Kiroi Freshly Baked Cheese Cake is a classic Japanese bakery located within Alexandra Village which specialises in baking fluffy and creamy Japanese cheesecakes. Helmed by Donald and Joanne, a couple who left their full-time jobs in search of a livelihood that would better support their passion for volunteer work, Kiroi Freshly Baked Cheese Cake’s cheesecakes are free of additives and preservatives.

If you’re considering dropping by to purchase their cheesecakes, you are encouraged to place a pre-order with this bakery as Kiroi Freshly Baked Cheese Cake operates on a bake-to-order system. With this, you know that you’re only going to get the freshest and fluffiest cheesecake.

As Kiroi Freshly Baked Cheese Cake is situated within the enclave of eateries at Alexandra Village, we would advise you to avoid the lunch hour if you intend to drive down to the bakery. Parking is extremely limited during the lunch hour, so you’d be better off making arrangements to collect your order outside the lunch hour.

Kiroi Freshly Baked Cheese Cake bakes their cheesecakes with the “water bath” method. Donald and Joanne steam the cheesecakes for about an hour, which allows the cheesecakes to rise and develop that perfect fluffy texture we all love Japanese cheesecakes for.

Whilst Kiroi Freshly Baked Cheese Cake has a decent selection of cheesecake flavours, customers should note that not all flavours are available every day. We decided to order the Original Cheesecake (S$10) and the Cranberry Cheesecake (S$12). Considering their price tags, the cheesecakes did not disappoint.

Although the cheesecakes are made with less sugar and cream, this didn’t have any implications on its texture. The cheesecakes were creamy and adequately sweet. We also liked the idea of being able to indulge in more slices without worrying about the calories.

Other flavours you can look forward to at Kiroi Freshly Baked Cheese Cake include the Raisin Cheesecake (S$11), Rainbow Cheesecake (S$14) and Black Cookie Cheesecake (S$11). 

Apart from their selection of baked cheesecakes, you can also pick up some Butter Cookies (Less Sweet) (S$12 per bottle) from Kiroi Freshly Baked Cheese Cake. We are pleased to report that these cookies are so addictive. On top of tasting like homemade cookies, the cookies are not overly buttery and has just the right amount of sugar.

Kiroi Freshly Baked Cheese Cake
123 Bukit Merah Lane 1, #01-118,
Singapore 150123
Tel: +65 9845 9845

Alexandra Road spans approximately 4.5 kilometres and several train stations—namely Redhill, Queenstown and Labrador Park—are close to this stretch of road. Most Singaporeans travel to this neighbourhood to purchase furniture, buy sports shoes, service their cars, but venture further and you will discover a treasure trove of old and new dining destinations.

From Keng Eng Kee Seafood, Love Confectionery, Queensway Lau Tan Tutu Kueh, The Bakehouse by Carpenter and Cook to Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee, here is our Alexandra Neighbourhood Food Guide—16 Cafes, Hawkers & Restaurants You Should Dine At.

AQUA LUNA

Located on the 7th storey of Park Hotel Alexandra, Aqua Luna is a stunning open-concept bar which offers an alternative view of the Queenstown precinct. An infinity swimming pool is located right beside this bar and boasts a gourmet menu of bar nosh and interesting cocktails.

Level 7 Park Hotel Alexandra
323 Alexandra Road
Singapore 159972
Tel: +65 6828 8885
Sun to Thu: 12pm – 11pm
Fri and Sat: 12pm – 1am
Nearest MRT Station: Queenstown / Redhill

CREAMIER

Creamier is renowned for their handcrafted ice cream and popular flavours include Earl Grey Lavender, Peanut Butter Jelly and Thai Milk Tea. Their flagship store is located in Toa Payoh but Creamier has since opened a second outlet in Gillman Barracks.

Gillman Barracks
5A Lock Road
Singapore 108927
Tel: +65 6262 1087
Closed on Mondays
Sun to Thu: 12pm – 10pm
Fri and Sat: 12pm – 11pm
Nearest MRT Station: Labrador Park

GEOMETRY

Artisanal ice cream parlour Geometry is located right beside ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre. The shop is simple yet intimate; think geometric-inspired lamps, potted plants and wooden benches. From Dark Chocolate Truffle to Earl Grey Tie Guan Yin, all handcrafted ice cream are free from artificial ingredients and preservatives.

