CATBAKE Review: New Cat-Themed Bakery In Singapore By Famous Japanese Pastry Chef

Famous Japanese bakery CATBAKE opens in Star Vista

Singaporeans love Japanese bakes—from the viral cake-in-a-can vending machines to the Donq Bakery matcha lava bun craze, it seems that the affection for these kawaii pastries will be here to stay. Recently, we heard about the opening of CATBAKE—a new Japanese cat-themed bakery in Singapore. As fans of Japanese pastries ourselves, we were hyped at the opportunity to visit them.

CATBAKE is the first cat-themed Japanese bakery launched by the acclaimed Hokkaido patissier and chef Shinya Tajima. If you didn’t know, he’s also the man behind the famous Neko Neko Shokupan in Japan, which took the country by storm for their adorable cat-shaped buns. 

In addition, Shinya Tajima is also the owner of Chocolate Origin, a home-grown brand famous for their chocolate cakes and confectioneries. 

Food at CATBAKE

You can’t say you’ve been to CATBAKE if you haven’t tried their signature Cat Cheesecake ($28), which comes in two flavours: Original and Dark Chocolate. 

Their Original cheesecake is constructed with two components: a velvety cream cheese layer stacked above a fluffy sponge cake. The cream cheese layer boasted a creamy savouriness that first dominated the palate, followed by sweet and slightly tangy notes lingering at the end.

In terms of texture, the cheesecake had a soft and smooth mouthfeel. Our only gripe was that the crumb crust at the base was slightly hard and dry. Nonetheless, it’s a small blip in an overall delicious piece of cheesecake. 

Another item to look out for at CATBAKE is their Cat French Toast ($3.60). It is made with shokupan bread, giving it a light, fluffy and oh-so-soft texture. It had a rich and buttery flavour, with subtle hints of vanilla and cinnamon. I felt that the toast was slightly too eggy at the centre, but for its price, I’m not going to complain.

You can get a scoop of gelato to go with your French toast too. Prices for their gelato start from $5.50 for a single scoop, and $8.80 for a double. For premium flavours, it costs $6.20 and $10.20 for a single and double scoop respectively. 

We also tried their Cat Croque Monsieur ($4.50), a Japanese adaptation of the classic French sandwich. The croque monsieur was reminiscent of a Hawaiian pizza, with a combination of sweet bechamel sauce, salty ham, and a slice of cheese broiled to golden-brown ends.

My colleague mentioned that the Croque Monsieur reminded her of pizza bread that you’d find at neighbourhood bakeries. While they tasted similar in flavour, I felt the version here was chewier with a slightly crispier exterior.

Alternatively, you can go for the Cat Pizza Sausage ($4.90), which features sausage strips instead of ham, and has bell peppers atop the same chewy bread. 

You can also get their signature Neko Shokupan, which comes in various fillings such as White ($8.80), Chocolate Chip ($10.80), or Raisin and Walnut ($11.80). These loaves of bread are baked fresh in-house daily. Feel free to pose with the cat bakes—if you’re daring enough. Looking good, feline’ good. 

Apart from their bakes and drinks, CATBAKE also sells CACAOCAT premium chocolate treats, which are specially imported from Hokkaido, Japan. You can get their CACAOCAT Bakes, which are flavoured chocolate cookies including Milk Chocolate, Dark Chocolate, White Chocolate and Walnut. Each individual pack costs $4.80, or you can get them in a box of three for $15.90. 

Ambience at CATBAKE

CATBAKE is located at Basement 1 of The Star Vista, with a huge storefront that’s hard to miss. The sheer number of cat-inspired bakes and treats, coupled with the aesthetic designs on the packaging, will send cat lovers into a tizzy. It’s great for those looking for a dessert spot to relax or catch up with friends—though the cafe might get crowded during peak meal times. 

CATBAKE is a three-minute walk from Buona Vista MRT Station. 

The verdict

CATBAKE is a haven for cat lovers—and for those with a sweet tooth. Their bakes and desserts were executed well, which warrants a second visit from me if I’m around the area. If you’re keen on having some adorable Japanese pastries, be sure to check them out! 

For more sweet pastries to try, check out Cinnabon, a famous cinnamon roll bakery from America, which has recently opened their new outlet at Raffles City Shopping Centre! If you’re looking for somewhere else to dine in the Buona Vista mall, check out The Star Vista food guide.

Address: 1 Vista Exchange Green, B1-43, The Star Vista, Singapore 138617
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 10am to 9:30pm, Sun 8am to 9:30pm
Website
CATBAKE is not a halal-certified eatery.

Photos taken by Hui Hui Lau.
This was a media tasting at CATBAKE.