Bao Er Cafe Holland Village: New Outlet Menu & Hours

Anyone who has squeezed into the tiny Balestier Plaza outlet for a plate of wok hei-laden Hokkien Mee knows the drill: arrive early, queue patiently, and hope for a seat. That calculus just changed. Bao Er Cafe opened a second, larger location in Holland Village on 1 July 2025, bringing its signature kaya toast and local coffee to a shophouse on Lorong Mambong — and this time, it is serving dinner.

New outlet opened: 1 July 2025 ·
Location: 24A Lorong Mambong, Holland Village ·
Second outlet: Yes (original at Balestier) ·
Seats: More than original

Five key facts about the new outlet, one pattern: it is a deliberate upgrade from the no-frills original — more space, later hours, and a shophouse setting that matches Holland Village’s character.

Who is the owner of Bao Er Cafe?

The short answer: the cafe’s ownership is not listed in public business registries under a flashy name. What is known from reporting is that the brand was built by a husband-and-wife team. Singapore lifestyle publication 8days.sg reported that Jeremy Tan and Bao Er Thai run the kitchen and are personally expected to work the new outlet at launch. The cafe is named after Bao Er Thai, whose surname also graces the brand.

Known background of the founder

Jeremy Tan and Bao Er Thai opened the original Bao Er Cafe at Balestier Plaza as a no-frills neighbourhood spot serving kaya toast, local coffee, and Hokkien Mee. Great New Places describes the couple as the driving force behind every plate. There is no public information suggesting outside investors or a larger corporate entity behind the brand.

The role of Ong Beng Seng?

Some online chatter has floated a connection to property tycoon Ong Beng Seng, but no credible source has confirmed any link. The 8days.sg report and the Great New Places profile make no mention of Ong Beng Seng. Until a business filing or a direct statement appears, the ownership question is best answered as: a family-run operation with no publicly confirmed outside ownership.

The pattern: ownership speculation fades once you see the founders at the stove.

What is special about Holland Village?

Holland Village has long occupied a distinct corner of Singapore’s identity. It is not a shopping mall district and not quite a quiet residential enclave — it is a bohemian strip of shophouses, indie boutiques, and restaurants that draws both expatriates and locals who want something beyond the usual air-conditioned mall experience. 8days.sg noted that Bao Er Cafe chose the area precisely because its nightlife scene makes evening service viable — a signal that the neighbourhood’s rhythm leans later than most Singapore residential areas.

Unique character and atmosphere

The area is built around Lorong Mambong and its surrounding streets, where two-storey shophouses house everything from Italian trattorias to Japanese whisky bars. Unlike Orchard Road’s polished retail, Holland Village feels curated rather than corporate. The Bao Er Cafe outlet sits in one of these shophouses, which gives it an architectural context that the Balestier Plaza mall space never had.

Popular dining and shopping spots

The stretch along Lorong Mambong alone includes a handful of well-known restaurants, a Dutch pancake house, several wine bars, and the Holland Village Market & Food Centre across the street. Adding a local-cafe concept like Bao Er Cafe to this mix fills a gap: affordable Singaporean coffee-and-toast culture in a strip dominated by international cuisine.

Why it attracts expats and locals

Holland Village has historically drawn a large expatriate community because of its proximity to international schools, the British Council, and the Botanic Gardens. But it is also a weekend magnet for Singaporeans who want a walkable, laid-back dining strip. The arrival of a brand with a Balestier following suggests the crowd is about to get more local.

Is Holland Village prestigious?

Yes, by most measures. Holland Village sits within District 10, one of Singapore’s most coveted postal codes. Property prices in the area are among the highest in the country, and the neighbourhood is consistently ranked as one of the most desirable places to live.

Real estate reputation

According to real estate platforms, the average resale price for condominiums near Holland Village MRT station regularly exceeds SGD 2,000 per square foot. Landed properties in the area — many of them bungalows on elevated streets like Holland Rise and Holland Grove — command even steeper premiums. The neighbourhood’s prestige is rooted in its combination of greenery, low-rise character, and convenience to the city centre.

Comparison to other posh areas in Singapore

Holland Village is often grouped with Bukit Timah, Nassim Road, and Tanglin as among the most upscale residential belts. Where it differs from Orchard Road or Marina Bay is in its village-like feel: no skyscrapers, no mega-malls, just shophouses and trees. For a cafe like Bao Er, that means foot traffic from residents who are willing to pay slightly higher prices for quality — which matches the brand’s reported pricing strategy at this outlet.

Where is Bao Er Cafe located in Holland Village?

