Opening its door with little fanfare earlier this year is Fine Dining Bakery by Akira .M, a Japanese bakery specialising in handcrafted breads made with flour from Hokkaido. Head baker chef Akira boasts impressive credentials, having worked at Joël Robuchon as well as béni in Singapore.

Particularly popular amongst the Japanese expats, most get their breads for takeaway but the bakery has a small dine-in area if you wish to enjoy their fresh bakes or sandwiches in house.

We started off with a Croissant (S$3.80). Toasted and served warm, the croissant was buttery and flaky but a tad dry. Fine Dining Bakery offers almond croissants, chocolate croissants and even chocolate banana croissants as well.

What really brought us to Fine Dining Bakery was the Fluffy Shokupan Sandwich (S$14.50) which came in a set with a mini salad and soup. The salad of fresh crunchy greens came with cherry tomatoes and rhubarbs for a splash of colour and was finished off with a homemade vinaigrette while the soup of the day was a sweet and creamy carrot soup that was lightly salted – perfect starters for our sandwich.

Now, for the main event. Made with honey and fresh cream, the shokupan slices were so fluffy and chewy we just couldn’t believe it. Between the two slices of shokupan was a generous amount of luscious egg salad that featured hints of spice from mustard, some tanginess from mayonnaise and was seasoned with chives and black pepper.

Not only was this sandwich such a delight to eat, but it was also filling; we can totally imagine coming back here just for it!

207 River Valley Road
#01-59 UE Square
Singapore 238275
Wed to Mon: 10am – 5pm
(Closed on Tuesday)
Nearest Station: Fort Canning

Breads and pastries are staples that everyone can appreciate, and we all love eating them fresh out of the oven.

The great thing about living in Singapore is that there are so many different kinds of bakeries – from traditional to artisanal options. All the different kinds of breads and pastries are mostly baked fresh daily in-house and are oh-so-delicious!

Breads are good for any time of the day. Some of the best bakeries in Singapore go the extra mile in the baking and preparation process, some even creating wonderful unique creations that are impossible to resist.

Here are 11 Best Artisanal Bakeries in Singapore - places that we rely on when we need our fresh bakes fix.

ARTISAN BOULANGERIE CO.

Artisan Boulangerie Co. (or ABC) has various outlets island-wide in very convenient locations, and we always end up at ABC. The bakery-cum-cafe serves a great mix of French-style pastries and classic bread options.

You can even grab brunch or meal options at some of these outlets, while sipping on a fresh cup of latte. We are especially fond of the buttery croissants and eclairs here.

118 Killiney Road #01-01
Singapore 239555
Tel: +65 6444 8130
Daily: 8am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

BAKER & COOK

This cosy artisanal bakery in the Holland Village neighbourhood is one of those places to relax at with a book while sipping on coffee.

Bakes include cakes, fruit tarts, bagels – of which all are available for takeaway too. But of course, eating it fresh and warm on the spot is best.

44 Jalan Merah Saga
#01-56, Chip Bee Gardens
Singapore 278116
Tel: +65 6472 0998
Mon to Thu: 7.30am – 8pm
Fri to Sat: 7.30am – 10pm
Sun: 7.30am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Holland Village

BREAD & HEARTH

We cannot get the taste of the fresh croissants at Bread & Hearth out of our minds after we had it for the first time. The pastry was so crisp on the outside with just the right amount of buttery taste when bit into.

Other options that you can pick from artisanal bakery Bread & Hearth are brioche buns, cream cheese sesame buns and more.

Mileslife is our favourite app to accumulate miles through everyday spending. You can earn miles for every dollar spent at this restaurant. Download and try Mileslife out now! You can use our code ‘Ladyironchef‘ upon your first spending to get 1,000 miles.

18 Keong Saik Road
Singapore 089125
Tel: +65 6534 7800
Daily: 8am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Outram Park

CHEF ICON NATURE BAKERY

This tiny little bakery along Kampong Bahru Road might seem unassuming on the outside but step in and you will find gourmet sandwiches made from scratch, swiss rolls, whole cakes and more.

Tuck into their cheesecake of the day and savour the perfect balance of rich and fluffiness in their cake. Their flavoured swiss rolls are really popular too.

5 Kampong Bahru Rd
Singapore 169341
Tel: +65 9337 3900
Mon to Sat: 8am – 7pm
(Closed on Sundays)
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

CROWN BAKERY & CAFE

This bakery fuses the flair of French baking with Japanese-style flavours such as matcha and azuki (red bean). The stark royal blue setting and interior is beautiful and there are both indoor and alfresco seating here.

