Insider Guide to Tiong Bahru Singapore

Tiong Bahru has become something of a hipster hangout in recent years, its art-deco buildings home to an eclectic mix of trendy cafes, independent boutiques and yoga studios.

It is also home to some of the best bakeries in town, in addition to one of Singapore’s best hawker centres upstairs at Tiong Bahru Market.

The residential art-deco buildings here date from the 1930s, constructed as one of Singapore’s first public housing projects to house residents from the overcrowded Chinatown.

Prior to this, the area was known for its large cemetery that was relocated here in 1859. Tiong means ‘die’ in Hokkien and Bahru means ‘new’ in Malay – hence the area was named after the new cemetery.

But today people come here to eat, to shop and to hang out and soak up its laid-back vibe.

You may also like these articles:

• Insider Guide to Chinatown
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• Insider Guide to Kampong Gelam
• Insider Guide to Sentosa Island

Why you’ll love Tiong Bahru

• It has a trendy hipster vibe and a cool local feel.
• You’ll find one of the best hawker centres in Singapore here.
• There are some cute little boutiques for buying unique souvenirs.
• It is home to some of the best bakeries in Singapore.
• You’ll find some cool street art and plenty of Instagrammable spots.

Just wandering the streets and soaking up the vibe is one of the pleasures of visiting Tiong Bahru. It has a very local feel compared to some of the more touristy parts of Singapore, such as Chinatown. 

• Visit the Tiong Bahru market – the Tiong Bahru Market is one of the best wet markets in Singapore, with one of the city’s best hawker centres upstairs.
• Try Chwee Kueh at the Tiong Bahru Food Centre – Tiong Bahru is known for its Chwee Kueh, a local breakfast staple made from rice cakes with a crunchy spicy preserved radish topping.
• Have a foot massage at Nimble & Knead – tired from all that walking? This local Tiong Bahru spa is known for its aroma foot reflexology massages.
• Check out the cool street art – there are so many cool street art murals to discover around Tiong Bahru, such as Bird Corner, Home and Pasar and the Fortune Teller. Many of these murals are by famous local artist Yip Yew Chong. You can read more about these murals on his blog here.
• Admire the Art Deco buildings – You’ll notice that Tiong Bahru has a very distinct architecture from most other areas in Singapore. Most of the buildings date from the 1930s, and reflect a style called Streamline Moderne, which was a late development of the Art Deco movement. You’ll notice lots of clean curved shapes and rounded corners, and nautical elements such as round porthole windows.
• Visit the Qi Tian Gong Temple (Temple of the Monkey God) – this small but beautiful Singapore temple has stood in the heart of Tiong Bahru for over 100 years. You’ll find over ten statues of the Monkey God, Sun Wu Kong here. The temple attracts followers who seek his blessings for protection, prosperity, and business success.

When it comes to shopping, most people head to Tiong Bahru Market for their daily grocery shopping. We also love the little boutique shops selling cute souvenirs too, and we have highlighted our favourites below.

If you are into interior design or love shopping for artwork and home furnishings, then you will not want to miss the awesome Tan Boon Liat building. You’ll find it on the edge of Tiong Bahru towards Robertson Quay.

Insider Tip: Some shops are closed on Mondays, so check ahead if there is a particular shop you want to visit.

You won’t go hungry as you explore Tiong Bahru, with plenty of cute cafes and trendy eateries throughout the neighbourhood. On a budget? You can’t go wrong at the Tiong Bahru Food Centre.

• Tiong Bahru Food Centre – located upstairs in the Tiong Bahru Market, it’s renowned throughout town as one of Singapore’s best hawker centres, boasting several Michelin Guide-recommended stalls. It is most famous for its Chwee Kueh, a favourite local Singapore breakfast staple. NOTE: Tiong Bahru market will be closed for renovations for 3 months April 14th – July 13th 2025.
• Sin Hoi Sai Seafood Restaurant – a local favourite for seafood dishes and other local cuisine. A good spot to try the famous Singapore Chilli Crab and don’t miss their Marmite Pork Ribs. #01 59-63, 55 Tiong Bahru Road.
• House of Peranakan Petit – a beautiful little restaurant and the perfect place to try traditional Nonya cuisine and other Peranakan-inspired creations. 42 Eng Hoon Street.
• Dirty Supper – tucked away in Moh Guan Terrace, Dirty Supper is known for its “whole animal” cooking, with a focus on grilling. Its vintage charm and grungy vibes epitomise a Tiong Bahru dining experience. #01-19, 78 Moh Guan Terrace.
• The Butcher’s Wife – another restaurant exuding the Tiong Bahru vibe, the colourful Butcher’s Wife dishes up Brazilian-inspired gluten-free dishes and natural wine. They bake, ferment, pickle, and preserve using as many locally sourced provisions as possible. 19 Yong Siak Street.

Tiong Bahru is also renowned for its bakeries, so be sure to save some room for all the delicious treats these places have on offer. All of the bakeries double up as cafes, so you can take a load off and enjoy a leisurely coffee.

• Tiong Bahru Bakery – you’ll now find outlets all over the city, but the original and the best can still be found here in Tiong Bahru. Famed for its freshly baked croissants and pastries, it deserves its reputation as one of the best bakeries in Singapore. Insider Tip: the Kouign Amman is to die for. #01-71, 56 Eng Hoon Street.
• Drips Bakery – Drips has been a crowd-pleaser since 2010, dishing up beautiful handcrafted tarts, cakes, and pastries. The seasonal Fresh Fruit Tart is a perennial favourite, but don’t miss out on some of the more locally inspired flavours, such as the Milky Oolong Tart and the Ondeh Ondeh Danish. #01-05, 82 Tiong Poh Road.
• Plain Vanilla – again you can find Plain Vanilla stores all over Singapore, but you’ll find the flagship store in a restored shophouse in Tiong Bahru. People flock here for their delicious cakes and cupcakes in a range of flavours from Salted Caramel to Earl Grey Lavender. 1D Yong Siak Street.
• Creamier – cafe serving up local artisanal ice cream and coffee. Look out for cool flavours such as Durian Gula Melaka, Kochi Yuzu Cheese or Soursoup Sorbet. #01-18, 78 Yong Siak Street.