Still keeping at it! These old school cake shops in Singapore and their legendary bakes have been around for a very, very long time…
There’s always room for dessert, be it ice cream, cheesecake, a good old birthday cake or chocolate croissants. But sometimes, you just want to keep it simple and old school when it comes to baked goods. Think buttercream roses, walnut or light sponge cakes, and cream horns with a good ol’ side of nostalgia. These traditional bakeries in Singapore do it best…
Guide to traditional bakeries in Singapore
1. Auntie Peng Banana Pie
Dona Manis’ former co-owner, the eponymous Auntie Peng, left to open a new bakery… right beside the previous store. The modus operandi remains the same: affordable banana pies and chocolate tarts. Obviously, there’ll be comparisons between the two businesses. But in our humble opinion, each has its merits. Auntie Peng’s pies have a defined crunch with tangier bananas, while the tarts melt in your mouth.
Auntie Peng Banana Pie, #B1-92, Katong Shopping Centre, 865 Mountbatten Road, Singapore 437844
2. Loong Fatt Tau Sar Piah
Balestier Road is known for two things – bak kut teh (pork rib broth) and tau sar piah. For the uninitiated, the latter is a flaky, Chinese mung bean pastry that comes in two flavours: salty and sweet. Loong Fatt is the name most associated with this treat, and it’s been serving buttery tau sar piah since 1948, so you know it ain’t messing around. Just follow the scent of freshly baked pastries and look for the store with the longest line on that stretch. If you’re braving the queue, go ahead and snag some chiffon cakes and traditional biscuits for more snacks filled with nostalgia.
Loong Fatt Tau Sar Piah, 639 Balestier Road, Singapore 329922
3. Love Confectionery
It’s buttercream cakes galore at Love Confectionery, which is beloved by residents nearby for its pandan cakes and egg tarts. Try the fluffy chocolate or almond sponge cakes for a trip back in time. They’re soft and light, with just a dash of cream and old fashioned toppings like rainbow sprinkles and chocolate rice.
Love Confectionery, #01-60, Blk 122, Bukit Merah Lane 1, Singapore 150122
4. Lana Cakes
The menu is limited, the cakes aren’t fancy-looking, and you have to place your orders in advance. But the sole outlet of this family-run biz sits pretty at Greenwood Avenue and has been in business for decades. There’s a reason why – the classic chocolate fudge chiffon cake is well-loved by generations of Singaporeans and has achieved almost cult status. Oh, and if you’re looking for other flavours, you won’t be let down by mocha cream chiffon, walnut torte, blueberry and lemon chiffon, or yuzu chiffon with jello frosting.
Lana Cakes, 36 Greenwood Avenue, Singapore 289239
5. Dona Manis Cake Shop
This hidden gem in Katong, previously run by a married couple, is well-known for its handmade pies and pastries. The buttery banana pie is filled with sweet bananas, fragrant coconut, and roasted almonds. Decadent? Definitely, but not too cloying so you can’t finish the slice. If you’re into chocolate, get your hands on the tarts, which come in a box of five.
Dona Manis Cake Shop, #B1-93, Katong Shopping Centre, 865 Mountbatten Road, Singapore 437844
6. Sweetlands Bread & Bakery
Get a taste of heritage through the different traditional bread varieties this bakery produces. Whether it’s Singapore’s favourite white or brown breakfast bread, hot dog buns or sweet buns like red bean and coconut, your taste buds will be feeling nostalgic in no time. These folks even customise bread just the way you like it!
Sweetlands Bread & Bakery, 10 Kim Keat Lane, Singapore 328867
7. Sing Hon Loong Bakery
This family-run bakery has been around for over 50 years, standing strong while other businesses come and go. Known for its soft loaves of bread – handmade daily! – the goodies can be purchased with butter, kaya or peanut butter. Oh, and the brand used to supply bread to Ya Kun Kaya Toast, so you know it’s got standards. Also on the menu are cream, red bean and coconut buns to take you on a stroll down memory lane.
Sing Hon Loong Bakery, 4 Whampoa Drive, Singapore 327715
8. Tong Heng
If old is gold, Tong Heng sparkles with its array of traditional Chinese pastries that are a favourite of many. Egg tarts are its crown jewel, starring wobbly fillings encased in a flaky crust. Once you’ve snagged yourself a box of these, go on and add BBQ pork crisps, red and green bean pastries, walnut cookies, coconut egg tarts and curry puffs to your order.
Tong Heng, multiple locations including South Bridge Road and Jurong Point
9. Rich and Good Cake Shop
Opened in 1997, the traditional cake shop’s menu reads like a blast from the past. Old-time favourites like walnut cakes and pandan chiffon cakes are available, but the main attraction? The Kaya Swiss roll. Unbelievably soft and generous with the filling, these babies are absolutely worth the wait in line. For more Swiss roll goodness, try the chocolate, red velvet or even durian flavours.
Rich and Good Cake Shop, multiple locations including Jewel Changi Airport and Bugis
10. Jie Bakery & Confectionery
If freshly baked traditional bread is what you crave, head to this bakery in Tai Seng for bestsellers like sausage buns and rainbow bread (yes, the very ones you see sandwiching ice cream blocks at pushcart stalls). You can also get slices of thick, fluffy white bread spread with kaya, butter or peanut butter for a lovely breakfast.
Jie Bakery & Confectionery, 123 Upper Paya Lebar Road, Singapore 534837
11. Vicky’s
If you grew up in Singapore, chances are, you know of the never-ending chocolate cake debate between Lana and Vicky’s. It’s really a matter of preference! But personally, we think Vicky’s chocolate fudge cake is higher on the moist and rich chocolate factor than Lana’s. Plus, the selection includes all-time faves like carrot cake, cherry forest and banana gula melaka butterscotch. More reason to go wild with the calories!
Vicky’s, #01-209, 2 Pandan Valley, Singapore 597626
12. Balmoral Bakery
When it comes to traditional bakeries in Singapore, there’s nothing more nostalgic than a sponge cake with hand-piped buttercream. You’ll find such treasures here, along with old school chicken and beef pies, custard puffs, cream horns, pandan cakes, coconut tarts and rum balls. Fun fact: the store opened the year Singapore gained independence. We heard on the grapevine this bakery might close permanently next year, so drop by as soon as possible to get its goodies.
Balmoral Bakery, #01-06, 105 Clementi Street 12, Singapore 120105
13. Ng Kim Lee Confectionery
Having been in business for more than five decades, outlasting other old school bakeries, Ng Kim Lee still keeps it retro with its tiles and grilles. Savour pastries like egg tarts, sponge cakes, mini muffins, the bakery’s signature butter cakes and tau sar piah (flaky buns with mung bean filling), some for less than a dollar per piece.
Ng Kim Lee Confectionery, 4 Chun Tin Road, Singapore 599591
14. Lek Lim Nonya Cake Confectionery
Going back to the 60s with its roots as a home kitchen, the age-old traditional cake shop has been around for years, serving kuehs and pastries that are all kinds of flavourful and tasty. Try the rainbow-coloured kueh lapis or kueh salat for sticky, sweet snacks, or munch on egg tarts, mini muffins, sugar donuts and cream puffs for afternoon tea nibbles.
Lek Lim Nonya Cake Confectionery, #01-21, 84 Bedok North Street 4, Singapore 460084
Walk down memory lane and check out these traditional bakeries in Singapore for retro treats!