Besides the fresh bakes such as croissants, sweet potato loaf, ampan breads and more, Crown Bakery & Cafe also offers full mains, including the popular Crown Breakfast (S$29) which is a smorgasbord of all the wonderful breakfast items.

#01-03, Crown Centre, 557 Bukit Timah Road
Singapore 269694
Tel: +65 6463 3066
Daily: 7.30am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Botanic Gardens

ENJOUÉ BAKERY

When it comes to artisanal bread and pastries baked fresh, very few do it better than the good folks over at Enjoué Bakery. Specialising in a vast array of quality European-style artisanal bread, pastries and cakes, each and every one of this humble Joo Chiat bakery’s authentic bakes come with sturdy crusts imbued with the natural flavours of fermentation and a robust mouthfeel that is quite unlike any other.

All their products are hand-made, freshly-baked daily and free from any preservatives and other unnatural ingredients. In essence, what you are likely to get is real-deal, healthy loaves that boast spectacular flavour profiles and textures—something you probably will not be able to find at commercial bread shops.

174 Joo Chiat Road,
Singapore 427445
Tel: +65 6440 3028
(Closed on Mondays)
Tue to Sat: 8.30am – 5pm
Sun: 8.30am – 3pm
Nearest Station: Eunos

MAISON KAYSER

With a few outlets island-wide, Maison Kayser has made a name by offering people exquisite French breads and pastries. Think French-style eclairs, breads of all sorts, tarts and a whole plethora of sweet treats.

Scotts Square #B1-09, 6 Scotts Rd
Singapore 228209
Tel: +65 6636 3672
Daily: 8am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

PANTLER

Serving up some of the most beautiful creations, the bakes offered at Pantler is of another level. We were amazed by the intricacy and dedication to each individual serving, and the tastes do not disappoint too.

Their classic Mont Blanc is said to be a must-try dessert. However, we are big fans of the Citron Tart and flavoured coffee here such as the Peppermint Mocha.

Mileslife is our favourite app to accumulate miles through everyday spending. You can earn 2 miles for every dollar spent at this restaurant. Download and try Mileslife out now! You can use our code ‘Ladyironchef‘ upon your first spending to get 1,000 miles.

198 Telok Ayer St
Singapore 068637
Tel: +65 6221 6223
Mon to Fri: 8.30am – 7pm
Sat: 10.30am – 5.30pm
Closed: Sun
Nearest Station: Telok Ayer

PAUL

PAUL is one of the biggest chains in France, and its outlets in Singapore are extremely popular too. Besides the must-try croissant which we swear by, the eclairs and palmier are to die for.

The chain also has a cafe area where you can order from a menu with a selection of plated desserts, drinks and brunch-style savoury items.

#01-01, Ocean Financial Centre
10 Collyer Quay
Singapore 049315
Tel: +65 6634 9068
Mon to Fri: 8am – 9pm
Sat: 8am – 3pm
Closed: Sun
Nearest Station: Raffles Place

SUN MOULIN

We love Japanese breads and pastries, and Sun Moulin definitely churns out some of the best ones in Singapore. This authentic Japanese bakery is a takeaway-only bakery offering items such as matcha breads, milk breads and Japanese-style souffle cheesecakes.

Conveniently located at Vivo City, Sun Moulin is for all of you who love Japanese-anything!

1 Harbourfront Walk
B2-10 Vivocity
Singapore 098585
Daily: 10am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Harbourfront

TIONG BAHRU BAKERY

You should be no stranger to Tiong Bahru Bakery. This bakery had humble beginnings and started off at Tiong Bahru, but its popularity has rocketed over the years.

We always return for the classic Kouign Amann and Croissants, which have been dubbed as one of the bests in Singapore. There is also a dine-in area at TBB outlets where you can relax with a gourmet sandwich and a coffee.

#01-70, 56 Eng Hoon Street
Singapore 160056
Tel: +65 6220 3430
Daily: 8am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Tiong Bahru

Emporium Shokuhin has finally landed on our shores and this massive Japanese Megamart is set to dominate the Japanese supermarket industry in Singapore. It also includes eight different Japanese dining concepts within the gargantuan premises, as the store itself spans over 34,000 sq ft.