2 Jalan Bukit Merah
#01-5142
Singapore 150002
Tel: +65 6255 6366
Sun, Mon to Thu: 12pm – 9.30pm
Fri and Sat: 12pm – 11pm
Nearest MRT Station: Queenstown / Redhill

IKEA RESTAURANT & CAFE

IKEA is where everyone goes for furniture shopping, but it is also a dining destination itself. In fact, the eatery is packed on a daily basis. The menu remains largely unchanged over the years and we are sure everyone has tried their signature Swedish Meatballs and Fried Chicken Wings.

317 Alexandra Road
Singapore 159965
Tel: +65 6786 6868
Daily: 8am – 10pm (last order: 9.30pm)
Nearest MRT Station: Queenstown / Redhill

JANGGUT LAKSA

Janggut Laksa at Queensway Shopping Centre is known for its signature Katong Laksa. But the eatery’s Curry Chicken Rice is also equally impressive.

1 Queensway, #1-59
Queensway Shopping Centre
Singapore 149053
Tel: +65 9622 1045
Daily: 11am – 9pm
Nearest MRT Station: Queenstown / Redhill

KENG ENG KEE SEAFOOD

Keng Eng Kee is a tze char restuarant tucked away in the heartlands of Bukit Merah. The seafood restaurant is exceptionally popular and it is best to come here in a group so you can savour several dishes. Pick the Moonlight Hor Fun if you can only choose one dish!

124 Bukit Merah Lane 1
#01-136
Singapore 150124
Tel: +65 6272 1038
Daily: 12pm – 2.30pm, 5pm – 10pm
Nearest MRT Station: Queenstown / Redhill

LOVE CONFECTIONERY

Love Confectionery has been a perennial favourite amongst Singaporeans since their childhood days for its buttercream cakes and homemade spreads. Their baked goodies are so highly sought after that orders have to be taken way in advance for Chinese New Year.

Block 122 #01-60
Bukit Merah Lane 1
Singapore 150122
Tel: +65 6278 2385
Daily: 12pm – 10pm
Nearest MRT Station: Queenstown / Redhill

PORTICO HOST

Modern European restaurant Portico Host is homely and inviting; a romantic venue that you would want to take your date to. You can choose to dine indoors or at the al fresco area. Do make it a point to try their Pan-seared Pulau Ubin Sea Bass (S$28++).

991B Alexandra Road, #01-10
Singapore 119970
Closed on Sundays
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 11.30pm
Nearest MRT Station: Labrador Park

QUEENSWAY LAU TAN TUTU KEH

Queensway Lau Tan Tutu Kueh has been around since 1949 and the household brand till date still serves what it is best known for: Tutu Kuehs. While there are currently four outlets across the sunny island, nothing beats having the real deal at where it all started!

1 Queensway, #02-47
Queensway Shopping Centre
Singapore 149053
Tel: +65 9817 4793
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Nearest MRT Station: Queenstown / Redhill

THE BAKEHOUSE BY CARPENTER AND COOK

The Bakehouse is owned by the same trio behind Carpenter and Cook. Each of these three girls possesses a different niche. The trio combined their interests and skills and the end result is a charming wonderland which serves coffees and cakes. The Bakehouse is their second business venture and we dare say—a successful one!

321 Alexandra Road #01-14
Alexandra Central Mall
Singapore 159971
Tel: +65 6250 0040
Daily: 8.30am – 10pm
Nearest MRT Station: Queenstown / Redhill

THE CARVERY

The Carvery—located in Park Hotel Alexandra—is a dream come true for all meat lovers. Roasts and meats are on a rotational basis at this buffet restaurant and other dishes to look forward to include traditional wood-fired pizzas.

Level 7, Park Hotel Alexandra
323 Alexandra Road
Singapore 159972
Tel: +65 6828 8880
Daily: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest MRT Station: Queenstown / Redhill

THE COFFEE BELT

Most of us have the misconception that fancy hotels serve crappy coffee. While that used to be the case, we are convinced that things are no longer the same after visiting The Coffee Belt. The Coffee Belt serves aromatic coffees – prepared with Common Man Coffee Roasters’ premium 22 Martin blend – and a curated selection of snacks.

Lobby Level
Park Hotel Alexandra
323 Alexandra Road
Singapore 159972
Tel: +65 6828 8888
Daily: 7am – 8pm
Nearest MRT Station: Queenstown / Redhill

TIONG HOE SPECIALTY COFFEE

Tiong Hoe Gim Kee Trading Co is a reputable pioneer in Singapore’s competitive coffee industry. Its founder, Mr Tan Tiong Hoe, has more than half a century worth of experience in roasting coffee beans.

