Riding on the success of its first store in Millenia Walk last year, The Dark Gallery @ Takashimaya Shopping Centre is finally launced. This is a full-fledged café and chocolate boutique with an expanded menu of homemade chocolate-centric creations that span the classics to inventive and novel.

 

With separate retail and dine-in sections, the artfully-designed space decked in the brand’s signature hues of black and gold provide the canvas for eye-catching and vibrant food art by local artist Lovage. Customers can indulge in their favourite sweets at this intimate 40-seater cafe with booth and banquette seats, and a communal table.

 

 

 

At The Dark Gallery @ Takashimaya, the Mod-Bar® pour-over and steam system is used to prepare pour-over coffee and signature chocolate drinks such as Single Origin Dark Chocolate. Built to extract and render the best brew and milk foam, the system is programmed with customised time intervals and water volume.

 

 

 

Earl Grey Lavender, Salted Caramel Coconut & Chocolate Banana Pecan – $6 each

Being a nuts lover, the Chocolate Banana Pecan – a moist loaf studded with dark chocolate and topped with pecan won me over. The Salted Caramel Coconut crowned with coconut shavings, and Earl Grey Lavender frosted with buttercream with a sprinkling of edible lavender and rose petals also taste good. I would highly recommend you to go with a cup of Earl Grey tea or Ginger & Lemongrass tea to balance the sweetness.

 

 

 

Croissants (White Chocolate & Dark) – $3.50 each and Maple Chocolate Brioche – $3.50 each

Crisp, buttery and light, the 66% Dark Chocolate and White Chocolate croissants are freshly baked. The croissants are crispy, flaky and absolutely tasty.

Maple Chocolate Brioche is served with a mini syringe filled with maple syrup; the syrup’s sweetness is balanced by the mildly-bitter dark chocolate, and the classic Dark Chocolate Scone requires no accoutrement with the generous amount of dark cocoa chips within.

 

 

 

Chocolate Drink – Six more choices of Single Origin Dark Chocolate (Hot – $8.50, Iced – $9.50)

At this second outlet, we enjoyed a healthy dose of endorphins with the Single Origin Dark Chocolate drink. Besides The Dark Gallery’s signature 66% dark chocolate which flows from a special tap that keeps it impeccably-tempered, there are six other cacao blends from around the world to choose from; 62% Brazil, 64% Madagascar, 68% Ghana, 70% Costa Rica, 72% Venezuela and 75% Tanzania. I tried Tanzania –the taste is fantastic, the fresh milk is foamed together with the chocolate couvertures using the Mod-Bar® steamer; resulting in a comforting and rich beverage.

 

 

 

 

Signature Drinks Platter – Four Senses Of Chocolate – $10

 

Exclusive to The Dark Gallery @ Takashimaya; Four Senses of Chocolate presents The Dark Gallery’s signature 66% dark chocolate in four iced and hot drinks with different taste profiles; Sucré, Savoury, Spice and Sangria.

 

Perfect for those with a sweet tooth, the Sucré is a luscious hot chocolate served with white, dark and milk chocolate shavings which melt into the beverage, as well as a toasted marshmallow for dipping, if desired.

 

Served with a mini salted cheese stick, the Savoury juxtaposes The Dark Gallery’s Signature Hot Chocolate with a head of cold and savoury cream cheese foam. The only cold item among the quartet; Sangria presents the classic pairing of orange with chocolate in a drink – this zesty concoction combines cold-pressed fresh orange juice with iced chocolate and a lemon tart. Chai lovers will take to Spice, which infuses aromatics such as turmeric, star anise, ginger, cloves and black pepper rich hot chocolate; rendering a smooth and soothing cuppa.

 

 

Cake lovers will be thrilled with the stellar selection of artisanal cakes here.  For special occasions, check out The Dark Gallery’s beautiful Ice Cream Cakes ($49 – $99), or customise a sweet gift comprising other retail items such as Specialty Chocolate Bars (45g, $12 each), Ice Cream Pints (450g, $16 each), Artisanal Sables (160g, $15), Artisanal Cacao (90g, $15) and Artisanal Nuts (120g, $8).

 

 

The Dark Gallery’s 7day Tasting Box ($49) which comprises seven Single Origin Tablets (30g, $7 each); Papua New Guinea 35% Milk Chocolate, Madagascar 64% Dark Chocolate, Ghana 68% Dark Chocolate, Costa Rica 70% Dark Chocolate, Venezuela 72% Dark Chocolate, Tanzania 75% Dark Chocolate and Davao City 72% Dark Chocolate.

 

 

Savour one or several from the irresistible range of Bonbons (15g, $3.50 each) and Pralines (11g, $3 each), all of which are crafted with fine dark chocolate from around the world.

 

Some Bonbons flavours are Toasted Almond, Earl Grey Peppermint and White Chocolate Rose Tea, while nine different Pralines are available; Sea Salt Peru Origin, Espresso Cacao Nibs and Salted Caramel are new additions.

 

 

 

NAHMJ Verdict

 

Come and visit The Dark Gallery @ Takashimaya, you will be impressed by their enticing homemade selection range from Single Origin Tablets, Bonbons and Pralines, to Artisanal Cakes and ice cream; some make great gifts, while others are solely for self-indulgence.

 

 

 

The Dark Gallery @ Takashimaya

391 Orchard Road, #B2-29, Takashimaya Shopping Centre, Singapore 238873
Tel: +65

Website: http://thedarkgallery.com/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/discoverthedark

 

Opening Hours

 

Daily  1100 to 2200

 

Getting There

 

By MRT:

• North-South line – Orchard Station (NS22)

 

By Bus:

• Ngee Ann City along Orchard Turn   14e, 124, 128, 143, 162, 162M, 167, 171, 190, 700, 700A, 972

• Orchard station along Orchard Boulevard   7, 14, 16, 36, 65, 77, 106, 111, 123, 174, 174e, 175

• Lucky Plaza along Orchard Road   7, 14, 14e, 16, 65, 106, 111, 123, 175, 502

• Tang Plaza along Orchard Road   36, 77, 124, 128, 143, 162, 162M, 167, 171, 174, 174e, 190, 518, 700, 700A, 971e, 972

 

Rating: 9/10

 

 

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