As the undying trend of Japanese produce gets stronger and stronger in Singapore, the opening of Emporium Shokuhin at Marina Square is certainly turning heads. It is said that the prices here at the megamart, will be slightly cheaper than the market price at other supermarkets.

As Singapore’s first integrated Japanese Emporium, we can only look forward to visiting this amazing concept at Marina Square

Emporium Shokuhin in Singapore consists of many sections and these include – a live seafood market, a beef dry-aging facility, a dedicated Japanese gourmet grocer and the 8 different dining concepts that range from a seafood wine bar to a Japanese bakery.

Produce here are flown in thrice weekly to ensure freshness. As Singaporeans become increasingly well-travelled and more knowledgeable about premium Japanese meats, produce and seafood, they will certainly appreciate everything this mega Emporium has to offer.

For all the foodies out there excited to know what they can try at the 8 F&B concepts, get really excited for a sushi bar that will be offering a dish called Giant Chirashi, which is an upsized take on the conventional portion. Another interesting concept is UMI + VINO, a seafood and wine pairing restaurant, where you get to enjoy them both in perfect harmony.

Also expect the most premium Wagyu beef, other premium seafood and interesting produce that you have never seen before here.

Emporium Shokushin
6 Raffles Boulevard
#01-18 Marina Square
Singapore 039594
Daily: 11.30am – 9pm

Photo Credit: Emporium Shokuhin

About the writer:
Cheryl is a staff writer for ladyironchef. She loves a good steak and an even better cuppa. She eats just about anything and everything. In her free time, she regularly starts on sci-fi or fantasy movie marathons.

Maybe you have heard about the vast dining options at Millenia Walk – they’ve got all sorts of cuisines there, from German to Italian and even Swiss. But do you know that it is also a little Nippon there?

Yes, the Japanese dining options at Millenia Walk will actually take you by surprise. From the new brands to the evergreen and to the upcoming, the mall offers a variety of Japanese restaurants for you to take a nosh at, and we promise you will never see Millenia Walk the same way again.

We share with you some of the finer Japanese options that we covet, and why you should also swing by Millenia Walk for a delightful dining experience. And, in the month of April, there is a series of promotions all lined up and ready to excite, too.

Here is our guide to Millenia Walk’s Japanese restaurants.

[ Giveaway ] We are giving away 3 X S$50 Millenia Walk dining vouchers. Leave a comment below, and share this post on your Facebook timeline to win. More details on the giveaway at the end of this post.

MIHARU SAPPORO RAMEN

The first few brands that we fell in love with when the ramen trend hit Singapore was Miharu Sapporo Ramen. It used to sit along Robertson Quay, at Gallery Hotel. When the hotel ceased operations, Miharu fans were left upset and deprived of their favourite Sapporo ramen. However the good news is that NOW, they are exclusively at Millenia Walk and you can enjoy a bowl of Miharu’s goodness!

Rejoice, ramen fans! The outlet at Millenia Walk is slightly bigger and very comfortable, while your favourite ramen with the famous Nishiyama noodles specially imported from Japan, and rich miso broth is still flavourful as always. Our favourite ramen is most definitely the Tokusen Miso Ramen with a special miso blend (S$14.80++).

Celebrate “All Things Japanese Fridays” and enjoy two bowls of ramen at only S$20++, applicable for shoyu and miso ramen.

Millenia Walk #01-06
9 Raffles Boulevard
Tel: +65 6733 8464
Daily: 12.00pm to 3pm, 6pm to 10pm
Nearest Station: City Hall/Promenade

PULLMAN BAKERY

Looking to grab a quick breakfast or some bread to take home after work or just to snack during the day? Pullman Bakery is your answer. We love this Hokkaido bakery for its premium offerings of breads and cakes.

The Hokkaido Curry Bun (S$2.50) is its bestseller, and because the curry paste is air-flown from Hokkaido in limited quantities, these buns are often snapped up by midday. Fastest fingers first, so we’d say: grab it in the morning while it is still warm and steamy on the inside – definitely your perfect breakfast on the go. Also, try the Bacon Egg (S$2.30), Raisin Walnut Milk Stick (S$2) and Premium Toast Type Rich (S$4.30 for half a loaf).

Bring your kids (<12yo) along on Saturdays and they will receive a bag of cookies for free when Daddy and Mommy make a purchase of S$10 and above.

