Best traditional bakeries in Singapore
Letโs face it, traditional bakeries are becoming few and far between. Like our hawker experts, masters of past generations have spent more of their lives handcrafting delicious eats, but they are having a tough job finding successors. Itโs time to check out these 20 traditional bakeries in Singapore and have a taste of their signature items before itโs too late.
Table of Contents
11 Hawker Bakeries In Singapore For Black Sesame Financiers, Old-School Doughnuts And More
1. Dona Manis Cake Shop
Dona Manis Cake Shop is a humble store that has been in the basement of Katong Shopping Centre for over 20 years. Run by a married couple, the Banana Pie ($3.30 per slice) here is considered a not-so-secret gem of the East. The warm, buttery pie is filled with chunks of banana and sprinkled with nuts for a crunchy texture. Their pies and pastries are handmade and baked every day, so you know you’re getting them fresh.
Read our Dona Manis Cake Shop review.
Address: 865 Mountbatten Road, #B1-93, Katong Shopping Centre, Singapore 437844
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 9am to 4:30pm
Tel: 6440 7688
Website
Dona Manis Cake Shop is not a halal-certified eatery.
Dona Manis Cake Shop: Famous Old-School Banana Pie Bakery At Katong Shopping Centre
2. Sze Thye Cake Shop
Image credit: HappyCat.้ป็ฎ็ซ
Sze Thye Cake Shopโs owner Koh Sun Liang has been making traditional Chinese sweets for more than 57 years. He and his father picked up their skills from the original owners of Sze Thye Cake Shop, and years later his father took over. The business was then passed down to Mr Koh in 1999. The Peanut Candy ($1.20) here is a must-try. Everything is made from scratch by Mr Koh.
Address: 2 Beach Road, #01-4795, Singapore 190002
Opening hours: Daily 9am to 7pm
Tel: 9658 1286
Sze Thye Cake Shop is not a halal-certified eatery.
3. Lana Cakes
Image credit: @12dragons
Many would speak fondly about childhood memories of eating Lana Cakesโ bakes, and if you donโt, it’s time to remedy that. Chef Violet Kwan has been making her beloved Chocolate Fudge Cakes (from $58) for more than 40 years at a small bakery in Bukit Timah. Each cake comes with two layers of moist chocolate sponge coated with rich, velvety chocolate fudge.ย
Address: 36 Greenwood Avenue, Singapore 289239
Opening hours: Tue-Fri 10am to 6pm, Sat 10am to 5pm
Tel: 6466 5315
Website
Lana Cakes is not a halal-certified eatery.
4. Lek Lim Nonya Cake Confectionery
Image credit: @euniqeun
Lek Lim Nonya Cakes started in 1967, after Mr Leck and his wife learned how to make kueh from a Peranakan teacher. They opened their shop in 1987, when ang ku kueh started to make appearances at first-month celebrations for babies. The shop is now run by third-generation owner Gavan Sing, who is the founder’s grandson. Besides the must-try Ang Ku Kueh ($0.95), another popular item at Lek Lim is Kueh Lapis ($1.10), which has 10 layers instead of the usual nine. The shop is now halal-certified.
Address: 84 Bedok North Street 4, #01-21, Singapore 460084
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 5am to 5pm, Sun 5am to 2pm
Tel: 6449 0815
Website
Lek Lim Nonya Cake Confectionery is not a halal-certified eatery.
5. Traditional Haig Road Putu Piring
Image credit: @reeniepoh
Similar to kueh tutu, putu piring is a steamed treat made with rice flour. Unlike kueh tutu, however, it is usually filled with palm sugar instead of peanuts or coconut. Each Putu Piring ($4.70 for four pieces) from Haig Road Putu Piring comes with a core of gula melaka and is topped with freshly-grated coconut shavings and pandan leaves. Eat it while it’s hot to get a taste of the warm, gooey gula melaka!
