Vanda Botanical Desserts Review: What to Order from the Botanical Gelato Menu

There is a small hesitation that comes over me at a gelato counter, the familiar pull toward chocolate or vanilla, the flavours I already know I will enjoy. What I have come to appreciate about Vanda Botanical Desserts is that it gently talks me out of that habit. Standing at the counter, reading names like oolong and chrysanthemum, I find myself curious in a way that ordinary ice cream rarely makes me feel.

A Little Garden of Gelato at 313 Somerset

Vanda Botanical Desserts is a gelato kiosk at #01-16/17 in 313@somerset, 313 Orchard Road, Singapore 238895, on the ground floor and just steps from the Somerset MRT escalator, so it is an easy stop in this busy Orchard Road area when you are in town. The concept is quietly unusual: gelato made by Italian Chef Loris Massimini, who learned gelato making from Manuele Presenti, using traditional Italian techniques but centring Asian botanical flavours instead of the usual European gelateria staples.

Vanda is also Singapore’s first Japanese mochi gelato concept, and its menu is built around floral, herbal, tea, and localized botanical elements using natural, Asian-inspired ingredients such as flowers, teas, herbs, fruits, nuts, and spices. That makes it a particularly interesting dessert stop for anyone curious about tea-forward gelato, unusual botanical flavours, or a refreshing treat between shops, and this review covers what the kiosk is like, which flavours stand out, the mochi skin option, practical visiting details, and whether it is worth seeking out.

If you like comparing places before you go, you can read more here about other spots worth a visit, and for a fuller sense of the wider scene, https://www.sgdessertlover.com/a-delicious-journey-into-the-irresistible-flavors-and-rich-culture-of-singapores-sweet-desserts-scene is a pleasant wander through Singapore's sweet culture.

What the Counter Experience Is Like

It helps to know what you are walking into. This is a kiosk, not a sit-down café, so there is no seating and no lingering over a table. You choose, you sample, you take your scoop and go. In practice, it works best as a pause during an Orchard shopping afternoon rather than a destination in itself.

What I do value is that sampling is offered and, honestly, recommended. When flavours carry names as unfamiliar as these, a small taste before committing makes all the difference.

What to Order from the Vanda Botanical Desserts Menu

The Black Sesame is the one I return to. It is rich, deeply nutty and creamy, with a roasted depth that never tips into being too sweet — an easy flavour to love and a good introduction to what Vanda does well. Across 12 gelato flavors, single scoops start from around S$3.90 for classic flavours, with premium options from about S$4.90.

The Chrysanthemum Goji Berries is a must-try, floral and aromatic in a way that lingers, with sweet goji berries adding extra texture and sweetness. I will be honest, though: it can run intensely sweet, so this is one where a sample first genuinely pays off.

For something lighter, the Lemon Mint is refreshing and cooling, which suits Singapore's heat far better than a heavier scoop. The Oolong carries a gentle, bittersweet tea character, and both it and Chrysanthemum Goji Berries offer aromatic profiles, with some flavours undergoing long steeping processes that build complexity. Coconut Pandan is creamy with a pleasant pandan aroma, Salted Gula Melaka uses local gula melaka, Pistachio is made with Californian pistachios, and Bacio is the dark chocolate hazelnut choice. Anyone who enjoys tea-forward desserts will find this more rewarding than a straightforward matcha gelato elsewhere, and the premium flavours feel inspired by ingredients such as locally grown pandan.

The Mochi Skin

Vanda's signature touch is the mochi skin, an optional wrap around your scoop for an extra S$1.50. It gives you a chewy, stretchy outer layer against the cold gelato within, and that contrast of textures is the whole point.

I should say the mochi divides opinion. Some find it too thick, while others, myself included, enjoy the way the soft chew frames the creaminess beneath. It is worth trying at least once to decide where you land.

An Honest Word or Two

No dessert stop is without its rough edges. While the standard cone can feel a little mass-produced, Vanda’s house waffle cone is a stronger pick. It’s infused with herbs and flowers, and the Signature Botanical Cone uses a secret mix that includes thyme. Sweetness levels vary between flavours, and reviews note some texture inconsistency from visit to visit. And of course, the lack of seating means this is a walk-and-eat treat rather than a slow one.

Practical Details

Mall listings put the hours at 10am–10pm Monday to Thursday and Sunday, and 10am–11pm on Friday and Saturday. Sources do differ on this, so it is sensible to check with Vanda directly before making a special trip.



Final Verdict

Vanda Botanical Desserts is at its best when you arrive curious rather than certain, because even a scoop can feel inspired by a miniature botanical garden. Come for a scoop of black sesame, sample the oolong, let the chrysanthemum surprise you, and perhaps wrap it all in mochi, with vibrant colours that sharpen the appeal. It is a small, flavour-led detour that rewards an open mind more than a fixed craving.