Old-school cake and confectionery stores to try in Singapore
Lana Cake Shop founder Mrs Violet Kwan is to retire, to sell off her business. Here’s a quick look at the shop’s history as well as some of the other traditional cake and confectionery stores that you can find in Singapore.
Image: Lana Cake Shop/ Facebook
Her cake store is known for her homely chocolate cakes. Now, Mrs Violet Kwan, founder of Lana Cake Shop is planning to retire and sell off the business.
Last month (Feb 25), local newspaper The Straits Times reported that she is looking for a successor to carry on the business.
Her ideal candidate should be “someone who really values the cake, who knows how to bake and is not just looking for a business opportunity,” said Mrs Kwan to The Straits Times.
Mrs Kwan started selling her moist, fudge-covered cakes in 1964, after her sister-in-law taught her the recipe. Her cake shop is currently located at 36 Greenwood Avenue, which has been around since 1975.
It was named as a Heritage Hero by Slow Food (Singapore) in 2014 and 2015, respectively. The local branch of the Slow Food International Association gave out the award.
Happily, other heritage-rich cake and confectionery stores have also withstood the test of time; some of these places continue to be family-run businesses too.
If you’re in search of more of such old-school stores, check out some of the foodie favourites on this list.
Where: 86 Telok Ayer Street, #01-01, Singapore 048469
The traditional Hokkien-style pastries will bring back waves of nostalgia for some Singaporeans. The family-run confectionary store has been in business since the 1930s. Much of the traditional methods used have been kept, and its pastries continue to be handmade and sold fresh from the oven.
Where: 264 Middle Road (main branch) and two outlets at 637 Veerasamy Road, #01-111 and 42 Cambridge Road; check the website for the full addresses.
This traditional store has been around in Singapore for over 60 years since 1949 and is a popular go-to for festive Chinese New Year snacks too. Popular orders include its butter cream cakes durian puffs, beancurd tarts and golf ball-sized pineapple tarts.
Where: 30 Seng Poh Road and other locations. Visit the website for more information.
This Nyonya-style pastries store opened its first outlet in 1950 at Seng Poh Road. Now, the family-run business has expanded to include a catering service, as well as a Peranakan-style cafe at Bugis. Third-generation owner Mr Alan Tan currently runs the store.
Chin Mee Chin Confectionery
Where: 204E East Coast Road, Singapore 428903
You might feel as if you’ve stepped back in time at this Hainanese-style coffeeshop. The 1950s-style traditional fixtures and decor have been kept at the coffeeshop, and it continues to be a popular favourite for its local breakfast staples: a set of kaya toast, soft-boiled eggs and coffee. It’s also as known for its sugar-covered Swiss rolls, raisin buns and custard puffs.
Where: 105 Clementi Street 12, Sunset Way, #01-06, Singapore 120105
This bakery first opened in 1965, where it had started out as an offshoot of the Balmoral Steak House in Holland Village. Today, the bakery continues to serve English-style pastries such as beef pies, rum balls, chocolate éclairs and custard puffs.
Tiong Bahru Galicier Pastry
Where: 55 Tiong Bahru Road, #01-39, Singapore 160055
Previously located at Orchard Road in the ‘70s, this store specialises in Nyonya-style traditional pastries such as the tapioca cake, kueh ambon (honeycomb cake), as well as a selection of butter cream cakes and custard cream puffs.
