Explore the Hippest Town: Tiong Bahru in Singapore
Singapore, Singapore
Trip Type: Walking Tours
Duration: 3 hours 30 minutes
Join our tour to explore the Hippest Town - Built in the 1920s by the British colonial government, Tiong Bahru may be one of Singapore’s oldest public housing estate but it has creatively evolved into a unique neighborhood that balances heritage and swanky hipster lifestyle.
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Join our tour to explore the Hippest Town - Built in the 1920s by the British colonial government, Tiong Bahru may be one of Singapore’s oldest public housing estate but it has creatively evolved into a unique neighborhood that balances heritage and swanky hipster lifestyle.We start the morning at The Pinnacles @ Duxton – the pride of Singapore architecture, enjoy the stunning view from the 50th floor. Next, we proceed to one of the oldest estate but now the hippest town – Tiong Bahru.
Over 80% of the population lives in subsidized Housing Development Board flats and Tiong Bahru remains the only housing estate not built by the current Housing Development Boards but built by the colonial government – Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT). In the 1920s, Tiong Bahru was a slum, hills were leveled and the soil used to fill in the swampy ground before the estate was built. It is also believed to be the only complete and undamaged public housing structure from the pre-war period in Southeast Asia today – modeled after British towns such as Harlow, Stevenage and Crawley and was designed using the Art Deco Style of the 1930s.
Let’s start this morning tour by visiting the Tiong Bahru Market - Tiong Bahru market boasts some of the best hawker stalls in Singapore that tops the country’s eatery charts regularly.
Stop for a photo at the 90-year-old Qi Tian Gong Temple, Singapore’s oldest temple honoring the Monkey God, who bestows blessing and protection, eliminates bad luck and grants longevity and prosperity.
Stop at Glacier Pastry, sample some of the most colorful Kueh and local desserts – Kueh Dar Dar, Ondeh Ondeh. After trying them, I am sure you will want to bring home too!
At Tiong Bahru Road, check out the Dispensary – the centerpiece of this café is the Chinese Medicine Cabinets behind the counter. The Dispensary has taken over this prime Tiong Bahru spot, and transformed the former Chinese Medical Hall into a cafe, offering whole and sliced cakes, cupcakes, macaroons and a few simple savory bites.
Lastly, at the spot formerly occupied by a Chinese Temple known as Hulu Miao, now stands the Nostalgia Hotel – a boutique hotel featuring design and decor inspired both by Singapore’s colonial years.
Proposed Schedule (It might change without prior notice due to local events and traffic):
Over 80% of the population lives in subsidized Housing Development Board flats and Tiong Bahru remains the only housing estate not built by the current Housing Development Boards but built by the colonial government – Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT). In the 1920s, Tiong Bahru was a slum, hills were leveled and the soil used to fill in the swampy ground before the estate was built. It is also believed to be the only complete and undamaged public housing structure from the pre-war period in Southeast Asia today – modeled after British towns such as Harlow, Stevenage and Crawley and was designed using the Art Deco Style of the 1930s.
Let’s start this morning tour by visiting the Tiong Bahru Market - Tiong Bahru market boasts some of the best hawker stalls in Singapore that tops the country’s eatery charts regularly.
Stop for a photo at the 90-year-old Qi Tian Gong Temple, Singapore’s oldest temple honoring the Monkey God, who bestows blessing and protection, eliminates bad luck and grants longevity and prosperity.
Stop at Glacier Pastry, sample some of the most colorful Kueh and local desserts – Kueh Dar Dar, Ondeh Ondeh. After trying them, I am sure you will want to bring home too!
At Tiong Bahru Road, check out the Dispensary – the centerpiece of this café is the Chinese Medicine Cabinets behind the counter. The Dispensary has taken over this prime Tiong Bahru spot, and transformed the former Chinese Medical Hall into a cafe, offering whole and sliced cakes, cupcakes, macaroons and a few simple savory bites.
Lastly, at the spot formerly occupied by a Chinese Temple known as Hulu Miao, now stands the Nostalgia Hotel – a boutique hotel featuring design and decor inspired both by Singapore’s colonial years.
Proposed Schedule (It might change without prior notice due to local events and traffic):
- 0900 – 0915 Depart Hotel for the Pinnacles
- 0915 – 0940 view and Photo stop at 50th Floor ** Subject to weather conditions**
- 0950 – 1030 Tiong Bahru Market and Hawker Centre – sample local breakfast
- 1040– 1100 Qi Tian Gong Temple
- 1110 - 1130 Glacier Pastry
- 1135 – 1150 The Dispensary
- 1155 – 1210 Nostalgia Hotel
- 1230 Drop back at the hotel
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