Hawker centres and coffeeshops often come to mind when we talk about food in Singapore, but increasingly popular in recent years are the growing number of artisanal bakeries worth a visit. As a fan of all things bread, I’m always excited to see rows of croissants, brioche buns and sourdough loaves fresh from the oven. If you’ve been having some serious cravings for freshly baked bread, read on for a list of my favourite bakeries in Singapore to explore and feast on some of the best bread.
Grab a croissant from Tiong Bahru Bakery and explore the hipster Tiong Bahru estate
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Expect independent cafes, bakeries and colourful art murals as you walk the streets of this old school neighbourhood. Image credit: Casual Diners Singapore
Nestled in the oldest housing estate in Singapore, Tiong Bahru Bakery is a landmark you won’t miss in this hip neighbourhood home to cafes and restaurants housed in pre-war shophouses.
One of the first French bakeries in Singapore, Tiong Bahru Bakery offers a range of French pastries and artisanal breads made with the best French flour and butter so you can be assured of the quality of their bakes. In fact, their croissants (S$3.50) have been voted by many as the best in Singapore. Many would have heard of their Pain Au Chocolat (S$4) and Kouign Amann (S$4.50) which are highly raved. If you’re feeling adventurous, their green tea almond croissant (S$5.20) is also worth a try.
My personal favourite is their almond croissant (S$4.80), which is not only generous in size, but has a moist almond filling surrounded by a flaky croissant crust that pairs perfectly their iced latte.
Not a fan of sweets? Tiong Bahru Bakery has an impressive selection of savoury treats that taste just as good. Take your pick from a variety of sandwiches, quiches and artisanal bread such as focaccia, brioche and sourdoughs. For those who prefer something tangier with a harder crust, go for their rye sourdough (S$8.50). These are great for breakfast, just add some butter or olive oil, or with a side of eggs done your way.
Address: 56 Eng Hoon Street #01-70, Singapore 160056 (They also have outlets at other locations including Tangs Orchard, Raffles City and the Safari)
Operating Hours: Opens daily from 8:00am to 8:00pm daily (varies per outlet)
Website: https://www.tiongbahrubakery.com/
Savour the best of sourdoughs at Starter Lab bakery
While you’re in the vicinity, why not also visit Starter Lab bakery? Originating from the shores of Bali, the popular bakery from Bali serves some of the best sourdough bread you can find in Singapore.
The three-year-old starter used to make their sourdough breads is from their head bakery in Bali. Image credit: Starter Lab Bakery’s Facebook
Sourdough fans will love this place as each loaf is handcrafted and guided through a 24 to 36-hour fermentation process from starter to bake. This process is in the hands of the baking team which has been trained in Bali by the bakery’s head baker Emerson Manibo, an experienced baker from the renowned Californian bakery Tartine. I love the mix of sunflower and sesame seeds on their seeded wheat loaf, which balances well with the tang of the sourdough.
The bakery also serves sandwiches and toasts, made with the same amazing sourdough bread they bake daily. Recommended menu items include the Starter Lab 3 Cheese (S$19) and the Honeyed Mascarpone toast ($14) which features house-made Mascarpone, honey, crushed walnuts and bee pollen – sounds yummy just from its description.
Address: 721 Havelock Road, Singapore 169645
Operating Hours: Opens daily from 8.30am to 5:00pm daily
Website: https://www.instagram.com/starterlab.sg/?hl=en
Enjoy a quiet afternoon at Baker & Cook with quality breads and pastries
Baker & Cook stores offer a range of sourdoughs, pastries and breakfast items. Image credit: Baker & Cook’s Facebook
Owned and founded by celebrity baker Dean Brettschneider, who has published 13 cookbooks and judged on multiple TV shows, the New Zealand bakery is known for its artisanal bread and sourdoughs made from the global baker’s 30-year-old starter!
