Having lived in the area for more than a decade, it’s safe to say that food stylist and content creator, Bella Koh, is a true blue Tiong Bahru Native. So much so, that she could possibly navigate this uber cool neighbourhood with her eyes closed. We ask her to give us the dirty deets, and show us around Singapore’s oldest and hippest neighbourhood.
What I love most about my neighbourhood…
is its strong sense of community. Tiong Bahru is like a small village in the middle of the bustling city where local seniors, young families and expats happily live side by side.
Its unique charm…
comes from Art Deco architecture, which is a stark contrast with Singapore’s many high-rise buildings. The layouts inside every unit are also different.
Not many know this but…
Tiong Bahru was known as “Mei Ren Wu”, which means “den of beauties” in Chinese, as it housed many rich men’s mistresses.
The perfect day in Tiong Bahru…
starts with an early morning visit to the wet market, followed by breakfast at Tiong Bahru Hawker Centre (83 Seng Poh Road). Take a leisurely stroll along Eng Hoon Street to experience the local community. If you’re feeling hungry for homegrown delights, head to Loo’s Hainanese Curry Rice (71 Seng Poh Road), and then walk off your lunch by shopping at Strangelets and Books Actually along Yong Siak Street. For dinner, drop by famous local eatery Por Kee (69 Seng Poh Lane), and grab a beer at The Tiong Bahru Club (88 Eng Hoon Street). Finally, end the day with a relaxing massage at Nimble/Knead (66 Eng Watt Street).
Since becoming a mum…
I’ve been taking the little one on a stroll around the neighbourhood, meeting neighbours and shop owners. The chilled-out ambience of the coffeehouses in the village are also great for families who like café-hopping.
Don’t leave Tiong Bahru…
without trying the delicious tarts at Drips (82 Tiong Poh Road). Oh, try to catch Bob, the famous neighbourhood cat, on Eng Hoon Street!
This article was published in Singapore Insider, a series of quarterly print guides produced in partnership with Singapore Tourism Board. Pick up a free copy at Singapore Visitor Centres island-wide, including Orchard (junction of Cairnhill Road and Orchard Road), orchardgateway, ION Orchard (Level 1 Concierge), and Chinatown Visitor Centre (2 Banda Street), or download the digital version.