In 2014, the family-run business opened Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee at Stirling Road in Queenstown HDB Estate and has since then raised the bar of specialty coffee in Singapore.

170 Stirling Road
Singapore 140170
Tel: +65 6473 1133
Mon to Fri: 8.30am – 5.30pm
Sat and Sun: 9am – 4pm
Nearest MRT Station: Queenstown

MR AVOCADO

Mr Avocado is situated within Alexandra Village Food Centre and has won itself a legion of fans with its Avocado Milkshake. The beverage consists of blended avocado and gula melaka syrup—a creamy drink that we find incredibly addictive.

120 Bukit Merah Lane 1, #01-19
Alexandra Village Food Centre
Singapore 150120
Tel: +65 9663 1648
Mon: 11am – 9pm
Tue to Sun: 11am – 7pm
Nearest MRT Station: Queenstown

SALUTE COFFEE SHOP

Salute Coffee Shop is no ordinary coffee shop. Instead, you can expect tenants serving western classic dishes, which explains why this place has gained a nickname ‘ang moh kopitiam’. Indulge in Jack Ripper’s burgers, Stew Kuche’s German pork knuckle and Two Wings’ fried chicken wings.

119 Bukit Merah Lane 1
#01-40
Singapore 151119
Closed on Mondays
Tue to Sun: 11am – 10pm
Nearest MRT Station: Queenstown

THE NAKED FINN

The Naked Finn is an inconspicuous restaurant hidden within Gillman Barracks. The laidback ambience and delicious food makes it worth driving (or cabbing) for. Not sure what to order? Well, you won’t go wrong with their scrumptious Lobster Roll!

39 Malan Road
Gillman Barracks
Singapore 109442
Tel: +65 6694 0807
Closed on Sundays
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Fri and Sat: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest MRT Station: Labrador Park

Singapore is made up of many small neighbourhoods, each bearing its own charm and treasures. Being born as and growing up as Singaporeans who reside in the West, the Alexandra neighbourhood is particularly close to our hearts.

We speak for many when we say Alexandra has so much to offer for that quintessential Singaporean experience. Today, Singapore may be a prosperous first world country, a financial hub, a trading port, a tourism destination – but all of these cannot hold a candle to the simplest of joys and bittersweet nostalgia we get from the places, food, and activities that we grew up knowing.

For one, Alexandra brings much comfort to our souls and while we welcome the new that keeps coming in, the neighbourhood remains one that we will always love.

From the olds of Alexandra Village Food Centre and Queensway Shopping Centre to the news of HortPark and Park Hotel Alexandra, here’s our guide to Alexandra – 13 Things To See, Do, Eat And Love about the charming neighbourhood.

#1 ALEXANDRA VILLAGE FOOD CENTRE

The hawker culture is a big part of Singapore, and it is a lifestyle that we are always proud to share. There are no lack of hawker centres in Singapore, and though the ones that are often in the limelight do not include Alexandra Village Food Centre – or AV for short – there is really a lot to love here.

AV operates throughout the day, and you can have breakfast, lunch and dinner here. Popular finds include BBQ Seafood, Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice, Claypot Laksa, and Avocado Milkshake. You might find the last two very endearing, and they sure are. We will talk more about them in a while.

#2 ANCHORPOINT FACTORY OUTLET

If you do not already know, Anchorpoint – the shopping mall right across Ikea – is actually a factory outlet. In other words, a sale takes place 365 days a year! It is a rather mixed mall so you pretty much have everything covered.

Residents and visitors alike enjoy the discounts and slashed price all year round. Brands who have boutiques in this mall includes Charles & Keith, Typo, and Cotton On.

#3 AQUA LUNA – A SWANKY OPEN-CONCEPT BAR BY THE INFINITY POOL

It isn’t our first time professing our love for new rooftop bar, Aqua Luna, neither would this be our last. Sitting within Park Hotel Alexandra, Aqua Luna is like a gastrobar in the outdoors that offers a splendid view.

Catch the sunset while admiring Alexandra from a different perspective, and munch on bar grubs and mains – all at the less-than-crowded Aqua Luna.

#4 HORTPARK – A 22-ACRE PARK CONNECTOR

Dubbed as the first gardening lifestyle hub in Asia, HortPark is a 22-acre park connector that is situated within The Southern Ridges. There is a 10km long trail that is great for a leisure hike. Nature lovers would surely love it here.