Address: 970 Geylang Road, #01-02, Al-Azhar Coffee Shop, Singapore 423492
Opening hours: Daily 10:30am to 9:30pm
Tel: 9797 5635
Website
Haig Road Putu Piring is not a halal-certified eatery.
6. Balmoral Bakery
One of the better known traditional bakeries is Balmoral Bakery. They opened in 1965 and moved to their current location at Sunset Way in 1984! A variety of classic English treats are available here and their Beef Pies ($2.50) are much raved about, as well as their Cream Horn ($1.60), the latter being an old-school nostalgic treat your parents probably grew up eating.
Address: 105 Clementi Road Street 12, #01-06, Singapore 120105
Opening hours: Daily 9am to 7pm
Tel: 6779 2064
Website
Balmoral Bakery is not a halal-certified eatery.
7. Tong Heng
Image credit: @foodventureswithj
Like many on this list, Tong Hengโs employees continue to make their pastries by hand despite the invention of machines that can do the same. Owner Ana Fong is the fourth generation to run the shop founded by her great-grandfather. Started in the 1920s, the pastry shop is famous for their diamond-shaped Egg Tart ($2.40), which comes with a flaky, buttery crust and smooth egg filling.
Chinatown outlet
Address: 285 South Bridge Road, Singapore 058833
Opening hours: Daily 9am to 6pm
Jurong Point outlet
Address: 105 Clementi Street 12, #01-06, Sunset Way Residence, Singapore 120105
Opening hours: Daily 9:30am to 8:30pm
Website
Tong Heng is not a halal-certified eatery.
8. Ng Kim Lee Confectionery
Image credit: @seizeling
Ng Kim Lee is a treasure trove of cakes, puffs and their signature Mini Muffins ($0.70 each). These muffins come in classic flavours such as chocolate, blueberry and lemon. Their Kaya Cake ($1.20 per slice) is fluffy, fragrant, with a dense kaya jelly base that makes it definitely worth a try too. Prices are cheap, so you can snack all you want on their array of baked goods!
Read our Ng Kim Lee Confectionery review.ย
Address: 4 Chun Tin Road, Singapore 599591
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11am to 9pm
Tel: 6466 3515
Ng Kim Lee Confectionery is not a halal-certified eatery.
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9. Sing Hon Loong Bakery
Image credit: nicole T
Yes, plain old bread is on this list because not many places can do it as Sing Hon Loong does. This 50-year-old frills-free bakery specialises in loaves of white bread with no fancy-schmancy toppings or fillings. Like clockwork, freshly-baked bread never seems to stop coming out from their ovens 24/7. You can get pillowy bread loaves here for under $5, or their flavoured buns stuffed with coconut, red bean, and more, from $1.60.
Address: 4 Whampoa Drive, Singapore 327715
Opening hours: Daily 24 hours
Tel: 6256 0878
Website
Sing Hon Loong Bakery is not a halal-certified eatery.
10. Loong Fatt Tau Sar Piah
Image credit: @w_i_eatt_
Fronted by a neon sign, Loong Fatt Tau Sar Piah has been pushing out Teochew-style tau sar piah since the ’60s. The brand got popular for their pastry, which is extra buttery, but is thinner than the tau sar piah we’re so used to from mass-market brands. Available simply in two flavours, sweet and salty, each piah is priced at $1.20, and baked fresh daily.
Address: 639 Balestier Road, Singapore 329922
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 7:30am to 3:30pm
Website
Loong Fatt Tau Sar Piah is not a halal-certified eatery.
11. Jie Bakery & Confectionery
Image credit: @joannayeo
In the heart of Tai Seng stands Jie Bakery & Confectionery, one of the longest standing traditional bakeries in Singapore that specialises in breads. They have been running for over 30 years, making fresh bread daily by hand, and without preservatives. Some of their popular items include their Rainbow Bread ($3.60 per loaf), the kind you get from ice cream uncles, and their Pandan Bread ($3.60 per loaf), so flavourful that you can eat it on its own.
