EAT
Biscotti Bakery
It’s rather niche, but yes, this bakery specializes in biscotti. The original almond flavor aside, there’s cranberry, pistachio, chocolate orange almond and orange almond.
Popiah, Fortune Food
Geylang Bahru Market and Food Center
Amid HDB estates, this food center has some popular stalls, including Mr Wadeh (#01-2729), which does crispy prawn vadai and Fortune Food (#01-2777, 6243-2118, www.fortunefood.sg)—known for their popiah and kueh pie ti, both made from scratch daily.
Lai Wah Restaurant
This Chinese stalwart has been around since 1963 and is allegedly the birthplace of the Chinese New Year dish yu sheng (raw fish salad). No wonder the place is extra crowded during the festive season.
Ming Kitchen
Ming Kitchen
Known for their zi char-style dishes, there’s dozens of branches from Boon Lay to Bedok . They do chil li crab and pork ribs, but we also like the underrated prawn paste chicken wings and chai poh omelet.
Rong Kee Roasted Delights
In the same food court as Ming Kitchen is roast specialist Rong Kee. It’s pretty much an HDB chain, but they do make mean renditions of roast chicken, duck and pork belly, all of which are seasoned with a house-special barbecue sauce.
Sky Joyce Nonya Kueh Cake Shop
Swing by here for your Nonya kueh (cake) fix—kueh lapis, pulut inti (blue glutinous rice cake) and old- school favorites like rainbow kueh, aka lapis sagu. The latter’s only available on Sundays, though.
DO
Dancesport De Allan
Sign up for a class at this modest and affordable little studio. Classes include bal lroom dances like waltz and tango as wel l as fun stuff like samba and cha cha. All levels.
Dennis Gym, Singapore
Dennis Gym
Sign up for combat training classes or get some military- style muscle toning done at this bodybuilding specialist gym. There is also a team of on-site personal trainers for one-on-one work.
Gin Thye Cake Master
These guys have been in business since 1964 and make cream-based cakes and fruit tarts and everything in between. Perfect for catering orders and weddings, though not for dine-in.
Kallang Basin Swimming Complex
This public swimming complex features three pools, including a competition pool for hard core types. It’s only $1.30 to get in on the weekends, and you can sign up for some serious classes, too.
Kitchen Capers
Kitchen Capers
A home baker’s delight with some interesting products like cupcake corers, kueh tutu molds and weird ly specific cookie cutter shapes, including that of a polar bear and an ancient Chinese dragon.
Insider Tip
“I frequent the yong tau foo stall at Block 63. I like it for its traditional, home-cooked flavors. As for changes around the neighborhood, I think a couple of shopping malls would be nice. There’s an MRT Station (Geylang Bahru) coming up soon so that’s something I’m looking forward to,” says Lee Meiling, owner of My Home Kitchen (#01-2729 Blk 69 Geylang Bahru Market and Food Center).
Coming Soon
Part of the Downtown Line, the Geylang Bahru MRT station is slated for completion in 2017. Wedged between Bendemeer MRT—which heads towards Bukit Panjang—and Mattar MRT towards Expo, the station will run along Kallang Bahru Road, making the lives of those working and living around the Kallang River and Geyland Bahru Industrial estate a lot easier. Just a stone’s throw away will be GB Point shopping mall (535 Kallang Bahru). The former Mandarin theater is being converted into an air-conditioned haven with retail shops alongside tuition centers, child care centers and food courts. Construction is expected to complete in 2017.
