Five traditional Singapore bakeries, and a coffee shop, to satisfy your craving for the treats locals grew up with
From steamed coconut cakes to fresh spring rolls and breads of many kinds, Singapore’s old-fashioned bakeries and confectioneries offer a glimpse into the culinary history of the nation
Singapore’s rich culinary landscape is derived partly from the large Chinese migrant communities that settled there in the late 17th century. The old-school bakeries and confectionery shops are similar to those in Hong Kong; however, they offer a larger selection of baked and steamed goods with colourful Southeast Asian flavours.
Unlike the French, who have their boulangeries specialising in bread, and patisseries for desserts, Singapore and Hong Kong’s traditional shops combine both, selling baked goods as well as sweet confectionery that can be steamed or baked.
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Large numbers of Chinese migrants came to Singapore from Fujian province, Chaozhou and elsewhere in Guangdong province, and from Hainan, and brought with them their culinary influences. Many Hainanese immigrants were cooks on board European ships, and also worked in European households during Singapore’s colonial era, learning along the way “foreign” recipes, that included baked cakes and pastries that were very different from the Chinese technique of steaming.
Sweetlands Confectionery and Bakery
Sweetlands remains one of the few bakeries in Singapore that bake bread in traditional gas-fired ovens. Bakers also manually cut the crisp black top off freshly baked loaves.
