“Pain Pain” is not about pain (ouch) in the literal sense.
It is “pain” as in bread, pronounced the French way, and the name makes more sense once you step inside this under-the-radar bakery shop.
Located along the quiet stretch of Stirling Road near Queenstown, directly opposite Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee, the bakery sits humbly within a residential neighbourhood.
When I entered, the fuss-free setup brought to mind Petit Pain in its earlier days, when the emphasis was firmly on bread rather than branding.
The space is straightforward and functional, with bread racks taking centre stage and a range that feels broad without being overwhelming.
Breads include baguettes, miche, pain de mie, shio pan, and country style loaves.
There are also pastries which fill out the counter with croissants, pain au chocolat, almond croissants, kouign amann, canelé, and a small selection of cakes such as marble, lemon, banana bread, and red date.
I tried the Almond Croissant ($5) and the Garlic Shio Pan ($5), and both were promising.
The Almond Croissant ($5) had a crisp exterior and a filling that delivered nuttiness without excess sweetness.
To be honest, there are many cafes selling Almond Croissants, but not every gets them ‘right’.
As for the Garlic Shio Pan ($5), it was soft, lightly chewy, and well seasoned, carrying flavour without becoming greasy or heavy.
The kind of bread that felt easy to finish and easy to want again.
Pain Pain does not try to compete with trend-driven bakeries or the instagrammable hip cafés.
I enjoyed what I tried and left knowing there was more I wanted to come back for. So much heart in this place.
Pain Pain
169 Stirling Road, #01-1165, Singapore 140169
Opening Hours: 9am – 5pm (Thurs – Fri), 8:30am – 5pm (Sat), 8:30am – 3pm (Sun), Closed Mon, Tues, Wed
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