s definitely a spot to keep on your list.
For the latest eats, read more about the childhood snack Mamee Monster’s ongoing SG60 collaboration and the new Italian restaurant II Giardino at Botanic Gardens.
Tues 4pm - 11pm
Wed 4pm - 11pm
Thurs 4pm - 11pm
Fri 4pm - 11pm
Sat 2.30pm - 11.30pm
Sun 2.30pm - 11.30pm
- Hougang
Shannon has the taste buds of a grandmother and perpetually struggles with a food coma.
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