I don’t know about you, but the last thing I do in Johor Bahru (JB) before passing through the customs to get home is buy a bunch of bread for my family. There’s nothing vastly different about bakeries in Singapore and Malaysia, but the variety and cheap prices make JB an attractive place to shop for bread and unique pastries. If you relate, continue reading our guide to the best JB bakeries, including a traditional one that has been around for over 85 years.
The current exchange rate is RM1 = ~S$0.31 as of 9 June 2026.
Frequent JB travellers will surely know of Nimmies Pastry Cafe, a popular Bali-esque cafe that’s a quick 10-minute drive from the customs. The cafe doubles as a bakery, where you’ll be greeted with a huge display of fresh bakes near the entrance. During our visit, we tried the crowd-favourite Taro Cromboloni (RM20++): flaky croissant pastry packed with sweet, creamy orh nee paste. If you’re not a fan of taro, though, we recommend the Pistachio Supreme Croissant (RM19++) instead. This cube croissant comes loaded with pistachio cream within, finished with chopped pistachio bits for added crunchiness.
Read our Nimmies Pastry Cafe feature.
Address: 171, Jln Beringin, Taman Melodies, 80250 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
Opening hours: Daily 8am to 11pm
Tel: +60 12-301 9272
Website
Nimmies Pastry Cafe is halal-certified.
We may have Hiap Joo Bakery in the form of a vending machine at City Square Mall, but taking the price into consideration, we’d say paying a visit to their OG bakery is a wiser choice. In JB, a box of their Banana Cake costs RM13, which comes with 10 slices. Though the bakery sells a bunch of other old-school buns and cakes, the snaking queue is usually formed by customers who buy boxes of their moist, fluffy banana cakes back home.
Read our Hiap Joo Bakery feature.
Address: 13, Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
Opening hours: Daily 7:30am to 5pm
Website
Hiap Joo Bakery is halal-certified.
We came across 365 Bakery on TikTok, when their Taro Seaweed Chicken Floss Swiss Roll (RM38.90) was going viral. This modern Crest Austin bakery has garnered more than 17K followers on their Instagram at the time of writing. Besides the popular Swiss roll made using taro cream and crispy seaweed chicken floss, their shio pan is equally well-loved by patrons. It comes in a range of flavours here, including the classic Signature Shio Pan (RM4.50) and the trendy Matcha Milk Shio Pan (RM6.50). FYI, 365 Bakery is a 25-minute drive from the customs.
Read our 365 Bakery feature.
Address: 38, Jalan Jaya Putra 7/2, Bandar Jaya Putra, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 9pm
Tel: +60 14-312 0032
Website
365 Bakery is not halal-certified.
Our team is always on the lookout for traditional bakeries with old-school bakes and a long-standing history, and Salahuddin Bakery fits the bill. This confectionery has been around for over 85 years, and their curry puffs are said to be the bestselling item here. It’s currently helmed by a fourth-generation owner, who bakes fresh Butter Cake (RM6), Samosa Sardin (RM2.50), and Cup Cake (RM0.70) daily. Fun fact, there’s even a wood-fired oven to achieve the softest, fluffiest bread loaves! Better yet, the bakery is only a 15-minute drive from the customs.
Address: 15, Jalan Jagong 1, Bandar Baru Uda, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
Opening hours: Sat-Thurs 7am to 6pm
Tel: +60 12-766 8380
Salahuddin Bakery is halal-certified.
Dona Bakehouse is a modern artisan bakery selling cakes, pastries, and even coffee. For a sweet treat, you can’t go wrong with the Kunafa Chocolate (RM16.90++), an elevated pain au chocolat with pistachio paste and chocolate cream. There’s the Strawberry Danish (RM12.90++) or Blueberry Danish (RM13.90++) if you like fruits on your pastries! For the best experience, we recommend pairing your bakes with a cup of Latte (from RM14++).
Address: 14, Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80888 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 8:30am to 5pm, Fri-Sun 8:30am to 6:30pm
Tel: +60 10-667 8625
Website
Dona Bakehouse is not halal-certified.
