Kati is a stylish spot in Little Italy that serves coffee, cocktails and gelato.

Founded by the team behind Koh Lipe, Kati offers a wide selection of southeast Asian snacks, placing a particular emphasis on sweets.

The restaurant's name comes from the Thai word for 'coconut milk'. In order to emphasize this connection, Kati’s logo uses a stylized coconut in place of the letter 'a'.

Although the restaurant has proven popular with the community, manager Gotch tells us that she was initially concerned about its reception.

"We opened in September of 2024," Gotch recalls. "Summer was already over. So when I told my friends I was opening an ice cream shop, they looked at me like I was crazy."

Thankfully, Gotch's worries turned out to be entirely unfounded. Not only was Kati a hit with the locals, but it was popular enough to warrant multiple locations. That said, the original College Street location is still the most popular. The restaurant is decked out in shades of orange, cream and brown, with black tabletops and a grey brick bar.

Abstract patterns on the walls and floor evoke the image of melting ice cream, and even the napkin dispensers are decorated to look like frosted cakes.The dining room's most notable feature is an enormous display case, filled with dozens of different ice cream flavours. Gotch explains that the selection rotates from week to week, with only a few flavours remaining consistent.

All of Kati's offerings are inspired by traditional Thai desserts. As such, flavours such as coconut, mango and pandan replace the usual lineup of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry.A single scoop of gelato will run you $6.95. Cups are available at no extra cost, while waffle cones cost $1.50. These cones are made in-house and are infused with black sesame seeds, giving them an earthy, slightly nutty flavour.We tried one with a scoop of mango sticky rice gelato, which resulted in an interesting mix of tastes and textures.We also tried a scoop of the roselle gelato, which tasted like a refreshing glass of sweet hibiscus tea. Its appealing red colour only furthered this resemblance. Banoffee toast ($12.95) is a decadent dessert with a rich, creamy flavour. Loosely based on French toast, this dish features sliced bananas, cinnamon and heavy cream, along with a gelato flavour of your choice.

We went with a scoop of green tea gelato, which added a hint of bitterness to the otherwise sweet dish.Pandan toast ($12.95) is a variation on the same theme, topped with pandan syrup and graham cracker crumble.

We ordered this one with blue coconut ice cream, which contrasted beautifully with the green pandan.Last but not least is the lychee lemonade ($6.95), a tart and refreshing take on a classic summer drink.

Of course, if sweet treats aren't your thing, Kati also offers a wide array of savoury snacks.
Satay bao ($15) are soft steamed buns, filled with cucumbers, cilantro and satay chicken. They are garnished with peanut sauce and vinegar and served in a small basket, which helps to keep them warm.Moo ping ($15) is a popular Thai street food, consisting of grilled pork skewers and sticky rice. Though not as colourful as many of the other dishes, their savoury-sweet taste is every bit as satisfying.

Kati is located at 567 College Street.