Azabu Sabo Hokkaido Ice Cream at Clarke Quay Central represents authentic Japanese dessert artistry through premium Hokkaido ice cream and traditional sweets that celebrate the finest ingredients and time-honored preparation techniques from Japan's northernmost prefecture. Founded by Gyo Kimura in 1979 in Tokyo with an original teahouse philosophy emphasizing premium quality and authenticity, this distinguished dessert destination at 6 Eu Tong Sen Street #01-46 operates daily from 11am to 10pm, serving internationally renowned Hokkaido Gelato Ice-cream created by exclusively flown-in Japanese ice-cream specialists using unique techniques that preserve the natural flavors and nutritional benefits of authentic Hokkaido farm-fresh milk without chemical additives or artificial preservatives.
The comprehensive dessert menu showcases Azabu Sabo's commitment to authentic Japanese confectionery through signature Hokkaido ice cream flavors including green tea, banana chocolate, tiramisu, red cherry, matcha, black sesame, and yuzu, each crafted using premium Hokkaido milk imported directly from Japanese dairy farms to ensure optimal taste and quality. Beyond ice cream offerings, the restaurant specializes in traditional Japanese desserts including mochi, dango, and anmitsu, all prepared with finest ingredients and traditional techniques that honor centuries-old Japanese confectionery traditions. The menu extends to comprehensive Japanese dining experiences featuring Bento Sets, salads, Udon, Ramen, Mitsu-Mame/An-Mitsu, Zenzai, Omachi/Oshiroku, and sundaes, creating complete cultural dining experiences that celebrate both sweet and savory aspects of authentic Japanese cuisine.
Azabu Sabo Clarke Quay Central provides accessible luxury through reasonable pricing (Single Cup .80, Double Cup .30, Single Cone .30, Double Cone .80) while maintaining the cozy, inviting atmosphere enhanced by traditional Japanese design elements including wooden furniture and paper lanterns that create authentic cultural environments. The restaurant's strategic Clarke Quay location ensures excellent accessibility and integration with Singapore's premier entertainment district, creating opportunities for dessert experiences that complement broader cultural and recreational activities along the Singapore River. With widespread popularity among both locals and tourists who appreciate authentic Japanese desserts and premium Hokkaido ice cream made with traditional methods and imported ingredients, Azabu Sabo continues to serve as a cultural destination that introduces Singapore's diverse community to the artistry, quality, and authentic flavors that define exceptional Japanese confectionery traditions.
There's something about the ingredients used in their ice cream that makes it melt too fast. We bought ours, and within 2 minutes of receiving it from the counter, it was already melting slobberingly all over. And it wasn't like it was a sweltering hot day; it was a breezy night.
Positive Reviews
Poh Lin
Serves nice matcha ice cream.
Tried the matcha chocolate chip, but couldn't really taste the chocolate. Matcha flavour is still the best!
Note: Does not accept Master or Visa as payment.
Lokelam
Lots of unique flavours—I tried the Walnut Maple this time. It had subtle sweetness and a super stretchy, super soft texture. I realise they tend to give less when you order in a cup, so I always get the cone. It melts really quickly, though, so eat fast.
Highly recommended for tourists. P.S. They only accept Cash/Nets. No card payments.
Jia Cheng Chan
The milk ice cream was really smooth and sweet.
Mei
Really love their ice cream, but it melts sooooo fast (within a minute of being scooped)! It’s a mess to eat. Prices are on the high side ($5.50 for a single and $8 for a double). Premium flavours will cost more.
We tried the kinako and black sesame this time. We loved both, but wished the black sesame was stronger. Their sea salt, which I tried previously, was pretty decent and light as well.
Sylvia Lee
It looked interesting, but the taste was great! It’s so soft and creamy. It melts fast, so you have to eat it quickly, but it's a reasonable price for great-tasting ice cream by the river. There are many places to sit and enjoy the ice cream right outside the small shop.
Jacqueline Lee
120/100 rate for this! Rarely feel like making a Google review, but this must be shared😆
Had an amazing ice cream, and I really love the flavor of Black Sesame! Staff member Ke Lei was really friendly and patient in allowing us to try different flavors before we made our choice :) We went back to ask for his name because we wanted to thank him for being so nice and patient! Amazing staff they have at Azabu!
The ice cream is smooth and tasty; you have to eat it quickly once you buy it, but it is really GOOD STUFF.
Chan Peng
I think this place is probably as old as the mall, and somehow I don’t recall having tried their ice cream before. I decided to give this a try after dinner nearby. The texture feels like typical Japanese soft-serve ice cream. The matcha and yuzu flavour go quite well together. But if you are yearning for rich, creamy, chewy ice cream, then you will be quite disappointed. Otherwise, it is what it is and quite refreshing on a warm and slightly breezy evening.
Atara Xia
Ordered green tea and rum and raisin flavors. The ice cream is creamy and it surely has a unique taste. The product itself is satisfying. We were there on a Friday night, so it was somewhat busy. There was a long queue, but the staff were able to serve the customers right on time. It is worth the price.
Neo Zhi Xin
The queue was long and slow on a weekend. Ice cream melts faster than expected. I ordered the black sesame and matcha flavors in a cone. It tasted good, but I guess it's a little pricey for what I got. No seats were available, so I just bought and ate while walking.
Jodie Goh
Love their ice cream. It just melts quickly, so you better eat it fast. There are always a lot of people when I go here. But they serve you fast, so it's okay. They have different types of chocolate ice cream. This is one of our go-to ice cream spots when we're in Clarke Quay.
An Tong 999
This place has been here forever. The ice cream is really fresh and tasty with a smooth and airy texture. They also have a nice selection of flavors with a focus on Japanese ingredients. It’s a tad pricey for what it is, but it’s quite tasty. I also like that it’s not overly sweet. What I’ve always found baffling is the shop’s limited hours. It’s literally in the heart of one of the major tourist areas, and yet it opens late and closes early. It’s not the staff’s fault, but I don’t know what the owners are thinking. At least on my last visit, the staff, to their credit, did try to accommodate as many customers as they could, even after the official closing time. In any case, it’s worth a visit.
Winnie Tan
Azabu Sabo has always been my go-to spot for sweet treats whenever I’m in the Clarke Quay area—I’ve been a loyal patron for years. While I’ve come across reviews critiquing the staff’s attitude and professionalism, I personally haven’t encountered any issues. Perhaps it’s because my visits are straightforward: I get my ice cream and head out.
One thing to note is that the ice cream melts quite quickly, so I usually enjoy it by the river while taking in the view—a simple but delightful experience.
If you’re visiting, I’d recommend trying the Cookies & Cream or Hojicha flavors—they’re my personal favorites!
Albert Lee
I came on a weekday evening, and there wasn't much of a queue, so I got my order pretty quickly. The service staff recommended the black sesame and gave me a small scoop of it on top of my order, and it was nice. I went with the Calpico blueberry, which was too sweet and tasted more like grape sorbet to me. There were no seats available to enjoy my cup/cone along the riverside.
Keong Chong Tan
Soft, fluffy Japanese ice cream, akin to soft serve. It's priced at a premium, at $8.50 for a double cup. Ordered the matcha and black sesame, and the flavor is rich. It does tend to melt quickly, so you have to eat it in an air-conditioned mall.