Their signature sourdough is the Pain au Levain (S$8.20) which features a nutty flavour and caramelised crust with a moist crumb. A personal favourite of mine, the olive baton (S$7.80) is soft and flavourful – delicious even on its own. They also offer sourdough bagels – well-loved among customers including myself – and an assortment of pastries and brunch items, perfect to pair with a cup of coffee. A bonus, their outlets usually have a bread slicing machine so you can get those freshly-baked loaves in perfect slices to go!
The popular bakery has 11 outlets across Singapore, but their Dempsey and Swan Lake branches are my go-to for its quiet location and glass walls. Both branches are also next to their sister brand Plank Sourdough Pizza which serves a range of wood-fired pizzas with a fluffy sourdough crust. For families, the Dempsey outlet even has a shaded outdoor play area and an open grass space for the little ones to run around.
Pro tip: Not near a Baker & Cook outlet? Keep a lookout the next time you’re at your neighbourhood Cold Storage & Market Place store. Some of them also stock up on a variety of Baker & Cook’s sliced breads, sourdough loaves and bagels.
Address: 1 Swan Lake Avenue, Opera Estate Singapore 455700 (They also have outlets at other locations including Dempsey, Bugis and Chip Bee Gardens)
Operating Hours: Opens daily from 7.30am to 10:00pm daily (varies per outlet)
Website: https://www.bakerandcook.biz/
Get a slice of Singapore’s history and culture at Micro Red Bakery
Located at the iconic Red House in Katong, Micro Red Bakery is hard to miss.
Singapore’s Katong and Joo Chiat area is another charming enclave of old-meets-modern, with historical shophouses and its strong influence of Peranakan culture. Many of the buildings have been preserved for its heritage. The Red House, where Micro Red Bakery currently sits, used to be home to the Katong Bakery & Confectionery Company, the first bakery in Singapore to sell three-tiered wedding cakes and was best known for its bread and confectionery in the 1920s.
Beyond its eye-catching exterior, the bakery is also a cosy café that packs some amazing bread and brunch items. It is not a surprise that the bakery is always crowded and frequented by residents and regulars. Personally, their seeded loaf is one of the best sourdough breads I’ve had, crisp on the outside but chewy on the inside.
Naturally leavened, Micro Red Bakery’s sourdough loaves range from S$9 to S$11.
Keep an eye out for their cakes and pastries as well, usually displayed at the counter. I would recommend a slice of their Lemon Yoghurt Poppy Seed loaf (S$5) for its zesty flavour and the Chocolate Zucchini loaf (S$5) for its unique texture.
If you’re planning to head down, drop by early. Their bread and pastries are usually sold out after lunch, and even earlier on weekends.
Address: 63 East Coast Road #01-06 Singapore 428776 (They also have a branch at Serene Centre)
Operating Hours: Wednesdays – Fridays: 8:30am to 4:00pm, Saturdays – Sundays: 8.30am to 5:00pm
Website: https://www.microbakerykitchen.com/redhouse
Queue for the crispiest croissants at Petit Pain
While you’re in the area, lay your hands on Petit Pain’s elusive croissants, said to be the crispiest croissants in Singapore. It is easy to miss this small bakery in Joo Chiat, a slight step away from the hustle and bustle of the main street.
: At S$3 each, Petit Pain’s croissants are a steal. Image credit: Petit Pain’s Facebook
The bakery is run by a local couple Mark and Regina who work to bake a small batch of croissants, pastries and bread daily. Their bakes are also very affordable for its quality, said to be free of improvers, preservatives and artificial flavours.
Pastries and breads at Petit Pain range from S$2.40 to S$6.50.
Extremely popular, the bakery is usually sold out by noon and queues start even before the bakery opens during weekends. Hence, walk-in customers are limited to 8 viennoiseries and 3 loaves. Your best bet? Head over on a weekday before they open or if you have fast fingers, they open reservations on their social media every Saturday for a small portion of their weekday bakes.
