Petit Pain

Petit Pain is a small French-style bakery at 17 Joo Chiat Place, in the Katong and Joo Chiat area of eastern Singapore. It bakes bread and pastries from scratch in small batches. Everything is sold for takeaway.

The bakery was started by Mark and Regina. Before it opened, Mark worked at Artisan Boulangerie Co. Petit Pain first opened on Joo Chiat Road in September 2019 and soon gained a following, with morning queues outside. After a short closure in 2024, it moved to its current shop, about an eight-minute walk from the old one. The new shop opened in November 2024.

What to order

Most people come for the classic croissant. It is made with French fermented butter, which gives the pastry a light tang and a rich smell. If you only buy one thing, make it this.

The kouign amann is another favourite. It is a crisp, caramelised pastry from Brittany. Other pastries include pain au chocolat, pain aux raisins and an apple Danish.

Brioche is a strong point here. Look for the honey brioche, the small lemon brioche and a brioche with hazelnut. Financiers make a good small sweet to add to your bag. For bread, there is a traditional baguette.

The bakery avoids improvers, preservatives and artificial flavourings. Stock is limited, so popular items can sell out early in the day.

The setting

The shop is small and simple, with a counter that shows the day's bakes. There are no seats inside. Plan to take your pastries with you, or eat them on a walk around the neighbourhood.

Joo Chiat is one of Singapore's older districts, with rows of shophouses and many small food businesses. A bakery stop fits well into a morning spent exploring the area on foot.

Good to know before you go

• Go early: queues can form before opening time, and many items sell out fast.
• Limited days: the bakery opens only on some days of the week, for a few hours. Check its social media for the latest schedule before you travel.
• Takeaway only: there is no dine-in seating, so bring a bag if you plan to buy a lot.
• Ask about ingredients: if you have allergies, check with staff before you order. Some bakes contain nuts, such as the hazelnut brioche.

Nearby

For a sit-down meal after your bakery run, try Brasero in Joo Chiat, a casual French steakhouse, or La Saigon Café for Vietnamese food and coffee. If you want something cold, Birds of Paradise Gelato Boutique is on East Coast Road. To see the area's famous painted houses, walk to the Koon Seng Road shophouses.

Our Katong and Joo Chiat guide covers the wider area. You can also browse more restaurants in Katong and Joo Chiat, or see our list of cafés and bakeries across the city. To stay close by, look at Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong.