Everton Park has something for everyone - we took a stroll around to spot the neighbourhood's hidden gems.
With popular locales in the vicinity like Duxton Hill and Keong Saik stealing the limelight, you’ve probably looked past Everton Park. This little enclave might not be home to boutique hotels, buzzy bars or exquisite restaurants. But we think there’s still something charming about the quiet neighbourhood. So we strolled down to its neck of the woods on a breezy morning to see if Everton Park still has that cool factor.
Located opposite the grandest HDB in Singapore, Pinnacle @ Duxton, Everton Park’s plainer residential buildings stand humbly but strong with their suburban nostalgic charm. Shops like cafes, bakeries, and salons are located on the ground floor of apartment blocks – a common sight in the 80s and 90s. While some of the eateries we loved have disappeared, there are new spots to check out. Heads up though: It’s easy to lose your way if you’re not careful. Some of the blocks are interconnected, forming deadends at the unlikeliest of nooks. Curious to find out more? We’ve got the insider’s guide to the ‘hood!
Everton Park guide: Best cafes and bakeries
1. Folks & Stories
If you can’t get enough of sweet treats, head to this iconic store to get your fill of light, crunchy cookies. Folks & Stories uses only natural ingredients, which means you’re not scarfing down nasties when you sink your teeth into its offerings. Bonus points for the creative names. For example, the Care Bear is a delicious combination of strawberry cheesecake and brown butter. Can’t decide what to get? Go for the signature assorted box, which contains six flavours.
Folks & Stories, #01-63, 3 Everton Park, Singapore 080003
2. Cafe Wabi Sabi
Say hello to this Japanese-inspired cafe in the Everton Park ‘hood. The menu offers sandwiches made with house-made shokupan bread, donburi, and various sides. Psst: the pork katsu sando comes highly recommended. If you’ve arrived ultra hungry, go for the yakitori don, which comes with an onsen egg. Add miso soup or salad for a hearty meal.
Cafe Wabi Sabi, #01-79, 3 Everton Park, Singapore 080003
3. Bag Me Up Bagel House
The number of cafes in Everton Park may seem like a lot, but if you look hard enough, you’ll stumble across this cosy spot. Exuding calmness with its white monochrome interiors and rattan wicker aesthetics, here’s where you can enjoy bagels all day. They’re stuffed with fillings like wagyu beef, smoked salmon, teriyaki chicken, and bacon. Wash it down with milk tea or espresso.
Bag Me Up Bagel House, #01-59B, 2 Everton Park, Singapore 081002
4. The Flour Department
Previously a home-based business, The Flour Department has taken the leap and opened its first physical store in this enclave. The entire space is decked out in pink, which we reckon the Plastics will totally approve of. Drop by to get your hands on bagels, stuffed mochi cookies, cakes, and dine-in specials. The menu changes often, so follow its socials to remain updated on the offerings and operating hours.
The Flour Department, #01-36, 5 Everton Park, Singapore 080005
5. Dearborn
For anyone who prefers their breakfast sweet, we’ve got just the place for you. This artisanal granola bar handmakes its granola in small batches. Flavours include strawberry macadamia, lemon pistachio, and triple-nut dark chocolate. If you love the granola, you can get it delivered to you! Take a look at the subscription options to get your fix without leaving your house.
Dearborn, #01-29, 1 Everton Park, Singapore 081001
6. The Better Half
This hole-in-the-wall patisserie is run by a passionate coffee-loving couple (they’re essentially each other’s better half!). Everything is baked from scratch, including the bread. The spot is tiny but the cakes sure make up for it. Take your pick from flavours like lavender honey and coconut passion fruit. Cakes are decorated simply, but they’re oh so Instagrammable. You can always have them to go, and the team takes orders for custom cakes too.
The Better Half, #01-43, 1 Everton Park, Singapore 0810011
7. Ji Xiang Confectionery
For something more traditional, pop by Ji Xiang Confectionery. This old school bakery at Everton Park is a family-run business known for its homemade ang ku kueh. For the uninitiated, it’s a Chinese pastry made of glutinous rice flour with sweet and savoury fillings. Pick from a selection of flavours like peanut, salted bean, corn and coconut. A permanent fixture of Everton Park since 1988, this local dessert is the one thing you have to buy if you’re in the area.