Millenia Walk #01-97
9 Raffles Boulevard
Tel: +65 6337 3575
Mon to Fri: 7.30am – 9.30pm
Sat, Sun & PH: 9am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: City Hall/Promenade

RAKUZEN JAPANESE RESTAURANT

Now, Rakuzen is a hidden gem! This Japanese restaurant at Millenia Walk has an amazing variety in its menu that is pleasantly affordable. We are regulars, and as much as we’d love to keep this place a selfish secret, we know it deserves your attention. Their set lunches in particular are very value for money!

There is this highly popular Maru Bento set that is enough for two to share. It consists of yasai tempura, sashimi, a plate of sushi assortment, chicken stew, grilled unagi, chawanmushi and a side salad and dessert- all these at only S$45++! And if you are game for some maki rolls, the Aburi Beef Roll ($18++) is the absolute crowning glory!

“Kids Eat Free Saturdays” sees that every child (<12yo) gets a free chawanmushi.

Millenia Walk #01-16
9 Raffles Boulevard
Tel: +65 6333 1171
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: City Hall/Promenade

TEPPEI SYOKUDO

Teppei first rose to fame with its super value-for-money chirashi-don at its nondescript outlet in Tanjong Pagar. Long lines have often formed during lunch hours, but not all are fans of queueing. Let’s do a takeaway instead!

Over at Millenia Walk, Teppei Syokudo is a hassle-free outlet where you can choose to eat in the outlet or takeaway your favourite sashimi rice bowl, and it is simply perfect for days when you need to pack lunch back to the office. Everyone’s favourite Kaisen-don is at S$16 for a serving, and you can top up S$8 for some chopped negitoro (tuna with spring onions). But if you do not want raw fish, sure, there is the Katsu-don (S$15.80) and Saba Miso Bento (S$12.80).

At Teppei, the “All Things Japanese Fridays” promotion features a S$20 Dinner Set – a serving of Kaisen-don with extra sashimi topping, and a drink. Superb value, indeed.

Millenia Walk #01-105
9 Raffles Boulevard
Tel: +65 6238 1945
Daily: 11am – 9pm
Nearest Station: City Hall/Promenade

SABOTEN

If you have a taste for tonkatsu – deep fried breaded pork – then you will be happy to know that Saboten is opening at Millenia Walk. Famed for its many choices of tonkatsu sets, Saboten remains a perennial favourite among diners all these years.

Not a fan of pork? No problem. Saboten also offers deep fried breaded prawns, salmon and oysters. There will surely be something to suit your taste buds.

Saboten will be opening at Millenia Walk at the end of April 2015.

Millenia Walk Level 2
9 Raffles Boulevard
Nearest Station: City Hall/Promenade

CHABUTON

Named as “King of Ramen” by TV Champion, TV Tokyo Station, Chef Yasuji Morizumi has been expanding his ramen empire in Japan, America and Thailand. His signature range of ramen include Tonkotsu Ramen, Shio Tonkotsu Ramen, Shoyu Ramen, and Shoyu Zaru Ramen.

Chabuton will be opening at Millenia Walk in end April 2015.

Millenia Walk Level 2
9 Raffles Boulevard
Nearest Station: City Hall/Promenade

TOMI SUSHI

Tomi Sushi is an under-the-radar Japanese restaurant that has been around for a while. We love its simplicity, and it is one restaurant that we often turn to when we need some fuss-free Japanese food. While there is nothing too lavish about having a meal at Tomi, you can still expect hearty servings at friendly price tags for a decent Japanese meal.

Tomi Sushi will be opening at Millenia Walk in May.

Millenia Walk Level 2
9 Raffles Boulevard
Nearest Station: City Hall/Promenade

From 1 to 30 April 2015, the first 500 shoppers who spend $300 will receive a $10 Millenia Walk F&B voucher.

During lunch and dinner, you can also enjoy complimentary first hour parking with $30 spent at any of the F&B outlets in Millenia Walk.

MILLENIA WALK GIVEAWAY

1. Millenia Walk is giving away 3 X S$50 dining vouchers.
2. Leave a comment in this post and tell us which Japanese restaurant at Millenia Walk you would like to dine at.
3. Like Millenia Walk on Facebook.
5. Share the link of this post on your Facebook timeline.
6. The contest runs from 3 to 17 Apr 2015.
6. Winners will be notified by email.

UPDATED on 22 Apr: The three winners are Ken Lee, Wen Qi, and Alison.

This post is brought to you by Millenia Walk.