...here's the place to come to for your chendol ice-cream fix. It doesn't come with bits of red bean and jelly like the version sold at Island, but it's smoother and the coconut + gula melaka flavours are very strong - just as I remember them to be.

Looking at the reviews here, I'll be back for the marscapone I guess. I had space for just one scoop tonight. This parlour really doesn't deserve to be overlooked.

(I don't have many comments on the ambience or the service. Aside from the usual sampling service, I didn't find the need to test it. Oh, they have board games for folks to play with friends.)

Edit: I adore the marscapone ice-cream. It's light and mildly sweet...and as subtle as tiramisu without the liqueur and cocoa.

well, so as the title goes.. the icecream from swirl geleteria was nothing short of great. I had the caffe brazil on my first visit and the mascarpone on my second (the day after the first time.. believe it or not?) yes.. that was how good the ice cream was. As for the choice, i much prefer the latter to the former.

I mean mascarpone in ice cream? now that's quite a rare ingredient.. and being a baker myself, I knew that mascarpone on its own was low on flavor and not to mention calories (as compared to cream cheese), however, it could provide a very rich texture. And the icecream itself was an ode to the marvellous ingredient, every bite as creamy and dreamy as ever. It was soooo good.

The caffe brazil could use a bit more work though. It would help if the coffee flavor in there was pushed up a notch.

Will still be heading back to sample the rest of the flavors though... Without a doubt.. though i'll give the durian one a miss. hehe.

I've been here a couple of times as I live nearby but I've never really felt that the gelato was much to rave about. It was good, no doubt but it wouldn't spur me to take a pint home to have at my fancy.

However, sometime last week, I came here for some dessert with my family. To my surprise, from the very doorstep before entering the shop, we should smell durian. Mind you, it wasn't over powering but rather a slightly sweet durian aroma permeated the air. Puzzled when we didn't see any durian gelato on display, we enquired about it. Turns out that the durian gelato was being made fresh on spot for a customer to take away and he had already been waiting for a whole hour. We were intrigued as the durian gelato must have been quite good such that the customer was willing to wait for one and a half hour for the gelato to be ready and it was near closing time. As we needed to wait another half an hour to be able to try the durian gelato, and unlike the enthusiastic customer, we chose other flavours and put off the durian gelato to another day. We had a double scoop ($4.50)of mango sorbet as well as rocher. The mango sorbet was slightly sour, a contrast to the sweet rocher flavour. My sister had the choc-alot-nuts or something where they added cookie bits, nuts and cornflakes to her hazelnut flavour and it was yummy-licious!

A couple days later, I dropped by the shop again and chanced upon the durian gelato. I shared a double scoop of icecream of vanilla and durian gelato with the bf. The vanilla ice cream was not too bad but I find vanilla boring, feeling that it tasted similar to Macdonald's vanilla cone. The bf enjoyed it, saying that the texture was much better than Macs. The durian gelato on the other hand, was so amazing! I finally understood why the customer was willing to wait one and a half hour for the durian gelato. It was practically putting durian pulp into your mouth! (Unless, you're the type who enjoys the durians with the slight bitter taste which I don't). It was cool and creamy, sweet and mostly important, it didn't give you the 'jerlat' feel. You won't get the sinful guilt of overindulging in durian or worry that it will be too 'heaty'. I rather have this than the real durian fruit! After that, we were greedy so we had a single scoop ($3.00)of gelato. This time, caffe brazil. Bf felt like it tasted as a latte where you didn't add sugar. It was sweet enough for me though, the bitter taste of the coffee a wake-up call to the senses.

Later, I took home a pint of durian ($10.80) for the family.

It's just that good.

As a sidenote, my freezer didn't smell of durian later. It was probably because the making of the gelato created the durian aroma that enticed us into the shop.

i studied in schools located at bukit timah for 6 years, so i've been to almost all of the places in that area that sell ice cream/gelato (venezia at guthrie house, island creamery, swirl gelateria, cellar door deli, estivo gelato etc) but i think swirl's gelato is the most delicious! unlike some gelatos which are a little too icy or the flavour is not intense enough, swirl's gelato is full of flavour and tastes as good as premium ice cream! and it's not as creamy or filling as premium ice cream, which is a good thing cos it won't make you feel bloated after eating it (especially when you add mix-ins). i've eaten premium dark choc ice cream with m&ms and oreo mix-ins before, and i think it's way too filling, considering that it's only a dessert >< but swirl's chocolate gelato with oreo, chocolate bar and choc chips mix-ins was just right and didn't make me feel full.

also, the shop is a pretty conducive place for relaxing or studying cos human traffic in that building is not high so it's rather peaceful. also, magazines and books are placed in the shop for your browsing pleasure (you can even bring your own books/magazines to exchange with the ones there), and free flow of iced water is provided.

service there is good too! the staff are friendly and helpful, and they deliver the gelato to your seat, even if you're only ordering a small cone of it.

Setting: 10pm, Sunday night. Fulfilling an insatiable craving for late night icecream, sans the fat....

Hadding been wanting to check out this place for sometime now, after hearing about it during the recent HGW promo, it was the first place that came to my mind at 9.30pm on a sunday night. Surfed onto the HGW website (which i love cos of the comprehensive details on almost EVERY food establishment in Singapore! Keep it Up, HGW!!) to check out the operating hours not expecting much cos it was after all a sunday 'late' night. Lo, and behold, to my surprise (and a PLEASANT one that was, mind you) I found out they close at 12am!!!! We quickly grabbed the car keys and headed off excitedly on our little late night ice cream escapade!

oh, one thing i should add, parking at Crown centre is rather freaky (for those who drive). The car park VERY quiet and although sufficiently bright, there are creepy water dripping sounds coming from near the stairs. AND the stairwell is narrow (typical of old buildings) and totally shuts out any sound from ouside once the door closes. CREEEPPPYYYY!!!! Last place i wanna get trapped in... But once you get out it's fine. Just try not to go alone unless it's daylight or you're not afraid of small tight quiet places.

My brain is racing faster than my fingers.... the gelato!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had the sampler set (3 bigger-than-usual shot glasses choc-a-block-to the-brim full of yummy gelato!) with coconut, peanut butter and marscapone cheese (MY FAV!!!!!!!!) the gelato is really much less sweet than usual gelato, and less milk-creamy too (so it doesn't feel so fattening), tho still smooth and yummy. DELICIOUS!!!

The service is great too. You can sample as many flavours as u like, all with the young service staff's warm smiles and playful bantering suggestions. And if you're as indecisive as me. they'd gladly recommend the sampler sets-3 shots for $4 and 6 shots for $7. (Very good value for money!!) I didn't tey the Geloshots tho they looked real good too. next time maybe.

That totally satisfied my gelato craving..... for the night. Only to leave me with an insatiable appetite for more the next morning.... Wow. Good stuff! EVERYONE should come by here! Island creamery could do with a little HEALTHY competition... ;p

*Edit: oh, did i mention thay have games like Taboo and connect 4 as well as a shelf of books in casse u getbored!!! Thumbs up for great ambience!!