There are several Ming Ang Confectionery outlets in JB, but the nearest to the customs is located at City Square. You don’t even have to drive there, as it takes about 10 minutes on foot. For the uninitiated, Ming Ang Confectionery has been around since 1992, serving up baked traditional Chinese pastries such as Kaya Puff (RM2.40) and Salted Egg Yolk Biscuit (RM5.80). For something simpler, we recommend their crispy Golden Milk Pastry (RM4.90), which comes in either mung bean or red bean filling. Alternatively, their Earl Grey Tea Pineapple Pastry (RM4.80) is a great choice for a fine blend of traditional and modern flavours.
Read our Ming Ang Confectionery feature.
Address: Lot M3-04, Level 3, City Square, Jalan Wong Ah Fook, Bandar Johor Bahru, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 10pm
Tel: +60 10-388 8359
Website
Ming Ang Confectionery is halal-certified.
Dining at Mid Valley Southkey JB feels a little daunting at times, considering how spacious the mall is. A must-visit among the treasure trove of eateries, though, is Lapisan Pâtisserie, where everything is about French pastries with an occasional touch of local flavours. Starting with savouries, the Spicy Mayo Sausage Croissant (RM13.60) is the most popular out of the six different kinds, followed by Mushroom & Veggie Quiche (RM10.50). Those with a sweet tooth can opt for a Pain Au Chocolat (RM9) or Strawberry Maritozzo (RM11); the latter is essentially a sweet bun brimming with whipped cream and sliced strawberries.
Address: G-049, The Mall Midvalley, Persiaran Southkey 1, Southkey, 80150 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 10pm
Tel: +60 7-331 9191
Website
Lapisan Pâtisserie is halal-certified.
Another bakery with the viral meat floss buns is Jire Handmade, which is no further than 20 minutes by car from the customs. There are five types of pork floss buns, all packed with sweet house-made sauce that’s mellowed down by the savoury floss bits. Their Walnut Little Bae (RM4.50) sounds the most interesting, which combines pork floss, creamy sauce, and crunchy walnuts. The Crispy Cream Puff (RM5.50) is equally delicious, which is essentially an airy puff pastry with a creamy core, topped with crispy cereal-like bits.
Read our Jire Handmade feature.
Address: 01-04, Pangsapuri Molek Pulai, Jln Persiaran Molek, Taman Molek, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 7:30pm
Tel: +60 16-723 9213
Website
Jire Handmade is not halal-certified.
If you love kueh lapis, make a stop at JBing Bakery, located just a 10- to 12-minute drive from the customs. Though the bakery keeps its selection simple, every item is a standout, including the Original Kuih Lapis (RM48) and Prunes Kuih Lapis (RM58). The bakery reportedly sells over a thousand cakes each month—a testament to their popularity. It’s easy to see why: each cake is meticulously crafted using premium ingredients, such as Golden Churn butter and fresh prunes, resulting in rich, buttery layers that keep customers coming back for more.
Address: 3 & 5, Jalan Sutera 1, Taman Sentosa, 80150 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
Opening hours: Daily 12pm to 7pm
Tel: +60 10-824 4902
Website
JBing Bakery is not halal-certified but uses no pork or lard.
We have to end the list with Rotiboy, a pitstop for most of us when passing through the JB customs. There’s always a long queue here, but turnover rates are relatively quick as the grab-and-go bakery only sells one bun in four different flavours. The most popular of the lot is, of course, Rotiboy (RM3.50), which is also sold in a bag of five for RM16.60. Other flavours include Mochaboy (RM3.70), Cheeseboy (RM4.20), and Buttermilkboy (RM3.70).
Check out our Rotiboy Coffee Bun recipe.
Address: JB Sentral, Jalan Jim Quee, Bukit Chagar, 80300 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta’zim, Malaysia
Opening hours: Fri-Mon 10am to 9pm, Tue 10am to 8pm, Wed-Thurs 9:30am to 8pm
Rotiboy is halal-certified.
Beyond visiting JB cafes and dim sum places, you can start including these bakeries as part of your JB food itinerary.
In related content, read our guide to the best bakeries in Singapore. Alternatively, check out the best JB breakfast spots to eat at the next time you’re crossing the causeway early.
Feature image adapted from @donabakehouse, @jire.my, and @thatfoodadv.
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