Pilcrow Review: Dessert Bar With Sourdough Pizza And Plated Desserts In Boat Quay

Pilcrow cafe in Boat Quay for sourdough pizza and more

Located in the bustling Boat Quay locale, Pilcrow is a great spot for those looking for a post-dinner nightcap. The cafe serves gorgeous plated desserts as well as cocktail pairings—you can choose from the selection of handcrafted cocktails or ask for a recommendation. Though newly opened, the cafe has already garnered numerous positive reviews online, igniting my excitement for the evening to come.

Food at Pilcrow

As we were hungry, we immediately ordered two 10-inch sourdough pizzas—Beef Pepperoni ($20++) and BBQ Chicken ($18++). I found the Beef Pepperoni pizza flavourful, though the pepperoni slices were a touch too salty.

I also liked the thick layer of cheese coating the surface of the pizza, which was stretchy and melty. The fluffy bread was not too doughy and featured small holes commonly found in sourdough.

My colleague preferred the BBQ Chicken ($18), which also had sweet corn and a savoury barbecue sauce on top. There was a bit more char on this pizza compared to the pepperoni version, giving it a smoky flavour. The pizza dough was dense with a slight chew but lacked the sour taste commonly associated with sourdough bread, possibly due to the stronger flavour of the cheese.

After devouring the mains, my colleague and I enjoyed a dessert-cocktail pairing each. As I have a preference for zesty desserts, I ordered the Exotique ($16++): Japanese yuzu curd encased within a coconut mousse.

The coconut mousse was so soft and pillowy that it almost melted into itself as I dug in. I also enjoyed the chewy yuzu slices that could be found inside the creamy curd.

The Exotique was paired with Pit of the Plum ($22++), a cocktail with plum spirit, grapefruit, and yuzu. This cocktail had distinct floral notes with a sweet yet refreshing aftertaste.

I also tried the Strawberry & Pistachio Mille Feuille ($18++): crispy puff pastry with strawberries, pistachio, and a mixed berries sorbet.

This dessert was an amalgamation of different flavours and textures, from the creamy and tart pink sorbet to the crisp and buttery mille-feuille. While I’m not a big fan of strawberries, I enjoyed lathering them in the sweet mix of the sorbet and jam, which helped to mask a bit of the natural sourness.

This dessert was paired with the Wild Blossom ($22++), a mellow and easy-to-drink cocktail suitable for light drinkers. This cocktail, which comprised a mix of bourbon, rose hip, and orange, was sweet and tart.

Ambience at Pilcrow

While Pilcrow looks like a cafe when you first walk in, you can’t help but notice the mesmerising bar counter hidden towards the back. With 18 indoor seats in total, you can choose to dine by the counter or head outside for a breathtaking view of the Singapore River. The cafe is generally quiet on a weekday evening with customers slowly streaming in after 8pm, so you can opt to come earlier if you prefer more privacy.

Pilcrow is a seven-minute walk from Raffles Place MRT Station.

The verdict

I left Pilcrow with a satisfied stomach and flushed cheeks on a weekday night. It was a big accomplishment to finish an entire pizza by myself, so this speaks volume as to how delicious it was. The desserts also went well with the cocktails, and piqued my interest in the other offerings on the menu. That said, I will definitely be coming back, and next time, I will be staying until late!

If you’re looking for more cocktail spots, read our RATIO Cafe + Gastrobar Review.

Address: 60 Boat Quay, #01-01, Singapore 049848
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 6pm to 12am
Tel: 8869 6866
Website
Pilcrow is not a halal-certified eatery.

Photos taken by Casandra Nicholas.
This was a media tasting at Pilcrow.