6 things to do in Alexandra (other than Ikea)

Apart from Ikea, Queensway and industrial estates, there’s nothing else going on at Alexandra, right? Wrong. Today is a good time to find out about the five things we love most about Alexandra (and its neighbors, Henderson and Telok Blangah).

Sunday at the Training Shed

The best parties happen here

Last weekend the Dream team hosted a spoken word and music mini-festival The Revolution Will Not Be Televised. Also returning is the Chinese New Year edition of Saturday Social BBQ at Timbre and the outdoor drunk garden parties hosted by Sideshow at The Training Shed on Sundays.

French duck leg confit, credit: Immanuel French Kitchen

There’s an atas kopitiam

If you’re at Bukit Merah then you really have to schedule some lepak time at fancy kopitiam Salut. Lots of affordable gourmet options here, from French to seafood to chicken wings. Plus there’s a craft beer stall (but of course).

Portico

And a nice restaurant in an industrial estate

You do have to traipse around some high-security industrial buildings to find it, but Portico is a terrific find in this part of the woods. Local chef Nixon Low pushes out meticulously plated dishes; some comforting (like fish and chips with fresh mushy peas) and some unique (like lemon tart with onion ice cream).

, 6 things to do in Alexandra (other than Ikea)

The Green Corridor

So much fresh air

There’s a whole lot of greenery in this part of the city, including Labrador Park, The Green Corridor, Telok Blangah Hill Park (which gets you to the famed Henderson Waves bridge) and the linear park along Alexandra Canal (really the start of the Singapore River).

Old Habits

You can snap up vintage finds

The vintage junkies among us couldn’t be more excited when we found super-cute antique/vintage store and cafe Old Habits hidden in Telok Blangah. It’s the antithesis of Ikea and a treasure trove of wonderful old junk: posters, TVs, crockery, trinkets, toys, you name it.

Gillman Barracks

Gillman Barracks is about to get cooler

Apart from a new shortcut to Labrador Park MRT, there’s a whole bunch of new eateries slated to open at GB: a new cafe by the Artistry folks, the return of biker pub Handlebar, and The Naked Finn‘s new restaurant (their current shack will become a bar). For now, you can visit for the ongoing shows and CCA’s Sunday film screenings.