The new outlet is at 24A Lorong Mambong, Singapore 277683. 8days.sg confirmed the address, and Great New Places described it as a shophouse space — a two-storey building typical of the area’s conserved architecture.

Exact address and accessibility

The unit is part of a row of shophouses on the main Lorong Mambong strip, within the same block as several popular bars and restaurants. The entrance faces the street and is on ground level, making it accessible without stairs.

Nearby landmarks and transport

Holland Village MRT station (Circle Line) is about a five-minute walk away via Lorong Liput. The bus stop outside Holland Village Market & Food Centre serves services 7, 61, 75, 77, 95, 165, 970, and 972. For drivers, there is a public car park at the Holland Village Car Park on Lorong Mambong, though it fills quickly on weekends.

What this means: drivers should plan for public transport unless they are comfortable hunting for street parking.

What are the opening hours and menu at Bao Er Cafe Holland Village?

8days.sg reported that the new outlet operates daily from 7am to 10pm — a three-hour extension compared to the Balestier store, which runs from 8am to 8pm. The longer hours allow the cafe to serve dinner, a first for the brand.

Operating schedule

The cafe opens at 7am daily, which is earlier than the Balestier original’s 8am start. Closing at 10pm gives the kitchen a full dinner window. The extended schedule is reportedly intended to capture the evening crowd that Holland Village’s nightlife draws.

Signature dishes and pricing

The core menu mirrors the Balestier outlet: Hokkien Mee, kaya toast, soft-boiled eggs, and local coffee. 8days.sg described the Hokkien Mee’s wok hei (the breath-of-the-wok char that defines good hawker stir-fry) and the kaya toast as delicately light and crisp. Pricing at the Holland Village outlet is slightly higher than at Balestier, according to the same report. The kaya spread is also available for takeaway at SGD 7.50 per 250ml tub, per Great New Places. No new menu items were introduced at launch due to limited manpower.

Timeline of Bao Er Cafe’s expansion

The brand’s journey from a single Balestier outlet to a second location in Holland Village is short but telling. Below is the key date.

• 1 July 2025 — Bao Er Cafe opens at 24A Lorong Mambong, Holland Village, operating 7am–10pm with a larger dining space and dinner service (8days.sg; Great New Places).

The implication: Bao Er Cafe took roughly two to three years to expand from its original Balestier outlet, which opened earlier and built a strong word-of-mouth following on social media before making the leap to a second location.

What is confirmed and what remains unclear

Based on available reporting, the facts below are verified — and the gaps are worth noting.

Confirmed facts

• Bao Er Cafe opened a Holland Village outlet on 1 July 2025 (8days.sg).
• Address is 24A Lorong Mambong (8days.sg).
• Second outlet, original at Balestier Plaza (8days.sg).
• Founded by Jeremy Tan and Bao Er Thai (Great New Places).
• Operating hours at Holland Village: 7am to 10pm daily (8days.sg).

What’s unclear

• Exact menu pricing across all items (only Hokkien Mee at ~SGD 17.50 has been cited).
• Identity of the owner beyond the founding couple.
• Any ownership connection to Ong Beng Seng.
• Whether the cafe accepts reservations.
• Official confirmation of halal certification status.
• Kaya spread takeaway price (SGD 7.50 reported by Great New Places, not independently verified).
• Whether any new menu items were introduced at launch (Great New Places said none, but no other source).

The pattern: the gaps mostly involve details that only the cafe itself can confirm.

What people are saying about the opening

Reporting around the launch gives two perspectives: one from a food media outlet that covered the announcement, and one from the founders themselves via the same coverage.

“The new outlet is slated to open on 1 July with more seats and longer hours than the original Balestier cafe.”

— Seth Lui, food writer at sethlui.com, covering the opening (cited via 8days.sg)

“The couple personally mans the kitchen at the new outlet, ensuring the same quality as the original.”

— 8days.sg, reporting on Jeremy Tan and Bao Er Thai’s role in the Holland Village kitchen (8days.sg)

The trade-off is clear: the founders’ hands-on approach guarantees consistency but limits how fast the brand can grow. For now, every plate at Holland Village is made by the same two people who built the Balestier following.

Frequently asked questions

For Singaporeans who have watched the Balestier original grow from a neighbourhood secret to a viral hit, the Holland Village opening is more than a second location — it is a signal that local, chef-driven cafe culture can scale without losing its soul. For Jeremy Tan and Bao Er Thai, the bet is that a community built on word of mouth will follow them across town. For the Holland Village crowd, the choice is simple: walk over, or wait for a table.