Address: 123 Upper Paya Lebar Road, Singapore 534837
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 7am to 10pm, Sun 10am to 10pm
Tel: 9818 8386
Jie Bakery & Confectionery is not a halal-certified eatery.
12. Love Confectionery
Image credit: @jxeats
The kind of cream cakes that used to be so commonplace at void deck bakeries is now hard to come by, unless you go to Love Confectionery in Bukit Merah. The stall feels like a blast from the pastโdisplay cases are lined with sprinkle-topped cream cakes, hae bee buns, and old-school biscuits. Fans praise the fluffiness of their Peanut Powder Cake ($1.50), while others rave about the bakery’s $0.80 buns and $0.60 doughnuts.
Read our Love Confectionery review.ย
Address: 122 Bukit Merah Lane 1, #01-60, Singapore 150122
Opening hours: Daily 12pm to 6pm
Website
Love Confectionery is not a halal-certified eatery.
This 43-Year-Old Bakery Has $1.50 Old-School Buttercream Cakes
13. Ji Xiang Confectionery
Image credit: Jensen Chua Photography
Ji Xiang Confectionery began as an OG home-based business, thanks to owners Mr and Mrs Toh selling peanut and sweet bean paste ang ku kueh throughout his neighbourhood in 1985. The business eventually got so successful that they moved to a flagship bakery in Everton Park in 1988, and Ji Xiang Confectionery has been making ang ku kueh the traditional way out of that outfit ever since. All the ang ku kueh is still made by hand, and now comes in a myriad of flavours: salted bean, coconut, peanut, corn, yam, and sweet bean. Each kueh is priced at $1.20.
Address: 1 Everton Park, #01-33, Singapore 081001
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 8am to 5pm
Tel: 6223 1631
Website
Ji Xiang Confectionery is not a halal-certified eatery.
14. Leung Sang Hong Kong Pastry
Image credit: @districtsixtyfive
You don’t have to travel to Hong Kong to get your fix of authentic polo buns and flaky egg tarts with Leung Sang Hong Kong Pastry in Tiong Bahru. Their egg tarts are generously filled with wobbly egg custard, and are priced at just $2.20. For those who prefer cookie crust tarts, Leung Sang also caters to you with their Western Egg Tart ($2.20). For heartier bites, the stall also sells Wife Pastry ($2.20), and buttery meat pies!
Website | Full list of outlets
Leung Sang Hong Kong Pastry is not a halal-certified eatery.
15. June Bakery
June Bakery is quite a hole-in-the-wall amongst the traditional bakeries on this list, but it still remains extremely popular amongst fans for their ultra-affordable cheese and orh nee tarts. Prices are $1.50 for their tarts, though they tend to sell out by midday, so head down fast. Other goodies to get include their Peanut Mochi (price TBD), where QQ sweet potato mochi dusted in ground peanut buries a generous amount of yam filling.
Read our June Bakery review.
Address: 7500A Beach Road, #B1-321, Singapore 199591
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 7am to 2:30pm
Tel: 9731 3002
June Bakery is not a halal-certified eatery.
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16. Lau Chong Kee Mini
Fans of custard buns will fancy Lau Chong Kee Mini, a traditional bakery with an outlet in Chinatown, and another in Bedok. Their Custard Bun ($1.50) boasts a beautiful brown shade on the outside, packed with yellow custard within. An equally delicious contender is the Custard Horn ($1.50), a crispier alternative to the bun. Their custard bakes are perfect for those who are big on sweet things! Else, opt for the Pandan Cake ($1) or Red Bean Cake ($1.80) for something lighter on the palate.ย
Read our Lau Chong Kee Mini review.ย
Address: 32 New Market Road, #01-1030, Peopleโs Park Food Centre, Singapore 050032
Opening hours: Daily 12:30pm to 8pm
Lau Chong Kee Mini is not a halal-certified eatery.
