When we were cafe-hunting in JB earlier this year, we chanced upon Bev C’afe, a hipster hangout hidden on the second floor of a multi-label clothing store. Fast forward two months, and we have Sooner Or Later on Haji Lane on our very own shores, which saw its official opening last weekend—though they’ve got the first floor, while Plop Apparels takes the upper.
New as they are, visitors to Sooner Or Later have already found their favourites at this cafe: Black Sesame ($8), Matcha Latte ($7), and ice cream on waffles.
Between the two spotlighted drinks, the Black Sesame is the one that blends right in with the interiors of the cafe. Served in a curved, ribbed glass, it starts with a base of milk, topped with a thick layer of black sesame cream that’s said to be gao but not jelak.
A single scoop of ice cream here is priced from $4.80, depending on the flavour you choose, or from $8 for a double. It appears that there are six ice creams on offer at this moment, with flavours including Oolong Osmanthus, Cheese Crackers, Houjicha, and Salted Butterscotch, as well as a single Yuzu Sorbet.
You have the option to pair your ice cream with a Waffle ($6) or Brownie ($5)—choose between Miso Caramel and Hazelnut.
There’s also a selection of cakes on offer from Thoughts, a home-based business known for their Banana Bread ($6).
Image credit: @yongweikai
If not, match your Black Sesame drink with Black Sesame Cake ($8), served with a healthy dollop of chocolate ganache.
On a savoury note, check out their Mentaiko Crab Meat Croissant ($18): umami, briny, and buttery all in each mouthful.
Image credit: @soonerorlater.hajilane
The sleek minimalist design of Sooner Or Later echoes through the clean lines and silver-grey finishes that run through the store. It looks like there’s limited seating available, on a curved bench that runs the length of a wall within, and small round tables outside the shop, so getting a seat here may be tough.
While you’re in the area, here are some Bugis food places you can check out for a more substantial meal. Alternatively, La Petite Boulangerie is the first place in Singapore to serve Merveilleux!
Address: 17A Haji Lane, Singapore 189210
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 11am to 10pm
Website
Sooner Or Later is not a halal-certified eatery.
Photos by Chiara Ang, Casandra Nicholas, and Lau Hui Hui.