Mid-Autumn festival means mooncakes galore! Here are our top picks of these indulgent and tasty treats.
Growing up, the Mid-Autumn Festival was one of my favourite cultural holidays of the year (and it still is!). The family would get together and enjoy the evening by sharing these lotus paste-filled pastries, and the kids would play with their cellophane lanterns (before they caught on fire… thankfully, there are battery-operated ones now!). And, the highlight of every Mid-Autumn festival is checking out the range of mooncakes and the gorgeous boxes that double up as storage tins or gifts for friends and family. So, mark your calendars: this year the Mid-Autumn Festival falls on 1 October 2020, which means now’s the time to find the best mooncakes in town. There’s something for everyone! Don’t forget about the durian-flavoured ones, too – if that’s your thing!
The best mooncakes in Singapore 2020
#1 // Pan Pacific Singapore
Pan Pacific Singapore’s award-winning restaurant, Hai Tien Lo, not only serves up delightful Cantonese fare, they also produce some fantastic mooncakes (above), too. This year, Hai Tien Lo has 11 handcrafted traditional and snowskin mooncakes for the Mid-Autumn Festival. Flavours include its signature white lotus seed paste and charcoal black sesame seed paste with melon seeds baked mooncakes. And we’re sure the little ones will love the soursop-lychee and the raspberry-chocolate snowskin mooncakes. Looking for more variety? Opt for its Four Treasures baked mooncakes set, which features four different flavours.
You can start ordering these mooncakes from Hai Tien Lo either through Pan Pacific Singapore’s online shop, or you may call +65 9009 5936 or email them for further enquiries. Psst, enjoy up to 15% savings on orders placed between 1 September to 1 October 2020…
Where: Pan Pacific Singapore, 7 Raffles Blvd, Level 3 Pan Pacific Singapore, 039595, Singapore 039595
#2 // Fairmont Singapore
We can never resist traditional mooncakes from a hotel bakery, and Fairmont Singapore has solid options to choose from. This year, the hotel’s debuting two new snowskin mooncake flavours: caramel sea salt and Pu Er with chia seeds. Not to mention, traditional mixed seeds baked mooncakes for those with a penchant for nuts. As usual, you can order its delectable mini snowskin mooncakes with Champagne and chocolate ganache, or rum and raisin with chocolate truffle.
Order online now for 15% off! And, if you’re an Amex Platinum cardholder or AccorPlus member, you’ll receive 25% off when you purchase online. Alternatively, head down to the pop-up booth at the hotel from 21 August to 1 October 2020 to purchase your mooncakes and enjoy up to 15% off!
Where: Fairmont Singapore, 80 Bras Basah Rd, Singapore 189560
#3 // Goodwood Park Hotel
This year, Goodwood Park Hotel is celebrating its 120th anniversary, and to commemorate, the heritage hotel has rolled out limited quantities of its 120th anniversary mooncake. It’s truly a sight to behold: the mooncake spans 16.5cm wide and comes with 12 sumptuous salted egg yolks in a lavish and smooth white lotus seed paste. If you fancy, it can be purchased with its legacy bundle which will feature a baked and snowskin mooncake combo. And, the bundle also includes one of its new snowskin flavours for this year – the Japanese sweet potato with a pumpkin-coconut centre. If you’d rather order your favourites individually, we’d recommend you try its new zesty, fruit-based orange with grape mooncake for a change. But, longtime fans of the hotel will know that Goodwood Park is famed for its durian snowskin mooncakes, which are the most popular mooncakes every year…
Where: Goodwood Park Hotel, 22 Scotts Rd, Singapore 228221
#4 // Shangri-La Hotel
Every year, Shangri-La’s mooncakes are a tantalising treat, including the gorgeous boxes they come in. And this year’s no different! Check out its limited-edition Peranakan-inspired gift box set which features a beautifully designed box by Benny Ong, an internationally-acclaimed fashion designer and artist. It comes with four pieces of baked mooncakes filled with bak kwa, pork floss and nuts and are flavoured with five spice powder.
Plus, check out the hotel’s new Hennessy X.O. chocolate mini snowskin mooncake. Vegan? There’s an option for you too – its limited-edition mini vegan mooncake, made with pumpkins from Japan, organic cinnamon from Sri Lanka and lotus paste. But, our favourite has got to be the luxurious signature mini baked custard with bird’s nest, or its classic baked mooncakes. Mmm!
Where: Shangri-La Hotel, 22 Orange Grove Rd, Singapore 258350
#5 // Lady M
Ever split a delicious mille crepe from the folks at Lady M? We have, and they’re absolutely delicious, regardless of flavour. For the Mid-Autumn Festival this year, Lady M has partnered with Netflix to launch a collectible limited-edition Mooncake Lantern! The lantern will feature imagery from Netflix’s upcoming animated movie, Over the Moon, which is scheduled for release later this year. You’ll want to put in your orders early because this luxury cake boutique’s egg custard and chocolate custard mooncakes are highly sought after year after year. And, the lantern will make a great gift, too!
