Balmoral Bakery - Last Chance Tasting Rare Old School Pastries

In a world where sourdough focaccias and burnt cheesecakes dominate the bakery scene, Balmoral Bakery is doing things the old way — and doing them well. Tucked in the corner unit of the Sunset Way shophouses along Clementi Street 12, this no-frills bakery has been feeding the West since 1965. That’s six decades of cream horns, custard tarts, and chicken pies, and it’s showing no signs of slowing down.

Balmoral Bakery was founded by a group of Hainanese “ah kohs” (brothers) as a companion to the then-popular Balmoral Steak House at Holland Village, which was frequented by British armed forces stationed in Singapore. The owner had a love for all things English, named his shop after a Scottish castle, and stocked his shelves accordingly — think butter cakes, rum balls, and beef pies. The bakery’s pastry chef learned his craft at the cake section of Robinson’s Department Store before it was destroyed by fire in 1972. They eventually moved to the current Sunset Way location in 1984, and have been quietly thriving ever since.

What you see when you arrive is exactly what the place has always been — brick walls, tiled flooring, a red signage bearing the iconic Balmoral Castle logo, and a glass display case packed with bakes you rarely see anywhere else in Singapore anymore.

Chicken Samosa ($1.60)

One of the crowd favourites. These triangle-shaped pastries are packed with a savoury potato and chicken filling, wrapped in multiple layers of pastry sheets that crisp up beautifully when freshly baked. Spicy, flaky, and incredibly addictive — grab a few while they’re still warm.

Chicken Pie ($1.80) and Beef Pie ($2.50)

For savory pie lovers, these are the picks to go with. The filling is generous, with chunky meat in a richly flavoured, slightly peppery sauce, all encased in a pastry crust that stays impressively crispy even after a night in the fridge. They freeze and reheat well too, so it’s worth stocking up.

Other savoury options include the Chicken Curry Puff ($1.60), Beef Curry Puff ($1.60), Sausage Roll ($1.60), and Quiche ($2.50).

Egg Tart ($1.60) and Custard Tart ($1.60)

On the sweeter side, these are classics done right — the former with a crumbly crust and a just-runny centre, the latter with a smooth, not-overly-sweet filling that tastes distinctly nostalgic.

Cream Horn ($1.60)

Another must-try; a cone-shaped pastry piped with buttercream and topped with a cherry, this is the kind of treat you’d struggle to find at most modern bakeries today.

Rum Ball ($1.80)

A boozy little treat for those who want something a little more grown-up.

Buttercream Cake

Comes in chocolate, coffee, and kaya flavours at $1.90 per slice, while the Sugee Cake ($7.00 for 250g) is a rare Eurasian delicacy worth seeking out — denser and nuttier than typical vanilla cakes thanks to the use of semolina flour, with a splash of brandy giving it a distinctive depth of flavour. Call ahead to reserve a slice, as it moves fast.

This is worth saying plainly: Balmoral Bakery may not be around forever. Its 78-year-old owner is contemplating retirement, and his children have shown little interest in taking over. What’s here right now is a piece of Singapore’s food heritage that predates independence — the kind of place that deserves a visit not just for the food, but for what it represents.

Address: 105 Clementi Street 12, #01-06, Sunset Way Residence, Singapore 120105
Tel: 6779 2064
Opening Hours: 8.30am – 8.00pm daily (arrive early, popular items sell out fast)
Nearest MRT: Clementi MRT Station