Bakeries in Singapore are a dime a dozen, but affordable pastries are harder to come by these days. Enter Pan Fresco, a new-ish bakery cafe that’s somewhat of a hidden find. Tucked in the new Shaw Plaza Balestier, the bakery offers a wide range of pastries and breads that are baked fresh on-site!
Once you enter, you get to choose from a huge lineup of bakes displayed at the glass counter.
Prices are kept affordable, the cheapest pastry being the Kouign Amann, which costs just $3. Even if you’re dining in, you’re paying nett prices too!
The Pistachio Croissant ($5.80) is a crowd favourite for good reason. You get a huge buttery croissant filled and topped with pistachio ganache, finished with more pistachio bits. If you’re consuming the croissant at the cafe, it’s popped into a toaster for a couple of minutes, resulting in a lava-esque middle that oozes out when you tear into it.
Pair this with a cuppa joe; this nutty croissant went well with our cup of Hot White ($4.50).
Then there’s also the Biscoff Cube Croissant ($5.80). Cube-shaped croissants rose to fame when they were introduced to Cafe Margaret and Keong Saik Bakery, but the ones at Pan Fresco seem a tad cheaper.
While the croissant cube looked promising, the pastry layers were not as flaky as we’d expected.
The filling, comprising cream cheese and cookie butter, was rather lacklustre without much flavour, too.
I’d say skip this fancy-looking bake and opt for their Dark Cherry Danish ($3.80) instead, which comes loaded with vanilla-scented custard and a tart cherry jam.
It’s the perfect mix of sweet and tangy, paired with the crispy laminated layers and creamy custard middle!
For something that’s easy to da bao and eat on the go, try their Matcha Red Bean Croissant ($3.80).
The puff pastry comes topped with a matcha glaze, and is filled with a sweet azuki red bean paste.
Those who need a caffeinated pick-me-up will also find it here. Espresso-based coffee starts at just $3.50—an Iced Black costs $4, and comes with two shots of espresso.
Check out our TikTok video below for the full scoop.
While you’re at the mall, visit Two Bake Boys on Level 3 for their famous crepe cakes. Otherwise, head to the nearby Kemuri BBQ for delicious house-smoked meats and affordable donburi.
Address: 360 Balestier Road, #02-08 Shaw Plaza, Singapore 329783
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 9pm
Website
Pan Fresco is not a halal-certified eatery.
Photos taken by Kaedynce Chew.
This was an independent visit by Eatbook.sg.