Ji Xiang Confectionery, #01-33, 1 Everton Park, Singapore 081001
8. Nylon Coffee Roasters
One of Everton Park’s first hipster entrants, this coffee joint proudly presents the story of each coffee bean to you. The team works closely with the source of their beans and has good relationships with the producers from as far as Guatemala and Ethiopia. Seats are limited, so make this your first stop of the day and cradle a cuppa as you explore the area’s grounds. If you love the beans here, you’re in luck because Nylon Coffee Roasters has its own coffee subscription. Get thoughtfully curated coffee the team has sourced and enjoy your caffeine fix in the comfort of your home.
Nylon Coffee Roasters, #01-40, 4 Everton Park, Singapore 080004
9. Hodunamu
Though the menu is limited, the affordable prices and wholesome Korean flavours at this unassuming restaurant will have you saying daebak! This rice cake shop was founded on a mother’s desire to spread love and warmth. All the rice cakes are handmade every morning, which is an impressive feat when you see the variety available. Take a bite and you’ll feel as though you’re eating right off the streets of Seoul.
Hodunamu, #01-55/56, 2 Everton Park, Singapore 081002
Everton Park guide: Shops and things to do
10. Tiny Rabbit Hole
Warning: this place doesn’t have any actual bunnies. Instead, it’s a craft studio where you can get your creative juices flowing. Take part in the workshops to pick up knitting or learn how to make 3D toys. Once you’ve got the basics down, shop for yarn, needles, and other tools you need for your newfound hobby. If you don’t have the time (or patience) to create something, you can purchase the adorable products handmade by Angie, the owner.
Tiny Rabbit Hole, #01-48, 4 Everton Park, Singapore 080004
11. Kew Organics
This beauty salon is a serene, sleek haven to spend your day away. Using only vegan and organic ingredients with cutting-edge technology, it offers a range of treatments. Whether your problem areas are on your face, back, or underarms, there’s something for everyone. Treat yourself to a Clear Skin Hydra Deluxe Treatment. It’ll unclog and cleanse your pores, and the aesthetician will renew your skin with the organic skincare products from Kew Organics.
Kew Organics Facial Bar, #01-47, 2 Everton Park, Singapore 081002
12. Sweat!
Want to get on the fitness bandwagon but not ready to commit? Check out this little business helmed by health coach Wai Yee. She offers outdoor, individual, or small group HIIT sessions that can be customised if you want to challenge yourself. There are also strength and conditioning sessions and personal netball coaching. The best part? You pay per class, so there aren’t any packages or gym memberships that force you to commit.
Sweat!, #01-50, 4 Everton Park, Singapore 080004
13. Visit a former sausage factory
You’ll see a whole row of Peranakan shophouses awash in solid colours of blue, yellow, grey and white. It’s a postcard-worthy image of the old and the new co-existing together. But on the corner of Everton Road sits a conservation shophouse that’s served a multitude of roles. Designed as a house for a wealthy family in the 1940s, it was sold as a warehouse before it was turned into a sausage factory. Now, the property (and the shophouses around it) is gazetted for conservation.
Former Kwang Chow Sausage Factory, 9 Everton Road, Singapore 089366
14. Hunt down street art
As you walk through the lanes, you’ll get a glimpse of street artist Yip Yew Chong’s earlier works depicting Singapore in her kampong days, as a nod to the area’s deep-rooted attachment to retro Singapore. So the next time you’re planning your weekend agenda, explore Everton Park and let it charm its way to your heart.
15. Art Porters Gallery
Temporarily closed.
With the Instagrammable Peranakan shophouses that fill the street, you can be sure there’s something artsy to do. This gallery along Spottiswoode Park Road is filled with contemporary art from international artists. This includes drawing, painting, photography, sculptures and animations. We love that the staff is also friendly and knowledgeable!
Art Porters Gallery, 64 Spottiswoode Park Road, Singapore 088652
There you have it: our ultimate guide to the cafes and (almost) everything you need to do at Everton Park in Singapore.
[This article was originally published in 2020 and updated in 2024 by Sufyan Saad.]
