Have you ever stumbled upon Tom’s Palette in Bugis during an impromptu ice cream craving? That’s exactly what happened to me on a sweltering Singapore afternoon. Tom’s Palette is tucked away in the corner of the unassuming Boon Sing Building, making it one of those delightful hidden gems that rewards the persistent seeker.

A Serendipitous Discovery

I was wandering around Bugis with that familiar sweet tooth nagging at me when I frantically typed “ice cream near me” into Google Maps. Tom’s Palette popped up, and without bothering to read reviews (quite unlike my usual methodical approach), I decided to follow the digital breadcrumbs. Despite following the map precisely, I nearly missed it – Tom’s Palette is practically camouflaged in its corner location of Boon Sing Building on Middle Road.

This spontaneous decision turned out to be brilliant because the ice cream at Tom’s Palette is nothing short of extraordinary.

Flavour Selection: Spin the Wheel!

Before you even step inside, you’re greeted by a list of available flavours displayed prominently at the entrance.

What caught my eye immediately was their quirky spin wheel – a delightful contraption designed for the indecisive amongst us. Can’t decide? Just spin it and let the ice cream goddess determine your destiny! It’s these playful touches that set Tom’s Palette apart from other ice cream parlours in Singapore.

Pricing and Options

We opted for regular cups at $5.80 each, which allows a choice of two flavours. The portion size is perfect for satisfying a sweet craving without overwhelming your palate or leaving you uncomfortably full. It’s ideal as a post-meal treat.

Flavour Adventures: What We Tried

Granny’s Favourite

This chocolate malt gelato, studded with cookie dough and chocolate chips, offers the perfect balance of salty and sweet. It transported me straight back to childhood with nostalgic notes reminiscent of Horlicks and Milo. The textural contrast of cookie dough bits and chocolate chips elevates this already comforting flavour. It’s clearly a crowd favourite for good reason!

Taiwanese Sesame Brittle

For sesame lovers, this is absolute heaven. It’s essentially a gelato version of black sesame paste with delightful crunchy black and white sesame brittle pieces throughout. The depth of the roasted sesame flavour is impressive – intense and fragrant without being overwhelming.

Jamaican Rum & Raisin

My husband opted for this classic, featuring raisins that have been steeped in aged rum for a month. While pleasant, the rum flavour wasn’t quite as pronounced as we’d hoped. If you’re after a more robust rum kick, Creamier’s version might be more to your taste. Nevertheless, it was still a solid interpretation of this classic flavour.

Parmigiano Reggiano & Crackers

This was the revelation of our visit! Listed under their “Experimental Flavours” section, this 14-month Parmigiano Reggiano gelato with white chocolate crackers is an experiment gone spectacularly right. The salty-sweet profile creates a surprisingly addictive combination. As cheese enthusiasts, we were thoroughly impressed by how well the savoury notes of the aged cheese complemented the sweetness of the ice cream.

Bonus Tastes

One particularly lovely touch at Tom’s Palette is their practice of offering a complimentary tasting scoop of another flavour. I received a taste of their Sicilian Pistachio, which was pleasant though I would have preferred a stronger nutty character. My husband got to sample Granny’s Favourite, which quickly won him over.

What Sets Tom’s Palette Apart

The texture of the ice cream at Tom’s Palette deserves special mention – it’s smooth, dense, and properly churned. Unlike many commercial ice creams, these aren’t cloyingly sweet, allowing the natural flavours to shine through.

The regular cup size offering two flavours gives you just enough variety without overwhelming your palate. It’s the perfect portioning for a sweet interlude in your day. The free tasting scoop is a thoughtful touch that lets you explore their range more broadly.

Final Thoughts on Tom’s Palette

Tom’s Palette in Bugis stands out as one of Singapore’s premier ice cream destinations, balancing traditional favourites with bold experimental offerings. Whether you’re a dessert aficionado or simply seeking refuge from Singapore’s heat, this hidden gem delivers consistently excellent frozen treats.

The next time you’re wandering around Bugis with a sweet craving, do yourself a favour and seek out Tom’s Palette. Sometimes the best culinary discoveries happen when you least expect them, and this tucked-away ice cream parlour proves that Tom’s Palette is absolutely worth finding.