It is such a shame that traditional bakeries are vanishing as Singapore’s economy progresses. The food industry is competitive and many older confectioneries have long given way to other profitable businesses. That comes as no surprise as Singaporeans are only willing to pay S$1 for a local treat, but have no qualms splurging S$10 on a premium cake.

Fortunately, several age-old establishments’ utmost dedication in serving handcrafted heritage delicacies have withstood the test of time and transient fads. The only worry is whether there would be young Singaporean artisans to take over this tough trade.

From halal-certified Lek Lim Nonya Cake Confectionery to award-winning Traditional Haig Road Putu Piring, here is our guide to 11 Traditional Bakeries In Singapore To Check Out.

Photo Credit: cheehuey

BALMORAL BAKERY

One of the oldest bakeries in Singapore, Balmoral Bakery has been dishing out its baked goods to its loyal customers since 1965. With baked goods piped with buttercream sold in paper boxes featuring a vintage red print, Balmoral Bakery is a throwback to the good ol’ days.

105 Clementi Street 12
Singapore 120105
Tel: +65 6779 2064

JIE TRADITIONAL BREAD BAKERY

Feeling nostalgic for old-school roti loaves that are freshly sliced right in front of your eyes? Then head down to Jie Traditional Bread Bakery, one of the older bakeries in Singapore that remains unfazed by Singapore’s rapid development.

The rustic bakery still exudes quaint old-world charm and is a must-visit for those who wish to teleport back to the old days. If you’ve ever wondered where those rainbow-coloured bread—the ones commonly found at push kart ice cream stands—come from, here’s your answer.

123 Upper Paya Lebar Road
Singapore 534837
Tel: +65 6289 7461
Mon to Sat: 7am – 11.30pm
Sun: 10am – 11.30pm
Nearest Station: Tai Seng

JI XIANG CONFECTIONERY

Ji Xiang Confectionery has been handcrafting traditional Ang Ku Kueh since 1988 and the family-run business is fortunately unthreatened by the rising number of cafes in its vicinity. These handmade Chinese pastries are usually filled with sweet mung bean or peanut but you can also find other flavours such as Coconut, Corn, Salted Bean and Yam over at Ji Xiang.

1 Everton Park
Singapore 081001
Tel: +65 6223 1631
Mon to Fri: 8.30am – 5pm
Sat: 8am – 5pm
(Closed on Sundays)
Nearest Station: Outram Park / Tanjong Pagar

LEK LIM NONYA CAKE CONFECTIONERY

Lek Lim Nonya Cake Confectionery is a Halal-certified bakery that takes pride in serving a plethora of traditional Peranakan delights. It started in 1968 when they first started selling tasty homemade kuehs and the rest is history.

Savour their signature Ang Ku Kueh (S$0.55 per piece), Kueh Lapis Nonya (S$0.65 per piece) and Kueh Kao Swee (S$0.65).

#01-21, Block 84
Bedok North Street 4
Singapore 460084
Tel: +65 6449 0815
Mon to Sat: 6.30am – 6pm
Sun: 6.30am – 2pm
Nearest Station: Bedok / Tanah Merah

LOVE CONFECTIONERY

Love Confectionery is located beside Alexander Village Food Centre and has been a perennial favourite amongst residents since their childhood days for its buttercream cakes and homemade spreads. Their pandan cake remains a hot seller and is one that definitely warrants a try.

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

LEUNG SANG HONG KONG PASTRIES

Leung Sang Hong Kong Pastries is Heaven on Earth. Upon stepping in, you would be greeted by the aroma of fresh bakes and everything wonderful. This old-school looking confectionery may look next to nothing, but they have one of the best egg tarts in Singapore

We first had the egg tarts from Leung Sang Hong Kong Pastries back in 2007, and we have been fans of it ever since. The confectionery used to be on Sago Street – inconspicuous and hard to locate. But the ones in the know make it there anyway. Today, they sit on Jalan Membina, opposite Tiong Bahru Bakery.

Other pastries that are baked in-house and sold at Leung Sang Hong Kong Pastries include Roasted Chicken Pastry, Polo Buns, Lotus Seed Century Egg Pastry and Mushroom Chicken Pie.

Photo Credit: Ben Lim

NG KIM LEE CONFECTIONERY

Old is indeed gold. Ng Kim Lee Confectionery is one long-standing traditional bakery that has won itself a legion of loyal patrons over the past 60 years. The vast selection of cakes and pastries sold here will have you spoilt rotten for choice.

The best part? Prices remain extremely affordable in this old Chinese bakery.

4 Chun Tin Road
Singapore 599591
Tel: +65 6466 3515
Mon to Sat: 9.30am – 9.30pm
Sun: 9am – 1pm
Nearest Station: Beauty World

Photo Credit: The Pine Garden

THE PINE GARDEN

Located in the Ang Mo Kio heartlands, The Pine Garden is famous for their airy light buttercream sponge cakes. The household establishment is very popular amongst Singaporeans—especially those residing in the North. Despite being a traditional bakery, The Pine Garden also tries to be innovative by launching new items such as alcoholic cakes.

529 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10
#01-236/9
Singapore 560529
Daily: 9.30am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Ang Mo Kio

SING HON LOONG BAKERY

Sing Hon Loong Bakery’s secluded location triggered our curiosity—how does the age-old bakery survive with such little traffic? As it turns out, the traditional store is a supplier of chain store of popular Ya Kun Kaya Toast. Besides their signature bread loaves, Sin Hon Loong also sells cheese and sugar buns.

4 Whampoa Drive
Singapore 327715
Tel: +65 6256 0878
Daily: 24-hours
Nearest Station: Novena / Boon Keng

TRADITIONAL HAIG ROAD PUTU PIRING

Award-winning Traditional Haig Road Putu Piring is renowned for their putu pirings and has been unanimously coined by foodies as Singapore’s best. The queue is notoriously long, but endure the wait and you are treated to piping hot Malay rice cakes stuffed with palm sugar. These sweet delights are steamed fresh upon order and topped off with salted grated coconut.

Haig Road Market & Food Centre
Stall #01-08, 14 Haig Road
Singapore 430014
Tel: +65 9688 3067
Daily: 11am to 10pm
Nearest Station: Paya Lebar

Photo Credit: Tong Heng

TONG HENG

Chinese bakery Tong Heng has been around since Singapore’s colonial days and is most well known for their mouthwatering diamond-shaped egg tarts. Besides the must-order egg tarts, visitors can indulge in other Cantonese confectionery such as Char Siew Crispy Cakes and Curry Puffs.

Having undergone a massive revamp, their stall now exudes a rather modern, almost cafe-like appeal that’s great for simply lounging about over a hot coffee and a couple of freshly baked egg tarts.

285 South Bridge Road
Singapore 058833
Tel: +65 6223 3649
Daily: 9am to 10pm
Nearest Station: Chinatown

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.