Beloved pastry brand Ami Patisserie opens physical store at Orchard, serves European-style desserts with Japanese flair

If there’s one opening that we’re excited about, it’s undoubtedly beloved pastry brand Ami Patisserie’s first brick-and-mortar space at Orchard. 

The beloved patisserie made its debut as an online store in July 2021 and quickly gained a cult following for its intricate desserts. At its helm is the talented chef Makoto Arami, who brings to life a unique, pastry-first concept where sweets, treats and viennoiseries are the star of the show.

Today, he’s finally ready to expand to a dine-in space, where diners can savour his intricate creations amid a tranquil setting. Here, they can truly bask in the moment, away from the buzzy city.

At the heart of the new Ami Patisserie is the Japanese notion “tsudo”, which refers to “any time”, “all the time” and “whenever”. It embodies Makoto’s desire to emphasise the role of pastries within any dining experience, such that they can be relished at any point of the day.

Anticipate European-style viennoiseries intertwined with Japanese influences and ingredients, where every morsel is beautifully crafted with flavours from both the east and west.

Trained in the art of pastry-making since a young age

For those who are not familiar with Makoto and his work, the 36-year-old is a third-generation patissier. Hailing from Hikone in Shiga Prefecture, Japan, his family specialised in wagashi (traditional Japanese confections).

But it was Makoto’s father — who travelled extensively around the world — that introduced him to the art of combining western-style sweets with Japanese ingredients.

Having trained alongside his father diligently while helping out with the business, Makoto, too, fell in love with pastry-making.

He went on to hone his chops at the prestigious Tsuji Culinary Institute in Tokyo. 

Makoto’s other noteworthy accolades include working at the famed Michelin-starred Beige Alain Ducasse and Restaurant Ryuzu in Tokyo. He was also the executive pastry chef of the popular Beni in Singapore and pastry sous chef at Marina Bay Sands.

Styled after a Kyoto-style wooden townhouse 

Makoto intends for Ami Patisserie to be a cosy space, where diners can kick back and unwind over a pastry (or two).

The 12-seater cafe is set on the grounds of a quaint colonial bungalow that’s artistically fashioned after a Kyoto-style wooden townhouse. It’s full of warm, rustic elements that reminds one of home. 

It also houses an intimate tsudoi (which directly translates to a friendly gathering) dining room, where Makoto personally presents diners with a pastry-led, six-course chef’s table-style experience (S$118 per person) — similar to a fine-dining omakase meal.

European-style pastries that incorporate fresh Japanese produce

Ami Patisserie’s menu weaves fresh Japanese produce into its dishes. Premium and seasonal ingredients are handpicked to draw out the best flavours and each pastry is served a la minute for the utmost quality. 

We started off with the Awajishima onion tarte (from S$15), which incorporates incredibly sweet Japanese onions from Awaji island. The vegetable is pan-seared, then gently brushed with a balsamic glaze and grilled over binchotan (white charcoal).

Embedded within the treat is a creamy mushroom, truffle and roasted cauliflower quiche filling, which marries well with the crisp tart underneath. It’s also topped with fennel fronds and aromatic black truffle.

Another hot commodity in the lineup of savoury treats is the burrata cheese and parma ham croissant (S$14). We haven’t had a croissant this crispy and flaky before, especially not one that holds up a heap of fillings without going soggy. 

Juicy slices of parma ham that have been cured for 24 months, artisanal burrata cheese and rocket leaves are sandwiched between two crunchy halves of a croissant. It’s then drizzled with extra virgin olive oil for an earthy punch, which complements the creamy flavour of the burrata really nicely.

The Kuri mont blanc (S$20) takes you on a sweeter journey with strips of velvety chestnut mousse atop almond dacquoise, vanilla whipped cream and a crumbly base. It’s accompanied by a smooth Nikka whisky ice cream, which brings forth musky, woody notes that go well with the nuttiness of the chestnuts. 

We quite like this dessert, as it isn’t overpoweringly sweet and goes wonderfully with coffee, too.

Go big with the musk melon parfait (S$38), which is priced on the steeper end. It’s worth the money, though, as it’s an indulgent dessert that’s perfect for the ’gram.

Flaunting vibrant yellow and green hues, the multi-layered dessert is served in a delicate goblet. Shizuoka musk melon balls crown a mint gelee, vanilla ganache and cake sponge. It’s then finished with a Yubari melon sorbet, edible gold flakes and baby’s breath flowers.

The almond pain perdu (S$18.50) is another top pick of ours — it’s the perfect all-day breakfast item. 

Baked with eggs, milk, French butter and Japanese flour, the French brioche bread has a crackly sugar top, just like creme brulee. It’s also fluffy and dense in the middle. Elevating its rich, milky flavours are whipped vanilla cream and smooth vanilla ice cream.

Beverage choices

Beverages come in a slew of teas, premium filter coffees and chocolates. Coffee aficionados can choose their preferred coffee beans, such as the Ami house blend — comprising Brazilian Cerrado and Indian robusta cherry beans — or the single-origin Ethiopian beans. 

If you’re not a fan of caffeinated drinks, the Valrhona chocolate (S$9.90) is a great option, too. 

Note that seats at Ami Patisserie are almost fully booked till early March, so you may want to book a reservation in advance.

This was a hosted tasting.

For the latest eats, check out Ginkyo by Kinki for contemporary Japanese fare and Moga’s unique cocktails. Alternatively, catch up on the newest openings in town. 

Book a ride to Scotts Road to try the decadent pastries at Ami Patisserie. 

Do explore the new GrabFood Dine-in service for awesome deals.