Want to get your hands on one? Pre-order your lanterns here (while stocks last).
Where: Lady M, outlets at Orchard Central, Scotts Square, Westgate, Jewel Changi Airport and South Beach
#6 // Aroma Truffle Co.
Calling all durian fans! If this unique fruit is your fave, you’ll want to get your hands on Aroma Truffle Co.’s black charcoal musang king mooncake and butterfly pea musang king mooncake. Yes, we know it’s a little strange that a truffle chips company is selling mooncakes, but the mooncakes here are on another level. They’re infused with premium black winter truffles harvested from Spoleto, Italy – a decadent treat. Plus, these mooncakes are dusted with edible gold flakes, too! And, they are a stark contrast to other mooncakes in the market, with its black and blue snowskins pastries. Purchase your durian mooncakes from their website, or head down to one of its five outlets to pick some up.
Where: Aroma Truffle Co., outlets at Jewel Changi Airport, Plaza Singapura, Bugis+, Chinatown Point and Westgate
#7 // InterContinental Singapore
InterContinental Singapore has released its Peranakan-inspired snowskin mooncake collection this year, with a lovely tingkat carrier to boot! Enjoy traditional flavours like chendol, pulut hitam, durian pengat, and pandan and coconut kaya, encased in a snowskin pastry with a gorgeous rose silhouette. Psst, peep the design of the tingkat too, with blush and turquoise hues, featuring subtle design motifs drawn from architectural elements from the hotel.
Or, opt for the traditional handcrafted mooncakes with six varieties to choose from, made with luscious red or white lotus paste with single or double yolks, macadamia nuts or assorted nuts. Order online to enjoy 25% off until 29 September 2020!
Where: InterContinental Singapore, 80 Middle Rd, Singapore 188966
#8 // Swensen’s
We can never resist a stop at Swensen’s with the kids, and this year, we’ll certainly be feasting on its range of mochi-snowskin ice cream mooncakes! Enjoy new and signature flavours of well-loved Swensen’s ice cream encased in a newly created and delicate mochi-snowskin (the first of its kind!). Check out new flavours like kueh salat, salted gula melaka, grapefruit and lotus paste. Or, opt for classics like cookies and cream, durian king, sticky chewy chocolate (our kids’ favourite) and yam. Tasty!
Where: Swensen’s, available at its 22 outlets islandwide
#9 // Resorts World Sentosa
Resorts World Sentosa has created premium snowskin mooncakes made with all-natural ingredients to promote health and immunity as part of their mooncake lineup this year. Check out its rose lingzhi spores with longan, matcha with tangerine peel or purple sweet potato with manuka honey. Each specialty mooncake set includes a box of six pieces, tucked in a pearly-cream square box with gold and blush pink peony motifs. And, the top lid lifts to reveal lights that illuminate the mooncakes, which makes it a perfect gift for family and loved ones!
Not to mention, you can also order its traditional set of mooncakes which are made with healthier, low-sugar alternatives as well. Pre-order at the Feng Shui Inn or online from now till 27 September. Psst: RWS Invites members to enjoy 20% off all mooncakes. Plus, Maybank and Mastercard credit and debit card holders can enjoy a 15% and 10% discount respectively, too.
Where: Resorts World Sentosa, 8 Sentosa Gateway, 098269
#10 // JW Marriott Singapore South Beach
One of the best parts about mooncake season in Singapore is looking at the gorgeous box offerings that hold these decadent treats. And, JW Marriott Singapore South Beach has one of the nicest mooncake boxes in town this year – a classic allure red box. Not to mention, its handcrafted baked and snowskin mooncakes from Cantonese restaurant, Madame Fan. Indulge yourself in its new flavours: baked single yolk lychee lotus paste or bird’s nest with Japanese sweet potato. Purchase it online before it’s snapped up!
Where: JW Marriott Singapore South Beach, 30 Beach Road, Nicoll Highway, Singapore 189763
#11 // Mitzo
Cantonese restaurant Mitzo is offering up modern yet traditional home-baked yam mooncakes with salted egg yolk and pistachio nuts this Mid-Autumn Festival. Bite into its traditional flaky pastry layer, with a buttery crust. You can also complement your mooncakes with its specially curated floral and citrusy cocktail, Moonlighter. Order from its e-shop today!
