The best bakeries in Singapore

You don’t need a plane ticket to Hong Kong for some darn delicious Bolo Buns. All you gotta do is head down to the ever-bustling Tanjong Pagar district and Champion Bolo Bun’s got you sorted with their irresistible fluffy buttery buns. Bake lovers, you’d be pleased to know that buns here are freshly made and come out piping hot just about every fifteen minutes. Totally worth the wait as the consistent snaking queues prove that it is the real deal.

No one expects a hidden eatery, tucked away at the back exit of an NTUC FairPrice in Katong V. It’s a Yugoslavian bakery at that, one that has freshly baked East European pastries and savoury breads – baklava, burek, and pastrmajlija included. With most of the bakes going for under $10, this bakery here is exactly what we needed – not for its foray into Eastern European bakes, but simply for its savoury goodness. Definitely worth a visit if you're ever in the East.

Munch on warm bakes in this hole-in-the-wall vibe bakery (both sweet and savoury) that are made fresh daily. If you love surprises, there's always something new when you return. We tried a whole range of sourdough buns – from cauliflower, cheese and pepper to the classic cinnamon buns, and even a black garlic and chocolate piece they were experimenting on – and that $5 to $6 price tag on the buns is well justified. It had a great crust on the outside, fluffy and soft on the outside and versatile to accommodate the most intense of fillings and toppings, like spam and cheese even.

After almost three years at 749 North Bridge Road, Mother Dough has moved just a few steps over to a new, and bigger, home. This bakery is still a force to be reckoned with when we're talking about the best croissants in Singapore. Besides the crowd favourite and fast-selling almond croissants ($4.20), take some time to give their other freshly baked goods a try. From the chocolate pound cake ($4/slice) to a simple baguette, everything here is baked to perfection. 

The scent of fresh air, aromatic brews, and warm bakes mingle and come together at the seventh, and latest, Tiong Bahru Bakery outlet. The store comes nestled within the tranquil grounds of Fort Canning Park, and offers an idyllic escape to while the day away. You might spot quirky motifs sprinkled around the space – a lifeguard stand, lifebuoys, and signage reminiscent of swimming pool rule boards. These design elements help pay homage to the location’s history as the former River Valley Swimming Complex.

Inside, an open kitchen provides a peep into the baking process, where fresh, flaky croissants are churned out every two hours. Also on display: a range of Tiong Bahru Bakery’s signature treats, both savoury and sweet. While the usual kouign amann deserves a spot on your tray, be sure to leave some space for the outlet-exclusive creations. Try the sourdough croissant ($4.80), with a crémeux praline filling, best paired with a cup of nutmeg teh halia ($7), a scented ginger tea concoction that will leave the belly feeling warm and satisfied. Or sip on the lesser-seen kvass ($5), a sparkling Eastern European beverage brewed with sourdough yeast.

If you’re hoping to dine closer to nature, head out to the 60-seater outdoor that comes flanked by manicured slopes and trees. Better yet, grab one of its picnic bundles ($22/$31) to enjoy a convenient outdoor meal within the expansive grounds of Fort Canning Hill. Available for breakfast or lunch, each bag comes filled with your choice of savoury sandwich, sweet pastry, alongside a drink.

Founder of Spa Esprit Group, which own Tiong Bahru Bakery, shares: “Just like the old River Valley Swimming Complex, we envision Tiong Bahru Bakery Foothills to be an ideal meeting ground that brings generations of families and friends together – this time round over French pastries and freshly brewed coffee.”

Bread and brownies. That's what these popular bakers are known for. Woodlands Sourdough garnered a loyal following when they first set up shop and now at its most recent physical store, the popularity has not waivered. Brownies come in different variations – check what's in store for the day via Instagram and sourdough loaves here are denser and slightly stickier than what you might be accustomed to. On top of the staples, you can come by to pick up a selection of stuffed doughnuts, tartines and other bakes. 

This bakery originating from Kobe, Japan has more than 59 years of experience to back it up. Using tried and true Japanese production techniques, Gokoku churns out light and fluffy loaves made from healthy, traditional grains such as brown rice and sakadane (fermented dough). Try the best-selling gokoku shichifuki pan ($2.20), a wholesome and fragrant bun packed with minerals and dietary fibre from Japanese brown rice flour, sunflower seeds, malt, oatmeal, linseed and soybeans. Also recommended are the kokutou figs bun ($2.30), earl grey scone ($2.10) and jumbo coronet ($2). 

Petit Pain is a hidden gem in the Joo Chiat neighbourhood. The bakery which specialises in croissants produces small batches of baked each day which run out pretty quickly. The baked goods are made without improvers, preservatives and artificial flavouring.The croissants are light, buttery and flakey and best when it is fresh. Other must-haves is the pain au chocolat and the Swedish cinnamon buns, kanelbullar. 

Occupying the iconic Red House in Katong, it's really hard to miss Micro Bakery. With the mission to serve delicious and hearty food and to provide a cosy space for people to take a break from the hustle, you'll feel comfortable right away at this café with its warm decor and the smell of freshly baked bread constantly in the air. Besides the breakfast options like the scrambled eggs tartine ($14) and Big Breakfast ($18), get some buns, cakes, sourdough loaves and even coffee to go. 

