Tiong Bahru is Singapore’s most attractive neighborhood, with a vibrant art culture that blends traditions and trends. The country’s oldest residential neighborhood, with Art Deco buildings, hipster cafes, old-world shops, bookstores, markets, and street art, is worth a visit for creatives, culture lovers, and anybody interested in Singapore’s old town cultural history.
Where to Eat in Tiong Bahru?
Bincho
Bincho is a 70-year-old mee pok vendor that doubles as a stylish Japanese restaurant at night. You will find yourself in a trendy, softly lit brass-plated bar if you enter through the back entrance. As you get farther into the building, the confusion begins; you will find yourself in a Kopitiam-style dining room.
Ah Chiang’s Porridge
There is nothing quite like a warm bowl of porridge to brighten your day. Ah Chiang’s traditional charcoal porridge is a filling breakfast that gets the job done. During peak hours, it might get quite packed, but the wait is well worth it. Try the century egg, pig, or fish porridge with fried pork liver on the side.
Bakalaki
Bakalaki is the Eastern Mediterranean fix you need, and it is smack in the heart of Tiong Bahru along Seng Poh Road. To begin, try the tzatziki dip with pita bread and horiatiki, a classic Greek salad. Try the meat platter, which includes beef sausages, lamb chops, meatballs, kebabs, and chicken yiro for a night out with friends. There is even a deli if you want to take some cheeses, olives, sauce, traditional desserts, or Greek wines home with you.
Coq & Balls
The pub grub at Coq & Balls is nice. Chow down on pizza, pasta, fried rice, or light bites of popcorn chicken and crispy pork. Wash it all down with a beer and the selection includes wheat, draught, lager, and stout, and sink into the infectious good vibes of this place.
Creamier
With unusual compositions like sea salt gula Melaka, Earl Grey lavender, and charcoal black sesame, these artisan ice cream flavors are a dream. Put more than one scoop in your cup, waffle cone, or homemade golden waffles since it is required.
Drips Bakery
Drips Bakery is a must-visit for anyone who enjoys the sweet life. From cakes and delectable tarts to cookies and scones with homemade jam, the patisserie has it all. To balance off the sweetness, try it with the cafe’s famous cold drip coffee.
Flock Café
With its iconic all-day breakfasts, sandwiches, salads, and gourmet coffee and teas, this Tiong Bahru institution wins hearts. It also contains everything you need if you are seeking vegetarian options. Start your day off right with a breakfast set or fill up on substantial spaghetti.
Foodie Market Place
After you have gotten your fill of cafe fare and explored the neighborhood, go grocery shopping at Foodie Market Place. Fill your bags with frozen foods that are ready to cook, gourmet meats, cheeses, yogurt, canned goods, condiments, snacks, and more at low costs.
Forty Hands
Forty Hands existed long before the avalanche of neighborhood cafes. These guys were one of Singapore’s early coffee pioneers, so you know you’re getting high-quality drinks produced with freshly roasted beans. With smashed avocado on toast, handmade granola, and, of course, the Big Boy breakfast, brunch is the main meal of the day.
House of Peranakan Petit
This is true Peranakan cuisine at its finest. The restaurant which is run by chef Bob Seah, a Baba himself, provides homey Nyonya cuisine like Ayam Buah keluak, itek sioh, and curry fish head. You should also try the pulot hitam which has a coconut milk tart on top of a black dessert that is almost too pretty to eat.
Merci Marcel
This delightful small place, right next to Tiong Bahru Cafe is hard to miss. The interiors are light and bright, with an abundance of greenery and a fashionable blend of rattan, gold, and pastels. Bring your friends here for a picture-perfect brunch, or make it a date night for supper. What is actually enticing? Ravioles de Royans with Tête de Moine cheese is the hallmark dish. Merci Marcel sells artisanal French cheese and wine to take home as well as has its own tiny lifestyle store which could be just as deadly. Check out the very stylish sunglasses, chocolates, and enamelware from Paris.
