Updated December 3
There is some serious resurgence to the F&B scene happening right now in the Bugis/Kampong Glam district. A new cafe called 100Labs has landed in the neighbourhood, featuring predominantly desserts such as waffles, gelato, pastries and coffee, of course.
It is currently still in its soft launch phase, so expect to see more items being released in the coming weeks.
Waffles, gelato and coffee
For now, a popular item seems to be the Oomph! Waffles (ala carte S$7, single scoop gelato S$9.90, double scoops gelato S$12.90).
The buttermilk waffles is good on its own, but pairs well with any of the rotating gelato menu which includes flavours such as Vanilla, Pistachio, Taro Yam & Coconut, Hazelnut Rocher, Dark Chocolate and Hojicha.
Fruity sorbets are also available — go for Lychee, Mango Sorbet or Wild Strawberry.
Diners can also choose to just have the gelato alone starting from S$3.50 for a single scoop.
Other light bites on the display shelf include pastries such as Strawberry Shortcake (S$4) and Key Lime Tart ($5).
The cafe also offers a selection of drinks such as coffee, hot chocolate and iced teas.
But some standout beverages on social media seem to be their Soychai Latte (Hot S$5/ Iced S$6), Sea Salt Thicc Chocolate (S$5 hot, S$6 iced) and Ondeh-Ondeh Latte (Hot S$5/ Iced S$6) which uses coconut and palm sugar to mimic the Malay kuih that it is named after.
*NEW* Now serving mains too
As of mid-November, 100Labs has added a few savoury items to their menu. This includes:
- Nacho Cheese with Spiced Tomato Beef (S$8.90)
- Leh-Chak Beef Burger (S$12.90 – S$16.90)
- Sausage Boat & Nachos (S$10.90)
Essentially, all the items feature the same spiced tomato chilli minced beef sauce that is concocted in-house. On our most recent visit, we tried a double-patty Leh-Chak Beef Burger (S$16.90) and the Sausage Boat. Both turned out to be Godzilla-sized, so consider this a warning if you have a small stomach.
A single Angus beef patty is already quite hefty — we wager it’s twice the size of a regular fast food burger patty — and it packs a ton of juicy goodness. In contrast, Alfafa sprouts and wild rocket add some crunch as well as a touch of green.
The beef sauce cascades down the burger like a landslide — hence leh-chak (or muddy in English). Flavour-wise, it strikes a nice balance between chilli con carne and rendang, but is surprisingly only mildly spicy.
The Sausage Boat is the equally large sidekick to the burger and features pretty much the same ingredients except for a chicken sausage nestled in a toasted sesame seed bun and drizzled with mustard and diced onions. If we are being critical, it is just a smidge salty probably because the sausage already comes pre-seasoned.
Simple, airy atmosphere at 100Labs
Similar to its menu, 100Labs has an understated vibe when it comes to its interior and decor.
Upon entering, customers can choose to sit on either side of the 15-seater cafe; a long bench seat on the left or smaller individual tables on the right.
The walls are kept bare and the only pops of colour are the pastel-hued chairs placed around each table.
The muted decor in the space seems to befit the cafe’s location on Sultan Gate, which is less busier than the neighbouring Haji Lane/Arab Street area.
For a one-month old cafe that only serves a small menu at the moment, 100Labs is already receiving positive reviews online.
So if you are looking for a post-meal spot in Arab Street, your Google Maps should point in the direction of 100Labs.
Here’s where to find 100Labs:
41 Sultan Gate, Singapore 198489
Halal status: Muslim-owned
Opening hours:
Sunday to Thursday: 12:00 pm – 10:00pm
Friday and Saturday: 12:00pm – 12:00am
Top images by @hazeldiary_ and @iris.nihao on Instagram.
