Tiong Bahru Bakery, located along the foothills of the historic Fort Canning Hill in the site that once belonged to the former River Valley Swimming Complex, opened its doors to pastry and coffee aficionados on 12 April 2021.
The Foothills outpost is housed in two of the original restored buildings that locals will remember fondly to belong to the former River Valley Swimming Complex, one of the earliest public pools in Singapore which officially opened in 1959.
Perched along the edge of the hill and just minutes on foot from Fort Canning MRT Station, a sense of outdoor calm greets guests as they step into a space surrounded by verdant green.
New meets old as quirky pool inspired props complement the former swimming complex’s remaining structures. With just a few steps or a push of the bicycle up slope, lies an elongated café housed within the swimming complex’s buildings, designed today to mirror a lodge in the woods.
Sectioned into two seating zones, the expansive indoor area seats 75 comfortably around an impressive island counter, and is characterised by white walls and columns that harken to colonial housings of yesteryear, with see-through panels that allow natural daylight to permeate for basking in sunshine without the heat.
An “open concept” kitchen at the back—a first for the French bakery—now allows diners to admire the artisans at work, while taking in the delicious aroma of French butter and flour as handcrafted croissants are baked fresh every two hours.
An outdoor patio that seats 60 welcomes those who wish to be closer to nature, while surrounding grassy slopes serve as the perfect spot for an outdoor picnic. As with all new bakery openings, guests can look forward to Foothills exclusive menu items such as a Sourdough Croissant(S$4.80) served with a creamy and crunchy crémeux praline filling.
Beverages specially concocted for the outlet range from the nostalgic Nutmeg Teh Halia (S$7), a local favourite of ginger tea perfumed with the choice of spice that dominated Singapore’s earlier plantations; to the exotic Sourdough Kvass (S$5), a sweet, sparkling and refreshing Eastern European beverage brewed with sourdough yeast.
With its strategic proximity of a grassy lawn, a playground and an entire hill to explore, those who wish to immerse themselves in nature can opt for Picnic Bundles $22+ (Breakfast) - $31+ (Lunch) to-go, packaged into breakfast and lunch sets for individuals.
Each bundle comprises an assortment of bakes, salads and beverages to choose from, complete with a customised picnic bag and take-out TBB dining sets for convenience.
Tiong Bahru Bakery Foothills is open daily from 7.30am to 7.00pm
The Foot Hills [Fort Canning Park],
a. 70 River Valley Road, #01-05, S179037
