Changi
It’s far, it’s home to the airport, HDBs and a bunch of trees. But last month’s Super 0 reminded us that there are plenty of reasons to make the trek out to Changi.
Future Music Festival Asia
Lots To Do
Missed Super 0 last month? Changi is gearing up for yet another festival. This time, it’s one of the biggest music festivals in the region, the Future Music Festival Asia. Set to take place on Mar 13-14, it is expected to draw some 50,000 fans with heavyweight headliners like Avicii, The Prodigy, Knife Party and Afrojack.
Village Hotel Changi
Cool Hotels
It seems like Changi has ditched its basic chalets in favor of chic boutique hotels. The latest addition is the charming 50-room Raintr33 Hotel that has taken over the derelict army barracks just down the road from the old, supposedly haunted Changi Hospital. There’s also the modern 380-room Village Hotel Changi that’s minutes from the tranquil Changi Beach.
Kakis Bistro & Bar
Sprawling Spaces
One thing this far-flung neighborhood is known for is its abundance of space and greenery and it’s evident in its hip multiconcept eateries too. Unlike cozy cafes found across the island, the Kakis Bistro & Bar is huge and is housed within a nursery that’s almost the size of a basketball court. There’s also live music by local band The Passerby on Friday evenings and weekly fitness classes.
Good Coffee
Aside from the rustic charms of The Coastal Settlement and the too-cute-todrink lattes at Chock Full of Beans, also in the vicinity is the new-ish halal cafe Peloton Coffee and Juice Bar that not only serves up a mean cuppa (with coffee beans from Oriole) but ice cream sandwiches and savory waffles.
Homes for Active Types
Populating the stretch of road near Flora Road and Upper Changi Road North are a slew of new condos. Set to be completed by year end, Parc Olympia (60 Flora Drive) features a synthetic jogging track and also a large putting ground (golfer’s dream come true). There’s also Palm Isles, a collection of terrace houses and high-rise apartments with facilities like a manmade beach and a 50-meter lap pool. It is located between Tampines and Changi MRT stations and is right beside TPE, a 15-minute drive from town.
Geylang River
Guillemard Road
It’s one street over from Geylang bustle, but it’s become a destination in its own right, thanks to the slew of new mid to high-end restaurants and cafés.
The Tuckshop
Riverside Fun
At the tip of Guillemard Road is the newish, pet-friendly Bottle Cap Cafe that lets diners tuck into simple Western plates while seated next to the scenic Geylang River. Further down the road, you’ll hit our long-favorite craft beer joint, The Tuckshop.
Onsight Climbing
Indie Gyms
The Old Singapore Badminton Hall is now home to two unusual gyms, Onsight Climbing and GymKraft that offers indoor rock climbing and parkour. Outside, you’ll find Brawn & Brains, a tiny coffee joint that serves seriously good artisanal coffee at affordable prices (think $3.50 for a latte—and it’s double shot, too).
Maple & Market
Cafe Culture
Just off Guillemard Road is the quiet residential area of Cassia Crescent where you will find two cute cafes, a block apart. One’s a trendy waffle specialist, The Hideout and the other is a stylish bakery, Maple and Market, helmed by baker Sarah Khaw (formerly of Loysel’s Toy).
Fancy Condos
Pick from two upcoming condos, both set to be completed in 2018. There’s Sims Urban Oasis that comes with a skypark on the 19th floor and there’s also the Tre Residences with its gardens and wave pool. Both are a five-minute walk from Aljunied MRT station and a 10 minute drive to town, with links to PIE, KPE and Nicoll Highway.
Jurong
Jurong
Gone are the days where the best thing about it was the ice skating rink in Jurong Entertainment Center. Now there are tons of shopping and food options and even some hot condo developments.
Big Box
Malls Galore
The last few years has seen mall after mall fling open its doors. First came JCube and Jem then came Westgate. There’s also the newly opened three-story mega shopping warehouse, Big Box, which is kind of like Ikea, Courts and Giant all rolled into one with massive shelves stocked with affordable groceries, clothes and furniture. Not quite Orchard Road, but these aren’t your average heartland malls either.
J.Avenue
High Street & Hidden Gems
For starters, Westgate stocks big name fashion labels like Armani Exchange, Kate Spade Saturday and Cos, while Jem has a bunch of high-street favorites like H&M, Topshop and Uniqlo. And if you’re not into mainstream fashion, hit up JCube’s new-ish J.Avenue (2/F, 6684-2153) that houses over 70 hip and trendy fashion and accessories stores with a Japanese-Korean vibe. If vintage’s your thing, there’s The Good Old Days (#02-18, 6734-6137) in Jem that carries pretty vintage dresses. Oh and Japanese lifestyle mecca Tokyu Hands— that’s stocked floor to ceiling with kitsch stickers, stationery and beauty products— set up shop here first (before a second outlet popped up in Orchard Central).
Foodie Haven
Plenty of food options here with popular eateries like Four Fingers (#02-05), Ippudo (#03-03) and Tonkatsu by Ma Maison (#04-06) all readily available at Westgate while Jem offers options like Imperial Treasure Seafood Restaurant and Ichiban Boshi. There’s also upscale Japanese food market Isetan that stocks air-freighted food, tasting tables and live food stations.
Trendy Housing
With its freshly minted super-hood status, it’s not hard to see why property is getting snapped up like hot cakes. It happened with J Gateway (2-6 Gateway Drive)which is flanked by JCube, Westgate and Jem. Then, again with Lake Life (4 Tao Ching Rd.)—they’ve got an edible garden and offer daily hot yoga classes by True Yoga. But, you can still get your hands on Lakeville (Jurong West St. 42) that’s minutes away from Lakeside MRT and offers views of the peaceful Jurong Lake. For drivers, it’s within easy reach of PIE and AYE and is a 25-minute drive from town.