Address: 315 Joo Chiat Road Singapore 427566
Operating Hours: Tuesdays – Fridays: 11:00am till Sold out, Saturdays – Sundays: 10:00am till Sold out. Closed every Monday, first and last Tuesday of every month (Refer to their website for updated hours)
Website: https://www.petitpain.com.sg/
Taste award-winning breads at Taiwanese bakery Wu Pao Chun
Founded and named after world-champion master baker Mr Wu Pao Chun, the famous bakery opened to much fanfare last year at the Capitol Piazza. Image credit: Wu Pao Chun Singapore’s Facebook
I first discovered this bakery when I visited Taipei 2 years ago. I was particularly attracted to their tagline, 我喜欢，以面包阅读世界, loosely translated to be “Exploring Bread, a way of seeing the world”. Since then, it had become a must-stop for me every time I was in Taipei, so you can only imagine how excited I was when I knew that Wu Pao Chun bakery was finally going to open in Singapore.
The unique flavor of the Lychee Rose Royale is created by soaking the dough overnight in an artisanal blend of lychee wine and natural rose petals. Image credit: Wu Pao Chun Singapore’s Facebook
The bakery’s most popular breads are the award-winning Lychee Rose Royale and Red Wine Longan, priced at S$20.80 a loaf. Handcrafted in small batches daily, each loaf contains a generous amount of nuts and dried fruit, packing so much flavour that you can enjoy it on its own! Weighing a kg each, these loaves are huge so I would usually ask the counter to slice it into half and be packed separately so I can share the other half with family and friends.
For a local twist, try one of Wu Pao Chun’s unique-to-Singapore buns, such as Curry Chicken Crunch, Lava Moon and Coffee C – all very Singaporean-style. Image credit: Wu Pao Chun Singapore’s Facebook
Pro tip: Can’t finish an entire loaf at one go? Store them in the freezer (not refrigerator). When you feel like having it, pop it in the toaster or microwave and they’re still pretty much fresh. You can keep bread in the freezer for up to a month.
Address: 13 Stamford Rd, #01-19/20 Capitol Piazza, Singapore 178905
Operating Hours: Opens daily from 9.30am to 8:00pm
Website: https://capitolsingapore.com/directory/wu-pao-chun/
Indulge in trendy pastries and breads from heartland gem Bakery Brera & Fine Foods
Check out Bakery Brera’s must-try cruffin flavours such as the Ferrero Rocher, Matcha and Lemon Curd cruffins. Image credit: Bakery Brera’s Facebook
Tucked in a quiet HDB estate at Farrer Road, this homegrown bakery has gained a following with their unique and high-quality baked goods. Their best-selling items range from croissants, sourdoughs and their Insta-famous cruffins (S$5), which is a croissant shaped as a muffin. Baking is a daily affair here, with breads usually kneaded in the morning and left to ferment in the chiller for 16 hours before they are shaped and baked the next day.
Bakery Brera’s breads are freshly baked using fine flours from France and Japan. Image credit: Bakery Brera’s Facebook
Even with a wide selection, the bakery experiments and pushes out new items seasonally. From basque cheesecakes to Christmas panettones, you can always expect them to deliver the latest food craze with quality. For those staying further away, the bakery also offers online purchases with delivery including exclusive value sets with a curated selection of the bakery’s popular bake items.
Address: #01-05, 8 Empress Road, Singapore 260008
Operating Hours: Tuesdays – Sundays: 7:00am to 7:00pm, Closed on Mondays.
Website: https://www.bakerybrera.com/
The charm of artisanal bakeries in Singapore lies wherein each has a story to tell, opened by fellow bread-enthusiasts who share the same love and passion for bread. No one bread is the same, each handcrafted and baked to perfection. The next time you find yourself looking for something different from the standard white loaves at the supermarket, head over to one of these artisanal bakeries for a gastronomic and unforgettable experience.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author, Tessa Wong.
About Tessa: If there’s one food Tessa can’t live without, it is bread. She spends her weekends going for yoga and hunting new bakeries and cafes in the area. Her favourite sourdough is tangy but slightly sweet, crisp on the outside but chewy on the inside. Sometimes, she also bakes to satisfy her bread cravings.
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