Parallel Coffee Roasters: New Coffee Stop at Duxton Hill
The area of Duxton Hill and it’s surroundings is home to many eating options, from hearty Korean BBQ joints to fancy Italian restaurants, to cosy Japanese ramen shacks. When it comes to cafes though, the area is mostly ruled by Bearded Bella and Monument Lifestyle.
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Happily though, tucked away in the inner reaches of Duxton Hill is Parallel Coffee Roasters, which just opened it’s doors this September.
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Occupying the ground floor of a shophouse, the pristine white façade positively gleams in the sunshine. Flanked by greenery on each side, the exterior of Parallel is at once aesthetically pleasing and inviting.
Inside though, Parallel switches to a darker colour scheme, perhaps brought over by the previous tenant which was a French-Japanese contemporary dining restaurant by the name of Rizu.
Parallel prides itself on good coffee at accessible prices, with a cup of black coffee beginning at S$2.90, which is almost unheard of in cafes these days regardless of their location, and especially not one at Duxton Hill.
White coffee is priced at a more than reasonable S$3.90, cold brew concoctions at S$5, mocha and chocolate at $5.50, and various add-ons like an extra shot or the use of low-fat milk instead are all possible.
We tried the Iced White, which was pretty good, well-balanced and not too acidic. I personally thought the coffee was a little on the lighter side so opt for another shot if you’d like your coffee to have more of a kick.
Those not into coffee can choose from fruit smoothies, kombucha as well as tea or draught beers.
When it comes to food though, the menu isn’t big.
The heavier stuff maxes out at sandwiches served on Cuban bread and a side of salad, and the rest of the menu is filled out with pastries, sides, açaí and yoghurt bowls.
We had the Classic Honey Chicken Sandwich (S$11.90; pictured above) and the Smoked Salmon Sandwich (S$12.90; pictured below).
The sandwiches didn’t look mighty impressive on first glance, but the bread was done really well. The Cuban bread (sourdough as an option) was well grilled, with just the right amount of crunch on the outside to balance the softness of the bread inside.
The honey chicken ham unfortunately was a little sour, while the smoked salmon sandwich could have done with a bit more flavour, perhaps with more cream cheese to add a bit more oomph.
We also had the Truffle Fries (S$10) to share which were fine enough.
Overall though, I liked the vibe at Parallel, and if you’re just looking for a morning coffee pick-me-up or a lazy afternoon pit-stop, Parallel offers good coffee at hard-to-beat prices.
However, the sandwiches were a tad disappointing, and a little too simple if you’re looking for a place that’ll really satisfy your brunch cravings. Hopefully in the future, we might see more options for food on the menu for variety, with heartier portions and flavours.
For now though, perhaps coffee and an açaí bowl at Parallel might be a better idea.
WHERE | 39 DUXTON HILL, SINGAPORE 089617