Plain Vanilla
The cupcake fad may be over but established brands like Plain Vanilla are not going anywhere. The secret to its success is its focus on quality only the finest ingredients are used such as French butter, pure Madagascar Bourbon vanilla, and bittersweet Belgian chocolate. There are no preservatives or shortcuts. Salted caramel, chocolate hazelnut, and strawberry white chocolate are some of the most popular flavors. We come here not-so-secretly for the amazing collection of homewares and kitchenalia.
Prive
Vegan alternatives abound on the menu, including vegan chicken rice and Impossible meatball spaghetti. Watch the world go by from the alfresco area or relax within in the cool air. By the way, it is right across from Tiong Bahru Market, where The Singapura Club used to be.
PS.Cafe Petit Tiong Bahru
This quaint small tropical-themed cafe is one of our favorites for a relaxing afternoon. Its menu is a takeaway menu, but it may also be enjoyed on site. It is smaller than its other shops and has limited seating. Order a glass of wine and take a seat near the leafy feature wall to watch the world go by.
Sevens Kissaten
Sevens Kissaten is a modern-day Kyoto tea establishment that embodies the phrase “ometenashi” which translates to hospitality. Matcha latte, mentai dashimiki baguette, and, of course, the melt-in-your-mouth warabimochi, a kinako-flavored dessert with red bean paste and black syrup are among the distinctive drinks and foods.
Sin Hoi Sai Seafood Restaurant
The Michelin Guide Singapore gave Sin Hoi Sai a thumbs up in 2016, and appropriately so. Crabs and abalone are among the delights served at this seafood restaurant. Alternatively, order the salted egg yolk and chili crabs. Do not forget to get more delectable treats like deep-fried prawns and crispy pork balls.
The Butcher’s Wife
With a whole gluten-free menu of European comfort cuisine, The Butcher’s Wife knocks it out of the park. If you think gluten-free bread is not very good, the fluffy baked focaccia will convince you otherwise. The marinated chicken thigh dosa and chargrilled Spanish octopus are two other standouts.
Tiong Bahru Bakery
You cannot think of Tiong Bahru without thinking of Tiong Bahru Bakery Because the two are synonymous. The fluffy and airy butter croissant is the place to go for French pastries, but we never leave without trying the pain au chocolat. You must try the kouign Amann if you want to fulfill your sweet craving.
Tiong Bahru Galicier Pastry
This well-known family-run shop is well-known for its Nyonya sweets and baked delicacies, so expect a line. It follows tradition, so you will discover a variety of old-school cakes and pastries to satisfy your sweet need. Ondeh ondeh, kueh salat, kueh kosui, kueh dadar and even the pandan kaya cake are must-haves.
Tiong Bahru Market
Stay close to home with a delicious supper at Tiong Bahru Market. Some of Singapore’s best local food can be found here, including Chwee kueh, prawn noodles, roast beef, and even a Michelin Bib Gourmand chicken rice stand.
Where to Explore in Tiong Bahru?
Beautiful Buildings
These pre-war apartments may be seen all across Tiong Bahru. The sleek curves, rounded contours, and simple, long lines are indicative of a late Art Deco movement known as Streamline Moderne. These four-story flats were built after WWII and avoid boxy forms with curving landings and rounded portholes. With its beautiful symmetry and a blend of curves and lines, this location is an Instagrammer’s dream.
Kim Pong Park
The park is little in size, but it is beautiful. It is designed in the art-deco style of the old Tiong Bahru estate, and it is divided into three circular patterns with broad walkways that are suitable for strollers and wheelchairs. Sit on one of the garden swings or a terrazzo seat and take in the scenery.
Qi Tian Gong Temple
Are you curious about the Monkey God legend? In this neighborhood, there is a temple devoted to Sun Wukong, the protagonist of the famous novel Journey to the West. The shrine is located at the intersection of Tiong Poh Road and Eng Hoon Street.