This Farrer Road joint dishes out some of the best artisanal bread and pastries in Singapore. Located in the old school Empress Mall, Brera is a hidden gem where you can find cruffins (croissant and muffin), baguettes, kouign-amanns, old school buns with savoury fillings and more. 

Sometimes you just want some simple but really, really good bread. Then it's a trip to Simply Bread for you. Grab freshly-baked large classic loaves here but stay for a while to try their pastries and buns – especially the sticky cinnamon bun. If you're feeling adventurous, try the ciabatta loaves in unique flavours like green curry, pesto and garlic. 

There’s a whiff of French nostalgia about this bakery and confectionery, filled with aged wooden furniture and the aroma of freshly baked brioches and baguettes. Go early for their famous macaroons: available in rose, chocolate, lemon, hazelnut and other scrumptious flavours. Choupinette also does a mean croque monsieur and other sandwiches.

Besides being a convenient spot to pick up gourmet products, The Providore is also a great place for artisan bread. Made fresh everyday, the bakery is where you can grab interesting pastries and bakes like the Earl Grey and pear danish, mentaiko baguette and the comforting chai bun to-go or to enjoy with a freshly brewed cup of Joe. 

Recognised for their artisan desserts, Paul brings the crown home for the tastiest pastries. It uses soft winter wheat like Camp Remy, a traditional French ingredient that brings robust flavours to the bread. At the counter, you can find an extensive variety of bread and sourdough baked to perfection. From Flute Paul, Pain Campagne and its signature Baguette Charlemagne. For those with sweet-tooth, try Paul's signature millefeuille,fruit tarts and pain au chocolat.

This Japanese established bakery store should be no stranger to bread lovers and many go to this bakery store for their healthy and tasty bread. Despite being slight pricey, Provence keeps true to their deal of using only the best ingredients in their mix. It is no wonder why this humble little shop has been flourishing and have opened a few outlets nationwide. Get their signature fluffy Milk Bun, Cinnamon twirl and Koshi An Pan to fill your tummies. 

One thing to note, Paris Baguette serves more than just bread. It has an wide selection of pastries, sandwiches, old school oven-baked goods and desserts like the pain au chocolat, danish cream cheese pastry and Korea power garlic bread. For those who are up for brunch, Paris Baguette whips up some delicious piping hot scrambled eggs and bacon. 

This Japanese-style bakery cafe offers some really visually appealing pastries that you can't help but take a bite of. Despite the rather pricey items with the choux creme ($5.50) and the Yatsura ($8.50), they compensate on the richness and texture of the pastries. The Yatsura is a layered dark chocolate cake with thick chocolate filling and also one of the cafe favourite. 

Don’t be misled by its name: the bakery doesn’t really house a stone-hearth oven, but you can find typically hard and scratchy European breads warm and fluffy at Bread & Hearth in their resolve to stick to age-old, time-consuming methods of baking – they use levain, which boosts the flavour of its dough overnight, as well as roll and fold their pastry dough by hand daily. Also sticking to using unbleached flour and butter imported from France, the results are honeycombed croissants ($2.80), a balanced salted caramel tart ($6) heavily dotted with whole macadamia nuts, and a simple white chocolate bun ($2.80) that’s drawn return crowds.

This boulangerie – which first opened its flagship store at it's eponymous neighbourhood – serves french artisanal breads, tarts and coffee at three locations around town. Savoury options like the squid ink sandwich ($8.50) and ham and melted Cheese on focaccia ($8) are great for satisfying the peckish while sweet options like the ever-popular almond croissant ($3.20) and the sinful kouign-amann ($3.50) are not-to-be-missed especially when bought fresh off the oven.

With a history that spans 81 years and 11 stores across Japan, Asanoya Bakery is well known for its Japanese-style breads with an European twist. Its first 70-seater flagship outside Japan, at the Wilby Central block of serviced apartments, features the bakery’s signatures like maple walnut pretzel ($3.20), Earl Grey-infused tea bread ($4.20) and An Pan filled with Hokkaido adzuki red bean paste ($2.80).

New Zealand celebrity baker and cookbook author Dean Brettschneider has fired up permanent ovens at a bakery-cum-café corner space in the residential enclave of Hillcrest. An all-around glass frontage protects a long communal wooden table, peek-in kitchen space, and slate-tiled counters encasing sweet and savoury breads, tarts and pastries. No more travelling to Shanghai for the 100 per cent German rye Volkorn loaf ($7.50) or the signature 18-hourproofed nutty and tangy sourdough pain au levain ($7.25); the sweet-toothed can indulge in a carrot cake or lemon tart (both $4 per slice). 

The European bakery scene is no doubt heating up locally, and throwing his hat into the game is two-time Paris baguette grand prix awardee Eran Mayer, who’s all about making ‘bread with a lot of character’. Delivering on this vision, he offers a veritable array of bread and pastries made with flour imported directly from France all with crusts coloured a little darker and crispier – a signature of his baking style. Morning pastries are made overnight daily in the Killiney kitchen and must-tries include croissants ($2.80-$3.80), orange brioche filled with a light orange cream ($5), and buttery madelines ($2/ one). For takeaways, Mayer makes loaves like a one-kilogramme sourdough Killiney ($18) and healthy museli bread ($10) filled with organic flour, spelt, rye, dried fruits and nuts.