Kawaii Bakery CATBAKE Sells Kitty-Shaped Loaves, Pastries & Cakes

CONTENT: Michelle Ng

Pâtissier Shinya Tajima has stolen our hearts with his latest venture, a cat-themed bakery that has just opened at The Star Vista. If you’re wondering why his name might sound so familiar, Chef Tajima is the very same patisseir-cum-chef behind the Neko Neko Shokupan that went viral in Japan for its adorable cat-shaped bread.

Chef Tajima moved to Singapore in 2020, and has now blessed us with his first CATBAKE outlet where you can feast on freshly baked goods and – if you’re feeling a bit fancy – indulge in CACAOCAT chocolates.

The delicious smell of freshly baked bread greets us as we step into the bakery, where there is a huge variety of bakes to pick from including both sweet and savoury items. Signatures include the Croque Monsieur (S$4.50), a thick slice of cat-shaped bread with cute cat ears and topped with bechamel cheese and ham, and the Pizza Bread, with sausages and capsicums on the same yummy bread. While the single slice might look small, the bread was surprisingly very filling as a snack.

On the sweet side, the Cat Toast with Gelato (S$9.10) is the perfect treat for sharing in the midday heat with flavours like dark chocolate and pistachio, black sesame and lemon pie tart to pick from. The Cat French Toast (S$3.60) is a classic rendition of the breakfast dish with notes of vanilla and cinnamon.

Another must-try is the Cat Cheesecake (S$28), a light cheesecake with two layers of soft cheese and topped with an crumbed crust. The Cat Chocolate Cakes (S$28) also bears the same kitty resemblance, but packing a punch with two layers of smooth and creamy chocolate cake that comes in original and dark chocolate flavours.

Other bakes that will definitely delight cat lovers are the adorable Cat Paw Madeleines (S$1.80) that comes in original and matcha flavours, croissants, and of course, freshly baked Cat Bread in original, raisins and walnuts, and chocolate chips flavours.

The other half of the bakery café is teeming with chocolates from CACAOCAT, yet another of Chef Tajima’s ventures. Pick and mix a tin of chocolate bon bons, and mix classics like white chocolate, caramel, hazelnut, coconut with more adventurous Japanese-inspried flavours like pumpkin, hojicha, choco-banana, brown sugar, and milk tea.

CATBAKE is located at The Star Vista (#B1-43) and is open daily from 10am to 9.30pm