#5 IKEA – FURNITURE SHOPPING

Because you need not have a new home to shop for furniture. We are sure many of you agree when we say a day spent randomly strolling in Ikea is our idea of fun. There is something therapeutic about walking through the different “rooms” and set-ups, and of course, we need to satisfy our craving for Swedish meat balls before we leave.

#6 KENG ENG KEE SEAFOOD RESTAURANT FOR ITS MOONLIGHT HOR FUN

Possibly one of the most famous old-school restaurants in the West, Keng Eng Kee (KEK) is your typical “tze char” restaurant, but their popularity over the decades have brought about expansion to the business, and today, KEK is a big scale restaurant that occupies two units, on top of its resident tables in the coffee shop.

Our all-time favourites are the Moonlight Hor Fun, Claypot Pig Liver, and Salted Egg Yolk Crab.

#7 BATTLE OF THE BEST LAKSA 

No, Katong is not the place to go for Laksa. Alexandra is. Because the three best ones in Singapore are all concentrated in this neighbourhood.

You have Zhen Shan Mei Claypot Laksa, 328 Katong Laksa, and Janggut Laksa all in one area. What more can you ask for in life, really?

#8 OLD SCHOOL FURNITURE SHOPS

You can hardly find such old school furniture shops in Singapore anymore. Think rattan chairs, wooden tables, and all that our grandparents used to seek comfort in. Alexandra sure invokes a sense of nostalgia every time we are in the hood; even more so when we walk past these shops.

#9 PARK HOTEL ALEXANDRA – A MODERN HOTEL WITH INFINITY POOL, PREMIUM ROAST BUFFET RESTAURANT AND SWANKY BAR

The addition of Park Hotel Alexandra, the first hotel within the district, will change the facade of the neighbourhood forever, but we are embracing this change. Complete with an infinity pool that overlooks the green belt of the Southern Ridges, a premium roast buffet, one of the most gorgeous bars in Singapore and a stylish coffee place all within the premise, Park Hotel Alexandra is a charming one.

You may wonder what it is like to do a staycation within a residential area, and we will tell you it is nothing short of wonderful.

The hotel is modernistic in design with a tranquil vibe, spacious and clean. And we love the outdoor infinity pool so much – it’s like a resort but in the city! Deck chairs are aplenty for you to kick off your shoes and to unwind with your Kindle or magazines. If all else fails, the stunning bar will keep you occupied.

#10 QUEENSWAY SHOPPING CENTRE IS THE GO-TO PLACE FOR SPORTS EQUIPMENTS

No secret, right? Everyone knows to go to Queensway Shopping Centre for a one-stop “solution” for all our sporting needs. The prices are usually 10% lower than town’s, and you can find just about any sports brand here.

By the way, Janggut Laksa is the very crowded stall in the middle of Level 1.

#11 THE FAMOUS AVOCADO MILKSHAKE

You would have known by now that Alexandra Village Food Centre is synonymous with Avocado Milkshake. For some reason, Mr Avocado Exotic Juice at Alexandra Village Food Centre does it so right that Singaporeans now know Alexandra for his milkshake.

For the uninitiated, it is simply a refreshing drink of blended avocado with gula melaka syrup. You have to try it to understand how that creamy goodness is so addictive.

#12 SALUTE COFFEESHOP

This is not your usual coffee shop. Here at Salute, expect new-age finds of European and Western food – all in a coffee shop setting.

The stalls include Two Wings for their fried chicken wings (which were sadly mediocre), Stew Kuche for crackly German Pork Knuckle, and Immanuel French Kitchen that dishes out pretty affordable Duck Confit.

#13 TRADITIONAL CONFECTIONERY SHOPS

We have all sorts of fancy bakeries in town, but regrettably, the number of traditional confectionery shops have been on the decline.

Modernisation had us realising the beauty of these traditional confectionery shops where we can still find old-school bread loaves, buttercream cakes and homemade spreads. These were what we grew up eating, and at Alexandra, we can count on Love Confectionery and Chinatown Tai Chong Kok Confectionery Hue Kee.

Be a tourist in our own country by exploring the best kept secrets around the Alexandra neighbourhood and answering simple questions at apps.facebook.com/trailsofalexandra.

From now till 30 November, embark on an online explorative quest through the interactive map of Alexandra and stand a chance to win attractive prizes! What’s more, encourage your friends to take part in the quiz on Facebook to increase your chance of winning the big prize – a 1-night Weekend Staycation in a Suite at Park Hotel Alexandra!

This post is brought to you by Park Hotel Alexandra.