Best of both worlds? Coffee and basque cheesecakes at Basq & Bean on Beach Road, Singapore

I came across this place on the internet, and thought to myself, “Hmm, gluten-free basque cheesecake with specialty coffee sounds interesting.”

Being a picky cheesecake eater, there are usually only a few flavours that would appeal to me. Nothing too crazy. So far, New York Cheesecake or the occasional zesty flavour have been staples. At least, this was safe me speaking. Located at 85 Beach Road, it’s really close to our office on High Street, which makes it a plausible place for a repeat visit should I ever have the urge to indulge in cheesecake and coffee (for tea-time. Yay, office rules).

After convincing my colleagues to pay this unique place a visit, we finally headed down to Basq & Bean. It was early when we reached, right as they were opening the cafe, and already there were some takeaway orders for cakes and coffee!

Something unique about this cafe (other than its specialty basque cheesecakes) is their coffee beans. Specially sourced from Chiang Mai, Thailand, the team at Basq & Bean utilises Thai-grown coffee, which has earthy and bright notes that balance out their cheesecakes.

Speaking of their cheesecakes, they are made without any preservatives as their flavours come from real ingredients (another plus point for being honest and natural!)

Stepping into the cafe, we were amazed by the space and its interior design. The lime-wash walls built upon the industrial concept, complemented the red-orange details.

Another detail that caught my attention was the bright red-orange tile counter with moss. Poking out of the walls, the moss was such a curious and cute detail in the shop.

At the corner of the cafe, they had a fridge carrying all their cheesecake flavours, including the sample slices. There was also a display wall with pigeon-holes of merchandise, including branded boxes, cooling bags, cups and even their takeaway cups. 

Basq & Bean Original Cheesecake chilling in the fridge :>

Now to the real question: will these basque cheesecakes change my mind as a picky cheesecake eater? We shall see.

(left table): Black Matcha Yuzu, Basq's Lemonade, Basq Brew and Snow White Cheesecake. (right table): samples of Pandan Kaya Cheesecake and Basq & Bean Original Cheesecake.

We got a 3.5-inch Snow White Cheesecake ($15). As we didn't order a whole 6-inch cheesecake, we opted to try out free sample slices for all the available flavours: Basq & Bean Original, Dark Chocolate, Pandan Kaya and their monthly special, Salted Caramel Mont Blanc.

We were pleasantly surprised when the plates of sample slices landed on our table. They were not sample-sized at all. The generous slices were a great tasting option for you to try before committing to a whole cake.  

The Snow White Cheesecake is an all-white basque cheesecake. I have never seen a white cheesecake before, but when I saw it for the first time, it screamed “boujee” because of it was topped off with a gold leaf, truly embodying the cake's description of being 'pure and quietly elegant'.

I was surprised at how sweet it was. It’s like I’m eating lemon cake but sweeter with cream cheese and vanilla bits. The size itself is great for sharing if you can’t finish this by yourself, which means the more, the merrier!

Pandan Kaya Cheesecake (left)

For the samples, we first dug into the Pandan Kaya Cheesecake ($35 for a 6-inch whole cake). It reminded me of pandan kaya cake — light and aromatic yet satisfyingly punchy. Through some research, I learned that this cheesecake is made by extracting juice from pure pandan leaves. Hence, no artificial flavours are used.

Next, we tried the Basq & Bean Original ($35 for a 6-inch whole cake). I was very curious to know what their original flavour would taste like and how it is different from other cheesecakes. The moment I tried it, it really proved me wrong (in a good way). Unlike other original cheesecakes I’ve tried, this feels way creamier yet lighter. The best part is that there’s no strong zesty flavour that usually makes me feel uncomfortable (if you know what I mean...) 

Our last two samples: Dark Chocolate and Salted Caramel Mont Blanc

The last two samples are the Dark Chocolate ($35 for 6-inch whole cake) and their monthly special, Salted Caramel Mont Blanc ($15 for 3-inch whole cake). For the Dark Chocolate Cheesecake, I thought it was a harmonious blend of flavours, especially with the more bitter and less sweet chocolate. I was expecting the intensity of the dark chocolate to be really strong, but it was just at the right amount. The cake is creamy and denser than the other selections, which was reminiscent of fudgy dark chocolate ice cream. 

We’re also lucky to have the Salted Caramel Mont Blanc monthly special. By the looks and taste, it reminded me of hazelnut cake, but premium. It’s rich, nutty, and very dense. It did feel like I was overloaded with sweets initially, so it took me a while to warm up to the flavour compared to the other flavours.

We can’t leave out the drinks since they are thoughtfully designed to pair with the cheesecake flavours (something I really appreciate). We got the Black Matcha Yuzu ($9.80), Basq’s Lemonade ($7.80) and Basq Brew ($8.80).

I picked the Basq’s Lemonade ($7.80) because I love lemon-based drinks. This drink has a perfume lemon and cheese cream. I have never seen cream cheese on a lemonade before; so it stood out as a unique combination. Verdict? I fell in love with it. Safe to say, I enjoy sour drinks, so maybe don't go there if you aren't a fan.

The drink is creamy and sour in a refreshing way (bless me for choosing this drink because it was HUMID outside). The sour acidity really does whet the appetite too! The cream and lemonade did not clash and instead created what tasted like liquid lemon cream cheese. If I were to describe it as a cartoon character, it would be Lemon Meringue from Strawberry Shortcake.

(left table): Clockwise: Black Matcha Yuzu, Basq's Lemonade, and Basq Brew.

My colleague picked Black Matcha Yuzu ($9.80). My initial thought is that the matcha powder was literally black until the staff served us the drink. Well, spoiler alert, the matcha powder is green...

We learned that the black element is black sesame, which went well with the citrusy yuzu cream and earthy matcha. It felt healthy, a breath of fresh air, because oftentimes matcha can come in the form of unhealthily sweet combinations. Out of all the matcha drinks I have tried, this shot up to the excellent tier in my matcha list.

Lastly, Grace picked the hot Basq Brew ($8.80). Unfortunately, I had to be cautious of my caffeine intake, so I had to pass on the tasting. But according to her, it’s a white coffee with burnt cheesecake flavour. The foam is salty and sweet as it has sea salt, which contrasts the roasty, milky coffee uniquely. Think of it as flat white with cake. 

If you were to ask me which cheesecake flavour is my favourite, I would say Pandan Kaya Cheesecake because it feels light and it doesn’t have any weird artificial aftertaste. For drinks, I’d pick Basq’s Lemonade because of how sweet and refreshing the drink was.

Overall, I enjoyed my time here at Basq & Bean. The staff was really friendly, even taking the time to explain the cheesecake flavours and coffee offerings. The atmosphere felt relaxing and welcoming as well. This visit felt like meeting up with my friends for brunch before we start our work later in the afternoon, filled with endless laughter.

For those looking for a cafe that specialises in gluten-free basque cheesecake and has drinks that pair well with cheesecake, or perhaps you like cheesecakes that do not have an overly zesty sensation, do stop by at Basq & Bean.

Trust me, you won’t regret it, but do come early so that you can grab a seat inside the café and enjoy the vibes without sweating.  📍: Basq & Bean Address: 85 Beach Rd, #01-02, Singapore 189694 Operating Hours: 11am to 11pm