Where: Mitzo, 270 Orchard Road, Singapore 238857
#12 // TWG Teas
Here at HoneyKids, we’re tea drinkers who probably drink one too many cups a day – even at home. And if you love tea as much as we do, then you’ll enjoy TWG Tea’s mooncakes! Enjoy its tea-infused traditional and snowskin mooncakes with eight varieties to choose from. And, don’t forget to pair these mooncakes with TWG Tea’s Sky Lantern tea for a well-rounded experience. After all, mooncakes are best enjoyed with a hot cuppa!
Where: TWG Tea, at outlets islandwide
#13 // Thye Moh Chan
If you’re looking for traditional Teochew mooncakes, then you’ll want to consider getting your baked goods from Thye Moh Chan. The local traditional confectionery in Singapore has two new flavours this year: the assorted nuts white lotus and lychee rose white lotus – both with sugar-free white lotus paste for a healthier option. As usual, you can grab the classic salty tau sar with salted egg yolk, sweet tau sar with melon seeds, yuan yang with salted egg yolk and red bean with salted egg yolk, as well as yam with salted egg yolk, mao shan wang durian and the traditional Teochew mooncake.
Where: Available at Breadtalk and Toast Box outlets islandwide
#14 // Tip Top Curry Puff
We don’t know about you, but the kids do love a curry puff as a snack every now and then. And for the first time ever, Tip Top has released moonpuffs – mooncakes that resemble its delicious curry puffs. These moonpuffs have a buttery and crumbly shortcrust with classic mooncake fillings and a salted egg yolk centre. We had the privilege of trying them this year and trust us, you’ll want to get your hands on them.
Psst, these moonpuffs come in a collectible tin, embellished with gold and pink illustrations of the Singapore skyline. Perfect as a gift to friends!
Where: Pre-order in stores and online from now till 1 October 2020
#15 // Raffles Hotel Singapore
You can bet that this iconic hotel is bound to release scrumptious mooncakes this festive season. Expect snowskin flavours like apricot and sourplum, cognac truffle, earl grey tea with pearl and yuzu with osmanthus. It’s definitely a decadent treat to enjoy with the family, and we think there’s no treat better than one from Raffles Hotel.
Where: North Bridge Road Atrium of Raffles Arcade, 1 Beach Rd, Singapore 189673
#16 // Regent Hotel Singapore
We love mooncake season in Singapore thanks to the sheer variety of flavours to try. And we think, one of the best hotels to purchase your mooncake from this year, is Regent Hotel. Check out its double espresso with almond marzipan and pistachio, fig with amerena cherry snowskin mooncakes from Basilico. Or, its Macapuno (Plantation rum, spiced coconut with yuzu) mooncake from Manhattan bar for the adults.
Of course, don’t miss out on getting your hands on its signature black sesame paste (from its restaurant, Summer Palace) or Gryphon green tea with melon seeds (from Tea Lounge).
Where: 1 Cuscaden Rd, Singapore 249715
#17 // ChangHoSek
ChangHoSek’s decorative Peranakan-inspired tingkat tins are definitely one of the prettiest this season. You can bet their mooncakes will be, too. If you’re not a fan of durian, we’d suggest picking its traditional baked mooncake flavours with the new Kueh Dadar mooncake – a baked pandan paste with a kaya and desiccated coconut centre. Yum!
Where: 72 Jln Kelabu Asap, Singapore 278265
#18 // The Pine Garden
Nothing beats having handmade mooncakes to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, and you should definitely have The Pine Garden on your list. Try unique flavours like cempedak with lotus paste, black sesame paste with mochi and pandan jade with coconut dodol. Or, opt for traditional flavours like baked red bean paste with orh-ni (yam), or even a lotus paste mooncake with four egg yolks. Perfect for salted egg yolk fans.
#19 // St. Regis Singapore
The luxurious hotel’s restaurant, Yan Ting, has an impeccable and handcrafted collection of mooncakes this season. Tea lovers will enjoy its range of tea-infused snowskin mooncakes with flavours like royal milk tea, honey osmanthus truffle and green tea with oolong tea.
Alternatively, pick up the black sesame paste with caramel sea salt truffle, honey purple sweet potato paste or orange yuzu truffle. Of course, there’s a durian option for those who have a taste of this unique fruit. Us? We’ll be picking up a lavish gift box with a set of traditional baked mooncakes.
Where: 29 Tanglin Road, Singapore 247911
#20 // Oddle Eats
If you’re still undecided on what mooncakes to get this Mid-Autumn Festival, check out Oddle Eats’ online food festival! From now till 1 October 2020, you can browse the range of mooncake options available – from snowskin mooncakes to the traditional baked or Teochew-style ones.
And if you haven’t already had the opportunity to feast on mooncakes with tea, Oddle Eats is also giving away limited-edition ceramic tea sets for the first 500 customers who spend a minimum of $120 on mooncake orders. Psst, there’ll be plenty of other online activities available, so be sure to check it out!