Lau Chong Kee Mini Review: Old-School Bakery With Custard Buns, Char Siew Su and More From $1
17. Jia Mei Bakery
Tucked away at Old Airport Road Food Centre is Jia Mei Bakery, a hawker stall that sells mostly handmade baked goods. We recommend the Sugar Doughnut ($1.30) for a chewy and sufficiently sweet treat with a pinch of nostalgia. They also offer tarts, including the Egg Tart ($1.40) and Coconut Tart ($1.40). If you prefer crispy shells to softer ones, youโll surely dig their tarts! Do note that the items are prepared in small batches here, with the buns only available from noon.
Read our Jia Mei Bakery review.ย
Address: 51 Old Airport Road, #01-43, Old Airport Road Food Centre, Singapore 390051
Opening hours: Sun, Tue-Fri 9am to 6pm
Jia Mei Bakery is not a halal-certified eatery.
Get Old-School Coconut Tart And Sugar Doughnut Under $1.50 At Old Airport Road
18. Serangoon Garden Bakery & Confectionery
Serangoon Garden Bakery & Confectionery takes pride in making their breads from scratchโwhich is no walk in the park if youโve ever attempted it. Business starts at 6am, which makes for a great pitstop for those looking for a place to get a simple breakfast. Thereโs an extensive range of buns here, including Kaya ($1.10), Peanut ($1.10), and Curry ($1.20). There are also Butter Cake ($1.10) and Banana Cake ($1.10) for those who want a sweeter treat.
Read our Serangoon Gardens Bakery & Confectionery review.ย
Address: 49A Serangoon Garden Way, #01-45/46, Serangoon Garden Market & Food Centre, Singapore 555945
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 6am to 2pm
Serangoon Garden Bakery & Confectionery is not a halal-certified eatery.
19. Big Bakery
A stoneโs throw away from Tai Seng MRT Station is Big Bakery, a priceless product of 61-year-old Mr Tan Li Hin and his wife, Candy. They specialise in handmade old-school apple pies, and you can get a slice at $2.60. Alternatively, you can get the Pineapple Crumble for the same price! Their wallet-friendly Chicken Burger ($2.40) and Fish Burger ($2.40) are said to be popular among office workers who are always on the go.ย
Read our Big Bakery review.ย
Address: 99 Upper Paya Lebar Road, Singapore 534825
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 5am to 6:30pm, Sat 10am to 3pm
Tel: 6383 251
Big Bakery is not a halal-certified eatery.
Big Bakery: Old-School Apple Crumble Made By Hand At This 30-Year-Old Bakery
20. Hung Huat Cakes And Pastries
Image credit: @flyeetelfly
Hung Huat Cakes And Pastries is one of the few traditional bakeries to visit for CNY goodies and pretty orh nee mooncakes. Prior to their current business, they started as a min jiang kueh shop in 1978. Their repertoire at the moment include the popular Teo Chew Crispy Skin Mooncake (from $10), a gorgeous layered pastry in a lavender shade brimming with orh nee filling. Another must-have is their Ondeh Ondeh ($3 for four), delicately made with all-natural ingredients.
Read our Hung Huat Cakes And Pastries review.ย
Address: Blk 49 Sims Place, #01-48, Sims Vista Market & Food Centre, Singapore 380049
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 7am to 4pm
Tel: 9651 4902
Website
Hung Huat Cakes And Pastries is not a halal-certified eatery.
Hung Huat Cakes And Pastries: Famous Old-School Bakery Since 1978
Old-school traditional bakeries in Singapore
When youโre bored of cafe-hopping, opt for these traditional bakeries that have been plying their trade for years. After all, their decades of experience have allowed them to optimise their recipes, so you can be sure youโre getting the good stuff.
For more traditional finds, find out more about the best old-school Western food stalls in Singapore for XXL chicken cutlet and fish and chips from $6. Also, check out these old-school snack stalls in Singapore that will transport you back to your childhood.
18 Old-School Western Food Stalls In Singapore For XXL Chicken Cutlet And Fish And Chips From $6
Feature image adapted from Jensen Chua Photography
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