EAT
A1 Beach Road Prawn Noodles
Warm your belly with a steaming bowl of prawn nood les at this stall—a full-on bowl with prawns, pig intestines and pork ribs sets you back $5. We especially like the flavorful soup.
B.A.O
Bakery Artisan Original serves up fresh European-style breads and pastries. Try the large, fluffy croissants, made using French butter from Normandy. Or go for their peculiar squid-ink parmesan bun.
The Bravery
It’s all minimalistic décor and unvarnished plywood tables at this café. But that just makes the pancake stack ($15), smoked salmon sandwich ($14), and beef steak ciabatta ($13.50) more delicious. Also, try the unique lavender latte ($5.50).
Chye Seng Huat Hardware
Chye Seng Huat Hardware
The Papa Palheta crew took over this Art Deco shophouse and installed the first 360-degree coffee bar in Singapore. Also on premises are a retail shop for home brewers and an industrial roaster.
Doubleshots Cafe
This postage stamp-sized café does some interesting options like the Tiramisu Espresso ($4) and teapressos ($2.80 upwards), a heady mix of coffee and tea. Eats include sandwiches and thin crust pizzas ($6.95 upwards).
North Bridge Road Food Centre
Not the most famed center in the area, but it has some good stalls, like Special Yong Tau Foo (#01-87), around for 50 years—everything’s sold out by lunchtime. There’s also yummy wanton mee by Koka Wanton Noodles (#01- 99).
The Papa Shop
Part liquor shop, part ultra-chill bar, this hip kiosk sells spirits, sake and craft beers at wallet-friendly prices. Look for obscure bottles like Nøgne beers and Douglas Laing’s Big Peat whiskey.
Tolido’s Espresso Nook
Tolido’s Espresso Nook
This Melbourne-inspired joint moved from the Singapore Science Centre, but the menu’s the same. Try their rosti ($16.90) or their cereal bacon rolls ($9.80)—or both!—and wash them down with a latte ($5.50).
Windowsill Pies
Take home sweet pies like pumpkin ($7.50) and s’mores ($8). Their dine-in café does a rotating menu of dishes like shrimp po’boys ($15) and corndogs with peanut butter mustard ($8). Liberty Roasters do the coffee.
Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice
The Kallang branch of one of the best chicken rice stalls in Singapore, and the queues aren’t any shorter. It’s worth the wait though for chicken that’s tender and juicy, with homemade chilli sauce.
The Tiramisu Hero
There’s tiramisu (from $3.50) in all sorts of flavors, from the classic espresso and alcohol combo to others like strawberry and even local choices such as Milo and Horlicks. Savory items include Thai basil pork rice ($12.50) and a truffle egg bacon roll ($10.50).
SEE
Army Market
If you’ve served NS in Singapore, you’ll be familiar with this market of various army surplus shops. But you don’t have to be a military man to shop here—get duffel bags for a steal for your next weekend away.
Golden Mile Complex
Golden Mile Complex
This complex’s 400 shops make up Singapore’s unofficial Little Thailand. That also means amazing Thai food—we love the pork larb at Nana Thai (#01-51/52/66C). The cramped, mad scientist- esque supermarket is also full of gems.
Victoria Street Wholesale Centre
Browse 40 traditional-styled stalls for groceries, dried provisions, catering supplies, cutlery and more. It’s great if you’re planning on cooking for a house party.
DO
Jalan Besar Stadium
An age-old battlefield for many exciting soccer matches involving LionsXII (see the fixtures at www.lionsxii.sg)—it’s even considered to be the birthplace of Singapore football.
Mighty Velo
Mighty Velo
Specializing in folding bikes by Brompton, Montague and Strida ($850 upwards), this neat bike shop also does consultations to find you the right model. Folding scooters (from Swifty Scooters) and bike accessories are also available.
Lee Wei Song School of Music
Founded in 1995, this music school does classes in everything from songwriting and vocal training to dance. Accredited by the London College of Music examinations from Thames Valley University.
Hair Philosophy
Previously located at Tras Street, this bright and clean-lined salon and its team of stylists have moved to Kallang. They also stock hair care products by Redken.
Insider tip
“There’s this claypot stall just downstairs, called Golden Mile Claypot Rice (#01- 65) and I love their food. It tastes really authentic and they’ve been in business for really long time, I think about three decades or so. Must be doing something right,” says James Quek owner of AIM Spec (Golden Mile Complex, www.aimspec.com.sg).