Vibrant Wall Murals
A vibrant neighborhood would be incomplete without murals. The ones you see below were painted by Yip Yew Chong, one of Singapore’s most well-known street artists recognized for his nostalgic designs. In the “Pasar Tiong Bahru,” there is a booth called “Seng Kee,” which is a touching tribute to the artist’s father. The artist’s father and daughter adore the putu mayam offered by the Indian stall owner on the left, and the Chwee kueh and laksa on the table on the right are his and his wife’s favorites.
The estate’s history and atmosphere are reflected in “Home.” Wangsa Yefung, a well-known comedy pair from the 1970s, is depicted on the television screen. In 1979, you may see late former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew pushing the Speak Mandarin campaign in the media. Objects familiar to local culture, such as Axe oil and a traditional calendar can be found on the table and the wall.
Tiong Bahru Park
Although this park is a bit of a trek from Tiong Bahru’s hotspots, it offers a variety of activities for both young and old. Put Netflix on wait and get a brief exercise at one of the many fitness centers. The recently rebuilt playground which includes the famous tiling train will keep the kids entertained for hours.
Where to Shop and Get Pampered in Tiong Bahru?
Ask a French Flowers
Aude from Ask a French Flowers creates flower arrangements that are almost poetic as if plucked from a still-life painting. No two bouquets are alike because they are created in her style with seasonal flowers, yet you can still choose your favorite color and theme. Wait until you see the atelier if you have fallen hard for the flowers. Aude hosts floral and lifestyle courses at her lovely studio, making it the ideal place to pick up a new skill, meet new people, or simply get away from it all for a while.
Cat Socrates
Cat Socrates is filled to the brim with books, paper goods, unusual home decor, toys, fashion accessories, and even plants. It also makes fantastic souvenirs and it features indie and local brands.
Curated Records
This tiny Tiong Bahru hotspot is probably your best chance if you are looking for independent music on vinyl. There are over 1,000 albums to go through, making it a treasure trove for hipsters to spend the day in.
Grey Projects
This cool multi-concept venue is more than just an art gallery. It also has a library, a studio, and a live-in residency that gives creative people from Singapore and across the world a place to publish, exhibit, and curate experimental works. Keep an eye on its Facebook page for updates.
Heveya by European Bedding
Visit Heveya by European Bedding, a cozy bedding store with practical and homey things. Enjoy the silky soft, breathable, and cool in the heat Heveya bamboo duvet sheets which are produced responsibly from bamboo lyocell and are also antimicrobial. The flexible ergonomic slatted bed base, on the other hand, provides tailored comfort for your hips, allowing you to get the finest slumber possible.
Nana & Bird
This little local business on Tiong Bahru’s hippest streets was founded by fashion-obsessed friends and sells some of the coolest local and international labels. Pick out unusual jewelry or browse racks of clothes by Aijek, C/MEO Collective, and Malaysian designer Cassey Gan.
Nimble and Knead
At first glance, you had never guessed this is a spa because of its industrial decor that blends in with the adjacent cafes. It is made of shipping containers and even has seats made of wooden crates. After brunch, stop by for an hour of foot massage.
OliveAnkara
You have come to the perfect place if you are looking to inject some personality and color into your clothing. It is difficult to go empty-handed with bright wax-print textiles from Africa and exciting vacation wear-esque designs. Start with a headband or a pair of Ankara shoes if you want to take it easy.
Woods in the Books
This independent bookstore specializes in children’s picture books. Shop unique knickknacks and toys, or take a trip down memory lane with novels like Tintin, Meg & Mog, and The Hungry Caterpillar.
Yoga Movement
Finally, an om-chic yoga studio in Tiong Bahru’s cafe district. Book a mat that has both hot and cold options. Although classes can get full, the clean, calm environment and concentrated teachings more than compensate.
