Otter & Pebbles review: A Japanese-inspired brunch spot in Novena that welcomes fur babies

Creamy udon, delicate souffle pancake wrapped in chewy mochi, and cheese foam drinks – Otter & Pebbles shows how Japanese fusion food should be done.

Singapore’s cafe scene is not short of shiny new spots and menus, and as a seasoned cafe-goer, I love to see them coming. While the neighbourhood of Novena might not be first to spring to mind, there’s a quaint cafe there that I find myself returning to time after time. Meet Otter & Pebbles, a Japanese-inspired brunch spot with a creative menu to boot. This cafe is run by the same folks behind The Coffee Code Singapore, a popular Malaysian cafe chain that found its home on Neil Road.

Otter & Pebbles recently launched new menu items (with plenty of Insta-worthy eats and drinks in the pipeline), and I just couldn’t resist swinging by. Scroll on for a peek at my brunch spread – but, fair warning, you might be tempted to visit soon.

Otter & Pebbles review: Details at a glance

Best for: A laid-back hangout spot with creative, Japanese-inspired fare and a pet-friendly seating area
Must-try items: Kurimi tomato udonmato; sutoberri mochi kisu; tamago san; OJ (osmanthus jasmine)
Price: Mains from $15.90; sides from $9; desserts from $9.50; drinks from $4
Opening hours: Daily, 11am to 9pm
Address: Otter & Pebbles, #01-05/07, 8 Sinaran Drive, Singapore 307470 (outside of Oasia Hotel)

A cosy, airy space that welcomes furbabies

If Japanese-style cafes are your kryptonite, you’ll fall head over heels with the space at Otter & Pebbles. Splashed out in wooden furnishings and dividers, natural lighting and wabi-sabi aesthetics, the cafe instantly envelops you in a calm, zen-like atmosphere.

Whether you’re dining solo, in a pair or a group, there are ample seating areas to fit you and your crew. Bringing your furry friends in tow? The pet-friendly al fresco seating is made for you. Water bowls are ready to welcome your furbabies and keep them hydrated in the heat.

A heads-up: the weekday lunch crowd (between 12pm and 2pm) can get intense, with a 90-minute dining limit imposed during such peak periods. If you prefer a quieter ambience with the space to yourself, come by in the late afternoon instead. Tried and tested by me, you’ll be able to linger for a while longer while soaking up the space.

Cafés & Brunch

New cafes in Singapore: September 2026

Fusion brunch fare done right

The menu at Otter & Pebbles stretches pretty wide, with brunch classics such as pancakes, Japanese-inspired picks like udon, curry rice, tendons and sandos, cakes and more. Most cafes in Singapore typically only have a couple of fusion dishes, so it was interesting to see how almost all the dishes draw inspiration from Japanese cuisine in some way, shape or form.

My personal bias? The udon range, which features creative recipes like soy milk broth, tom yum, and salted egg with crab meat. On days when you can’t pick between tomato and cream, let yourself indulge in the best of both worlds with the kurimi tomato udonmato ($19.50).

Each generous bowl of udon noodles comes doused in a creamy tomato sauce, and is topped with a molten egg, and your choice of tonkatsu pork cutlet or pork belly. Cream-based sauces can often be cloying, but the slight tanginess from the tomato helped cut through the richness. And a shout-out to the bouncy udon with an almost mochi-like texture. Every strand was coated in the irresistible tomato cream sauce and was so slurp-worthy.

Watching your waistline? Look towards lighter, protein-packed options like the ochazuke. You’ve got the choice of pan-seared salmon, beef hamburg, unagi and kakuni (pork belly). I went with the kakuni ($19.50) and had no regrets. The tender pork belly is smoked in-house and I could taste a slightly charred aroma in every mouthful. Pour the accompanying genmaicha broth over your rice to enjoy it classic ochazuke-style with sweet tamago and bonito flakes.

Leave room for the sweets

A cafe visit isn’t complete without sweets and desserts – sorry, I don’t make the rules. Even more so, if they look as gorgeous as the ones at Otter & Pebbles. The drinks menu here is elaborate enough that they can pass off as desserts, too.

Skip the usual boring coffees and sip from the Cheestache series. As the name suggests, these drinks come topped with a thick layer of cheese foam. The OJ ($7.50) features a clear osmanthus jasmine tea base, while the tiramisu ($9.50) reimagines the beloved dessert as an indulgent drink. I prefer the former for its fragrant floral notes and delicate balance to the cheese foam.

Can’t stave off the caffeine? At least try cheekier creations like the Wassupbi miso caramel (wasabi, miso, caramel and coffee all rolled in one cup) and pineapple Americano.

Alternatively, go for the matcha concoctions instead. I’ve got intel on a new Kyokuraku matcha drink that is coming to the cafe soon. The China-hailing ceremonial grade matcha powder is bold and smooth, but not unbearingly bitter even without sugar. I hear Otter & Pebbles is set to be the only cafe in Singapore stocking this matcha powder, so keep your eyes peeled for it.

To thoroughly satisfy your sweet tooth, end with the cafe’s signature Basque cheesecakes in flavours such as pistachio and black sesame, or go big with the souffle pancakes. The latter comes in a variety of flavours including pistachio, maple, blue cheese, strawberry and Earl Grey.

All about the aesthetics? Go for the sutoberri mochi kisu ($18.90). Trust us, this strawberry rendition will have your Instagram followers pestering you on where you ordered this. I liked how the cloud-like souffle pancakes are topped with a mochi wrap for an extra fun textural combination. Paired with fresh strawberries and chewy mochi on the side, it makes a decadent finale for your brunch spread.

It’s been two years since Otter & Pebbles first opened its doors, but the cafe’s new menu items show that it is far from resting on its laurels. The cafe continues to churn out new Japanese brunch creations that still entice me to return. Plus, it is always a pleasant surprise to see a cafe nail it on both the savoury and sweet front. Let’s just say Otter & Pebbles has officially cemented its spot on my list of go-to cafes in Singapore.

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