Neighbourhoods
Joo Chiat
A pocket of Peranakan spirit.
Worlds apart from the CBD’s glass skyscrapers, Joo Chiat is a low-slung multicultural neighbourhood on Singapore’s eastern shore. It remains the beating heart of Peranakan culture, best represented by the candy-coloured shophouses, private home museum The Intan and handicrafts shop Rumah Bebe. When in the area, a bite of hawker fare is a must, whether that’s roti prata (flaky flatbread) at Mr and Mrs Mohgan, prawn noodles at Da Dong or the locale’s famed spicy noodle dish, katong laksa, at Janggut Laksa in Roxy Square.
Over the past few years, Joo Chiat Road has witnessed a revival, where karaoke bars have been gradually replaced by a slew of independent retailers, cafés and restaurants. There are homeware havens such as Grafunkt, Sojao and The Monocot Shop; womenswear boutiques, including Yumumu and Rye; and design gallery Heartware Store. Drop by Cata Coffee for an excellent brew, 174Bingo for hearty bakes and stay for dinner at either modern Singaporean restaurant Province or renowned pizzeria La Bottega Enoteca. If the night is young, head over to Freebird for hoppy brews.
River Valley
A buzzy new lifestyle destination.
What was once a sleepy neighbourhood has found vigour with a stream of new venues. Make the most of cool morning hours with a walk around Fort Canning Park, a hilltop oasis that used to house Sir Stamford Raffles’s botanical garden, before refuelling by the Singapore River at Toby’s Estate or Common Man Coffee Roasters.
Swing by menswear retailer Colony Clothing and art gallery STPI before hitting the shops at New Bahru, a day-to-night lifestyle and creative complex of more than 50 homegrown ventures, including design shop Studio Yono, wellness haven Hideaway and restaurant-bar Somma. A remarkable meal awaits at renowned fine-dining spots Meta and Thevar – or take it easy with pizzas at Bad Habits Provisions and pints at Gulp.
Tanjong Pagar
A historic district full of culture and character.
Venture beyond Chinatown’s hubbub and you’ll end up in Tanjong Pagar, where gleaming towers and elegant shophouses meet. Once a railway terminus and commercial centre, the area has since loosened up with lively restaurants. Start your day at speciality coffee pioneer Nylon before taking in the sights at the roof garden of Pinnacle@Duxton, the paragon of Singapore’s public-housing enterprise. When temperatures soar, escape indoors for a flavour-packed lunch at Malay restaurant Fiz or modern Indian food at Revolver, before wandering around the small streets in the vicinity of Duxton Road and Tanjong Pagar Road, many of which are dotted with independent shops.
Then you can stop for Japanese ceramics at Huls Gallery, archival fashion at Upstairs Garments, unique pieces at Tong Mern Sern Antiques Arts & Crafts and inspiring reads at Book Bar. New art enclave Tanjong Pagar Distripark – home of the Singapore Art Museum – makes for a great side quest too. Seafood bistro Marcy’s and modern Korean restaurant Anju promise a memorable dinner – but never call it a night without hitting a bar. Jigger & Pony, Cat Bite Club and The Elephant Room have been shaking up the scene.
