Bastille Bakery Cafe - a taste of the Left Bank in Joo Chiat

Joo Chiat has plenty of cafes. But Bastille, a French bakery cafe still manages to stand out. It occupies the unit once held by Blue Smoke, next to Joo Chiat Banh Mi Ca Phe. Bastille is co-founded by chef Jean-Denis Leleu and his business partner Wanlyn Tiberghien. Chef Leleu previously headed the pastry section at Tiong Bahru Bakery

Bastille Bakery Cafe in Joo Chiat

According to its website, Bastille wanted to build a neighbourhood bakery that felt genuinely French, rather than a passing trend. The team bakes everything on-site in an open kitchen, using classical French techniques and natural fermentation. No preservatives go into the bread and pastries, and the bakers avoid shortcuts wherever possible.

The name Bastille refers to the French symbol of resilience and spirit. The founders say this idea guides how they approach their craft, with intention and care rather than speed.

Inside Bastille Bakery Cafe

The dining space is compact, running along one side of a long and narrow shophouse. Small wooden tables sit close together, and diners can watch bakers at work through large glass panels. The concrete floors and simple furniture give the room a slightly rustic feel. It reminds us of the small cafes found along the Left Bank in Paris.

A display counter near the entrance shows the savoury bakes and pastries, including quiches, tarts and sandwiches.

Almost everything available is on display. There is a simple menu listing the food and beverages offerred. Below is a picture of the menu of Bastille.

What we tried at Bastille

We ordered the Jambon Beurre ($14), the Croissant with Ham and Gruyere ($12), a Long Black ($5) and a Latte ($6.50).

Jambon Beurre and Croissant with Ham & Gruyere at Bastille

The Jambon Beurre came as a crisp baguette, split open and layered generously with folds of ham. The bread had a lovely crust. A delicious butter was spread on the bread, giving the sandwich a rich, savoury flavour without excess seasoning. A small side salad of lettuce, cucumber and cherry tomato came with a mustard vinaigrette. It was an enjoyable, complete meal comprising all the main food groups.

The Croissant with Ham & Gruyère looked more like a savoury pastry. Melted Gruyère cheese covered the top layer of the croissant, baked until golden and slightly crisp at the edges. Inside, several folds of ham sat between buttery, well-laminated pastry layers. It came with the same lightly dressed salad on the side.

Croissant with Ham & Gruyère at Bastille in Joo Chiat

Both coffees were straightforward and well made.

Neighbourhood bakery that feels French

Service at Bastille was efficient and low-key. Customers order and pay at the counter, then collect their own cutlery, while water is self-service. Food and beverages, however, are brought to the table. The cafe is nice and cosy, with a simple charm to it. The one drawback is that the compact space is narrow, so conversations at neighbouring tables are easy to overhear.

Food and drinks are of good quality, and prices are in line with other artisan bakeries in Singapore. We noticed quite a number of expatriates, not necessarily French, patronising the bakery café, whether for a very French breakfast like sliced bread and butter there, or to buy bread and pastries to take away. This is probably evidence that Bastille has succeeded in building a neighbourhood bakery that feels genuinely French.